Develop Bugs

Undocumented Capabilities in WMAppManifest.xml WP7

Looking around the IMGFS, I found some undocumented capabilities that can be used in building an app (in addition to the standard ones mentioned in the WMAppManifest.xml file).
These are the extra ones I found, in case anyone is interested (from BasePolicy.xml):
ID_CAP_RINGTONE_ADD:Allows ringtone-marketplace applications to read/write into the Ringtones directory
ID_CAP_MEDIALIB:Access to the media library - read, play-back, etc.
ID_CAP_INTEROPSERVICES:Temporary Interop Service Capability.. To be removed by feature team
ID_CAP_SIMrovides access to SIM manager API
ID_CAP_SMSrovides access to SMS API
ID_CAP_WAProvides access to WAP API
ID_CAP_IDENTITY_USER:Allow an application to use a phone.info.dll to retrieve user properties
ID_CAP_TESTPUBLIC1:Small public test capability
ID_CAP_LOADUNSIGNEDMANAGEDDLL:Capability to load unsigned managed dll into chamber's process space
ID_CAP_LOADUNSIGNEDNATIVEDLL:Capability to load unsigned native dll into chamber's process space
ID_CAP_DEBUG:Allow an application to run in debugging enviorment.
---Edit---
I've tested each of these individually, and some work, and others don't.
ID_CAP_INTEROPSERVICES works
ID_CAP_RINGTONE_ADD works
ID_CAP_MEDIALIB works
ID_CAP_IDENTITY_USER works
ID_CAP_TESTPUBLIC1 works
ID_CAP_SIM ID doesn't work
CAP_SMS doesn't work
ID_CAP_WAP doesn't work
ID_CAP_LOADUNSIGNEDNATIVEDLL doesn't work
ID_CAP_LOADUNSIGNEDMANAGEDDLL doesn't work.
Note that even for the ones that work, Microsoft may still reject them in the app store.
I tested these by entering them in the WMAppManifest.xml in the XAP, and loading them on a windows phone device. This guy suggests that if it loads on the device, you have the permission: http://www.drdobbs.com/windows/227701092 and I think he's right. If you don't have permission, it doesn't actually load, and in every case, if it loaded it ran.

ID_CAP_RINGTONE_ADD - So i guess with next update we will get Custom ringtones that can b installed from an app
off topic can some one create utility that will do something about tuch sensetive buttons, when using camera if u tuch any of then by accident it exit camera, so u have to hold phone very carefully.
also, app to lock screen rotation would be nice.... any of thous features undocumented anywhere
P.S sorry for unrelated message

I think the ID_CAP_RINGTONE_ADD feature will only be enabled for the carriers (who knows what Microsoft really has in mind, though). The Windows Phone has done a good job (or lousy job, compared to what I desire) managing permissions so they can choose what capability to give whom.
Disabling other buttons shouldn't be hard if you can get to the native API. So once the phone is jailbroken......

Actually, Microsofts own Q&A on Windows Phone 7 states to look in the Marketplace for additional ringtones. Here is an excerpt and a link:
To find a ringtone in Marketplace
1
On Start, tap the arrow to go to the App list, then tap Marketplace .
2
Press the Search button.
3
Do one of the following:
•
To browse a variety of ringtones, type ringtones, then tap Enter .
•
To look for a more particular type of ringtone, type something more specific, like Halloween ringtones.
Tip
To hear what a ringtone or alert sounds like, tap Play .
Note
Marketplace may not be available in your country or region.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsphone/en-us/howto/wp7/start/ringtones-and-sounds.aspx

All well and good having that, but why should we purchase a ring tone?

TheDisneyMagic said:
All well and good having that, but why should we purchase a ring tone?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Well, I don't see myself buying any, but this means an app could be made to create/add ringtones.

Long press on a song in Zune won't let you set it as the ringtone?

Iridox said:
Long press on a song in Zune won't let you set it as the ringtone?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Nope, I asumed this would be how it worked but no option in the list to do so.

