Database Users

WM6.5 Widgets.

The folks over at "Fuze Mobility" have put up a post about windows mobile 6.5's ability to use 'WIDGETS' which seem to be easy ways of showing info from different web services/sites.
They have made available 50!, yes 50 widgets for different mobile based sites along with a .cab to enable widgets. They have done this to introduce the idea of widgets to the masses, or more specifically the ones who could further develop widgets.
Here is the link for their selection of widgets: Clicky
The download link is at the bottom of the page, which is very long.
Others appear to be enjoying these widgets. Sadly I have not been successful in installing one yet, as it complains about not finding a component or a missing certificate
I hope to find a fix for this somehow.
So, please go and try out these widgets and report back with your experience.
PLUS: any developers out there who fancy looking more into widgets:
please make a xda-devs widget where you can browse the forums through a widget, or specify some sections (like a certain phone you like) so you can browse through the threads. This would be a temporary fix for the many people who dream of having a dedicated app for viewing this amazing site.

That message indicates that your ROM does not have the widgets engine installed- check your ROM package...you can install it separately if you look for it.
We are working on the widgets in the next few days and intend to re-release the package with added functionality (hopefully). there's no 'back' button to those widgets so we need to address that and I think it's something we can map but we're playing around with it now.

Thanks, Ive already put in a request on the ROMs thread for a cab for my device.
Plus, as I said, a widget for xda-developers would be a great thing

Ultimate To Do App

hey guys,
I'm writing an android app which is going to be, as the title suggests, the ultimate to do app. Aside from the obvious to do app things like adding/deleting/being notified of tasks etc... the main feature of the app is it is going to sync with EVERYTHING!!! And when I say everything I mean the following:
- Remember the Milk
- Simplenote
- Toodledo
- Evernote
- Google Tasks
- Google Calendar
- Outlook
- Dropbox (as todo.txt file)
- Windows Live Skydrive (as todo.txt file)
- Sugar Sync (as todo.txt file)
Feel free to suggest any others I may have missed.
The other main feature of this app is it will be fully customisable, you aren't required to fill in any fields and you can choose to hide fields you never use.
I will compile a list of all of the features I have completed and have left to do.
In the meantime I'm hoping you guys will be able to suggest features they would like to see in the app to make it the definitive to do app for them. Also if there's any services you'd like it to sync to then feel free to suggest them.
Thanks.

Evernote?
It's gonna be daunting if youre gonna sync from the services directly from servers, maybe it's easier to do natively from data from the apps installed in the phone?
Then again you would needto monitor all the supported apps updates... Well that's what I think.
Sent from my Desire HD using XDA App

that's some ambitious ****, son!

agentxq49 said:
Evernote?
It's gonna be daunting if youre gonna sync from the services directly from servers, maybe it's easier to do natively from data from the apps installed in the phone?
Then again you would needto monitor all the supported apps updates... Well that's what I think.
Sent from my Desire HD using XDA App
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Added evernote, thanks. The app itself will use a todo.txt file locally and then periodically or on demand sync the tasks with the selected server.
dolby71 said:
that's some ambitious ****, son!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
haha if you gonna do something might as well do it big
More ideas are welcome...

I was going to suggest windows live skydrive but I guess that's what you mean by "live space"

smaskell said:
I was going to suggest windows live skydrive but I guess that's what you mean by "live space"
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
lol yh, i forgot what it was called for a minute there

If you need some help with the UI, I'll be happy to help.
check out my new app on the market: https://market.android.com/details?id=com.fima.episodes

hope you do it ........... but wow a big task to take on..............

dolby71 said:
If you need some help with the UI, I'll be happy to help.
check out my new app on the market: https://market.android.com/details?id=com.fima.episodes
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
looks good but I think i'll be alright, thanks for the offer tho
oka1 said:
hope you do it ........... but wow a big task to take on..............
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
yh lol, right now i've got pretty much everything working for the app except for the syncing parts which i'll be starting on next week

is it possible to takes "tasks" from exchange?

