Version 2 of MakeMyApp up!

Posted on August 24, 2010 by Jay Desai

Read the entire post, the link to the new version of XapMaker is somewhere hidden, not really, but you get the point: READ!

Finally I am able to get time to update you all on Make My App for Windows Phone 7. So I have implemented many features since last build. Here’s a list:

1) Parallel processing on server (anyone can xap apps, you will need to register though)
2) Choose from two styles :)
3) Ability to not include some sections
4) Ability to upload your own App Icon
5) The application name is now the same as your title
6) The application gives you live feedback based on if your input is valid (border turns green if it found your username/blog and turns red if it doesn’t)
7) You can re-download apps you created previously from the manage tab
8) Flickr integration – double tap to zoom, click and drag to move (can’t do pinch to zoom, no device, MS said they dont have any more :-/ because they gave the 10K they had to the 1000 or so developers, I am assuming each got 10 :-? … are there even a thousand apps announced/showcased yet or are these devs just keeping the phones as way-too-early Christmas gifts?)
9) Landscape mode in the sub pages for all sections :)
10) Added App Bar to pages with actions such as Visit the actual blog post page or twitter user’s page, message someone with a link to the blogpost (haven’t tested, no real sim/phone)
11) Retweet icon is there, but not yet implemented – on the todo list

Bugs I know of: Back button from Messaging app or IE doesn’t load the particular blogpost or twitter feed, you have to press back again. Something I am working on as I speak… think if IsolatedStorage is a good idea.

Okay so for video, youtube doesn’t allow access to any form of video without embedding swf player. 3gp streams are pointless so will not use that. FLV isn’t a support format for Windows Phone 7. I can write a decoder using ffmpeg, but not sure that would pass through marketplace and I don’t want to spend time doing it either. So I am going to have you guys point me to how video should be done. Vote below:

How should video be done for this?

View Results

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Post bugs/feature requests/fixes/etc… in the comments below. Thanks all. I may/may-not halt programming until the next September 15th release of Dev tools. However, if many people ask for particular feature, then I’ll start implements it earliest I can.

Oh and POST SOME STYLES I can implement, I want to have many options for people. I was looking around 6-8 styles to choose from by end of year. Just send me a picture of a good style describing how to put in the sections. I can probably figure out animations myself.

People with real devices sitting on their desks making dust… test some apps from this xap maker and let me know of performance issues or so. And if the devices are really gathering dust, consider donating them to me :-p.

And here’s THE link:
http://iamjaydesai.com/wp7

Thanks all,
Jay

Posted in Projects | 21 Comments

Update on XAP Maker

Posted on August 13, 2010 by Jay Desai

Firstly, for all testers, ALL fields are currently required in the app maker with the exception of the Background image (there is a default one). Blog is the FULL URL (ex. http://www.newegg.com/Product/RSS.aspx?Submit=RSSDailyDeals) to the actual RSS XML; For twitter, just input the username (ex. desaij), and for Facebook, just input the page name (ex. Microsoft). Once I get to the next milestone in the project plan (outlined below), all of these will be made easier to use/understand.

Okay, since I have been getting some great feedback for the app maker, I will officially give it a project plan:

Current – Alpha Version
- All fields required!!! (I see a lot of testers leaving out fields empty, for now they are all required or your app will probably crash, something to be fixed in the next release)
- BAD queuing mechanism

21st August – Beta Version
- Customizable Logo
- Customizable App Name
- Testing open to public
- Have the ability to leave out fields empty
- Partial Flickr Integration
- Parallel Processing on Server end (So no queue, you can make an app anytime)

28th August – Gamma Version?
- Ability to include more than one twitter feed on the twitter page
- Full Flickr  integration
- Partial Video Integration (Maybe Youtube or some other form, depending on MS’s support for video when next version of development tools comes out. As of now, they don’t even support mp4)
- Will perform performance enhancements for this build

4th September – Delta Version?
- Time for fixing bugs and performance issues
- Ability for someone to retweet using their accounts
- ATOM feeds (Currently they only support RSS)
- Full Video integration
- Using official Pivot/Panaroma control from Microsoft (Hopefully they will be released by then)

12th September – Epsilon Version?
- Have the ability for users to go into the web app and update their existing application
- Add the ability for users to comment on blog posts (Each blog is written separately, so these comments will be hosted on the app server, and I will create some documentation blogs can use to also show comments from the app server on their own site’s comments sectrion).

19th September – Zeta Version?
- Hoping to start on an advanced mode where users can create their own panorama section
- Figure out how I would tie this app into Marketplace ( I have some idea, read below)
- Work on User-requested features
- Dynamic Background image (pulled from the net).

After these, and before WP7 actually comes out, all the time is there for testing/repairing and buffer in case things take longer to do.

