Why Windows Phone just lost a developer
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I'm beginning to get into Windows "Metro" (What do they call it now?) development and I figured, "Hey, why not port those apps to Windows Phone?" Then I looked at the Windows Phone website... Oh, $99? Forget it. :wtf: This, in a nutshell, is why I believe WP doesn't fly with developers: Microsoft charges as much as Apple charges to develop for the IOS, but have an astronomically smaller user base. Why would any developer want to do that? :thumbsdown:
Sure apple has a larger user base. But it also has thousands more developers submitting apps all the time. That means that unless you are willing to spend THOUSANDS to advertise your apps constantly you'll only get maybe 1500 downloads (if your app is free) before you're off the bottom of any of the *new* lists in the market. Once that happens your app is off in purgatory where nobody will ever find it. This is also basically the case in the Windows Phone market but it doesn't happen quite as fast. For my cross platform apps I've had thousands of more downloads for my Windows Phone versions than their apple or android counterparts. So despite the smaller user base your chances of being seen in the Windows Phone market are much higher. That $99 will get you farther in a Windows Phone development than it will for apple.
Play my game Gravity: IOS[^], Android[^], Windows Phone 7[^]
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Steve Maier wrote:
I wish I had gotten the WP8 SDK early but could not get it
Same here. The silence from MS surrounding the rather bizarre decision to only offer the API to a tiny few has definitely harmed their standing with the faithful, especially as they are going to want to have WP8 apps in the store for day 1 of release. I know that you can still use WP7.5 apps with it, but that's no consolation for those of us who want to experience the new features the phone has available.
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The SDK for WP8 is now available to download from inside of VS2012 at least. It says that I need 5G of space for it. Let the downloading fun begin.
Steve Maier
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Sure apple has a larger user base. But it also has thousands more developers submitting apps all the time. That means that unless you are willing to spend THOUSANDS to advertise your apps constantly you'll only get maybe 1500 downloads (if your app is free) before you're off the bottom of any of the *new* lists in the market. Once that happens your app is off in purgatory where nobody will ever find it. This is also basically the case in the Windows Phone market but it doesn't happen quite as fast. For my cross platform apps I've had thousands of more downloads for my Windows Phone versions than their apple or android counterparts. So despite the smaller user base your chances of being seen in the Windows Phone market are much higher. That $99 will get you farther in a Windows Phone development than it will for apple.
Play my game Gravity: IOS[^], Android[^], Windows Phone 7[^]
MS just announced that for the next 8 days the cost is $8! I was watching the Build conference via the Channel9 site. Good luck! I hope you guys do build cool Win Phone apps.
jackandred
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I'm beginning to get into Windows "Metro" (What do they call it now?) development and I figured, "Hey, why not port those apps to Windows Phone?" Then I looked at the Windows Phone website... Oh, $99? Forget it. :wtf: This, in a nutshell, is why I believe WP doesn't fly with developers: Microsoft charges as much as Apple charges to develop for the IOS, but have an astronomically smaller user base. Why would any developer want to do that? :thumbsdown:
Hi GeekForChrist See email below from Jackie Davis, they just announced at BUILD that they've reduced the cost. Its only $8 for the next 8 days. Here's the link http://dev.windowsphone.com/
Lisa Marie Sidlow
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Hi GeekForChrist See email below from Jackie Davis, they just announced at BUILD that they've reduced the cost. Its only $8 for the next 8 days. Here's the link http://dev.windowsphone.com/
Lisa Marie Sidlow
Still showing as $99 when I go through the process - maybe it'll change soon :confused: Looks like the discount situation is a little more involved than just that. According to Microsoft, "You'll be charged $99 USD or equivalent in your local currency, and we'll refund the difference in the next 30 to 45 days." Ninety-two percent discounts don't just happen overnight, after all. Source: http://www.engadget.com/2012/10/30/microsoft-drops-windows-phone-store-developer-registration-to-8/[^] Edit: Official blog link (near the bottom) http://blogs.windows.com/windows_phone/b/wpdev/archive/2012/10/30/announcing-the-new-windows-phone-8-developer-platform.aspx[^]
Dave
Binging is like googling, it just feels dirtier. Please take your VB.NET out of our nice case sensitive forum. Astonish us. Be exceptional. (Pete O'Hanlon)
BTW, in software, hope and pray is not a viable strategy. (Luc Pattyn) -
Still showing as $99 when I go through the process - maybe it'll change soon :confused: Looks like the discount situation is a little more involved than just that. According to Microsoft, "You'll be charged $99 USD or equivalent in your local currency, and we'll refund the difference in the next 30 to 45 days." Ninety-two percent discounts don't just happen overnight, after all. Source: http://www.engadget.com/2012/10/30/microsoft-drops-windows-phone-store-developer-registration-to-8/[^] Edit: Official blog link (near the bottom) http://blogs.windows.com/windows_phone/b/wpdev/archive/2012/10/30/announcing-the-new-windows-phone-8-developer-platform.aspx[^]
Dave
Binging is like googling, it just feels dirtier. Please take your VB.NET out of our nice case sensitive forum. Astonish us. Be exceptional. (Pete O'Hanlon)
BTW, in software, hope and pray is not a viable strategy. (Luc Pattyn)Hi Dave, I am still watching the Build Conference live stream at [^] They just said it will be posted live in about an hour. Also, if you paid $99 dollars today, they will refund your $91 dollars.
