This is puzzling news, given the popularity of such applications and seemingly overnight growth of a modern day cottage industry around this array of gadgets. Hardware has the ability to create excitement in the short term, but the constant stream of applications with novel and useful implications is what truly builds a loyal following.

Wired explains how this decision differs from the larger mobile tech landscape,  ”Apple’s App Store allows anyone to submit iPhone and iPod Touch apps, although Apple exerts stringent (and often capricious) control over which apps make it to the public. Google’s Android Market is completely open to any developers who wish to offer apps for it. Research in Motion, Verizon, Nokia and Palm have also all opened mobile app stores to compete with Apple’s.”

I can’t help but think that this is an acknowledgment on the part of Microsoft that they weren’t able to compete in the app space with the likes of Apple “so why bother” kind of attitude that is no way to build consumer confidence. I for one, am certainly not buying this particular stance, and as a result, probably not the Zune HD either.