I've been using Astrid for a while now and love it.
This sounds very promising. One feature that I suggested to the Astrid team that they have not implemented would be the following:
I open an email in Gmail on my desktop. I decide that I should make a task out of this and click on that function there. When I then look at my google tasks, it has a link to the relevant email so I can refresh my memory when I have the time to take care of the task. I suggested to Astrid that they include this link when it syncs with your google tasks so that I can have the email open up in the android gmail app. So far they have not done anything with this. I would LOVE to see this in a To Do app.

mdubs said:
I've been using Astrid for a while now and love it.
This sounds very promising. One feature that I suggested to the Astrid team that they have not implemented would be the following:
I open an email in Gmail on my desktop. I decide that I should make a task out of this and click on that function there. When I then look at my google tasks, it has a link to the relevant email so I can refresh my memory when I have the time to take care of the task. I suggested to Astrid that they include this link when it syncs with your google tasks so that I can have the email open up in the android gmail app. So far they have not done anything with this. I would LOVE to see this in a To Do app.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I will have a look into that when i look at implementing google tasks. A feature I do mean to add though is to be able attach files to tasks much like you would do in an email, which is similar to what you mean just a bit simpler to implement and I don't think any other to do app does this. Although obviously this would only be local attatchments as I can't sync them with rtm etc... maybe with dropbox tho... thanks for the idea, keep em coming

try my ToDo app from here ToDoid

Mecid8 said:
try my ToDo app from here ToDoid
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
nice plug lol

I think, that you shouldn't write just another todo implementation. Maybe something more like "Best Android" David's Allen GTD implementation with ability to sync with any of those mostly popular webapps like Toodledo, Tracks, Nozbe and so on.
Maybe with plug-in architecture? It would be simpler to maintain and expand.
But if you want to stay just with "customizable todo list app", there should be some presets available from the start (after install), like:
- GTD,
- ZTD,
- Basic todo list,
- and so on....
Currently I'm using Toodledo (paid option) + Due Today (paid) for my GTD lists and Springpad for notes and bookmarks. It's not perfect, lacks some features... but I couldn't find anything better.

hakatu said:
I think, that you shouldn't write just another todo implementation. Maybe something more like "Best Android" David's Allen GTD implementation with ability to sync with any of those mostly popular webapps like Toodledo, Tracks, Nozbe and so on.
Maybe with plug-in architecture? It would be simpler to maintain and expand.
But if you want to stay just with "customizable todo list app", there should be some presets available from the start (after install), like:
- GTD,
- ZTD,
- Basic todo list,
- and so on....
Currently I'm using Toodledo (paid option) + Due Today (paid) for my GTD lists and Springpad for notes and bookmarks. It's not perfect, lacks some features... but I couldn't find anything better.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Could you expand a little by what you mean GTD lists? How does this differ from normal todo lists?

I'm using Gtasks by Dato that is pretty good and I'm looking forward to test your application.
Here's a list of features that I would like to have (besides the basic ones) :
- repeated tasks (when for a monthly task I mark it done, it would automatically create the same task for next month)
- pop up window that would show when it's reminder time and would detail task content (in Gtasks I have an icon in the status bar and a sound alert when it's reminder time but I still have to open the icon to read the task)
- nice widget (with scrolling or paging)

missparker76 said:
I'm using Gtasks by Dato that is pretty good and I'm looking forward to test your application.
Here's a list of features that I would like to have (besides the basic ones) :
- repeated tasks (when for a monthly task I mark it done, it would automatically create the same task for next month)
- pop up window that would show when it's reminder time and would detail task content (in Gtasks I have an icon in the status bar and a sound alert when it's reminder time but I still have to open the icon to read the task)
- nice widget (with scrolling or paging)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Recurring tasks is already implemented (user specified time period)
I'll have a look into that kind of notification.
I'm planning a widget in future releases

Ok guys I'm about a week away from completion of the app minus the syncing which is about 2 weeks away from completion. I will be releasing a lite and a paid version initially so I'm not sure of the rules of releasing it to the forum for testing if it isn't free.
I was just wondering though how many, if any, people would be interesting in doing some initial testing for me?

crazyfool_1 said:
Ok guys I'm about a week away from completion of the app minus the syncing which is about 2 weeks away from completion. I will be releasing a lite and a paid version initially so I'm not sure of the rules of releasing it to the forum for testing if it isn't free.
I was just wondering though how many, if any, people would be interesting in doing some initial testing for me?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
ill be happy to test the lit version.

[Q] New Omnia 7 owner - recommended apps? Tips?

I've got a Samsung Omnia 7 coming my way this week and it already has WinPho 7.5 on it. I own an Android phone and I won't likely be changing from that but I am very interested in what WinPho has to offer. With that said can anyone recommend some good apps and offer any tips on things that annoyed or frustrated when you first got your handset? Specifically I'm thinking of anything that might be simple on others phones but took you a while to find like a setting or some toggle option.
I'm really liking the idea of the unified messaging where you go from SMS to Facebore etc all without leaving the screen. Any other things that I should look forward to?

