The Windows Phone Developer Community http://www.wp7dev.net/ Microsoft Windows Phone Developer Communit empowering developers to collaborate on developing for the new Microsoft Windows Phone devices en Mon, 21 May 2012 11:01:46 GMT vBulletin 60 http://www.wp7dev.net/images/misc/rss.png The Windows Phone Developer Community http://www.wp7dev.net/ The Wrap: The Focus 2 arrives, “Dear Windows Phone,” new 99 cent Xbox games http://www.wp7dev.net/showthread.php?396-The-Wrap-The-Focus-2-arrives-“Dear-Windows-Phone-”-new-99-cent-Xbox-games&goto=newpost Sun, 20 May 2012 18:43:10 GMT Here are my favorite Windows Phone highlights of the week. What about you?
The Samsung Focus 2 arrives on Sunday
Heads up that the Samsung Focus 2 makes its AT&T debut this weekend. With a $50 price tag, solid spec sheet, and 4G LTE network support—not to mention classy looks—I’m betting Samsung has another Windows Phone winner on its hands. The critics agree. CNET’s Jessica Dolcourt reviewed the phone this week and liked what she saw. “I wouldn't hesitate to recommend the Focus 2,” she concludes. Ben “Smoked by Windows Phone” Rudolph also put this white beauty through its paces and walked away impressed. “If you’re looking for a value-priced phone that gets you top-level features, the Samsung Focus 2 is a great choice,” he wrote. See AT&T’s entire Windows Phone line up

Tip: Rocking the lock screen
Once you do pick up that new Focus 2, check out Laura Foy’s latest tip for new Windows Phone owners. This week she delves into the secrets of the lock screen. (Looking for more great tips? We’ve got ‘em—here and here.)
“Dear Windows Phone”
We get lots of emails from people who decide to give Windows Phone a try and are so wowed by the experience they feel compelled to share. (Keep ‘em coming!) As Business Insider and a few other outlets noticed, we recently published one from a longtime Apple fan that landed in Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer’s inbox (funny how he ignores all my mails). Read it on our website. Speaking of converts, Sydney Myers over at PhoneDog has an interesting and thoughtful post this week on what soured her love affair with Android and why she now pockets a Nokia Lumia 900 instead. “I need a tool, not a toy, “ she writes. “I need a phone I can pick up and use. Windows Phone is exactly that and it manages to be seductively attractive in the process.”
List of bargain Xbox games grows
Last month I wrote about price cuts for seven popular Xbox LIVE titles in the Windows Phone Marketplace, including Angry Birds and Burn the Rope, to 99 cents. Well, since then the list of bargain titles has quietly been growing, and I wanted to makes sure you knew about all the great games you can now get on the cheap. Here they are. What are you waiting for?
And finally…It’s Metro: the musical!
Windows Phone owner and UK-based musician Matt Oglesby had this thought the other day: What could I do with my Lumia 800 and some free music apps from Marketplace?
A lot, it turns out. His composition “Metro” was made from five apps—BitSynth, Piano 7, Level 6 Guitar Chords, SoundFlake Synth, Tones—mixed together using Cubase. The only thing he added extra was some drums. (Here are the full production notes.) As a hack guitarist myself, I thought this was especially cool. Even cooler: One of the apps he used, BitSynth, was coded by Windows Phone blog contributor Andy Myers, whose office is right next to mine. (Look for Andy’s chronicle of how he made BitSynth on the blog soon.)






More... ]]> Windows Phone Blog Administrator http://www.wp7dev.net/showthread.php?396-The-Wrap-The-Focus-2-arrives-“Dear-Windows-Phone-”-new-99-cent-Xbox-games get location coordinates from map in emulator http://www.wp7dev.net/showthread.php?395-get-location-coordinates-from-map-in-emulator&goto=newpost Fri, 18 May 2012 08:27:13 GMT hello I am creating a travel app that uses Bing maps and need to get the coordinates of a location on the map, basically users should select a location on the map and then the coordinates will be saved to local variables and then saved in a local database, I have the database part implemented... hello

