How come iTunes is not compatable on my Surface tablet with windows 8?

Question

I got this tablet and it wasmeant to replace my older laptop. But everytime i try downloading itunes for my phone, it says 'The app cant be run on my PC". This is a huge reason of why  even got the tablet. As i talked to a technician for windows, they said it was up to apple to make it compatible. I was curious when this is going to happen because it not being compatable is a big pain considering how iTunes hold all the info that my iPhone holds.

Answer 1

Okay, here's what's going on:
1. The Windows 8 name is actually applied to two operating systems that are designed to look and feel the same- one for your standard "x86" processors like the ones made by Intel and AMD that power most PCs and laptops, and one for "ARM" (and ARM derivitative) processors, like the ones that frequently power tablets and phones.
2. The x86 Windows 8 devices are backwards compatible with stuff designed for Windows 7 (and Windows Vista, and some Windows XP stuff).  So they'll run itunes, etc..
3. The ARM version of Windows 8 devices is only compatible with stuff designed for Windows 8 specifically, usually sold through the Windows 8 store and displayed as a tile on the main screen once purchased (The major exception being Microsoft Office, which can run in desktop mode).  This is because stuff designed for Windows 7 and before was compiled for x86 processors, an ARM processor doesn't know what to do with it.
3. Your Surface RT device is powered by an ARM processor, so you have no backwards compatibility.
4. Itunes is right now compiled only for x86 processors, and those will only work with Windows 8 machines with x86 processors, which you don't.
5. Apple may or may not decide to release a version of itunes that's compatible with the ARM version of Windows 8 (frequently referred to as Windows 8 RT).  We just don't know, because they haven't said that they will or they won't.  Right now there is no compatible version.
6. So your options are to use music software that is compatible with Windows 8 RT (I am guessing it comes with some version of Windows Media Player), wait till Apple comes out with a version of Itunes for Windows RT (Which it may or may not do), or return your Surface RT and buy a more traditional laptop with an Intel or AMD processor instead (The version of Windows 8 that can run on those chips can do itunes in desktop mode).
Sorry to be the bearer of bad news.  I can see where this would be a little confusing.  Microsoft probably should have given it's ARM-based operating system a name other than "Windows".