Ah, that's a PITA >_>

naplesbill said:
Well, I don't see myself buying any, but this means an app could be made to create/add ringtones.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
A whole app just to add a ringtone!?

naplesbill said:
Actually, Microsofts own Q&A on Windows Phone 7 states to look in the Marketplace for additional ringtones. Here is an excerpt and a link:
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsphone/en-us/howto/wp7/start/ringtones-and-sounds.aspx
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
To me that excerpt looks like you can download ringtones from the store, not that you can create an app to download ringtones. It would appear that Microsoft has an internal application that can add ringtones (which makes sense). These permissions are enforced by the OS, not the app store (maybe the app store does too). So if they want to be able to install ringtones, they need to give their own app permission to do so.

athompson said:
Looking around the IMGFS, I found some undocumented capabilities that can be used in building an app (in addition to the standard ones mentioned in the WMAppManifest.xml file).
These are the extra ones I found, in case anyone is interested (from BasePolicy.xml):
ID_CAP_RINGTONE_ADD:Allows ringtone-marketplace applications to read/write into the Ringtones directory
ID_CAP_MEDIALIB:Access to the media library - read, play-back, etc.
ID_CAP_INTEROPSERVICES:Temporary Interop Service Capability.. To be removed by feature team
ID_CAP_SIMrovides access to SIM manager API
ID_CAP_SMSrovides access to SMS API
ID_CAP_WAProvides access to WAP API
ID_CAP_IDENTITY_USER:Allow an application to use a phone.info.dll to retrieve user properties
ID_CAP_TESTPUBLIC1:Small public test capability
ID_CAP_LOADUNSIGNEDMANAGEDDLL:Capability to load unsigned managed dll into chamber's process space
ID_CAP_LOADUNSIGNEDNATIVEDLL:Capability to load unsigned native dll into chamber's process space
ID_CAP_DEBUG:Allow an application to run in debugging enviorment.
Visual Studio won't let you add all of them directly, but uncompress your .xap in the build directory, and add it manually.
If anyone is thinking of doing this, the phone rejected my attempts to do so. I tried to give myself ID_CAP_LOADUNSIGNEDNATIVEDLL, but it wouldn't even load on the phone. Oh well.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
But if someone use these things in an application , I think microsoft doesn`t approve it in the market place!

amir_rafie said:
But if someone use these things in an application , I think microsoft doesn`t approve it in the market place!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Ya, not only that, they probably automatically check to make sure you don't try to use them. The phone automatically checks, too.
The main reason I put them here is because I couldn't find them documented anywhere on the web, and I thought it would be good to save someone the time if they started down the same path I did.

hopefully once there is a jailbreak that turns of security/cert checking we can add these capabilities to our apps. Im particularly interested in the p/invoke capability.

indiekiduk said:
Im particularly interested in the p/invoke capability.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
YES! It would make the world beautiful and skies turn blue.

So I set up VS 2010 and tried debugging an app that had a simple DLLImport in it and ID_CAP_INTEROPSERVICES in the manifest, however it still crashed with a MethodAccessException. It was def a valid dll and method name because I took it from one of the DLLImports in the system.location .net dll decompiled with Reflector.

indiekiduk said:
So I set up VS 2010 and tried debugging an app that had a simple DLLImport in it and ID_CAP_INTEROPSERVICES in the manifest, however it still crashed with a MethodAccessException. It was def a valid dll and method name because I took it from one of the DLLImports in the system.location .net dll decompiled with Reflector.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Interesting. If your app installed, it means you were able to get the ID_CAP_INTEROPSERVICES permission, because if the phone rejects your permission, it rejects it at install time. Maybe the DLL path was wrong, like you need to do ..\DLLNAME.dll or something.

indiekiduk said:
So I set up VS 2010 and tried debugging an app that had a simple DLLImport in it and ID_CAP_INTEROPSERVICES in the manifest, however it still crashed with a MethodAccessException. It was def a valid dll and method name because I took it from one of the DLLImports in the system.location .net dll decompiled with Reflector.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Try a relative URI path. ./DLLName.dll