Thats the thing about WP, you really dont need any apps. If you have an unlocked device however, there are a few interesting apps here on xda.

Well It’s kind of hard to recommend you app's when you’re not from the Netherlands (since allot of app's that I use every day are Dutch). App's that are handy to have are the xda app, autopanorama, advanced config, windows phone device manager 1.7 (when your Omnia is unlocked), battery status and flashlight-x
Some games are really fun to play are; farm frenzy 2, OMG, rocket riot and tentacles

Welcome to WP7 Hope you enjoy using it, I personally love the Me and People hubs and like you mentioned the messaging integrated with FB chat! Put my favourite/most used/most useful apps etc. below to give you some ideas and also the more technical side if you're willing to get into that. Very easy to do and allows you more freedom for apps and hacks. You mentioned problems - the only one I have ever had which was very annoying was the in-call sound wasn't loud enough. I posted the fix below enjoy
Apps
Amazon Kindle - Kindle ebooks.
Apict - Polaroid
Baconit - Reddit
BBC News Mobile - News.
Convert2Go - Currency & measurement conversion.
Face Mask - By Microsoft Research. Add funny effects to your photos. (You'll love this and your girlfriend/kids even more so.)
Flashlight 7 - Perfect flashlight app. Constant LED.
Flixster - Movies app w/ Rotten Tomatoes.
The Guardian - News.
The Hype - Trending music app.
Metro - News.
MyEncyclopedia - Wikipedia.
NAVIGON - Very good SatNav.
Stop the Music! - When opened it removes any "Now playing" songs from the volume bar.
SkyDrive - By Microsoft. SkyDrive online storage.
Suggestion Box - By Microsoft. Make suggestions for improving WP7! You can vote up suggestions too. I urge you to download this for all our benefit
TipIt - For when you need to split a bill between friends.
TuneIn Radio - Excellent radio app.
WPCentral - WP7 news. Good app.
XDA
Games
Breeze, Minesweeper, Shuffle Party, Sudoku (free Microsoft games)
geoDefense - Addictive tower defence with a Geometry Wars feel.
ilomilo - Cute 3D puzzle game from Xbox.
Plants vs Zombies - On par with Angry Birds for quality and much more interesting.
Tiki Towers
Bejeweled LIVE
Fruit Ninja
Settings
Turn camera shutter sound off in ringtones+sounds
Battery Saver is the best thing ever invented, turn it on!
Set brightness to Low rather than auto, it's bright enough and saves a ton of battery life.
In pictures+camera settings you can choose whether to take pictures by pressing the screen. I do this because it then attempts to focus on what you pressed. Also whether when the phone is locked you can launch the camera using the h/w button.
Choose a background for your picture hub by hitting the three dots at the bottom right. Can also shuffle.
If you have more than one email account, you can link them together into one tile and inbox. When you send a new msg it will ask you what account. Love this. To do it go into one of your email tiles, hit the three dots and there should be an option to link.
Hacks
Sound Volume Fix
1. Open the diagnostic app by calling ##634#. From now on there will be a Diagnosis app on your App list.
2. Type *#0002*28345# to get to the Audio menu.
3. Locate the last option named “Device Gain (max/min)”, hereafter called profile, and select which volume to adjust in the first field (2 for call ear speaker, 5 for headphones, 7 for back speaker)
4. Push “Get”.
5. Input these values. [Profile 2] [Profile 5] [Profile 7]
5. Push “Set” after each one.
7. Exit Diagnosis and restart your phone.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Developer unlock (allows you to sideload any apps you want and perform some more effective hacks!)
You can get a free unlock from Microsoft if you are a student.
If not you can pay a tiny fee and get a officially supported unlock here through Chevron Labs. UPDATE: Tokens for Chevron unlocks have run out for the time being.
It's all very easy and completely safe.
Internet Sharing and Interop Unlock
Installs new option in settings menu for turning your phone into a WiFi! Interop unlock is included and that allows sideloaded apps to utilise native code. Very useful.
Instructions here.
Sideload/homebrew apps (can be installed once developer unlocked and some need interop unlock.)
Supreme Shortcuts - add tiles to go straight to WiFi for example.
Screen capturer
ImageWind - nice timewaster
Tango video call
Wario's Jewels - Gameboy emulator
Advanced Configuration - deserves to be in bold. This app contains a whole bunch of useful tweaks and allows for new theme colours and sounds.

