I am a Windows-centric developer, currently prototyping a Windows Phone 8 app which I want to offer on iOS and Android by porting to Xamarin. The app will be ad-funded and will have an in-app purchase component (i.e. pay for an ad-free experience). I have been acquainting myself with the Microsoft features for ad hosting and in-app purchasing. Can the Microsoft ad system be used cross-platform? Can the Microsoft in-app purchase API be used in iOS and Android ports, or does in-app purchasing have to be part of the platform-specifics and use the respective stores?
In-App purchasing is platform specific.
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iOS enterprise apps has the ability to be distributed over the web using a manifest file. Can the tvOS be distributed in a similar manner? I know there's no web browser for tvOS, but I was wondering if there's a way to airdrop a file onto the Apple TV to install an internal tvOS app?
The only way so far is to either use an MDM server or use Apple Configurator via a Mac to drag and drop an IPA.
You can use Testflight to distribute you App in-house creating a group of internal or even external testers.
Sadly HockeyApp or similar 3rd party distribution systems do not support tvOS yet.
I am trying to implement a referral program in my windows phone application. Where a user shares a link in some social site and gets reward points if someone installs the app using his/her link. For android and/or iOS, developers can use Branch.io SDK for retrieving the information of the referrer. Now, I couldn't find any instructions on how to do it in a windows phone app in their official website.
Does anyone know how to do this?
Edit: It looks like Branch.io is not available for windows phone. Is there any alternative to Branch.io for wp platform?
Alex from Branch.io here: Windows Phone has around 0.4% market share, so we don't currently offer an SDK for that platform. It's possible you could roll your own 'mini SDK' using our REST API for just the functions you need.
Sorry not to have better news!
I'm evaluating Intel XDK as a possible solution for developing cross platform mobile apps. I can see from the documentation that you can do in app ads and in app purchases in XDK via Cordova plugins, however there is no mention of whether the apps themselves can be offered on the various app stores as paid for apps or whether they need to be free.
Its not clear from the build and deploy documentation how to build a paid app. I would expect that either XDK or the app store would require pricing information. However for example, the docs show how to generate an app certificate for the Apple app store, but these instructions don't seem to mention pricing either.
I'm guessing from what i've read so far that only free apps are possible and then you need to make money from within the app. Can anyone tell me what the answer is. The free model does not suit the particular app I'm investigating.
Intel XDK will just build the apps for you, you can sell it in App Stores or make it free, its up to you. You have to set the price while submitting the apps to the various App stores on the apple or google website, not in XDK.
As the developer of the application, it's your decision in regards to defining your app as Free or Paid with a particular price per country location. The app stores have a dashboard/portal for configuring this attribute of your application. (Android-Google Play Developer Console; iOS - iTunes Connect; Windows Phone - Windows Phone Dev Center)
I am new to VR applications design and development and need your expert opinion. Will Ocusdk work on google cardboard, after specially with a release of oculus mobile sdk ( which is used in samsung vr-gear) or cardboard only works with Cbsdk? Thanks in advance.
As per the license, you cannot use the oculus mobile sdk for cardboard apps.
The Oculus Mobile SDK may not be used to interface with unapproved commercial virtual reality mobile or non-mobile products or hardware.
link to the license
Everywhere I found the buzz about Xbox 360 games. However I want to know how I can develop normal application for xbox 360. Mostly silverlight based.
Also I am not sure what this homebrew stuff is all about? What language I need to use for Xbox 360 application development?
From where / how can I get the SDK? On App Hub all buzz is about windows phone. There is not much information on Xbox? Why is it so?
Xbox 360 development is largely split into two distinct sections:
XNA Development
This involves using the XNA Framework to develop games/applications, and is done through AppHub. You can find the tools for development (XNA Game Studio) here. Anything developed using these tools must be written in C#.NET and can only be released onto the Xbox LIVE Marketplace as an 'Indie Game' (after passing the review process, of course). To debug your XNA app on the console itself, you need a membership. Another thing to note is that Xbox 360 apps can't access the Internet at all - all communication goes through Xbox LIVE or System Link.
Professional Development
This covers the development of complete Xbox 360 titles, and requires that you be part of the Xbox 360 Registered Developer Program. Once a development license is obtained (and the NDA is signed), Microsoft provides developers with access to the official Xbox 360 SDK and development hardware, which includes full Visual Studio integration and documentation for developing native Xbox 360 applications and libraries using C/C++. The development kit hardware comes in a few flavours and supports debugging from Visual Studio via ethernet, DVD emulation via USB, etc. For more information on the professional development program, see this information.
Developing 'normal' applications for the Xbox 360 isn't really possible at the moment due to the limitations of the XNA Framework and community developer program. If you're part of the registered developer program it might be possible, but there's no way to be sure (due to Microsoft's strict NDAs).
As for Silverlight, there have been some rumours regarding Silverlight on the Xbox 360 but Microsoft hasn't confirmed or announced anything.