The blogosphere and the Internet in general is awash with request to Microsoft to unify application updates on its Windows Platform. Many have deride MS for taking a lax attitude to Application updates from its partners and application developers in general, and since the Security attacks on the Windows platform has become the number 1 focus of MS, many have asked it why not go the extra step and unify Application updates across its platform.

MS bolted down Windows Kernel and Windows Services and Microsoft Application in general. Since Vista, MS platform that was the playground of script-kiddies have become a daunting challenge that only wintered Hackers can dare to tackle. Which left the script-kiddies no other alternatives than to start attacking third-party apps on the windows platform. And which application is most available on any Windows machine? You guessed it right, Adobe apps. You are all aware of recent attacks on Windows through Adobe Flash and Adobe Reader. There has not been a unified way to make sure every user is updated like we’ve all come to rely on Windows Update to keep our machines up to date. Asking users to manually update by going to vendor’s site is putting responsibility on users, that doesn’t work well as we’ve seen through the ages.

So, something flashed in my face this evening while having a look in my Windows 8 tablet. There, sitting in the list of Microsoft Installed Updates is Adobe Reader update! What? A day or two ago, I saw Adobe flashing my Notification area to update which I did, now seeing this, it came via Windows Update!

I couldn’t believe my eyes. Is this what I think it is? It is there right before me. What does this all mean? Actually it will not be a rocket science for Microsoft to implement Third Party update mechanism. MS is the king of Integration. They already have mechanism in house to distribute Third-party drivers. Third-party updates is a feature of .NET also. So this is something they could easily achieve. Why haven’t they done it before?

Now, Windows 8 is making a debut with Windows Marketplace (or whatever they’ll call it), since MS has informed us they are integrating existing Win32 apps in the marketplace, it will be natural that the updates to such apps will now become part of Windows Update. Third-party Critical updates most especially will benefit from this, and of course we the end users benefit the long run.

Well done Microsoft for going this extra step. Keep up the good work, and keep listening to your fans all around the world.