I am using:
Handysafe (also with Desktop client)
Geocaching from Groundspeak - not perfect but there is no c:geo on WP7
Amazon Kindle
Amazon Hunter
Board express for Tapatalk
facebook
Mobiletag
MySPC 2011 (Sharepoint)
Schnelle Übersetzer (english - german)
Angry Birds
Bejeweled
Fable Coin Golf
Harbor Master
Bubble Birds

pLUSpISTOL said:
[/LIST]
Hacks
Sound Volume Fix
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
what are the default values mate? do you know them?

dickturpin1976 said:
what are the default values mate? do you know them?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
600/-1600 for 2
1200/-500 for 7
Would have to ask here for volume level 5 if you need it.

pLUSpISTOL said:
600/-1600 for 2
1200/-500 for 7
Would have to ask here for volume level 5 if you need it.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
thanks alot mate

For me unlocking the device and enabling WiFi tethering is the killer usage for the phone.
---------- Post added at 11:31 AM ---------- Previous post was at 11:18 AM ----------
pLUSpISTOL said:
Hacks
Sound Volume Fix
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That is very cool, id not know about that.
Before I always had to crank th evolume all up, but still barely heard the other person.

I think, the best WP7 game is Chromatic!
Try to beat my score!

Oh wow.. so much for being notified about updates to this thread! Thanks for all the suggestions, if only I'd read about the Chevron unlock sooner I'd be a much happier user. Unfortunately by the time I realised how great a deal it was and how useful it would be they'd sold out of tokens. I'm hoping they will get some more in the future or I'm gonna be stuck with what MS choose to allow and that feels far too much like Apple's world for my comfort.
I've taken a look at the volume profiles, so far the only sound I'd wanted to change was the headphone volume but now that's done. I'm gonna take a look at some of the apps mentioned, already got Apict though since I loved how it was when I tried it.

I hardly use phone for anything else than game development, texting and calling.
oh, and I use "Endomondo Sports Tracker" frequently when I go hiking
I think it is the best App beside my games

TomyMMX said:
For me unlocking the device and enabling WiFi tethering is the killer usage for the phone.
---------- Post added at 11:31 AM ---------- Previous post was at 11:18 AM ----------
That is very cool, id not know about that.
Before I always had to crank th evolume all up, but still barely heard the other person.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Same here, glad I made you aware of it
balcsida said:
I think, the best WP7 game is Chromatic!
Try to beat my score!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I've heard of this new one, I'll need to try it

Hi guys. I've asked this on another forum but I didn't get any answer so far, so I'm asking here too. Being a new omnia 7 owner too, I think this thread is good enough.
So:
"Does anyone know how can I sync Hotmail contacts with my Omnia 7? Here's why I'm asking:
As you probably know, the contact pictures that come from syncing with Google are pixelated and look horrible. Why they didn't fix this so far is beyond me.
I've noticed that if I create a new contact, the phone asks where to "save" it, Windows Live or Google. If I select Live and then assign a picture to that contact, it has the same quality, so it's much better than Google. However, I don't want to manually create all the contacts, so I went into the account settings and unchecked the "Contacts" option in the Google "what to sync" section. The Live account doesn't have this option, only "Email" - why is that?!
To my surprise, the People section only shows 3-4 contacts after I unchecked that option! I really don't know why, because on Hotmail I have all my contacts listed, so I assumed they'll be synced with the phone.
So, what would be the best and fastest way to do this? Or some other workaround for the contact images problem...at least until Google finally fixes this mess...
Thank you. "

thedirtchamber said:
Hi guys. I've asked this on another forum but I didn't get any answer so far, so I'm asking here too. Being a new omnia 7 owner too, I think this thread is good enough.
So:
"Does anyone know how can I sync Hotmail contacts with my Omnia 7? Here's why I'm asking:
As you probably know, the contact pictures that come from syncing with Google are pixelated and look horrible. Why they didn't fix this so far is beyond me.
I've noticed that if I create a new contact, the phone asks where to "save" it, Windows Live or Google. If I select Live and then assign a picture to that contact, it has the same quality, so it's much better than Google. However, I don't want to manually create all the contacts, so I went into the account settings and unchecked the "Contacts" option in the Google "what to sync" section. The Live account doesn't have this option, only "Email" - why is that?!
To my surprise, the People section only shows 3-4 contacts after I unchecked that option! I really don't know why, because on Hotmail I have all my contacts listed, so I assumed they'll be synced with the phone.
So, what would be the best and fastest way to do this? Or some other workaround for the contact images problem...at least until Google finally fixes this mess...
Thank you. "
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hiya mate,
Sorry it's not the answer you're looking for - I have no idea!
I understand the problem. Don't know why Hotmail can't sync more than mail.
If you have some way of getting them onto Outlook that could be the way to go.
Other than that, best to ask here.
Good luck

Windows Phone News
Windows Phone News is the application that I would install immediately upon buying a WP7 device. You can get it at marketplace for free.
http://www.windowsphone.com/en-US/apps/4cfd516a-0e3b-e011-854c-00237de2db9e
Check it out if you didn't yet and you won't regret it.