Also, lots of questions on how this will play with Marketplace. I was planning on something like this after the app is well developed:
1) User requests Xap Maker access
2) I authorize user to make X number of apps
3) User Press XAP It! (But does not get the option to download the Xap)
4) I can either approve it or disapprove it (based on Marketplace standards)
5) If approved, I myself would push the application with my developer account so customers don’t have to have their own
6) And after MS approves it, its well under way to being in Marketplace for everyone to download

Posted in About Jay Desai | Tagged | 1 Comment

Make My WP7 App

Posted on August 12, 2010 by Jay Desai

Silverlight is great for developers, and I really urge everyone to give it a shot. So in this post I will talk about my current project, which I am working HEAVILY on. It is basically a web application which will let users create their own custom Windows Phone 7 application. Check out the video of an early alpha version below.

The plan was to have uploaded the demo video overnight, then post this blog entry, and then have people request passwords. However, I have received an overwhelming response for this and I will try my level best to give everyone a chance at the application. Since I’m working fulltime, I will not be able to fulfill requests until tonight. I plan to create a request system through which everyone can receive their temporary password. This is because, like I mention in the video, the entire application is handled by a small server with limited network upload speeds. So there’s no clustering, no queuing, and thus no parallel processing. Those are all future implementation once I can get myself a dedicated Windows Server. So for now, each of you who have requested to play with the demo will get an email with a temporary password which will work for a given set of time frame and will let you make ONE app. You can submit more requests once I get the queuing application implemented. Expect all this tonight (maybe LATE tonight or EARLY tomorrow morning EST).

Finally, I would like to thank Pocketnow and 1800PocketPC and WMExperts and WMPowerUser for giving it press.

And Thanks to all for the OVERWHELMING response within just 10 hours!

Shoot Q&A via comments below or via twitter and I will post another blog post answering them.

Posted in News, Projects | Tagged | 6 Comments

RIM Down, only Apple and Google to go!

Posted on August 7, 2010 by Jay Desai

My HD2 has saved my faith in Microsoft and thus I still remain a Windows Phone enthusiast. I am loving the new WP7 interface and most importantly, the fluidity of the operating system. Recently, an engadget panel reviewed the Blackberry torch and compared it to the WP7 prototype, made by Samsung, running “test” hardware and software. Check out the video below, its amazing to see WP7 in action.

MWC demos of WP7 actually encouraged me to learn and develop Silverlight applications, which in my opinion is a technology much more efficient and functional than Adobe’s Flash. With the crazy system requirements of WP7, I think we can expect some great releases for the operating system. I just hope there is one of the form factor of HD2.

With Gingerbread in line, iOS4 may not be WP7′s biggest threat. But RIM is certainly out of the way for a while now. Time only knows (Prince of Persia games are awesome)!

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Hardik’s Photography skills

Posted on August 7, 2010 by Jay Desai

Volkswagon’s are hot. One of my friends, Hardik, has a Jetta which is awesome. Combine that with his photography skills and a Sony A100 DSLR and the result… Well, I think the picture below says it all.

Location: EB2 Parking Deck

Wow… amazing picture right? :-) …

Pst… Audis are still hotter than VWs.

Posted in Misc | Comments Off

Showcasing my WP7 Pocketnow App!

Posted on August 6, 2010 by Jay Desai

Pocketnow is one of the best sites I know of to keep in with newest mobile technologies out there, especially smartphones. I used to own a Tilt and well after two years of frustration was almost at the verge of giving up on WinMo and moving to Android. Until… Pocketnow introduced their “Pocket Now Turns Ten Contest (Sponsored by Wirefly)” and I thought about giving another shot at WinMo competing to get the HD2. So I decided to get myself acquainted with Silverlight (which is awesome btw) and created a silverlight application for Pocketnow. Check it out!

Amazingly enough, I won that HD2 I was dreaming of. It is beastly, and does multitasking, social networking, and imaging with ease. And pst… I can run android on it now :) … 720p coming soon [Source: XDA]. But to be honest, I hated the Tilt and even the Fuze because  of WinMo as I believe it needs atleast a 1Ghz Processor with loads of RAM to work efficiently. But if you’re wanting some sort of a windows phone, I would hold on for a few months and just go for a Windows Phone 7 when they come out in November here in the US.

http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=719646
Posted in Projects | Tagged | 1 Comment

Every developer needs a blog!

Posted on August 5, 2010 by Jay Desai

Inspired by Scott Hanselman, and following the route of many other developers out there, I finally decided to take on the “role” of a blogger. I would have to admit though that twitter’s character limit is also one of the reasons. Check out Hanselman’s presentation below to find out why blogs are an awesome deal for programmers.


[Source: Channel 9 on MSDN]

In many ways I think blogs are the best way to combine the new personal life with professional life activities. And being as awesome as WordPress is, I just decided to use it and style it a little. I’ll be posting some of my projects as well as sharing some news on this. Basically a not-so-limited twitter driver.

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