New information has been revealed that Microsoft is going to put language packs in the Microsoft Store. This will allow users to download them exactly the same way they download games and apps. The standalone Windows Update package may be retired soon.
At the moment of this writing, the company has uploaded a number of language packs. The set includes Russian, Catalan, Valencian and others. The ability to download a language pack from the Store is expected to be added to Redstone 4 builds, which are currently available for Insiders in the Fast ring.
The official statement states the following (translated from an Italian source):
Do you want to experience Windows in a new language? This Local Experience Pack includes the latest language resources for Windows features such as the Start menu, Settings, and File Explorer. After installing this app, select the Launch button to navigate to Windows’ Settings app. From there, you can control your language preferences, including the Windows display language.
Here are some links you can currently play with.
Personally, I do not use Microsoft Store at all, so I only hope that these language packs will be available without logging into your Microsoft Account. There are a number of machines running with a local account only.
What do you think about this change? Do you welcome the ability to download a language pack from the Microsoft Store along with other apps or are you not happy with this change?
Sources: MSPowerUser, Aggiornamenti Lumia
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In windows 1709 I’ve been able to install apps like ubuntu for WSL, as well as the Netflix app, from the store without signing in with a Microsoft Account. I would hope that this holds true for language packs too.
I think they are desperate to have people visit their store. What a shameful marketing tactic. There is no value in doing this. Just making it harder for people to have what they already easily had.
Paint in the app store, then what, everything, at some point?
To me, the ship is sinking and they still don’t get it. Own almost all the market, then try to copy the tactics of those who own a lot less because you think there is no future in the traditional PC. Wrong. People still work with their PC and they don’t want to loose time adapting to constantly changing settings and valueless features. Some put up with PCs in the past because there was nothing that was better for them before. They wanted a simple web/facebook browsing machine. Those are gone or will be and not coming back, but tons of others will still need a stable, reliable, not too bloated PC.