I am creating a travel app that uses Bing maps and need to get the coordinates of a location on the map, basically users should select a location on the map and then the coordinates will be saved to local variables and then saved in a local database, I have the database part implemented but cannot figure out how to allow users to select a location and then get the coordinates of this location, is this possible when using the Windows phone emulator in Visual Studio? ]]> Visual Studio Spikey http://www.wp7dev.net/showthread.php?395-get-location-coordinates-from-map-in-emulator Have you updated to Windows Phone 7.5? http://www.wp7dev.net/showthread.php?394-Have-you-updated-to-Windows-Phone-7-5&goto=newpost Fri, 18 May 2012 08:18:43 GMT For the past few weeks I’ve been mentioning that you’ll soon need Windows Phone 7.5 installed on your phone to buy, download, or update apps from Marketplace. (This applies to both the phone and web (http://www.windowsphone.com/marketplace) storefronts, by the way.) We’re now doing the final... For the past few weeks I’ve been mentioning that you’ll soon need Windows Phone 7.5 installed on your phone to buy, download, or update apps from Marketplace. (This applies to both the phone and web storefronts, by the way.)
We’re now doing the final work needed to turn on this new requirement, so I thought it would be a good time for another friendly reminder. If you’re just tuning in, my earlier post has all the details on why we’re doing this. (In short, the new requirement is tied to a larger Marketplace improvement effort.) But the key takeaway is that if you like apps and games, you’ll soon need Windows Phone 7.5 installed to continue using Marketplace. Most of you already do.
If not, you’ll find a checklist and step-by-step instructions for installing Windows Phone 7.5 on Update Central. I’ll also be back with another reminder on the day the requirement actually kicks in.



More... ]]> Windows Phone Blog Administrator http://www.wp7dev.net/showthread.php?394-Have-you-updated-to-Windows-Phone-7-5 Windows Phone designer is named one of country’s most creative http://www.wp7dev.net/showthread.php?393-Windows-Phone-designer-is-named-one-of-country’s-most-creative&goto=newpost Thu, 17 May 2012 05:33:37 GMT The June issue of Fast Company carries the magazine’s latest picks for its annual 100 Most Creative People in Business, which celebrates “innovators who dare to think differently.” This year one of our own made the coveted list: Windows Phone designer Jeff Fong. Check out his write-up.
Fong, 43, joined the Windows Phone design team three years ago and has been one of the leading thinkers behind Windows Phone’s signature look and the set of underlying design principles known as “Metro."
Trained as an illustrator at the Art Center College of Design in Pasadena, Calif., Fong says he always had an interest in combining traditional media with technology. In 1993 he won an internship at Microsoft and was assigned to work on two of the company’s early multimedia efforts aimed at kids—Creative Writer and Fine Artist. He hasn’t looked back since.
Over the years Fong has worked on everything from an interactive gardening guide to Windows Media Center and the Zune music player, two other Microsoft products often praised for their fresh and distinctive designs. After the company made the decision to reboot its smartphone effort, Fong was tapped to help lead a team to define the look and feel of what would become Windows Phone, turning to airport and subway signage as one source of inspiration.
I caught up with Fong last week for a quick Q&A on Windows Phone and design.
###
The design of Windows Phone—and its influence on other high-profile Microsoft products like Windows 8—has been getting a lot of attention lately, including stories in Bloomberg Businessweek and the New York Times. Apple co-founder Steve Wozniak also recently gushed about his “beautiful” new Windows Phone. Some folks seem genuinely surprised that Microsoft could design something like this. Are you?
A lot of people come with preconceived notions about Microsoft. There’s always been good design here. But I think the stuff that we’ve done previously has been mostly expected. The thing we did with Windows Phone is we came out with a design that is unexpected. It’s not like anything else you see out there. That change in direction is the thing that’s bringing the attention I think.
What is the “Metro” design philosophy? Can you boil it down into a sentence or two?
Without going deep into the principles, we wanted to find a way to present content in the most clear, direct, and honest way possible. Really that’s the heart of it.
It’s certainly a big break from the look and design of other smartphones I see out there.
There’s a tendency to make things look kind of pretty. And the way you make things look pretty is by adding decorative elements like drop shadows, reflections, glassy surfaces, and things like that. To me, it’s a distraction. One of my favorite examples is when you go to a museum, a lot of times the frame of the painting actually feels more important than the painting itself. It’s the same idea here: When you start adding other things on top of the content, it’s actually taking your attention away from it. Stripping away complexity is really relevant today in our very busy lives. I want information to be presented in a way that’s really easy for you to consume.
You spent a bunch of time working on Windows Media Center, a popular Windows desktop feature designed for connecting PCs to TVs. Was it difficult going from a big screen to a small one?
The thing I like about what we’re doing now is having touch surfaces for direct interaction, versus TV and a remote control. There’s a lot more nuance in that interaction, and we spend a lot of time thinking about the gestures and how the UI [user interface] responds. There’s something kind of magical when you touch something and it just responds.
Speaking of responding, people often mention how much they like the subtle animations found throughout Windows Phone. Are those just for decoration?
It’s storytelling. We’re taking you on a journey from Start. Motion brings a sense of depth and life and makes you feel like the phone is responding to you. We also use motion to enhance your perception of speed. For example, we often start with an initial fast motion and then we slow it down, so what you notice more, mentally, is that initial burst of speed. It makes our software feel really responsive to our customers, and I think that’s delightful.
I saw a report last week arguing smartphones may be the fastest spreading technology in history. How will the Windows Phone I carry in my pocket 10 years from now be different?
I don’t know, and I think that’s what makes it so fun. [laughs] But I think the biggest shift that’s happened over the last few years is how connected everything is and I don’t think we’ve pushed the limits of that connectedness, whether it’s technology-to-technology or person-to-person. I think there’s a lot of really interesting opportunities to explore.
Where do you draw inspiration from when you get stuck on a design problem?
Right now the thing that really fascinates me is architecture. I see a lot of parallels between what we do and how an architect thinks about a space. And the other thing that’s really an inspiration is the great designers we have in this studio. We have just awesome designers here. When all else fails, we have a brainstorming session. There’s nothing like just talking to other really smart, amazing people to get past a mental block.
What will you be doing in 10 years?
The great things about Microsoft is there’s always some new technology to work on. Since I’ve been here, I went from floppy disks to CD-ROMs to the web to TV to devices to phones. There’s no way 10 years ago I would’ve been able to say I’m going to be working on smartphones. To me the fun part is just combining technology with design to bring really amazing consumer experiences.



