Microsoft makes app development easy with Windows App Studio

Microsoft’s App Studio beta test has been expanded to allow novice developers to build applications for Windows tablets and PCs, in addition to Windows Phone. Last year Microsoft introduced a beta version of Windows Phone App Studio in an effort to increase the number of apps for its smartphone OS by letting almost anyone build an application. The company has now expanded the platform to let users build for tablets and PCs at the same time, and renamed the service Windows App Studio, it said in a blog post on Friday.

Building a universal app for Windows and Windows Phone is now a drag and drop process. Today, Microsoft unveiled a beta version of its Windows App Studio, a web app that allows users to easily build apps for Windows 8.1 and Windows Phone by dragging and dropping elements onto an interface mockup. It’s designed to allow users to build apps for the platforms without having to write a single line of code. The resulting interface isn’t going to knock anyone’s socks off, but it’s a good way for someone to try their hand at building a Windows app in a short time span. It is designed to help users build their own apps for Microsoft’s devices, and beef up Microsoft’s app counts.