It actually is very interesting move to pull. The reply is just so elegant, it is beautiful. They were being strangled by Google, there are no Google apps on MS platforms (WP or OS). And on a day of Larry Page's rheotoric about being friendly to each other. This is Oh Snap moment.

>there are no Google apps on MS platforms (WP or OS)

Chrome? Play Music Manager? I guess those don't really count.

Metro apps. See the new hangouts app? It's not on WP.

Can you release a metro app for sale without Microsoft taking a cut? I.e. does windows 8 allow metro sideloading?

@cma: No. Metro apps cannot be sideloaded if you are not a Dev. Tell me a store which does not take a cut? Steam, iOS, Nook, Amazon, Play store? Besides, Google's apps on iOS are free.

I think AppBrain takes no cut.

Can Google release a Metro version of Chrome? One that non-developers can use on Windows RT and/or Windows Phone?

They released a iOS version, which has the same restrictions. So yes, they could.

Picasa is another example.

There's a Google Search app on Win8.

Well, the app was released last week or so, Google chose this day to send it(or was it sent earlier and did MS release it only today?).