Nine has long been a real find for those who are setting up a new computer. With his help you can install a number of applications in just a couple of clicks, rather than downloading a bunch of separate installers. Ninite is also known for its simplicity. There's no package manager to learn or commands to type; just go to the website and select the apps you want to install, then download and run the installer. All installations are performed in the background, without any prompts. It's magic, and I've long wondered why Microsoft hasn't created something like this – something powerful but easy to use.
Well, it looks like someone at the company has finally figured it out. Microsoft's new website called Application package exactly this. It allows you to visit a page on the Microsoft Store website, select your selected apps, and then install those apps by downloading and running a single installer. This is exactly how Ninite works, although there are some differences between the two options.
Credit: Justin Poth
The main difference is that Microsoft's app suite uses the Microsoft Store to install apps, and the installer you download instructs the store to perform the download. This means that updates will also be handled by the store, which is a real benefit, but it also means that supported apps are limited to those offered in the store. This is why Ninite offers so much more software. The App Pack offers 32 apps in four categories; Ninite offers over 90 different apps across all categories.
But there is also Microsoft. You can't use an App Pack to install Chrome that isn't available in the Microsoft Store. But you also can't use it to install Firefox, which is. Considering that many Windows users' first choice is Edge, this is a real drawback; given that Microsoft seems to Really want to prevent Windows users from replacing Edge, this is not surprising. Meanwhile, Ninite allows you to install Chrome and Firefox, as well as other browsers such as Opera, Brave and, ironically, Edge.
What are your thoughts so far?
But that doesn't mean the App Pack only offers Microsoft software. Zoom is offered, as well as several Apple apps (iCloud, Music and TV). There are desktop apps for all the major social networks (TikTok, Facebook, Instagram, Discord, and LinkedIn). And there are several customization tools, including TranslucentTB for customizing the taskbar And F.lux to adjust the color temperature of your display. There are also several media applications available, including Photoshop, Audacity, and OBS Studio. Ninite just offers more, including power-user staples like VLC, WinDirStat, 7-Zip, and Handbrake.
However, if you don't need these additional apps, the App Pack is a diverse set of tools, and I can imagine that the one-click installation will save a lot of time for many Windows users. You can find it Here or by clicking the “Install multiple apps” button in the upper right corner of the web version of the Microsoft Store.