More... ]]> Windows Phone Blog Administrator http://www.wp7dev.net/showthread.php?393-Windows-Phone-designer-is-named-one-of-country’s-most-creative Now in Marketplace: the AboutOne family organizer http://www.wp7dev.net/showthread.php?392-Now-in-Marketplace-the-AboutOne-family-organizer&goto=newpost Wed, 16 May 2012 06:32:05 GMT Life in a modern-day family practically requires a master’s degree in management. Talk about information overload: There are doctor’s appointments, class parties, mom’s nights out, piano lessons, details of the Disney vacation, and all kinds of other stuff to track.
Enter AboutOne, a family organizer that offers a way to corral the chaos. Download it now
The free app—currently exclusive to Windows Phone—is designed to be a one-stop family organizer and a companion to AboutOne’s web service. The app makes it easy to store notes, kids artwork, store receipts, health stats, emergency info, and all kinds of other domestic paperwork and data so it’s organized and available whenever you need it. Another nice touch: the app is password-protected in case you ever lose your phone.
I’m only scratching the surface of all the features and scenarios where AboutOne comes in handy. The AboutOne blog has more of the scoop.




More... ]]> Windows Phone Blog Administrator http://www.wp7dev.net/showthread.php?392-Now-in-Marketplace-the-AboutOne-family-organizer Now in Marketplace: LinkedIn 1.0 http://www.wp7dev.net/showthread.php?390-Now-in-Marketplace-LinkedIn-1-0&goto=newpost Mon, 14 May 2012 19:04:03 GMT The official LinkedIn app for Windows Phone just hit Marketplace. Download it now (http://windowsphone.com/s?appid=bdc7ae24-9051-474c-a89a-2b18f58d1317) The free app lets you tap all the most popular features of the popular business social network. Search for jobs, see real-time updates from... The official LinkedIn app for Windows Phone just hit Marketplace. Download it now
The free app lets you tap all the most popular features of the popular business social network. Search for jobs, see real-time updates from your connections, stay up-to-date with LinkedIn professional groups, and follow company and industry news.
LinkedIn also makes great use of Windows Phone-only features: Live Tile notifications let you know about new messages, invitations, and LinkedIn Today updates. You can also stay on top of selected professional groups by pinning them as a secondary Live Tile.
The LinkedIn blog has more on the app.