WP8 new features!

So with the emulator leak we have new things to look at
Namely:
- downloading maps
- Applications + settings and SMS are now able to be backed up on CLOUD (http://clip2net.com/s/29yZl)
- PIN for app purchases on store
- upgraded camera UI
- OneNote separated from Office - probably something like OneNote MX?
- IE10 has again "Find on page" option!
- Data Sense application - to measure data usage (WiFi, cellular)
- Search page is now greatly enhanced with News, In Theatres, ... (Personalized suggestions - requires Hotmail account signed in, but that doesn't work.)
- Multiple photos selection (http://clip2net.com/s/29z2y)
- More settings in Ease of access (maybe they were just US specific before that?) - text size, high contrast mode, screen magnifier throughout the system
- Ability to remap the STOP button in IE to something else - namely favs, stop/refresh or tabs
- Partial blocking of cookies (tracking cookies?)
- Lockscreen to show Bing today picture rather your own one (NEAT!)
- LOCKSCREEN TO SUPPORT CUSTOM APPLICATIONS!
- Zune Music is now called Xbox Music including reporting "what are you playing now" to Xbox
- SafeSearch settings for Bing search
- More detailed phone storage informations including buttons to move photos or music to SD card
- Native screenshots (winkey + camkey) -- thanks to wpcentral!
The list shall be updated!

Some pictures:
About screen:
Backup options:
Call:
Camera:
Data sense:
Ease of access:
Home:
IE:
Images:
Lockscreen:
Maps:
Music:
Search:
Skydrive search:
Storage:
Updates:

"Applications + settings and SMS are now able to be backed up on CLOUD"
- Only think i really need, but GREAT!

Are there any APIs that can filter calls or SMS?

Windows Phone 8 is going to be a killer OS!! I seriously can't wait to upgrade from my aging DVP!
Screen shots available here:
http://wp7.hu/2012/07/26/windows-phone-8-emulator-screenshotok-omlesztve/

Hcs66 said:
Are there any APIs that can filter calls or SMS?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I highly doubt that, didn't see any api

Here's my list, what I have found so far in the .chm file:
SmsInterceptor for capturing SMS messages
SpeechSynthesizer, SpeechRecognition - sounds good
Battery class for accessing remaining power, finally!
LockScreenWallpaper - API for changing current lockscreen
VoipPhoneCall - if you want to create your own Skype clone
SaveAppointmentTask - to save appointments into calendar
App to App and App to Device Bluetooth communication
FlipTileData, CycleTileData, IconicTileData - new types of Tiles, including that 3 size tile

Second post GREATLY updated with A LOT of images. Click on them for full resolution (WVGA).
If anybody would be interested in some kind of video walkthrough - I suppose it could happen during the weekend as well?

Also it seems to run with only 256MB RAM without a page file, so hopefully we will be seeing devices like the Nokia Lumia 610 at a low price.

anything related to wifi? I really want an option to not lose wife when phone is locked
Thanks

i still don't see myself pulling away from android. i really want to though...

I want to see the lock screen in action, and I want to see if they made any changes to the toast notifications.
Sent from my Nexus S using Tapatalk 2

hunkyn said:
anything related to wifi? I really want an option to not lose wife when phone is locked
Thanks
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Indeed it was quite irritating to lose wifi once the phone is locked....
hope wp8 will change it for the better...

Is there going to be more themes than just black and white? I know there is more accent colors
Sent from my SCH-I535 using xda app-developers app

Can't wait until I get to pirate, erm I mean purchase this magnificent operating system.

