How to deploy private apps to Windows Phone? - windows-phone-8

I'm looking to buy a Windows Phone smartphone, and am looking into the possibility for 'deploying' private apps. I currently own an Android system, and it's a simple as building an APK file, and adding it to the filesystem of any phone I want to install it on.
I realize there have been some questions around this subject 1, 2, 3. They seem to say you either need a developers account, or an enterprise edition. These questions are old, and possibly outdated. I've tried to find more information on the topic, but all I could find was related to enterprise, or beta testing.
I have no interests in getting a developer's account, because I don't intend to develop or sell larger applications on the marketplace. It's mostly for private use.
If there is no way to do this by default (without paying any fees), are that alternatives that don't involve losing warranty?

You can register yourself in Windows App Studio and you will get to unlock one phone for development and side load up to 2 apps.
Currently that is the only way to put custom apps in your Windows Phone for free and without losing warranty.
If you, however register for a developer accout (which as you know has costs) you will be able to side load up to 10 apps in 3 different devices.

Related

Intel XDK - Push via pushMobi

I have some generel questions about the notification-service of pushMobi.(http://developer.html5dev-software.intel.com/?q=node/114)
Is this service using the common notification bars of iOS and Android? Like the native push notifications?
Do I have to pay for it? Does somebody have experience with this? Is there a App on iOS or Android which is using this service?
For me it looks like this service is not very popular, but I cant understand why? At first glance is looks very nice.
This link helps a little.. synopsis below:
Re: PushMobi Active User question
Postby IntelJohn ยป Tue Feb 12, 2013 8:23 am
The authUser parameter and authpw parameter are used to verify the
identify the identity of the person/server requesting the push
message. They are the email address and the password for the appMobi
account you are sending a push message to.
You do not need to sign up for a pushMobi subscription. You can just
start using pushMobi (assuming of course you have added the necessary
push code) http://www.appmobi.com/documentation/in ... E_PUSHMOBI As
pushMobi is a service of appMobi, it will make your app fall into one
of the following categories. Our system automatically picks up if you
should be in the monetized model or not. We can determine if you are
using any of our services (live updates, push, stats, ect). We can
also determine if you are using either IAP or our appAds. Based upon
those 2 things, and the number of MAU's that your app has, you are
placed into either the completely free category, first 100 users free
category, or the first 10,000 users free category.
If you do not use any of our services in your app, your app is
completely free. If you use our services, but not IAP or appAds, then
you get 100 free MAU's. Users 100-10000 will cost you .25 cents. All
users above 10000 will only cost .10 cents. If you use our services,
and either IAP or appAds, then you get 10000 free MAU's. Each MAU
after 10000 will cost you .10
I am investigating the intel XDK and it does indeed look very good.. We'll see.
PushMobi it seems is still operated by AppMobi which intel acquired as part of its strategy to get the XDK into shape. Appmobi continue to offer the cloud service elements and (I guess) uses the XDK and the relationship with Intel to leverage sales. But going to the Appmobi website, I can't find anything to confirm costs of use etc. which is more than a little disconcerting.
Take a look yourself and please let me know if you find anything else.. there is a 'contact us' point which I might just use to ask the questions. There is no point in designing something in if the pricing model doesn't suit you.. and there is no indication in the post as to what that really is.. whats an 'MAU'? I guess a user, but how often charged? Monthly.. all far from obvious.
Appmobi website
There are plenty of other push notification services out there but it is a shame if this one is good and reasonably priced ..
Its completely free and is a very cool service. You can follow the link to learn about it and how to use it.
Push Notifications using Intel XDK
The AppMobi push service is currently only available if you use the Intel XDK "legacy" builds, which have been deprecated and will eventually disappear from the Intel XDK build system (no specific schedule for removal at the time of this post).
If AppMobi publishes a Cordova plugin for their push service it will then be available to anyone who uses the Intel XDK to build Cordova apps, or any other Cordova build system (such as Cordova CLI and PhoneGap) that allows for the use of third-party Cordova plugins.

