Microsoft: Port Apple Apps to Win Mobile

Microsoft launched instructions on how to port an Apple App over to Windows Mobile 6.5.

The Windows Mobile Developer Center now provides instructions on how to port an Apple App over to a Windows Mobile (6.5) device. According to Macworld, the report was created by a third-party consulting group, and is meant to help developers--especially those already experienced with Apple's devices--create Windows Mobile applications for Microsoft's upcoming Windows Marketplace.

The report uses Gripwire's Amplitude app as an example (App Store link), a handy tool that picks up sound in the user's immediate area through a microphone: the app amplifies the sound while creating a graphical interpretation. Amplitude is great for picking up sounds normally not heard by human ears without a device such as distant bird calls, animal heartbeats and whatnot.

“It combines a rich user interface with features such as alpha blending and transparency with specific audio and sound requirements, which makes it challenging to port the app but, at the same time, provides a number of helpful learning experiences,” wrote Constanze Roman, a Windows Mobile Community team project manager.

It will be interesting to see if Apple comes out and protests against the report, forcing Microsoft to remove the study altogether.

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lifelesspoet , August 5, 2009 7:40 AM

I imagine that piracy is a maJor concern preventing the porting of these apps. Providing a developer friendly enviroment and api's might have worked out well for microsoft in the 1990's, I think there is too much fear over lost revenue.
That said, apple's app store has a notoriously high noise to signal ratio its hard finding apps in all the mess. Porting may be the best option for indie developers.
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thedreadfather , August 5, 2009 8:24 AM

Quote:
It will be interesting to see if Apple comes out and protests against the report, forcing Microsoft to remove the study altogether.

Its not a matter of if, but when
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nman729 , August 5, 2009 9:18 AM

i dont think 6.5 is even available to the general public.
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eddieroolz , August 5, 2009 9:20 AM

I think the preview was. Not sure about it though.
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cadder , August 5, 2009 9:36 AM

Maybe they should worry about fixing WM so it actually WORKS, then they can fix it so it looks more like Apple, and THEN worry about porting apps.
I have a WM6.0 phone and what works on a PC with a mouse and big screen doesn't work nearly as well on a tiny screen. And just try to connect to WiFi, or get the GPS to work, or ... I've had a lot of Win-based PDA's and I liked them, but the interface doesn't measure up to current state of the art.
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matt87_50 , August 5, 2009 10:32 AM

if i recall correctly, these app stores (well atleast the xna xbox community games one) specifically state that you remain the owner of the IP. so as long as none of apple's code remains in your port (like bits of the sdk) there should be nothing apple can do
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the associate , August 5, 2009 12:09 PM

I agree with you cadder, I have windows mobile 6.1 on my htc, although I don't have problems connecting to wifi, thats probably only because of bell's touch flo app within the phone, and yea, it could be wayyy better
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heygeo , August 5, 2009 3:06 PM

@cadder and the associate... 6.5 WinMo is a huge improvement over 6.1, and from what I've seen of Winmo 7, that will be a game changer for Winmo devices, definately on par and beyond what Apple, Palm and Google have now.. tricorder comes to mind.
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dheadley , August 5, 2009 3:37 PM

I agree with the previous posts concerning windows 6.1 / 6.5 being less than stellar operating systems. I have problems all the time with the GPS using applications not working on first try. Applications not connecting correctly when I have Wifi and Mobile broadband both active, like they can't figure out which way to connect and instead don't connect at all. Notifications that don't work at times and don't clear at other times. Files just getting deleted off the device randomly when hooked up to a USB connection.

As for version 7, it may be a game changer, but if its not out very soon (not next year or the year after) then it will be hard to change the game when the game is already over when you get to the park. Too many new phone systems are out now for people to hang on and wait for something that on the way.
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safcmanfr , August 5, 2009 6:37 PM

M$ needs to get more aggressive with Apple. MS seems to like sitting back and watch Apple run around.
MS's current advertising campaign is a step in the right direction, but its still too soft.

Mind you, it cold be like a human watching bug run around for curiosity's sake before stepping on it.
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goodbird , August 5, 2009 7:46 PM

Windows is a better platform realistically. Its more open and lots of third party company can do their thing there. Apple on the other hand, wants to control everything. Apple users don't know how much apple kill them every year for money with there over priced products.
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E7130 , August 5, 2009 8:22 PM

Man, Apple's App Store is saturated with crap apps, I'm glad that the FCC is looking into them a bit more as there needs to be more transparency to how they approve applications. More should be removed and it it has a low rating, it should be dumped!
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etichi , August 5, 2009 8:24 PM

@safcmanfr:

Instead of worrying about their propaganda... how about Microsoft comes up with something innovative for a change. I feel they are export copycats.
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AndrewMD , August 5, 2009 9:46 PM

etichi - uh... Apple's iPhone interface was just a polished up version of Palm's original OS.... only difference was left ot right scrolling on the iPhone and up and down scrolling on an orginal Palm...

As far as easier to use, Apple could have offered an app to quickly access the bluetooth and Wifi radio... currently you have to goto settings, general, bluetooth, and slide on/off...WTF

Microsoft: Port Apple Apps to Win Mobile

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