Lisa Marie Sidlow
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Hi Dave, I am still watching the Build Conference live stream at [^] They just said it will be posted live in about an hour. Also, if you paid $99 dollars today, they will refund your $91 dollars.
Lisa Marie Sidlow
Thanks for the info, will check it shortly to see if they update it :thumbsup:
Dave
Binging is like googling, it just feels dirtier. Please take your VB.NET out of our nice case sensitive forum. Astonish us. Be exceptional. (Pete O'Hanlon)
BTW, in software, hope and pray is not a viable strategy. (Luc Pattyn) -
While I don't necessarily agree with it, I do understand why a fee is in place. It helps deter (not eliminate) those that are submitting and posting nefarious apps just for malicious activity. Is it possible to distribute your apps outside of the WP8 store?
"One man's wage rise is another man's price increase." - Harold Wilson
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DavidCrow wrote:
It helps deter (not eliminate) those that are submitting and posting nefarious apps just for malicious activity.
I definitely understand it. I just don't appreciate it on my end. :rolleyes:
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Hi GeekForChrist See email below from Jackie Davis, they just announced at BUILD that they've reduced the cost. Its only $8 for the next 8 days. Here's the link http://dev.windowsphone.com/
Lisa Marie Sidlow
Thanks for the info, Lisa. :thumbsup: Unfortunately, looking at WP is more of a future-oriented move for me. I won't meet the age requirements for a dev account until next August. :((
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Sure apple has a larger user base. But it also has thousands more developers submitting apps all the time. That means that unless you are willing to spend THOUSANDS to advertise your apps constantly you'll only get maybe 1500 downloads (if your app is free) before you're off the bottom of any of the *new* lists in the market. Once that happens your app is off in purgatory where nobody will ever find it. This is also basically the case in the Windows Phone market but it doesn't happen quite as fast. For my cross platform apps I've had thousands of more downloads for my Windows Phone versions than their apple or android counterparts. So despite the smaller user base your chances of being seen in the Windows Phone market are much higher. That $99 will get you farther in a Windows Phone development than it will for apple.
Play my game Gravity: IOS[^], Android[^], Windows Phone 7[^]
thrakazog wrote:
For my cross platform apps I've had thousands of more downloads for my Windows Phone versions than their apple or android counterparts.
I like the sound of that. Maybe I will get into WP after all.
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Thanks for the info, Lisa. :thumbsup: Unfortunately, looking at WP is more of a future-oriented move for me. I won't meet the age requirements for a dev account until next August. :((
Wow, maybe you can get someone to help you get an account? A teacher maybe? Its so great that you are getting started this early, and that you found your way to CodeProject. Stick with it, I am sure by August they will have even more tools for you to use.
Lisa Marie Sidlow
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Wow, maybe you can get someone to help you get an account? A teacher maybe? Its so great that you are getting started this early, and that you found your way to CodeProject. Stick with it, I am sure by August they will have even more tools for you to use.
Lisa Marie Sidlow
Thanks for the tips and encouragement! I appreciate it a lot. :)
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Thanks for the tips and encouragement! I appreciate it a lot. :)
Here's a little story about our Co-Founder Dave Cunningham. Like you, he was very interested in computer science at a very young age. Here's how he got started (you can view his full profile under the help section, about us for more details but here's the first line." "I direct The Code Project's business activities, such as strategic direction, partnerships, and vendor relations. I started photo-etching circuit boards when I was 8, and at 11 was haunting the halls and computer science labs at the local college so much that I was invited by Professor Wayne Ayott to audit his software and hardware design courses." What he didnt say in here is that he was too young for the class so his father had to go with him. Both of our co-founders, Chris and Dave got started at a very, very young age. Stick with the guys on this forum, learn from them and you will do great!
Lisa Marie Sidlow
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Here's a little story about our Co-Founder Dave Cunningham. Like you, he was very interested in computer science at a very young age. Here's how he got started (you can view his full profile under the help section, about us for more details but here's the first line." "I direct The Code Project's business activities, such as strategic direction, partnerships, and vendor relations. I started photo-etching circuit boards when I was 8, and at 11 was haunting the halls and computer science labs at the local college so much that I was invited by Professor Wayne Ayott to audit his software and hardware design courses." What he didnt say in here is that he was too young for the class so his father had to go with him. Both of our co-founders, Chris and Dave got started at a very, very young age. Stick with the guys on this forum, learn from them and you will do great!
Lisa Marie Sidlow
Thanks