Update on XAP Maker

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

21^st 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)

28^th 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

4^th 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)

12^th 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).

19^th 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