N3croman said:
Here's my list, what I have found so far in the .chm file:
SmsInterceptor for capturing SMS messages
SpeechSynthesizer, SpeechRecognition - sounds good
Battery class for accessing remaining power, finally!
LockScreenWallpaper - API for changing current lockscreen
VoipPhoneCall - if you want to create your own Skype clone
SaveAppointmentTask - to save appointments into calendar
App to App and App to Device Bluetooth communication
FlipTileData, CycleTileData, IconicTileData - new types of Tiles, including that 3 size tile
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
i was wondering...
is VOIPcall based on skype? or a standard like SIP?
i work in a telephony company, and i'm interested in this functionnality: i already have lot of ideas of how to use voipcall in my desktop software (switching from desktop softphone to WP8 voip automatically, adding mobility to my desktop softwares, etc...)

warenbe said:
i was wondering...
is VOIPcall based on skype? or a standard like SIP?
i work in a telephony company, and i'm interested in this functionnality: i already have lot of ideas of how to use voipcall in my desktop software (switching from desktop softphone to WP8 voip automatically, adding mobility to my desktop softwares, etc...)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
There are some registry values relating to SIP, and it has already been announced that it supports skype.

ale07 said:
There are some registry values relating to SIP, and it has already been announced that it supports skype.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
i hope it will not be skype only.
some registry doesn't mean "it will be ok for SIP", but it's a good start

What about multitasking?
Is the multitasking the same as Windows Phone 7.5? Is the number of "freezed" apps increased? Are there any changes?

The only thing we know from MS is that VoIP apps and GPS apps will be able to run in background (or get much less limits compared to regular apps) - so apps like GPS navigation or Skype will run in background as you'd expect them.

Using Hubs and Plug-ins to Make WP8 a Dominant Alternative OS

Here’s the gist of a thread I started @ WPCentral that I wanted to bring over to XDA to get an additional perspective.(Let's be honest...XDA is a bit cooler than WP Central good )
How about allowing for users to create 2 custom Hubs? The Custom Hub would have two panes – the default being a notifications list, and the second being a list of all the apps added to that hub.
How about allowing Kids Korner to be a Hub where parents can add in apps and other educational stuff for the kids to look at (then at the bottom of Kid’s corner, put a menu option that allows the parents to put in a password to get into the rest of the phone)?
How about expanding the Lenses idea to give third party apps the option to pick one key feature of their app that gets integrated into a Hub?
How about tighter integration between Hubs? For example taking the option of in the phone dialer to hit the phonebook icon and get sent to the People Hub and using it this way…if I’m in the Calendar Hub and make a reminder note to meet with someone, or to call someone, that note shows up under that person’s name in the People Hub. If I want to edit that, when I am in the people hub I hit that note which sends me back to the Calendar to change it.
These are just some thoughts I had on how MSFT could flesh WP8 out and give it an edge. I think RIM is trying to do that in its BlackBerry 10 Blackberry Hub, but MSFT has more resources in WP8 to make things more seamless and less cluttered.
Here’s the link to the original thread:
http://forums.wpcentral.com/windows-phone-8/220854-hubs-over-folders-lenses-improve-core-apps.html
But I’d love to get feedback here on XDA.

HMm not so sure this is really worth it. Besides, to integrate an app with a specific hub is a specific job the developer needs to do. In order to integrate with the music+video hub, for instance, you need to do specific thing. Same goes for people/photo/whatever hub.
Having a custom hub is very difficult for the apps to integrate properly with it and sloopy developers might actually ruin the entire experience with poor integration.
While i see where you are going with this (notification center), the need is really not that big.
The kids corner is a completely different thing and is not similar to a hub in any way.
EDIT: the news/notification thing in the hub is something the apps do, and not the hub itself. The hub just centralizes them in a ... hub. In order for the hub to know what to centralize and from who, the apps must call specific APIs.

mcosmin222 said:
HMm not so sure this is really worth it. Besides, to integrate an app with a specific hub is a specific job the developer needs to do. In order to integrate with the music+video hub, for instance, you need to do specific thing. Same goes for people/photo/whatever hub.
Having a custom hub is very difficult for the apps to integrate properly with it and sloopy developers might actually ruin the entire experience with poor integration.
While i see where you are going with this (notification center), the need is really not that big.
The kids corner is a completely different thing and is not similar to a hub in any way.
EDIT: the news/notification thing in the hub is something the apps do, and not the hub itself. The hub just centralizes them in a ... hub. In order for the hub to know what to centralize and from who, the apps must call specific APIs.
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Ok. I think I follow along with you comment.
But MSFT does have these some of these elements in play in the OS itself, so why not use them more effectively? I know Apple has a more stringent control of apps that get approved before going in the app store, so could MSFT enforce these add-ons?
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Microsoft regularlly provides the Options and in my experience developers will use them by themselves, simply because it increases the usability of their Apps a lot more than it adds required effort. It's rather a problem how to implement this in a way that does prevent a badly written App from affecting the system's Performance and stability.
That especially gets a Problem when Apps are allowed to surface data somewhere as could be seen by the problems Skype originally caused with the People Hub Integration.
I'm pretty sure Microsoft will add more Integration Points into the System with the next API update - let's just wait and see.
As for making usage of some of those Integration Points mandatory. I don't believe that to be a good idea. I also don't believe that it is necessary. Developers regularly complain that they can't integrate somewhere so I really believe that if they were allowed to do it they would do it by themselves. This is also necessary because the Integration regularly involves the Transfer of data to the invoked App (Images, Files, etc.)

