Windows Phone Developer Tools go gold on September 16th

[Blueychan]

I have an iPhone and was interested in developing apps for the iPhone until I found out that in order to do that you need Apple hardware/OS. Screw that! I am so glad that Windows Phone 7 is releasing soon. For anyone that are interested in developing apps for Windows Phone 7, here a few links to get you started. (Wow, I am surprised that there are not alot of info about Windows Phone 7 on this forum at all, it's all about Android and iPhone )

A Developer’s Roadmap to Windows Phone 7 Launch Timing
Windows Phone 7 Jump Start Training
Windows Phone 7 Developer Training Kit
Application Platform Overview for Windows Phone

Windows Phone Developer Home

 

[Deeko]

I'm working on an app that I hope to have out by release. I have a second in mind as well, but it requires GPS and accelerometer, so that will be difficult to test without hardware.

 

[AMDZen]

Wow, I am surprised that there are not alot of info about Windows Phone 7 on this forum at all, it's all about Android and iPhone )

This is mostly because windows has failed so hard in the past and WinMo7 hasn't yet shown that it can do any better. At least yet.

The only thing appealing to me about it is the Xbox Live gaming thing they got going on for it.

 

[Blueychan]

I'm working on an app that I hope to have out by release. I have a second in mind as well, but it requires GPS and accelerometer, so that will be difficult to test without hardware.

It's been a while since I coded. I going back to Drexel to finish my degree this fall, so hopefully playing around with Windows Phone 7 Developer Tools help me brush the rust off.

 

[tatteredpotato]

This is mostly because windows has failed so hard in the past and WinMo7 hasn't yet shown that it can do any better. At least yet.

The only thing appealing to me about it is the Xbox Live gaming thing they got going on for it.

I think it's more because Windows Phone 7 is unreleased. Windows Phone 7 is the type of OS MS needs to compete, but they really needed it a year ago (an even that would be late to the game).

 

[Blueychan]

I think it's more because Windows Phone 7 is unreleased. Windows Phone 7 is the type of OS MS needs to compete, but they really needed it a year ago (an even that would be late to the game).

I don't think MS is late to the game at all because the smartphones industry is only a couple years old. I think in a couple years or so, with all these competitions, you will see the mobile/phone platform going full force.

 

[Deeko]

It's been a while since I coded. I going back to Drexel to finish my degree this fall, so hopefully playing around with Windows Phone 7 Developer Tools help me brush the rust off.

I graduated from drexel in 07.

 

[MrX8503]

I don't think MS is late to the game at all because the smartphones industry is only a couple years old. I think in a couple years or so, with all these competitions, you will see the mobile/phone platform going full force.

I'm not sure about that. I don't think they are too late to make a difference, but they are really late. WinMo is almost extinct.

The iPhone was released in 2007, even 1yr in the tech world is like 10 years. I pray that WinMo7 will be successful, but I guess we'll wait and see. MS was stupid to think they could live it up on their WinMo dominance for many years without innovation. RIM and Symbian shall see the same fate if they don't do something about it.

Today its all about iOS/Android.

I'll stay optimistic, but I'll say one thing, I do not like the UI of WinMo7 at all. To me its downright ugly. I still cant understand why there is a big gap on top and to the right of the homescreen tiles. All that room just to fit a right arrow button?

 

[Deeko]

I really don't think you can say a phone OS is ever "too late". People said Android was too late because the iPhone was so entrenched in the public mindshare, and all the app developers were accustomed to the system. There were people that even said Apple was crazy to be trying to break into a market that was pretty well entrenched by Windows Mobile and Blackberry back in 2007.

People get new phones very often - a lot more frequently than they'd get a new computer, or even a new PMP. Therefore, even if a player is late to the game, there are always ample opportunities for them to pick up customers.

If a new OS is solid, matched with solid hardware, and properly marketed, it will catch on.

 

[AMDZen]

I'm not sure about that. I don't think they are too late to make a difference, but they are really late. WinMo is almost extinct.

The iPhone was released in 2007, even 1yr in the tech world is like 10 years. I pray that WinMo7 will be successful, but I guess we'll wait and see. MS was stupid to think they could live it up on their WinMo dominance for many years without innovation. RIM and Symbian shall see the same fate if they don't do something about it.

