One of the most important things that makes iPhone appealing for the end-user is the famous Installer. Although jailbreaking your device is not something Apple wants you to do, everyone does it, and it was one of the main reasons that iPhone became so popular.
An end-user who wants goodies for his phone does not know how to search online for applications, choose the best, download, copy, and install... Installer saves you this hassle by providing a one-stop location to download (virtually) any application you might want, using the iPhone itself, making it extremely easy for the user.
Is there a similar application for WM? If not, can't we start it XDA-Developers and build a general public repository for freeware applications to promote the applications of developers here in the forums and contribute the WM software community? The application would have to be widely advertised and not just included in custom ROMs by default, so that people who don't know how to install custom ROMs can get a copy of this application easily.
This is a proposal to the developers to start a new application, not a request for an already available one. I don't have the required development skills for it.
[Was this discussed before? Can't find a trace]
I agree!
Since the new 2.0 FW came out I have been using my iPhone again. I actually still prefer my Touch even with the new exchange support. The installer (app store and Cydia for now) on the iPhone is amazing. While I know how to install apps, think about the new WM user. If they had an installer program that could be downloaded and installed from a site (here?) and then have access to installing programs like S2U2, S2P, PCM Contacts, Keyboards, or even pay products like SPB MS, UL, etc. Potentially the program could also monitor for updates, so when A_C (the great!) comes out with a new update, the user would not need to be checking this forum and happen to see the thread with the update, it would be notified by the application on the device (when they launch the installer app). Skins could be available, the possibilities are endless - the iPhone has proven that.
As far as the application itself, I am no programmer, but it seems like it would be fairly easy to create a program that would look for a list of cab files on a website directory, download the list and allow the download and installation of the cab file. Yes, No?
I agree, this would be very useful. Currently I use Ubuntu Linux, and downloading and installing programs is this easy, because of repositories. I just search for a program using a package manager, and I'm given a list of programs that is relevant to my search. Then I simply have to click and install. I've seen this on the iPod touch, and it is very useful and quick
I just found that someone proposed a similar idea at http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=396486.
However, the approach is not logical as someone has proposed using a thread filtering algorithm instead of creating an actual repository.
Anyway, isn't any developer interested?!
I was looking for something similar since ages. However, the best bet I think (in terms of ease of development) would be to setup a ppc-friendly website with freeware cabs available. Ofcourse, not an ideal solution but should do the trick. How about something like an AppStore for ppc devices ?
A web site won't serve the purpose. There are several web sites out there already. A Windows Mobile application will make it completely different. It can serve as a UI for a cab manager (much like *nix apt-get or other package managers: Installer, Cydia, App Store). The point is reaching the end-user through the phone, not a web site, not the PC.
z_rudy said:
A web site won't serve the purpose. There are several web sites out there already. A Windows Mobile application will make it completely different. It can serve as a UI for a cab manager (much like *nix apt-get or other package managers: Installer, Cydia, App Store). The point is reaching the end-user through the phone, not a web site, not the PC.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Well, even if someone managed to make such an app, in idea it would still be needing a working internet connection to download the cabs. So in a way it is as internet dependent as a website. However, I agree that such a software would be cool but difficult to develop.
Isn't one of the features of the installer app that users can add repositories from all over the place,but still have a unified interface at the end of the day? A website could not achieve that.
Surur
In the meantime why not set up an rss feed from eg: http://www.freewarepocketpc.net/ and you are at least halfway there.
Skymarket - Windows Mobile app store coming “this fall”
http://wmpoweruser.com/?p=819
The answer
-removed- will announce full launch soon.
hmmm... isn't a wiki the easiest answer?
everyone can modify it and it has enough structure to make it as deep as folks want and search is built in.
and it can be quite fast on mobile if no graphics.
if I see itunes not wanting to start up every other week because there is another update, I'm going to simply uninstall it.
There is already an paa like this in our phones .. the MS version that does not do ****. if anything, all it would take is have it register the programs installed on the ppc, and have the ms version search for updates in the middle of the night while we sleep. the only thing though: the developers have to put a link for the updates in the about section. this would help MS update check those websites for updates, instead of having someone putt all the labor hours collecting cabs. the developers can do it them selves everytime they make an update just like posting it on a thread.
Unfortunately, MS does not have much on their website other than promotional advertising for their own product.
it will be hard work but very possible. considering all the custom roms out there, not many cabs can be installed with just a tap of the stylus. there will be dependency issues, memory issues, etc. but anyway, check out Device Update of CrC's roms for hermes. it's a small repo for his rom. cool, aint it?
gotvitamink said:
I agree, this would be very useful. Currently I use Ubuntu Linux, and downloading and installing programs is this easy, because of repositories. I just search for a program using a package manager, and I'm given a list of programs that is relevant to my search. Then I simply have to click and install. I've seen this on the iPod touch, and it is very useful and quick
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Exactly this.
Makes many things much easier.
Hi
I see a few threads of people developing an appstore alike program for the diamonds and other devices.