More... ]]> Windows Phone Blog Administrator http://www.wp7dev.net/showthread.php?390-Now-in-Marketplace-LinkedIn-1-0 TweetFame - To know popularity of tweets http://www.wp7dev.net/showthread.php?389-TweetFame-To-know-popularity-of-tweets&goto=newpost Mon, 14 May 2012 03:26:32 GMT
TweetFame is a Windows Phone App (Mango).
It can be used to know the
popularity of a person's tweets
.
A graph is shown which can he helpful in analysing the popularity.


Features :


a) A graphical representation of tweets and retweets.
b) Tapping the bar in the graph displays tweet
c) Follow or unfollow people







This is how the app works :


Search for a twitter user by name or twitter handle. A list of people are displayed based on the search criteria.







In this case we searched for "Microsoft". Tap on the first result ie "Microsoft Windows".
The screen thats shown below launches.





Click on the bars thats shown on the graph.For eg, here i see that one of the tweets has 80 retweets, so i go and tap on that column bar.
This is what i see :






After seeing the retweet graph and tweets , if the user wants to follow the twitter account ( In this case "Microsoft Windows"), Follow button which is present in the Application bar needs to be clicked/tapped.
There is also option to unfollow a twitter account, if it is already being followed.






You can download the App from here

http://windowsphone.com/s?appid=85e2...7-8847479c4775






]]> Gallery venky1907 http://www.wp7dev.net/showthread.php?389-TweetFame-To-know-popularity-of-tweets The Wrap: Samsung Omnia M, sunny Lumia news, et tu Siri? http://www.wp7dev.net/showthread.php?388-The-Wrap-Samsung-Omnia-M-sunny-Lumia-news-et-tu-Siri&goto=newpost Mon, 14 May 2012 03:07:48 GMT Here are my favorite Windows Phone stories of the week. What about you? Drop me a comment and let me know what’s on your mind.
Samsung launching Omnia M in Europe
Samsung has been busy lately. On Monday they unveiled the Focus 2, a $50 Windows Phone headed to AT&T on May 20 (check out Ben Rudolph’s hands-on review of this slick-looking phone). But it wasn’t Samsung’s final Windows Phone surprise this week.
Today the company also announced the Omnia M, a new Windows Phone initially headed for Europe. The Omnia M sports a four-inch AMOLED display and a “minimalist, compact” design. As CNET reports, it also comes with some neat social features including Family Story, a cloud-based service that lets families swap messages, videos, and photos, and ChatON, a cross-platform chat and messaging app.

Can you see me now?
Cell phone call quality understandably gets a lot of attention from engineers and shoppers alike. But the reality is that many people these days spend more time looking at their smartphone than talking on it. That raises the question: Which smartphone screen is easiest on the eyes, especially outdoors?
The folks at DisplayMate Technologies, a firm specializing in measuring and calibrating display screens, decided to investigate. Their conclusion? As The Verge reported this week, the Nokia Lumia 900’s screen was the most legible in strong indirect sunlight, edging out the iPhone 4, Samsung Galaxy S, and other popular models. Chalk it up to Nokia’s ClearBlack Display technology. If you’re curious how that works, check out this nice explainer on Nokia Conversations, the company’s official blog.

Looking for the perfect Mom’s Day gift? Try Windows Phone, says People
Mother’s Day, Father’s Day, and Graduation Day are all just around the corner, and you know what that means: Yep, it’s gift guide season. And we’ve noticed that Windows Phone is showing up on many of them. People magazine featured Nokia’s Lumia 900—a phone mom-to-be Kourtney Kardashian has taken a shine to—in its Mother’s Day gift guide. Family Circle, meanwhile, recommended the Lumia 710 as the perfect choice for dads and grads. Playboy magazine this month also singled out Windows Phone and the Lumia 900 as one of its hot buys of the spring—but you’ll have to go look that one up yourself.
Hot apps: Gerbil Physics, Home Depot, iStunt 2, WeeMee, SniperBoy
Microsoft’s Laura Foy yesterday posted her latest Marketplace favorites—including the Xbox LIVE title iStunt 2, my current addiction. Take a look.