On the subject of Native Applications on Windows Phone 7:
A few days ago, an Application called "Network Profile" appeared in the Samsung Zone of my Omnia 7's Marketplace.
This app is the first external app that uses native code - The Marketplace says that it "Requires access to your interop services", and on opening the XAP on my PC, I found it to contain three native COM DLLs, alongside two .NET DLLs and a further native DLL with MUIs that appear to only serve to hold resources.
I'm not sure whether this can be linked to here, so I'm going to describe the interesting parts.
It has not one, but three XMLs - the typical WMAppManifest.xml (pastebin.com/uEJWdTuA), a WMAppPRHeader.xml (pastebin.com/AVcv7JUX) which seems to have something to do with PlayReady DRM, and most interestingly WMInteropManifest.xml (pastebin.com/NCVKP6kM).
There is also the AppManifest.xaml (pastebin.com/rRrB090h).
The NetworkProfile.dll has a number of COM Imports like so:
Code:
[ComImport, InterfaceType(ComInterfaceType.InterfaceIsIUnknown), Guid("F1113B13-AAB8-45E9-91A5-CBE568C29612")]
internal interface INwProfInterface
The Constructor for the class containing all the COM Interfaces:
Code:
ComBridge.RegisterComDll("NwProfDLL.dll", new Guid("4A2580BA-11A3-49AB-AC98-C30B5E72D381"));
this.NwInterface = (INwProfInterface) new CNwProfClass();
ComBridge.RegisterComDll("SecVersion.dll", new Guid("DFE52822-B526-4913-807A-D2AABC7BF911"));
this.SecVerInterface = (ISecVersionInterface) new SecVersionClass();
ComBridge.RegisterComDll("COMRilClient.dll", new Guid("A18F6B1A-924E-4787-AA82-19F98B49CF5D"));
this.SecRILControlInterface = (ISecRilControl) new COSecRilControl();
Happy to answer any questions, and if allowed, either guide people to getting it themselves, or providing a download link to the XAP.

Sweet, good find! I downloaded that app. How did you get it off your phone? If you have a download link to the XAP no one will complain, either.

Mango Restart Phone App based on DLLImport

I've created a simple app to restart the phone. It's based on DLLImport by fiinix.
Cleaned it up a little and added source.
Video by WPXBOX
View attachment 772512

Cool stuff !
Do you think you could create a shortcut to the internet sharing settings page ?

Cool,
now take also out the Interop-Lock and we are all happy.
Sent from my 7 Mozart using XDA Windows Phone 7 App

Thx
nice App.......it`s possible to add PowerOff ?
grüsse markus

Nice. I like the option to pin to the start screen.

go2mp said:
Thx
nice App.......it`s possible to add PowerOff ?
grüsse markus
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Well, you could also press the power button for that

contable said:
Cool stuff !
Do you think you could create a shortcut to the internet sharing settings page ?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
As far as I know there is no way to do that right now.

Ddriver said:
Cool,
now take also out the Interop-Lock and we are all happy.
Sent from my 7 Mozart using XDA Windows Phone 7 App
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Sorry I don't think it's possible this time.

singularity0821 said:
As far as I know there is no way to do that right now.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
In general you just have to call a .exe file in the windows folder. This way worked the first shortcuts I had for the OMNIA 7. Maybe in case of the internet sharing page it´s the softap.exe, but not important...
Another question:
Do you know the guid I have to call when your restart app is pinned ?
I mean if I want to execute the restart function directly not the app...
I would like to add the pinned tile to my created Homebrew folder, not the app with the settings page.

contable said:
In general you just have to call a .exe file in the windows folder. This way worked the first shortcuts I had for the OMNIA 7. Maybe in case of the internet sharing page it´s the softap.exe, but not important...
Another question:
Do you know the guid I have to call when your restart app is pinned ?
I mean if I want to execute the restart function directly not the app...
I would like to add the pinned tile to my created Homebrew folder, not the app with the settings page.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I don't know if that's possible. The guid should be the same as it is the same app.

OK, I'm not sure why this needs ID_CAP_INTEROPSERVICES - you should be fine without it. Did you try it that way? Unless your code is opening a driver handle, you don't need that capability. Native code works just fine with only the Interop manifest.
To call the live tile function directly, it's the same GUID but you need to know the parameter that passed along with the live tile. Calling the app with that parameter will start it and trigger the OnNavigatedTo event with the correct parameter.

GoodDayToDie said:
To call the live tile function directly, it's the same GUID but you need to know the parameter that passed along with the live tile. Calling the app with that parameter will start it and trigger the OnNavigatedTo event with the correct parameter.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
So please give me a hint how to figure out the guid...
I´m sure that it is stored somewhere on device.