They all seem a lil bit too over the top. So, iv begun an online AppStore clone. No windows coding, no programs, just an online website, optimised for diamonds (to begin with) that lists apps by genre.
This way, developers can upload thier own apps, the website can host them, people can subscribe to the apps and recieve updates when the developer adds new files etc.
Iv even started playing with notifying subscribers via SMS when a new program becomes available from a developer.
As opera is so good, flick scrolling, fullscreen, etc, an optimised webpage should pretty much be able to do alot, if not all, of the things any windows program can do and would involve no installs and be very lightwieght..
So before, i go too far into this thing, id love to know your thoughts on this, is it worth developing further?
Hello
I think that having several projects around one theme is an excellent thing because it leads to better results.
So, yes, you should continue on your project. Good cheer !
look forward to seeing it if you carry on the project
Exactly whats needed.
Surur
I have barely developed anything since the BASIC days on the C64 and Amiga, and now feel inspired to create some financial applications for the Australian market - such as superannuation projections.
How hard is it to develop? A few standard calculations like you would see on a spreadsheet would work, with some graphing.
Most financial applications I have found are pretty basic and don't account for inflation in rising wages and fees, etc.
I believe I could attract at least a dollar for a well developed application for superannuation alone.
I have installed the Android 2.2 SDK and have no idea where to start. I presume this is some sort of emulated Android device I can test my applications on.
Are there any tutorials on how to get started? What's the development language?
All I need to do is create a simple text interface to input a few parameters to run some complex financial calculations on the back end.
A really sophisticated application would pull live interest rates or other data and enter that in.
Start with this:
developer.android. com/resources/tutorials/ hello-world.html
(take away the spaces, I cant post links yet )
These are all great tutorials that will walk you through the basic processes and applications/layouts. The only issue you will have is when/if you decide to go through the "Tabs View" tutorial, there are a lot of errors in the code, and I have no idea why no one have changed it, but you can PM me for the correct version.
If you want some basics on Java, just do a google search, there are a lot of great tutorials out there for beginning Java. I recommend doing this first, just so you have a good understanding of Java(which is the development language), it will *REALLY* help out. You can incorporate other languages, but for the time being, stick with Java.
Yes, the SDK comes with an emulator so that you can test your programs without having to install them on a real device. In addition to what Jimmy said (and I can't stres highly enough that you should start with the Android Developer's website and tutorials), you can go to Stack Overflow which is a programming Q&A website. People there are generally very helpful, as long as you've shown you've actually put some effort into solving your problem before you posted your question.
Fair enough... So it's basically about learning to programme for Java? How hard would it be, realistically, for someone with no application development experience?
You need a basic grasp of objected oriented design & programming, along with an understanding of the Java language. When it comes to gui aspects & all communication with other apps/data on the device, you have Android, rather than the usual Java class libraries such as awt or swing.
How hard? It's doable, imo, but will depend on aptitude. Start with Java & then add in Android when you feel like more material to get your head around.
So basically getting started requires me to learn application development like on any other platform, in OO and Java. I may as well do a course or something then. Would a few weeks doing some sort of intro course help?
I'm sure an appropriate course could be very helpful. Though I'd steer clear of those short courses claiming to turn anyone into a valuable skilled programmer in only xx weeks, if only because the tutor will probably know less than you on the subject. Better one which makes credible claims regarding its introductory nature. A couple of degree level intro modules on OO or Java should be of help.
I'm working on an XMPP chat client designed for Honeycomb tablets. I've gotten pretty far on the UI and data model, but I don't have much experience working with Services. I've looked into just modding Beem or Yaxim, but both have different design goals than what I'm looking to do (I eventually want to expand it beyond just XMPP, so I'm abstracting my data model as much as possible, wheras theirs are very coupled with their services).
Right now there aren't any good chat clients that make good use of Fragments, etc. If anyone wants to help me change that, let me know. The end result will be open sourced under either the GPL or Apache. If this generates some interest I'll put what I've got on GitHub and we can discuss how to move forward from there.
Needed information: -Currently I working on an my first app (besides Hello World) for a club that I am in on campus.
-I want to display the news feed of a closed group in a small window- but I have been lead to believe that I would need to make an app on Facebook.
-My current "solution" would be to link up the group with Wordpress and use Wordpress to displayed a "window" in the app.
-I am using Eclipse ( since netbeans lacks a gui editor)
- any other solutions need to be as basic as possible on the front end. Any possible president in the future would need to be able to work with it, and updates need to be kept easy to follow with or without much computer skills.
-help would be appreciated.
Background: -Originally I was going to display a window of the twitter feed from the app-and I found that twitter has a library to work with.
-Other app features are a calender that would be synced with one that the President works with.
-There will be a set of "themes" within the app for the members customization.
-I am new to developing and coding. I come from the world of designing and audio editing. I have been studying on my own, but have had little hands on. With the twitter I was able to find a tutorial that both walked me through and explained the concepts.