New apps on the way for Lumia phones
Here’s one more reason to pick up one of Nokia’s award-winning Lumia handsets: The company announced this week that a slew of hot new apps are on the way for the phone, including Angry Birds Space. Nokia Conversations has the full story on the title lineup, some of which will be exclusive to the phone. Which ones are you most excited about?
.
And finally: Et tu Siri?
Last month Apple’s beloved co-founder Steve “Woz” Wozniak heaped praise on Windows Phone, calling his new cyan Nokia Lumia 900 “beautiful” and his second-favorite phone after his iPhone (c’mon, what did you expect the guy to say?).
Well, now the iPhone itself has weighed in. As WMPowerUser reports today, if you ask Siri, the iPhone’s built-in “intelligent personal assistant,” what the best cell phone ever is, this is her data-driven reply.




More... ]]> Windows Phone Blog Administrator http://www.wp7dev.net/showthread.php?388-The-Wrap-Samsung-Omnia-M-sunny-Lumia-news-et-tu-Siri Smoked by Windows Phone by the numbers (and new ads!) http://www.wp7dev.net/showthread.php?387-Smoked-by-Windows-Phone-by-the-numbers-(and-new-ads!)&goto=newpost Wed, 09 May 2012 12:40:57 GMT When I kicked off Smoked by Windows Phone at CES (http://windowsteamblog.com/windows_phone/b/windowsphone/archive/2012/01/10/i-ve-got-100-that-says-your-smartphone-will-get-smokedbywindowsphone.aspx) in January, I did it with one thing in mind – show the world that Windows Phone is simply faster at... When I kicked off Smoked by Windows Phone at CES in January, I did it with one thing in mind – show the world that Windows Phone is simply faster at the everyday stuff that people do on their smartphones. Since then we’ve seen it in the Microsoft Stores, run by fans, and hosted by Microsoft teams all over the world.
The big takeaway from Smoked is that it’s about showing what Windows Phone can do, not telling people what Windows Phone can do. So rather than write a really long, wordy blog post, I thought that it would be cool to post some of our awesomest (yes, I *still* claim that’s a word) results from around the world.
8,000,000+
The total number of views of Smoked by Windows Phone videos since it kicked off in January.
2
YouTube top 5 most viewed lists in which Smoked videos appeared (“Most Popular from Around the Web – All Categories”, and we’re still in the top 5 on Science & Technology)
95%
Percentage of viewers who liked Smoked videos on YouTube.
36
The number of countries running Smoked by Windows Phone.. Some of my favorites include Hong Kong’s game-show style event, Indonesia’s 50-person mall takeover, Nokia India’s “Blown Away by Lumia”, and the UK’s massive “Dare to Live” campaign that is spanning retail, advertising, the web, and of course, in-person challenges.
50,000+
This represents the number of smartphones that have been Smoked by Windows Phone since CES. A big part of this is the “$1000 Windows Phone Challenge” that the Microsoft Stores have been running since March. Here’s how Windows Phone has fared in-store so far:

98%
Windows Phone’s global win percentage. This includes everything from CES through today.
100,000,000+
The estimated number of people who’ve seen, participated in, or read about Smoked by Windows Phone worldwide. This includes stuff like social and media impressions from our videos and ad buy, as well as media coverage social shares, tweets, and Facebook posts. That’s a LOT of people checking out Windows Phone!
Why stop there if things are going so well? Today we’re introducing a new set of Smoked by Windows Phone ads that you’ll start seeing across your favorite sites. If you’re in a hurry and want to see them all right now, hit our “Faster than Windows Phone?” YouTube playlist. Here’s a sample:



A big thank you to everyone around the world who’s supported Smoked by Windows Phone! None of this would have happened without you (ok, maybe CES, but you know what I mean … ).  Everyone on the Windows Phone team is grateful for your support.
Remember to like Windows Phone on Facebook & follow Windows Phone on Twitter. And if you have a Windows Phone (or PC) question or just want to say hi, you can follow me, too!