It is stored on the device, both in the file system and in the app manager. Neither of those are terribly useful though, so the simpler way is to open the XAP directly, and look in the WMAppManifest.XML file.
ProductID="{ede8d6f6-4b64-43b0-8be6-1c98def5ca85}"
As for the parameter you have to pass to make it think it's coming from the live tile, you'll either need to decompile the DLL or ask the author (or get the source code, which it would be awesome if more people just included up front).
By the way, ID_CAP_INTEROPSERVICES is already commented out of the manifest. You do not need interop-unlock for this app!

GoodDayToDie said:
It is stored on the device, both in the file system and in the app manager. Neither of those are terribly useful though, so the simpler way is to open the XAP directly, and look in the WMAppManifest.XML file.
ProductID="{ede8d6f6-4b64-43b0-8be6-1c98def5ca85}"
As for the parameter you have to pass to make it think it's coming from the live tile, you'll either need to decompile the DLL or ask the author (or get the source code, which it would be awesome if more people just included up front).
By the way, ID_CAP_INTEROPSERVICES is already commented out of the manifest. You do not need interop-unlock for this app!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I know how to get the productID, the problem is the mentioned parameter.
I want to add it to my with Jaxbot´s tool created homebrew folder...
The author don´t know either, I allready asked him.
Anyway thanks for trying to help me.
Edit: I totally agree that more people should post the sourcecode, too.

The author certainly does know - it's that thing which distinguishes "was I launched fromt the live tile or not?" that you check for in the OnNavigatedTo event handler. It's a string URI which is applied to the live tile when it is created, and is part of the live tile's identity (the URI must always be unique).

Nice application! Could you please share the source with us? I am still looking for examples that uses DLLimport

GoodDayToDie said:
The author certainly does know - it's that thing which distinguishes "was I launched fromt the live tile or not?" that you check for in the OnNavigatedTo event handler. It's a string URI which is applied to the live tile when it is created, and is part of the live tile's identity (the URI must always be unique).
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
So I don´t know either why I don´t get this information...

contable said:
So I don´t know either why I don´t get this information...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I was busy in the afternoon...
Guys, give me a moment.. I'll upload the source.

So done.. Sorry for not giving clear answers before...
And I also tried to figure out how to add it to folders. The parameter passed to the main page is tile. In the previous version I did it in a stupid way and I better spare you the details
Oh and if you figure out how to add it to the folder please let me know.

Great (+)

[Q] List all apps in Mango?

Hi all,
First, I hope i created this thread in the right place and not break rules of our forum.
--
In WP7, when we click on the arrow in the upper right corner, it will bring us to all apps of the WP7 in a list format.
The question is how could i get all apps ( shortcut, i think) of the WP. I "googled" something like that but no help.
Is this possible or not?
Any clues about how to begin with this is very appreciated.
Thank you.
sol

I'm sorry, I'm not sure what you mean. Do you mean Microsoft's apps that came with Mango, or the new 'jump list' in the app list? (Only appears when you hit a certain number of apps, 40 I think.)
See this for the jump list:
http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6144/5916612575_dee4169791_b.jpg

Is this a development related question (belongs here), or user related? Not quite understanding the question.

SimzzDev said:
I'm sorry, I'm not sure what you mean. Do you mean Microsoft's apps that came with Mango, or the new 'jump list' in the app list? (Only appears when you hit a certain number of apps, 40 I think.)
See this for the jump list:
http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6144/5916612575_dee4169791_b.jpg
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
blkjack2u said:
Is this a development related question (belongs here), or user related? Not quite understanding the question.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
This is absolutely a development related question.
Yeah, I mean Microsoft's apps. I need to get some info such as: path to the apps, Icon, title name of app etc ... of all apps which came with windows phone ( alarm, settings, Message , Games, Calender, Camera ... ). So, i can arrange them in which i like

You can do it on interop unlocked phone only, using native filesystem calls. Just lookup all /Application/Install folders and extract and parse any info you need.

sensboston said:
You can do it on interop unlocked phone only, using native filesystem calls. Just lookup all /Application/Install folders and extract and parse any info you need.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks for your info.
As far as I know, Windows Phone Emulator in WP 7.1 SDK isn't unlocked yet. But knowing where to start is much better than nothing.
sol
Edit:
WP7 Mango Emulator Image Unlocked
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?p=21491991
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I found this today, great.
@sensboston : Can you tell me more detail on how to do this: "using native filesystem calls, just lookup all /Application/Install folders and extract and parse"?
Thanks
sol