Stevie, I think what you've said is fair. I suppose MSFT could just use their own apps like Photosynth and Skype as a way to sure more seamless integration instead of making that a mandatory process for all devs.
Do people even see the need for such integration in the platform going forward?
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In general I believe that it can make for a more fluid experience if there are well done Integration points. Camera Lenses or the Image editing capabilities are a great example for this. Another is the possibility to have an App specific contact store (like Skype does it now).
What I believe would greatly improve the concept would be Message Integration into the Messaging Hub and the ability to create an app specific calendar store that is also availble inside the Standard calendar App.
Also nice would be the possibility to register Apps for all filetypes. Currently you can only consume files inside your App that are not assigned to System Apps (e.g. MP3 or JPEG Images).
So in short: yes, those integrations can greatly improve the workflow and I'd love to see Microsoft in the end deliver on the promise of Hubs they gave when introducing them. When you want to do something with Images, open the Image Hub. If you want to message someone open the Messaging Hub, etc.

If it were up to me, here’s how I’d organize the Hubs in WP8. I’d love to hear other’s thoughts:
Store: Same. Just better Secondary links from the all the other Hubs. This and People Hub should be the two primary Hubs where all other Hubs have shortcut links to.
Photos: Same. Shortcut Links to Store, People, Search, Content Manager
Music and Videos. Same. Shortcuts to Store, People, Search, Content manager
Games: Same. Better shortcut links to Store. Also links to People, Search, Content manager
Productivity: Office + Calendar + Note Apps + Voice Personal Assistants here (allow Tell Me to be an app where you can add commands to it).
- 3rd party apps list include: any note, calendar, language, Office Assistant Apps.
- Secondary shortcuts to People (especially Rooms), Content Manager, Wallet, Store
Content Manager: Skydrive and a page showing list of downloaded content here...not a full file manager where you can move stuff around on the phone itself, but a general downloads folder.
- 3rd part apps include Box and other upload apps
- Secondary Hub links – Photos, Music + Videos, Office
People: You manage contacts and social media here.
- Me Tile: Notifications...and have the option to reply to an individual tweet or FB post or Skype message from a listed contact here.
- 3rd party apps include: All social media apps
- Secondary shortcuts: all the other hubs.
Messaging: Emails, SMS, Skype IM is here.
- 3rd party apps include all IM apps, FB messenger, shortcut to Skype.
- Shortcuts to People, Store, Phone
Navigation: All Maps and Transit apps here.
- Some of Local Scout functionality here (also accessible in the Search Hub).
- Secondary Shortcuts to Search, People, Store.
Search: Same, except adding one more page to list search related apps.
- Secondary short cuts to Navigation, People, Store, Content Manager
Phone: Skype (calling features, video chat) and Dialer are primary options here. Other apps that tap into this Hub (or get listed here) are 3rd party Video Apps
- Secondary shortcuts to People, Messaging.
Wallet: Holds Credit Cards and Financial Apps
- Secondary shortcuts to Search, Store, Productivity (in particular – calendar), People
Corporate: Same. Allow Corporate IT to do their thing. Better links to the Productivity, Office
Custom Hubs: Users are allowed to create only two. A two pane look – default page with app related notifications and a second page with the app list.
It is still a hybrid mix of hubs and apps – if you don’t want to use a Hub, don’t use it.
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My head hurts. It is just too complicated.
This implementation can go wrong in soooooooooooooooo many ways, it will be a wonder if a developer manages to get it right for every scenario.