More... ]]> Windows Phone Blog Administrator http://www.wp7dev.net/showthread.php?387-Smoked-by-Windows-Phone-by-the-numbers-(and-new-ads!) Meet the Samsung Focus 2: LTE and beautiful design for only $49.99 http://www.wp7dev.net/showthread.php?384-Meet-the-Samsung-Focus-2-LTE-and-beautiful-design-for-only-49-99&goto=newpost Tue, 08 May 2012 00:26:26 GMT One of the most popular Windows Phone devices of all time is the original Samsung Focus (http://www.samsung.com/us/mobile/cell-phones/SGH-I917ZKAATT), and for good reason - it was fast, sleek, had a killer Super AMOLED screen, and got great battery life. Since then, Samsung’s released two really... One of the most popular Windows Phone devices of all time is the original Samsung Focus, and for good reason - it was fast, sleek, had a killer Super AMOLED screen, and got great battery life. Since then, Samsung’s released two really great devices in the small-but-sturdy Focus Flash and the thinner-than-a-pencil Focus S. And today they’re following up on those with the brand new Samsung Focus 2, which goes on sale starting May 20th for only $49.99 (with a two-year service agreement) on AT&T’s lightning fast 4G LTE network.


Samsung was cool enough to get me a Focus 2 about a week ago and having used it around the office, I can tell you that it’s a worthy successor to the original Focus. Whereas the original Focus was long and lean, the Focus 2 is a bit shorter and feels a bit squatter. That may sound like a step backwards in design, but its most definitely not; Samsung has done a great job making the phone really ergonomic and is comfortable to hold, and pocket-friendly to boot. Typing is where the design really shines through, as the curved edges mean no “hotspots” on your hands and helps you avoid cramping fingers (especially if you have big hands like me). 
To see what I mean, I took some shots of the original Focus next to the Focus 2:


Spec-wise not a ton has changed from the original Focus, but there are some very notable upgrades. You still get a 4” Super AMOLED display, 5MP camera (which takes VERY good pictures, even better than the original Focus) and 8GB of onboard storage (non-expandable).  The Focus 2 also comes with a front-facing VGA camera and, as you can see from the pictures, is available in a beautiful pearl white.
And of course, the Focus 2 works on AT&T’s brand new LTE network. I didn’t get a chance to use the LTE network with my loaner Focus 2 as we don’t yet have LTE here in Redmond; but, having just come from LA where I was able to use LTE on some of my other Windows Phones, I can say that I’m really impressed with the speed it delivers. If you’re used to 3G, you’re going to be blown away by what LTE can do.


If you’re looking for a value-priced phone that gets you top-level features, the Samsung Focus 2 is a great choice. Go check one out starting May 20th at your local AT&T store!
Remember to like Windows Phone on Facebook & follow Windows Phone on Twitter.  And if you have a Windows Phone (or PC) question or just want to say hi, follow me too.



More... ]]> Windows Phone Blog Administrator http://www.wp7dev.net/showthread.php?384-Meet-the-Samsung-Focus-2-LTE-and-beautiful-design-for-only-49-99 Windows Phone sponsors Kentucky Derby favorite “Hansen” http://www.wp7dev.net/showthread.php?378-Windows-Phone-sponsors-Kentucky-Derby-favorite-“Hansen”&goto=newpost Thu, 03 May 2012 23:19:58 GMT The Kentucky Derby—first leg of the famous Triple Crown of horse racing—takes place Saturday in Louisville. The Derby is always a thrill to watch (it’s not called the “The Most Exciting Two Minutes In Sports” for nothing). But one of the unique things about this year’s race is the beautifully different white thoroughbred named Hansen.
Just like Windows Phone, Hansen really stands out from the pack—he’s the only white horse in the field and one of a handful to run in any Derby. As sportswriter Frank Deford noted this week, “most eyes will unavoidably be upon him.” One look and it’s easy to see why. (Here he is winning the 2011 Grey Goose Breeders’ Cup Juvenile.)
Hansen will be ridden by award-winning jockey Ramon Dominguez, and we’re looking forward to seeing Windows Phone on his silks!
To celebrate the Derby, we’re also launching a Twitter contest today and giving away two new white (natch) Lumia 900s. To enter, you’ll need to follow @WindowsPhone, then send us a tweet using the hashtag #TrifectaTweet with the horses you think will win, place, and show in the Derby (that’s first, second, and third place, by the way.) The contest ends Saturday at 5 p.m. Pacific, and you must be a U.S. resident 18 or over to enter. See the official sweepstakes rules for all the details.
NBC kicks off its Derby coverage at 5 p.m. Eastern time. Post time is 6:24 p.m. Eastern. See kentuckyderby.com for more info.
We hope you’ll tune in this weekend and root Hansen to the Winner’s Circle! (And feel free to mix up a Mint Julep, the traditional Derby day companion, using the Cocktail Flow app in Marketplace.)