Windows phone 8 - maintain free and paid app versions

I am developing an windows phone 8 application and want to maintain two versions of my app - free and paid. So that my app appear in both free and paid app sections.
Since these two applications will have different Product IDs, is it possible to buy paid app from inside the free app.
I know that if we use Trial API of WindowsPhone, we can purchase paid version from app itself and can unlock the features using IsTrial of LicenseInformation. But in this case your app doesn't appear in free section.
I want to allow user to buy paid app from free version say by clicking BUYNOW button in app and get the free version replaced by paid one automatically.
This is the exact scenario that Microsoft wants to avoid. They don't want to see duplicate apps in the market because it destroys the consistent user experience. Instead, you need to either use the Trial Library or release it for free and put an in app purchase to remove ads or add functionality.
Your only option is to maintain 2 apps one that limits functionality using IsTrial and the other with an in app purchase.
Some people have suggested this isn't allowed, but I've yet to find anything in the requirements documentation that says you can't do this. There's also quite a lot of examples of apps already in the store doing this.

Publishing a free app on WP8 store then make it not free

I need help with publishing an app me and my team developed. It currently is in beta phase and we need testers. We thought of publishing it in the store as an open free beta app and ask for people to download it and report their bugs. After all the testing bugs are fixed the app will go public as v1.0 but not as free. We do however want the people who originally downloaded it to get all the updates for free as a reward for their help of testing our help and never have to pay for the app. How can that be done?
As you probably know Beta App is different than 'Normal' App - so after finished test you need to publish new application (you can't change beta to normal).
What you are asking is called targeted distribution - you can hide App (you will need to submit one more App for that purpose) from users browsing the store, and send a link to those who you choose (Beta testers). But you cannot prevent such a situation when a beta tester send this link to other person. So you have to cosider it.
EDIT
You cannot do such a thing like in beta version - create a list of user that will be able to use it.
The other solution that comes to my mind - you can create 'Beta' App that is the same as Normal App and alow specific user to use it. The disadventage of this method is that Beta expires after 90 days.

Adhoc distribution of Windows Phone 8 apps

I am in process of developing app for windows phone 8. I need the adhoc distribution of my app to all devices within the organization. I don't want to publish it on the market instead i want the installation of app on the devices within the organization.
Do i need to buy another account for adhoc distribution or i can use the same $99 account for adhoc distribution of app.
Thanks in advance.
Well there are multiple ways to distribute apps,
Directly via Visual Studio or XAPDeploy (however the device must be developer unlocked, and connected via usb)
Via the normal Store/Marketplace
Via Store/Marketplace, with "Hide from users browsing or searching the Store" so that only users with the direct link to the store can find the app
Via Beta app distribution
edit: beta apps now do not have a 3 month limit anymore. Only restriction is, that you can "only" have 10000 users and each users email must be manually added for them to be able to download the beta
Company app distribution, which is likely what you are looking for. (However this seems to be relatively difficult) More information here: http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/windowsphone/develop/jj206943(v=vs.105).aspx
Edit: I missed this one: Using "Windows Intune Direct Management for Windows Phone 8 Mobile Devices"
There are no other ways I know of.

Can I Deploy windows phone apps in my Nokia Lumia 620 Freely

I Have windows phone 8 And I want to Develop apps and Deploy it Freely.is this possible.
Ya, max 10 developer app or unsigned apps are allowed to install in your phone.
I assume what you want to do is sideload the apps . For that you need to developer unlock you lumia620 first , which obviously is going to cost you.Please check price for developer unlocking you phone with microsoft.
Other than that it is impossible to load apps freely ,if it is not through App store.
Hope my answer helped you.
It is possible to load any number of unsigned xap files onto a Windows Phone device provided it is fully unlocked (interop unlock). How you go about getting your device to that state presents a challenge. So far, only the Samsung ATIV S has been unlocked to that level for Windows Phone 8.
Once you have fully unlocked your phone you effectively have free reign over your device being able to fully access components such as the registry or file system.
Both Samsung and LG have provided back door diagnostic tools on their phones that facilitate making the needed registry changes to completely unlock their phones. Whether such features are available on other brands has yet to be discovered.
If you are a software developer, you will probably want to get your hands on an ATIV S before they disappear.