marketplace

Developers: Verious Adds Windows Phone Developer Components To Their Marketplace

May 8, 2012 | By Pradeep

Today, Verious announced the addition for the support of Windows Phone development in their online marketplace. They have added hundreds of pre-built mobile app components, open source projects and SDKs for Windows Phone development to their leading online marketplace for mobile app development. It provides an one stop solution for Windows Phone related development components.

Find more information about this here. Read the full press release after the break.
Continue reading →

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Google cracking down on Marketplace apps offering their services

May 5, 2012 | By Surur

It is no secret that Google does not see much reason to support Windows Phone 7 with their numerous services, such as YouTube, Google Voice etc, but it seems the company has now gone on the offensive even against 3rd party applications which offer their services on Windows Phone platform.

The developer of YouTube Live has received a notice from Microsoft on behalf of Google asking them to remove YouTube Live, reading:

"This message is to notify you that Microsoft has received Content Infringement Complaint (“Complaint”) regarding your application Youtube Live. A copy of the Complaint is attached for your review.

Remove Application Access Immediately

You must remove access to the application from the Marketplace within one business day. If your application is still available for download after one business day,Microsoft may remove the application without further notice. Please note that under certain circumstances Microsoft may remove your app immediately without providing you the opportunity to remove it."

Google services form a pretty important part of the online experience for most internet users, and it would be pretty damaging if Windows Phone 7 appears not to offer any access to their services. While Google is within their rights to ask for these apps to change their names, it does make it more difficult for new users to find these apps.

At least the notice means Windows Phone has become big enough for Google to take notice, which is not a bad thing in itself.

Via WPCentral.com

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Windows Phone Web Marketplace Expands To 22 New Countries

May 3, 2012 | By Pradeep

Microsoft launched the web version of Windows Phone Marketplace back in September last year. And its now becoming the only destination where you can buy a Windows Phone app other than in your phone as Microsoft is pulling the support of marketplace in Zune client. Today, Microsoft announced that the web Marketplace is expanding to 22 new countries around the world.

The following countries now has access to web Marketplace

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.

Source: Windows Phone Team

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Massachusetts Income Tax filers Can Now Use WebFile Mobile For Tax Related Services

May 2, 2012 | By Pradeep

We have seen very few government agency apps on Windows Phone Marketplace. Today Massachusetts Dept of Revenue released its WebFile Mobile app in Windows Phone Marketplace.

WebFile Mobile enables Massachusetts Income Tax filers to use a number of the popular tax-related online services found on the Department of Revenue’s WebFile for Income portal.

You can do the following activities using the app,

? Where’s My Refund? Check on your state tax refund status and fix issues with your tax return that may be holding up your check or direct deposit
? File an Extension: In the event you need an extension of time to file your return. Make an estimated payment if you owe tax with your extension.
? Alerts: Receive personalized alerts notifying you of your payment status, account activity, and more as well as general updates from the DOR.

Download the free app here from the marketplace. I hope other government agencies in US and other countries around the world will release such apps in Windows Phone Marketplace.

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Microsoft and Apple being asked to explain higher music and game prices in Australia

April 29, 2012 | By Surur

In an enquiry which could likely have happened as easily in any other country outside USA, Microsoft and Apple (amongst others) has been asked to explain why Australians are charged higher prices for the same media, be it music or game downloads, than US customers.

This is particularly irksome when often no actual localization is taking place, as may be the case with music, or the costs for localization has already been borne by the developer, such as in games.

A Productivity Commission report found company excuses such as the smaller Australian market ”in most cases are not persuasive, especially in the case of downloaded music, software and videos where the costs of delivery … are practically zero and uniform around the world”.

”People here scratch their heads trying to work out why they get fleeced on software downloads,” said Sydney MP Ed Husic. ”When the Productivity Commission asked IT companies why they charge so much for downloads, even they found the answers were not persuasive.”

Technology commentator Trevor Long said: ”As time rolls on, every single one of the Australian arms of those global companies will realise that Australian consumers are getting their products elsewhere. ‘People are already setting up, in droves, addresses in the US just so they are able to download a piece of American software at American prices.”

Labor MPs hope publicity generated by challenging the companies will result in lower prices and put an end to local consumers being ”fleeced”. The inquiry will begin later this year and be conducted by the House of Representatives standing committee on infrastructure and communications.

Do our readers wish their own government would launch a similar enquiry? Let us know below.

Via TheAge.com.au

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Windows Phone web marketplace goes down

April 27, 2012 | By Surur

The Windows Phone web marketplace seems to have gone down a few minutes ago. The issue seems worldwide at the moment, and started around midnight UK time. The issue does not seem to affect the on-device marketplace.

Ironically the problem has occurred soon after Microsoft deactivated the Zune-based access to Marketplace.

Have any of our readers noticed this problem? Let us know below.

Update: Back up now. It seems to have been down for about 2-3 hours, which is of course pretty long.