Creating simple contacts' application

Hello all!
I am looking into development of something which is similar to people's list in people hub. What I want is a huge list of people on one page with (of course) LonglistSelector. When I tap a member of the list, I want the user to be navigated to the details page of that item. User needs to be able to manipulate and modify the data on the details page. The list is going to be real huge. I have a few question about the approach.
1. What is the best way to store data? I am thinking of creating local database with a few columns with person's name in one column, age in another etc.
If this is the approach to go for, can anyone provide me detailed description about the databases? I have deeply gone through the MSDN, WindowsPhoneGeek and many other documentations. I feel dumb about the whole database scenario.
2. Is XML list as database a good approach for large amounts of data or it will be pain?

i would say SQL CE is your best bet to store huge amounts of data. XML is slow at large volumes of data when compared to JSON. I would prefer JSON over XML.

darthveda said:
i would say SQL CE is your best bet to store huge amounts of data. XML is slow at large volumes of data when compared to JSON. I would prefer JSON over XML.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
So basically, I need to go with the local database using LINQ. Now, how do I do that? As I mentioned, I have read intensively. However, I just don't seem to get hang of it.

akshay2000 said:
So basically, I need to go with the local database using LINQ. Now, how do I do that? As I mentioned, I have read intensively. However, I just don't seem to get hang of it.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I created my local database with LINQ based off this sample:
http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/windowsphone/develop/hh286405(v=vs.92).aspx
First define the columns which you would want to create and then modify the sample code to suit your needs.
For contacts, there is an excellent sample available:
http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/windowsphone/develop/hh286416(v=vs.92)
if you are stuck with some particular piece of code then let me know, i would be glad to help you out

darthveda said:
I created my local database with LINQ based off this sample:
http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/windowsphone/develop/hh286405(v=vs.92).aspx
First define the columns which you would want to create and then modify the sample code to suit your needs.
For contacts, there is an excellent sample available:
http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/windowsphone/develop/hh286416(v=vs.92)
if you are stuck with some particular piece of code then let me know, i would be glad to help you out
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I had gone through those links earlier! Back then, they made very little sense to me. I have researched a bit by now. I will update here if I get stuck somewhere.

hi
i had read the thread now and maybe this example of MS can help you... it's not based on local database, but uses ASP.NET Web API!
so maybe this is a way for you..

darthveda said:
if you are stuck with some particular piece of code then let me know, i would be glad to help you out
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'm attaching my code file to the post. When I try to run the app and click the button (it tries to add an item to the observablecollection) I get NullReferenceException error. Apparently, the collection's instant hasn't been created. But I tried to instantiate it using 'new' keyword - no luck. Am I doing anything wrong?

akshay2000 said:
I'm attaching my code file to the post. When I try to run the app and click the button (it tries to add an item to the observablecollection) I get NullReferenceException error. Apparently, the collection's instant hasn't been created. But I tried to instantiate it using 'new' keyword - no luck. Am I doing anything wrong?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
solution folder will be better, you are using telerik controls, i can't recreate your solution.

It's done!
darthveda said:
solution folder will be better, you are using telerik controls, i can't recreate your solution.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks for the response! After a lot of debugging and (almost literally) adding Debug.writeline after each line of code, I managed to solve it. It had nothing to do with the Database or the ObservableCollection. It was totally different - GroupDescriptor issue! More details here: http://stackoverflow.com/questions/...ion-while-adding-item-to-observablecollection
I'll post here if I get stuck with something again.
Again, thanks a lot!

Any reason you are using telerik controls? for starters and very simple programs, you can use controls from silverlight toolkit or coding4fun toolkit. i am using longlist selector which does the job just like the jumplist from telerik controls does.

darthveda said:
Any reason you are using telerik controls? for starters and very simple programs, you can use controls from silverlight toolkit or coding4fun toolkit. i am using longlist selector which does the job just like the jumplist from telerik controls does.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
No specific reasons except that the Jumplist provides StickyHeader functionality. And animation framework seems nice addition too!

we need a store for the developed apps that can't be submitted to the windows store

I hope one of the developer can make an app that can deliver updates for the apps built for introp capabilities and the apps not available anymore in the windows store

Of course we need, let's ask Jay Freeman for help.

