Very little developer interest in Windows 8  

However, looking at the above chart, the Windows Store is growing by under 100 apps per day. Thus, at its current rate, given the time until Windows 8 becomes generally available, we can expect around 5,000 apps to populate its virtual shelves. Remember, however, that not all will be available in all places. Thus, under 5,000 apps for everyone.

Assuming another spike on launch day, say, of four times the boost that Windows 8 enjoyed when app submissions were opened, and we have a tally of around 7,000. That, in my view, is disappointing.

Alex is right. We should have seen major interest by developers who want to get in now before launch…. but we’re not. I was thinking about this, and I am wondering if it’s because there’s no devices that developers can see and feel.

Windows 8 doesn’t get you excited on a desktop machine, or even a laptop. You have to see it on a touch-first device to really understand how great it could be, and Microsoft (as well as their partners) being so quiet on the hardware front, rather than getting the Surface out there early seems to be extinguishing any interest.

I don’t know what Microsoft is expecting to happen on day one here. I mean, it’s been two years since Android tablets launched and we’ve not seen many killer apps at all. Why would anyone care about another platform?