Microsoft's Windows Phone Developer Tools package goes to beta

Early versions of the tools Windows Phone 7 developers will use to craft their wares have been floating around since Microsoft's MIX event in March, but it looks like things have finally gotten robust and feature-complete enough this week to bless the kit with a beta label. In fact, Microsoft is coming out and saying that this release "represents the near final version," which we take to mean you can develop with some confidence that your world won't be turned upside down when the time comes to prep your apps for shipping devices and firmwares. The actual API has been tweaked and Expression Blend is now fully integrated with the tools, though there are apparently still a few controls that aren't ready for primetime and will be added over the coming weeks. Oh, and if no emulator is enough to satisfy your intense cravings, you might be excited to learn that more developer devices are slated to ship next week -- so keep an eye on your mailbox and your porch if you signed up to get one.

[Psyclotr0n Posted Jul 12th 2010 4:01PM]

DEVELOPERS!!!!!!!!!!!

[WillSmith Posted Jul 12th 2010 4:02PM]

@Psyclotr0n AHH!!

[BlackedOut Posted Jul 12th 2010 4:03PM]

WHO SAID YOU COULD SIT DOWN???

[MicrosoftOwns Posted Jul 12th 2010 4:08PM]

I just blew my load

[gargle Posted Jul 12th 2010 4:09PM]

PROGS guys, PROGS!!!

[uckApple Posted Jul 12th 2010 4:12PM]

@Psyclotr0n

Lets join Apple and Microsoft together:

1. Microsapple
2. Approsoft

And release:

1. iKin?
2. Windows iOS7?

[FNi Posted Jul 12th 2010 4:14PM]

How come every time a new SDK is released, its creators try to convince us that up until that *exact* point, our true design visions weren't possible to achieve?

[who said what Posted Jul 12th 2010 4:19PM]

@FNi

Seeing how MS is wooing the App Store developers lately with money and stuff (see here: http://appadvice.com/appnn/2010/07/microsoft-mining-app-store-find-ios-developers-win/ ), it's funny how they don't have a mac version for the tools available for download.

[zuogolpon Posted Jul 12th 2010 4:34PM]

@Psyclotr0n Developers Developers Developers Developers Developers Developers Developers Developers Developers Developers Developers Developers DevelopersDevelopers Developers Developers Developers Developers Developers Developers Developers Developers Developers Developers

[mrstef Posted Jul 12th 2010 4:35PM]

@uckApple

Applesoft.

[JS Posted Jul 12th 2010 4:50PM]

@Psyclotr0n

Why would anyone get a windows phone? It doesn't even do cut & paste. It's on par with the very first release of Android and iOS.

[SilverSatin Posted Jul 12th 2010 5:09PM]

@JS Most people do cutting & pasting on THE PC and do texting & calling on THE PHONE.
so BOE freaken WHOO on that one.

[krishansy Posted Jul 12th 2010 5:17PM]

@MicrosoftOwns
....and I am done with my soup.

[iceykola Posted Jul 12th 2010 5:19PM]

@who said what

Because the devs can run windows on their macs.

[Frogboy Posted Jul 12th 2010 5:55PM]

@JS

Just because it is behind on the Copy/Paste doesn't mean that it's also behind everywhere else. It should be ahead of game in other areas. You can't look at one feature and make a timeline out of it.

[Ralven Posted Jul 12th 2010 7:38PM]

@who said what most developers for ios dont even own macs. lol

[petebob796 Posted Jul 12th 2010 8:16PM]

@who said what Yes because so many developers only own a mac if they own a mac at all.

[unknown714 Posted Jul 12th 2010 8:23PM]

@Psyclotr0n yes i am a developer......now wheres my WP7?

[McKirf Posted Jul 12th 2010 8:53PM]

@Psyclotr0n

I just cancelled a date with my girlfriend telling her and I told I was going to be busy tonight. She thinks I'm cheating on her. If she only knew...

[who said what Posted Jul 12th 2010 10:28PM]

@Ralven

You gotta be kidding me if you are serious with that statement!

[achalddave Posted Jul 13th 2010 3:18AM]

@McKirf You win 2 Internets!

[MarcinK Posted Jul 12th 2010 4:02PM]

Why do i see the old xbox live logo on the phone.... its the one used in the original xbox.

