Windows RT 8/8.1 is an ARM specific variant of Windows 8/8.1 designed especially for tablets and mobile devices that use ARM processors. Unlike Windows 8.1, Windows RT 8.1 is only available pre-installed on select tablets and PCs, and doesn’t support applications tailored for x86 and x64 systems.
Even though Windows RT 8.1 and Windows 8.1 sport an identical user interface, they are different under the hood (see difference between Windows 8 and Windows RT).
One of the major downsides of Window RT 8.1 is the lack of quality apps in the official Windows Store, even though the application count is steadily increasing and has over 120,000 apps. Many software developers have released the Windows RT compatible version of their apps but most of the software developers seems to have ignored Window RT.
Just like iOS and Android, Windows RT users can also download and install apps from outside the official Store by Jailbreaking the operating system. Windows enthusiasts have re-compiled or ported hundreds of free, open-source Windows applications to Windows RT, and finding ported applications has become even easier with the release of RT Desktop Store.
RT Desktop Store is a free program designed to distribute ARM compiled desktop programs to Windows RT tablets. In simple words, RT Desktop Store helps you browse and install desktop applications ported to Windows RT.
In order to install and use applications available in the RT Desktop Store, you need to Jailbreak your Windows 8/8.1 RT devise first using Windows RT 8 Jailbreak tool. According to Facin, the developer behind RT Desktop Store, the current version of the program includes a little over 50 apps, including popular programs like 7-Zip, Classic Start Menu, FileZilla, Free Download Manager, Notepad++, Rainmeter, Sumatra PDF, and Synergy.
The best thing about this program is its interface. RT Desktop Store sports an interface very similar to the official Windows Store but doesn’t require an account to download and install apps.
If you own a Window RT device and don’t mind Jailbreaking your device to install desktop applications on your tablet, you can head over to the download page to get RT Desktop Store and read more about the program.
Please note that RT Desktop Store includes only free, open source programs ported to Windows RT, and doesn’t entertain piracy.
Download RT Desktop Store