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AppVegas For Windows Phone Lets You Discover Apps And Games From Marketplace

April 26, 2012 | By Pradeep

App Vegas for Windows Phone lets users discover quality apps and games from Windows Phone Marketplace. We have seen similar app concept on Windows Phone previously through App Flow app. App Vegas even lets you use a slot machine style “guided search” to find the best apps you may have missed.

It features,

• Shake your phone to spin the slot machine and find new apps
• Featured and new and trending apps of the day
• Browse categories, viewing hot apps, all-time best apps, and sorted by download rank
• Search for apps by name/keyword
• View detailed info, reviews, and screenshots for any app in the marketplace
• Link to download the app
• Gorgeous interface with multiple backgrounds, and smooth animations!
• Beautiful design by acclaimed Metro expert Yanko Andreev

Overall, its a well designed app and I would recommend you to give it a try. Find the free app here from the marketplace.

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3 new Xbox Live titles join $0.99 set

April 21, 2012 | By Surur


Deer Hunter 3D	BattleWagon	Glyder: Adventure World

Its seems that Microsoft is in fact moving to create a reasonable collection of much cheaper Xbox Live titles. Joining the 6 from 2 weeks ago, Microsoft has dropped the price of 3 more to $0.99 (£0.79), including the popular Glyder: Adventure World game.

See our review of Glyder, which scored 5/5, here and Deer Hunter, which scored 4/5, here.

The games can be found at the links above.

Via WPCentral.com

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Microsoft Organizing “Behind the Tiles” Events At Best Buy Stores

April 19, 2012 | By Pradeep

Microsoft is organizing “Behind The Tiles” events at various Best Buy Stores in USA. These events will provide in-depth, hands-on sessions on the new Nokia Lumia 900 device and the Windows Phone OS.

Here is the detailed plan from Microsoft for these events,

Play with some of the latest and greatest Windows Phones

Attend an instructor-led deep dive with the Nokia Lumia 900

Learn more about Windows Phone’s unique Metro design and future

Get the latest info on Windows Phone for IT pros and developers

Mingle with Windows Phone experts and fellow fans

Enjoy free food and drinks

Find the list of store locations and the event dates here. Register now and enter mscust for the RSVP code. Spread about these events among your friends and family.

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Taptitude developers getting over 1 million ad impressions per day, earns $100,000 in Windows Phone Marketplace

April 18, 2012 | By Surur

Taptitude is a game by 4Bros Studios which consists of a collection of mini-games that the developer regularly updates with extra mini-games, and which are tied together by in-game upgrades and achievements, which keeps current users engaged with the app.

It seems their development strategy is doing pretty well, with the team seeing an exponential increase in their ad impressions in recent months, seemingly related to an influx of new users to Nokia’s new handsets.

This has seen the team recently cross the $100,000 revenue mark from their game, and at the moment are earning around $1400 per day.

The team notes:

Windows Phone is a rapidly growing market where indie developers can be successful. We are looking forward to an even better second year as indie game developers, and can’t wait for Windows 8!

Read more about their success at their blog here. Taptitude can be found in Marketplace here.

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Xbox LIVE Version Of Wordament Coming To Marketplace Next Week On April 25th

April 17, 2012 | By Pradeep

Xbox LIVE integrated Wordament is coming to Windows Phone Marketplace next week on April 25th. It will be a free release and replaces the current version of the game if you already have. And the developers are retiring their old screen name system and moving exclusively to Xbox LIVE Gamertags. So now you sign into Wordament, it will use your Xbox LIVE Gamertag only.

Also the team has announced the Wordament tournament,

You’ve asked for another Wordament Tournament, and what better way to celebrate than with our new, free update! On April 26^th the whole Wordament crew will be at the Microsoft Store at the Bellevue Square Mall running a Wordament Tournament complete with food, giveaways, and prizes. We will announce all the details in a few days. We would love to see you there!

Source: Wordament

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Microsoft Releases Kinect Star Wars Fun App For Windows Phone

April 16, 2012 | By Pradeep

First of all, don’t get excited much. Microsoft today released an app called Kinect Star Wars in Windows Phone Marketplace. Kinect Star Wars is a recently released title for Kinect for Xbox 360. This app is not a companion app instead it just lets you view your feeds in the style of the iconic Star Wars opening title sequence. You have to give access to Facebook or Twitter feeds to enjoy this experience.

Unless you are a Star Wars fan, you won’t be interested in this app.

Find the app here from the marketplace.

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Bing Translator App Updated To v2.0 With New Features

April 16, 2012 | By Pradeep

Bing Translator app in Windows Phone Marketplace just got updated to v2.0 today. Now similar to the in-built Bing Visual Search functionality, you can use your camera to translate printed text. The app will be able to use voice recognition to translate spoken text, or the keyboard to enter text that you want to translate. Also you can download languages and phrase books so you can translate text and images when your phone isn’t connected to a network.
If you are a frequent traveler, you can overcome a language barrier, or trying to learn a foreign language, this is a must have app.

Download the free app here from the marketplace.

Thanks to Ram for the heads up.

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