I believe you're making it more complicated than it needs to be and a lot of what you are talking about is already there. I don't need an explicit link to go from Calendar to people. If I open an appointment and swipe to attendants I can tap on any of them to be taken to their contacts page inside the people Hub (as it should be).
It's a good idea to have those kinds of shortcuts around that are contextually aware but adding a load of Buttons to jump somewhere else is mainly getting the UI cluttered or getting confusing/annoying.
Some of those connections you mention are already there - e.g. Store in Music/Videos.
What actually would be a nice idea is to allow productivity Apps to tie into the Office Hub similarily to how it works with imaging Apps in the Pictures Hub.
Some of the other stuff you mention is also there. Cloud Storage applications can integrate themselves into the system for automated Uploads similarily to SkyDrive but currently limited to Pictures so it can definitely be improved upon.
TellMe is also extensible to allow Apps to tie into it and use voice command functionality. Audible would be one App that takes advantage of this. It doesn't really make sense for all Apps though. E.g. a picture taking App will require the ViewFinder etc. so it would not benefit that much from Voice Control (and it is quite a hazzle to implement this - especially if the App is getting localized in several languages).
As for search - if there would be something like a search charm on Windows 8 it should tie into the Bing App which already has a permanent shortcut in the search button.
I guess your idea would be to allow people to jump easily from Hub to Hub without going to the Homescreen. Having Links for this in every other Hub just isn't the way to go there. A possibility would be to add all the Hubs at the bottom of the Task Switcher Screen. So you would long press on the back button and would get the Thumbnails of running Apps and at the bottom the icons for People, Calendar, Messaging, Pictures, Music/Video and Office. I'm not sure if that would be an improvement over just going via the Home screen though.
So in short: more integration of Apps into the OS: yes, more context aware integration of Apps with each other: yes, adding loads of shortcuts: no

StevieBallz said:
I believe you're making it more complicated than it needs to be and a lot of what you are talking about is already there. I don't need an explicit link to go from Calendar to people. If I open an appointment and swipe to attendants I can tap on any of them to be taken to their contacts page inside the people Hub (as it should be).
It's a good idea to have those kinds of shortcuts around that are contextually aware but adding a load of Buttons to jump somewhere else is mainly getting the UI cluttered or getting confusing/annoying.
Some of those connections you mention are already there - e.g. Store in Music/Videos.
What actually would be a nice idea is to allow productivity Apps to tie into the Office Hub similarily to how it works with imaging Apps in the Pictures Hub.
Some of the other stuff you mention is also there. Cloud Storage applications can integrate themselves into the system for automated Uploads similarily to SkyDrive but currently limited to Pictures so it can definitely be improved upon.
TellMe is also extensible to allow Apps to tie into it and use voice command functionality. Audible would be one App that takes advantage of this. It doesn't really make sense for all Apps though. E.g. a picture taking App will require the ViewFinder etc. so it would not benefit that much from Voice Control (and it is quite a hazzle to implement this - especially if the App is getting localized in several languages).
As for search - if there would be something like a search charm on Windows 8 it should tie into the Bing App which already has a permanent shortcut in the search button.
I guess your idea would be to allow people to jump easily from Hub to Hub without going to the Homescreen. Having Links for this in every other Hub just isn't the way to go there. A possibility would be to add all the Hubs at the bottom of the Task Switcher Screen. So you would long press on the back button and would get the Thumbnails of running Apps and at the bottom the icons for People, Calendar, Messaging, Pictures, Music/Video and Office. I'm not sure if that would be an improvement over just going via the Home screen though.
So in short: more integration of Apps into the OS: yes, more context aware integration of Apps with each other: yes, adding loads of shortcuts: no
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Stevie, I like much of your suggestions. The goal here isn't to clutter the OS - if it were up to me I would use the contextual menus and a few other existing options in the OS to facilitate moving from Hub to Hub instead of adding extra buttons.
Based on how the OS is, there may not be a need to have list of all the hubs at the bottom. The goal is to jump from certain Hubs to each other based on "common user tasks that would involve multiple Hubs or steps that can be reduced". Now if you want to do things the current way, fine. More I think some would welcome more intuition.
I was just trying to describe a smoother way to leverage the existing strengths of the OS and to see where MSFT could make the quickest improvements. No question, the OS is smooth but if they build out these extensions, you can have an improved user experience. My apologies if my explanation was convoluted.
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Should MSFT eventually push an all Hub version of WP8?
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What do you mean by "All Hub"? The Hubs are a thematic grouping but I guess we will always have certain use cases that don't exactlly lend themselves to being integrated into one of those Hubs so putting everything into the Hubs probably isn't the best idea. Giving developers the integration points to integrate their data into the Hubs if it is suitable should be the priority.

I agree. Apps are mostly isolated programs running on their own. If apps could talk to each other more easily we can have more interesting behaviors and abilities that no other mobile os has. For quality control, just give the user a on off switch for each app just like the background task.