WindowsMarketplaceForMobile
Latest
Microsoft putting Windows Mobile 6.x market out to pasture
Are you still out there rockin' a Windows Mobile device? And, yes, notice we did not say "Windows Phone." Well, we've got some bad news (besides the fact that your handset is seriously obsolete) -- the Windows Marketplace for Mobile is getting ready to ride off into the sunset. In May of last year Microsoft stopped accepting new app submissions, now the store is being scheduled for complete shutdown on May 9th of 2012. After that day you might still be able to score some software straight from the devs or via third-party markets, but you'll no longer be able browse or download from the official outlet. If you're interested in a bit more info, we've embedded the entire notice after the break.[Thanks to everyone who sent this in]
Microsoft pushes up the schedule, plans app payouts to developers in January
Developers still won't be getting paid right away, but Microsoft's improved the Marketplace payout situation a little bit for developers who've been technically earning money with paid Windows Phone 7 apps for several weeks now. Originally slated for February, Redmond now expects to start cutting checks in the fourth week of January, which will include money earned between October and December; thereafter, payments will occur on a monthly basis, which is how these things should typically go. Microsoft's got a reputation for treating devs like royalty; holding their hard-earned cash for several months after the launch of Windows Phone 7 isn't a great way to demonstrate that, but if it's any consolation, these seems like a one-time delay while they get all the necessary systems in place.
Confirmed: Marketplace will be the only way to get apps on Windows Phone 7 Series
We just got out of a meeting with Microsoft's Todd Biggs, who dropped a little bombshell on us: the only official way to get apps on a Windows Phone 7 Series device will be to download them from the just-detailed Windows Phone Marketplace. That means developers will have to abide by Microsoft's technical and content guidelines in order to make it in, with the very real possibility of rejection -- sound familiar? Todd told us Microsoft plans to avoid Apple-style submission headaches by making the process transparent and predictable, with a group of Microsoft execs regularly meeting to examine edge cases and refine the guidelines as needed, but even the best intentions can be led astray by a sexy app or two. We also got some additional details on Marketplace and how it's going to work, catch the highlights after the break. Update: Microsoft wanted us to clarify that enterprise customers will be able to deploy apps to employees outside the consumer-facing Marketplace -- details on that will be released in the future.
Windows Marketplace's newest anti-piracy measures already thwarted
Yar, that was fast. Less than a day after Microsoft updated its Windows Marketplace for Mobile with new advanced anti-piracy measure, some apt xda-developers community member has managed to crack the new code -- in under two hours, according to Chainfire's posting. The hack itself won't be posted, but we're sure other astute programmers, many of more nefarious intention, will be able to have their way with it just as easy. Sad for developers who've been wanting something more secure -- better luck next update. [Via WMPoweruser]
Windows Marketplace for Mobile updates tackle piracy, adds online store for non-mobile browsers
Windows Mobile 6.5 users rejoice, you now have a better marketplace experience your way. Microsoft's added a couple updates to its mobile app store. On the developers' side of things there's a new portal for submission, and "more advanced anti-piracy protection" -- no clue if it solves those DRM issues we heard about before, but sounds at least like a step in the right direction. For the consumers, there's now an online store that you can use from your certainly superior desktop / laptop browser. In the vein of Xbox Live Marketplace's online portal at Xbox.com, purchased apps from the browser will be sent to the connected phone next time you open up the Windows Marketplace client... what's that? You want support for Windows Mobile 6.0 and 6.1? Microsoft reassures us it's coming later this month, so hang tight, okay? [Via Mobile Tech World] Read - Announcing new features... Read - Windows Marketplace for Mobile
Microsoft's Marketplace for Mobile developer portal now open for business
Remember the 12 rules of Windows Marketplace for Mobile Microsoft posted a few weeks back? For coders, those were just the beginning. The Windows Mobile Developer portal is now live, serving pages upon pages of PDFs with rules, regulations, and plenty of fees, too. A 10-page license agreement describes the account fee ($99 per year), transaction fees (30 percent of each sale), and, most importantly, the license fee, which is the monthly amount paid out to the developer based on their app sales. A further 32-pages worth of submission guidelines advise on everything a registered developer needs to know to get an app through certification, including thrilling subjects like shortcut placement and icon design, DLL installation directories, and details of the fearful Hopper test -- two hours of random inputs and waterboarding. Apps will also be tested for memory leaks and to ensure that they play nicely with on-screen keyboards, two things many current third-party WinMo CABs have issues with. Marketplace will drop whenever Windows Mobile 6.5 starts hitting handsets -- officially, that is. [Thanks, the::unwired]
Windows Marketplace for Mobile, now in super-cheesy video form
Look, we're certain Microsoft's Windows Marketplace for Mobile will be a rousing success, with loads of developers set to announce apps this week at CTIA and interesting features like full-refund returns and apps certified to run on specific devices. And we'd be totally excited to point out that this teaser video shows off the interface in action, including a charmingly illiterate app review and carrier-specific stores. But honestly, here's a better question: if Microsoft is really serious about how cool is it is to be not-cool-enough, is a totally mediocre teaser with a relentlessly corporate electrorock soundtrack and hyperactive informercial narration really the best way to sell this thing? Discuss. Video after the break. [Via 1800PocketPC; thanks Saijo]