Today its all about iOS/Android.

I'll stay optimistic, but I'll say one thing, I do not like the UI of WinMo7 at all. To me its downright ugly. I still cant understand why there is a big gap on top and to the right of the homescreen tiles. All that room just to fit a right arrow button?

The common consensus around the entire tech industry is this. I have yet to read a real positive review on a WinMo7 phone. Not a very good start for MS. The fact is, a lot of people will disregard them just based on what the tech media and community has said so far, and their failures in the past.

Time will tell but Android is sooooooo far ahead, not even counting iOS.

Zune failed for all of the same reasons. I would put money on WinMo7's failure today if Vegas would give me odds.

 

[Deeko]

MS is dumping a lot more money into this than they did the Zune. I predict they start a massive marketing blitz soon, which they didn't do as much with the Zune, not to mention they were up against stiffer competition (Apple owns the PMP market by a lot more than any phone OS does). They're really pushing partners (hardware manufacturers, app developers) to get on board, likely with financial incentives, which helps their case.

Lets not forget that the G1 didn't exactly get glowing reviews. It was regarded as a nice first step, but also a very incomplete product. Look how that went.

 

[AMDZen]

MS is dumping a lot more money into this than they did the Zune. I predict they start a massive marketing blitz soon, which they didn't do as much with the Zune, not to mention they were up against stiffer competition (Apple owns the PMP market by a lot more than any phone OS does). They're really pushing partners (hardware manufacturers, app developers) to get on board, likely with financial incentives, which helps their case.

Lets not forget that the G1 didn't exactly get glowing reviews. It was regarded as a nice first step, but also a very incomplete product. Look how that went.

You're right. I felt the same way about iOS 1.0. The app store changed everything for Apple, the iPhone wasn't much before it. Android didn't become a powerhouse until 2.0 for most people I know, and yet they are still releasing phones with 1.6. 3.0 might be the game changer for Android at least for me, we will see.

But at least both started with a great UI. Neither has changed drastically since its first iterations. Can the same be said for WinMo7? I can only go by what I've heard personally, I don't know if its as bad as people say - but it says something when nearly everyone is saying the same thing. And what everyone is saying is not good for MS.

Time will tell. The marketplace/app store variation for MS as well as the community might be able to save it. If someone comes along and updates the UI for MS, and it becomes a very easily customizable OS like android is then I could see it. But that isn't going to happen, at least from what I've heard. Maybe I'm wrong but I heard it will be locked down pretty tight. You could argue the same about Apple, but the reality is that the jailbreak community for the iPhone is huge. MS will need the same kind of community I think.

 

[Deeko]

I've used one of the Samsung dev devices. The UI is very different - but that doesn't necessarily make it bad. One thing they definitely got right is polish/smoothness. Everything on WP7 happens buttery smooth, even on non-final hardware. For as nice as Android might look, everything from screen transitions, to scrolling, to pinch zooming is very stuttery. Not the case with WP7.

There will be missing features, without a doubt. Every v1 OS has that. However, what they do have, seems to be done very well. Also, WP7 always has unparalleled Office integration, and now they're adding XBox and Zune integration too. These are definite pluses in their favor.

We'll see what happens, but I think it shows a lot of promise.

 

[AMDZen]

I've used one of the Samsung dev devices. The UI is very different - but that doesn't necessarily make it bad. One thing they definitely got right is polish/smoothness. Everything on WP7 happens buttery smooth, even on non-final hardware. For as nice as Android might look, everything from screen transitions, to scrolling, to pinch zooming is very stuttery. Not the case with WP7.

There will be missing features, without a doubt. Every v1 OS has that. However, what they do have, seems to be done very well. Also, WP7 always has unparalleled Office integration, and now they're adding XBox and Zune integration too. These are definite pluses in their favor.

We'll see what happens, but I think it shows a lot of promise.

This is exactly why I prefer iOS over Android, but android has gotten better and better and I expect it to be even better with 3.0. I've heard that some of the custom roms also fix this issue with android.