[BlackedOut Posted Jul 12th 2010 4:04PM]

That's the current one bro...

[XCMeathead Posted Jul 12th 2010 4:07PM]

@BlackedOut Yup, def the current one. You may have been fooled by the black background...

[mikmik111 Posted Jul 12th 2010 9:22PM]

I think the old one looks awesomer

[MichaelJJackson Posted Jul 12th 2010 4:03PM]

Developers Developers Developers Developers Developers Developers Developers Developers Developers Developers Developers Developers DevelopersDevelopers Developers Developers Developers Developers Developers Developers Developers Developers Developers Developers

[uckApple Posted Jul 12th 2010 4:13PM]

@MichaelJJackson

Um, arent you like.. dead?

OMFG ZOMBIE WTF BBQ

[MichaelJJackson Posted Jul 12th 2010 4:24PM]

@uckApple It's WTFBBQ

[uckApple Posted Jul 12th 2010 4:47PM]

@MichaelJJackson

What is?

[Psyclotr0n Posted Jul 12th 2010 7:41PM]

@MichaelJJackson
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CZr2qXVlEcs

[BigE4284 Posted Jul 12th 2010 4:03PM]

Hopefully we learn a little bit about MS's plans for Xbox LIVE integration from this.

[Hosain Posted Jul 12th 2010 4:03PM]

Exciting stuff. downloading now.

[BlackedOut Posted Jul 12th 2010 4:08PM]

I've got the whole summer free...
Reckon I should give it a go too?

On the link they've got jump classes, signing up now, I don't plan on making anything but ill like the knowledge :D

[Hosain Posted Jul 12th 2010 4:13PM]

@BlackedOut I'm also signing up for the online class as we speak :)

I'm actually a student and have the summer free as well. I’ve already got the April CTP tools and started learning a few weeks back. It's incredibly easy to get started, and you could do amazing stuff without having to write code at all using Blend.

I think you should go for it!

[uckApple Posted Jul 12th 2010 4:14PM]

@BlackedOut

omg you so totally did not just say "Reckon"...?

[BlackedOut Posted Jul 12th 2010 4:18PM]

@Hosain
I'm a student too, and those virtual classes look really good. All you need is a Live ID to sign up.

@uckApple
I live in London, it comes with the territory :D

[Hosain Posted Jul 12th 2010 4:49PM]

@BlackedOut Hey, are you me? I live in London too..

[Trang Posted Jul 12th 2010 4:53PM]

@BlackedOut Hey thanks, didn't know they have that class. I'm revising on Silverlight alone and trying to learn a bit about apps developing and I feel a bit stuck without teachers. This is just the thing I need

[Hosain Posted Jul 12th 2010 4:55PM]

@Trang try this free book http://www.charlespetzold.com/phone/

[Trang Posted Jul 12th 2010 5:09PM]

@Hosain Hey thanks!

[tonyprince Posted Jul 12th 2010 4:05PM]

bring on camera in front and we can talk about strip poker over xbox live. come on HTC!!!!!!!

[fevoss Posted Jul 12th 2010 4:06PM]

Great , now i have to worry to develop app for windows phone now !

[shoxite Posted Jul 12th 2010 4:06PM]

YEAH!

[Trang Posted Jul 12th 2010 4:07PM]

Damn it I just downloaded and installed the pack 2 days ago.

Should have waited :(

[DaHarder Posted Jul 12th 2010 4:09PM]

MS/Developers... Don't Miss This Opportunity!

[rommel Posted Jul 12th 2010 4:11PM]

Stop Dreaming! Start Building! lolz!!

[bravokiloromeo Posted Jul 12th 2010 4:14PM]

Is Windows Phone 7 ever going to come out? They built up the hype as if it were ready to launch months ago, and they just launched the SDK.
I feel like the enthusiasm for WP7 is going to drop significantly before launch and hurt sales decently, at the least.

[Bengal34 Posted Jul 12th 2010 4:39PM]

@bravokiloromeo

They've said "Holiday 2010" from day 1.

[obobo Posted Jul 12th 2010 4:17PM]

does anybody even CARE?

[Spindel Posted Jul 12th 2010 4:22PM]

@obobo Many of us do.