Microsoft Garage App Lets Consumers Test Apps Microsoft Has Been Working On

Yesterday Microsoft launched a project it has been working on for the past 5 years – Microsoft Garage, an app that lets consumers try out some of the software projects Microsoft has been developing. The new app gives Microsoft employees valuable feedback during the development process while also giving users the opportunity to test premium apps before they reach the market, thereby building pre-launch anticipation for each of the apps in the Garage.

At the moment there are a total of 16 apps that can be tested in Microsoft Garage, ranging from XBOX One additions to Android Wear apps. Each of the apps are available as free downloads on their respective platforms.

Bringing The Garage to the Public

Microsoft Garage has already existed as a backend app for Microsoft employees to share and explore new ideas for several years. The app was originally intended to serve as a productive platform in which developers can experiment with apps that have the potential to be successful in the commercial marketplace. However, the concept has now progressed to the next phase, bringing Garage directly to the consumers that will undoubtedly offer their invaluable opinions and evaluations.

In a blog post from Microsoft, the purpose of releasing The Garage to the public is to “connect engineers and engineering projects with real customers.” From the viewpoint of the customer, the benefit is obvious – you get to try out the latest and greatest apps from Microsoft without having to pay for them or wait on their official release date. Meanwhile, Microsoft benefits because their developers get the feedback they need to refine and improve apps to the likings of consumers before releasing them into the marketplace.

Team Development Without Boundaries

Perhaps the most interesting aspect of Microsoft Garage is that it provides access to pre-released apps across multiple platforms, from Android Wear to Xbox One. Some techies may find it surprising that Microsoft is actually encouraging its engineers to start developing solutions for non-Microsoft platforms that are popular amongst consumers. This gives Microsoft employees the chance to create diverse app solutions that can cater to all devices and platforms.

Some of the Apps Available in Microsoft Garage

While we expect to see the list of apps in The Garage expanding in the coming months, right now there are already more than a dozen projects running, some of the more interesting of which include:

Torque for Android Wear – the team at Microsoft seems to be trying to get rid of the voice command “Ok, Google,” which is required to activate the search engine on Android Wear. Torque will eliminate this opening line (which can become repetitive to say the least) and replaces it with a simple twist of the wrist (similar to the way you would turn your wrist to rev a motorcycle, hence the name Torque).

Next Lock Screen - An Android app that lets users see summarized information about their calls, messages, emails, app activity, and other notifications, all without unlocking their device. Presumably this would eliminate the need to enter in your 4 digit passcode or pattern to unlock your phone when you're just checking for something simple.

Voice Commander for Xbox One – a shooting/strategy game that can take input from both game controllers and user voice commands.