Yeah sure cause it's getting messy out there and you have to check all the threads to keep up with the developers works

But wait, maybe we should get jailbreak first

w.bogdan said:
But wait, maybe we should get jailbreak first
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
my phone is already jailbroken!

karaki93 said:
my phone is already jailbroken!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Really? Did you changed your password?

What password?

Exactly what are you talking about?

karaki93 said:
Exactly what are you talking about?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I believe he is talking about naive, useless ideas coming from newbies

sensboston said:
I believe he is talking about naive, useless ideas coming from newbies
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Just long time jailbreak user on iPhone Waiting for something like AnsweringMachine https://9to5mac.com/2016/08/18/answeringmachine-cydia-tweak-enhanced-voicemail/ Firewall iP or Tage on W10M

sensboston said:
I believe he is talking about naive, useless ideas coming from newbies
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Why useless? In WP7 there was Bazaar and Devstore and it was really usefull. (for me )
Greetz,

Let's make a list of apps that deserve to be in the alternative store for W10M. I can only think of
1. Interop Tools
2. PoGo-UWP (Pokemon Go for W10M)
Any other suggestions?

w.bogdan said:
Let's make a list of apps that deserve to be in the alternative store for W10M. I can only think of
1. Interop Tools
2. PoGo-UWP (Pokemon Go for W10M)
Any other suggestions?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
- Font Style
- App Data Manage Tool
- Reboot

The list is growing everyday and there's also the apps pulled of the store but there's xap/appx on some forums so it worth the work on such app

@Rataplan, why do you need a special "store" just for the certain apps? Create a static web page with the short descriptions and tiles, links to the packages (but don't forget appropriate content type for the .xap, .appx & .appbundle extensions) looking good on the phone screen, host anywhere on the free anonymous http hosting and post link here - what's all
I believe, mods will be happy to pin/announce your page link at the forum's FAQ post.
P.S. Of course you are free to call your page "The Ultimate Underground WP Store"

sensboston said:
@Rataplan, why do you need a special "store" just for the certain apps? Create a static web page with the short descriptions and tiles, links to the packages (but don't forget appropriate content type for the .xap, .appx & .appbundle extensions) looking good on the phone screen, host anywhere on the free anonymous http hosting and post link here - what's all
I believe, mods will be happy to pin/announce your page link at the forum's FAQ post.
P.S. Of course you are free to call your page "The Ultimate Underground WP Store"
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Don't be rude, in fact is a great idea thinking to the future with new tools.
Your idea is great too, we can to create an app seeded by a anonymous hosting. Why not?
Enviado desde mTalk

fer_cabr said:
- Font Style - App Data Manage Tool - Reboot
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
A reboot app is already in Windows Store - Power Options
Here are some of the reasons an alternative store might be good:
- Developers can reach a wider user base and get their work known, provide updates and receive feedback from users.
- User can easily find new apps and install them from a trusted source, receive updates in a simple way and request features.
But we only have four apps so far

sensboston said:
@Rataplan, why do you need a special "store" just for the certain apps? Create a static web page with the short descriptions and tiles, links to the packages (but don't forget appropriate content type for the .xap, .appx & .appbundle extensions) looking good on the phone screen, host anywhere on the free anonymous http hosting and post link here - what's all
I believe, mods will be happy to pin/announce your page link at the forum's FAQ post.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Actually, that's a really good idea (and more realistic than building a store tbh).
If people want an app they can make a web wrapper of that, I guess?
Although I'm not sure if a web wrapper can update installed apps, which would be super convenient for something like this

it doesn't have to be a fully functional store and update the apps automatically but at least provide all the apps in one place and notify about updates so users download them and install them manually so if a web-rapper app can notify about the updates it'll be more then enough for me

@karaki93, I gave you an idea; don't ask but do it by yourself!
P.S. If you need some advises or consultations, many people here will be happy to help you. The only thing you need is a start working on project instead of posting requests
P.P.S. Very first advise: find a XML- or JSON-based HTML5 mobile site template (without SQL database), this will be a 50% of the project.