Photo credit: Adam Coglianese



More... ]]> Windows Phone Blog Administrator http://www.wp7dev.net/showthread.php?378-Windows-Phone-sponsors-Kentucky-Derby-favorite-“Hansen” Mingle with Windows Phone experts, snag an Xbox 360 Star Wars bundle http://www.wp7dev.net/showthread.php?377-Mingle-with-Windows-Phone-experts-snag-an-Xbox-360-Star-Wars-bundle&goto=newpost Thu, 03 May 2012 23:19:58 GMT Image: http://windowsteamblog.com/cfs-file.ashx/__key/CommunityServer-Blogs-Components-WeblogFiles/00-00-00-53-71-metablogapi/2620.image_5F00_thumb_5F00_7DE68536.png ... If you’ve been too busy to attend one of the “Behind the Tile” Windows Phone events that I wrote about a few weeks ago, now’s a good time to clear your calendar: the list of door prizes is growing (who says it doesn’t pay to procrastinate?).
Attendees now have a shot at winning a new Nokia Lumia 900 oran Xbox 360 Limited Edition Kinect Star Wars bundle.
To jog your memory, Behind the Tiles is an exclusive, hands-on look at Windows Phone and Nokia’s new flagship phones, hosted by some of our experts. I’ve heard they’re a blast and a fun way to meet other Windows Phone fans.
Only a few slots and dates remain—here's the latest schedule—so grab yours today. To register, visit the Behind the Tiles site and enter the registration code MSCUST when prompted.



More... ]]> Windows Phone Blog Administrator http://www.wp7dev.net/showthread.php?377-Mingle-with-Windows-Phone-experts-snag-an-Xbox-360-Star-Wars-bundle The web Marketplace launches in 22 new countries http://www.wp7dev.net/showthread.php?376-The-web-Marketplace-launches-in-22-new-countries&goto=newpost Thu, 03 May 2012 07:06:58 GMT I’m happy to announce that nearly two dozen new online stores for Windows Phone apps and games went live around the world this afternoon. The new web Marketplaces (http://www.windowsphone.com/marketplace) are available in Bulgaria, Costa Rica, Croatia, Estonia, Iceland, Latvia, Lithuania,... I’m happy to announce that nearly two dozen new online stores for Windows Phone apps and games went live around the world this afternoon.
The new web Marketplaces are available in Bulgaria, Costa Rica, Croatia, Estonia, Iceland, Latvia, Lithuania, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Turkey, Ukraine, Venezuela, UAE, Bahrain, Iraq, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Kazakhstan, Israel, Thailand, and Vietnam.
In case you haven’t tried it yet, browsing and buying apps on the web Marketplace is an easy and convenient alternative to your phone. If you’re new to Windows Phone, here’s a quick tutorial on how it works.

I also wanted to tell you about another initiative just getting underway that’s designed to make Marketplace easier to use. Some of you have told us that when you search for apps by keyword or name, you don’t always see the results you’re expecting. To help address that, this week we’ve started reviewing the keywords that developers assign to their apps and removing ones that aren’t relevant. You can learn more about this cleanup effort in Todd Brix’s post on the developer blog.
It will take us at least several weeks to complete our review, but our expectation is that you should start seeing more relevant search results when it’s done, particularly for popular apps.
Finally, just a friendly reminder that soon we’ll begin requiring Windows Phone 7.5 to buy, download, or update apps from Marketplace. As I explained recently, this new requirement is part of a larger Marketplace improvement effort. You’ll find a handy checklist and instructions for updating your phone on Update central, our comprehensive how-to and troubleshooting resource.
Talk to you soon.



More... ]]> Windows Phone Blog Administrator http://www.wp7dev.net/showthread.php?376-The-web-Marketplace-launches-in-22-new-countries And the winner of #captionthatlumia is… http://www.wp7dev.net/showthread.php?374-And-the-winner-of-captionthatlumia-is…&goto=newpost Wed, 02 May 2012 00:48:20 GMT Last Friday one of my Twitter followers, @Nok4US (http://www.twitter.com/Nok4US), posted this picture and asked Twitter to caption it: Image:... Last Friday one of my Twitter followers, @Nok4US, posted this picture and asked Twitter to caption it:

I retweeted and almost instantly started getting some really funny responses, so I turned it into a spontaneous contest; send me your best caption for the picture with the hashtag #captionthatlumia, and one lucky winner will get a brand new Lumia 900 in the color of their choice.
I got a whopping 1,499 responses. They included lots of tributes to Outkast (so fresh & so clean!) and few parodies of #smokedbywindowsphone (#soapedbywindowsphone?) and some tweets channeling Dos Equis’ “Most Interesting Man in the World” (I don’t always bathe, but when I do, it’s with a Lumia 900).
But amidst all of them, my crack team of judges – you know, the people in my hallway here in Studio G - and I picked this one by @dnanian as the winner:
It took a heck of a lot of scrubbing, but I finally got all the cyan out.
I was also partial to this punny tweet by @donjuan914:
The perfect Finnish
And this satirical Haiku by @Sohraab:
Lumia so lean
Makes bar of soap look unclean
Lumia haiku
As our first and second runners-up, you’re both getting an awesome Windows Phone swag pack!
Thanks to everyone who entered the contest and to @Nok4US for inspiring the whole thing.  I had a blast reading the captions and I can assure you that we’ll DEFINITELY do something like this again!
 
Remember to like Windows Phone on Facebook & follow Windows Phone on Twitter.  Oh, and be sure to follow me, too!



More... ]]> Windows Phone Blog Administrator http://www.wp7dev.net/showthread.php?374-And-the-winner-of-captionthatlumia-is… The Wrap: Secrets of a No. 1 app, the minds behind Metro, 5 hot apps http://www.wp7dev.net/showthread.php?373-The-Wrap-Secrets-of-a-No-1-app-the-minds-behind-Metro-5-hot-apps&goto=newpost Sat, 28 Apr 2012 15:40:51 GMT This week’s story highlights are dedicated to the hardworking indie coders out there dreaming up and writing cool apps for my Windows Phone. You guys rock. Here’s some inspiration:
What’s it take to make your app No. 1?
Microsoft’s Chris Barrows kicked off a new App Hub series this week called “App Insights” that you don’t want to miss if you dream about dominating the Marketplace download charts someday. Read the first installment
Chris works on the Marketplace operations team and plans to mine store data for big-picture lessons about which apps succeed and why. Look for monthly installments on everything from app promotion to pricing. Have a specific question about the business of making and selling apps you’d like covered? Send Chris an email: appinsights@microsoft.com.
How I made that app—the Rowi story
The Microsoft News Center and Channel 9 both recently took a closer look at the popular Twitter app, Rowi, and the guys who created it. The News Center profile is an interesting read. And if you’re curious to know more about how Erik Porter and Nathan Heskew built their hit app, watch this in-depth interview on Channel 9’s Inside Windows Phone.

Look who’s banking $1750 a day
People write Windows Phone apps for all kinds of reasons. Some do it for money, others for fun. A few people I know built one just for bragging rights to prove they could. It’s all good. But if you’re squarely in the first camp, check out this new Microsoft Advertising case study that spotlights how two indie developers are making serious bank on their creations.
Geekworks LLC, maker of the hit game Shuriken Ninja, earned $245,000 in a single year from ad impressions. FourBros Studio’s Taptitude, meanwhile, averaged $800 a day over the last month—and pulled in $1750 in a single day. Business Insider also recently spotlighted the Taptitude numbers. Have an app success story to share? Send me mail.
Meet the designers reshaping Microsoft
Bloomberg Businessweek ran a great feature this month about the design renaissance sweeping Microsoft and products like Windows Phone, Windows 8, and Xbox LIVE. That fresh new look that probably drew you to Windows Phone in the first place is a design aesthetic known within the company as “Metro.” Lately it’s starting to create a lot of buzz in all kinds of unexpected corners. Curious? Hit the link.

And finally: 5 apps worth downloading
Microsoft’s Laura Foy continues her weekly look at Marketplace gold. This week’s batch includes: Monster Island, Dodonpachi Maximum, Crazy Kitties, Keymon Goes Fishing, and Starbucks Finder. Take a look.




More... ]]> Windows Phone Blog Administrator http://www.wp7dev.net/showthread.php?373-The-Wrap-Secrets-of-a-No-1-app-the-minds-behind-Metro-5-hot-apps