Microsoft has released a Windows Phone App Studio in beta aimed at developers who want to create apps using a web interface. The tool will allow users to create apps for Windows Phone using predefined templates and side load them to their phones to test them. Microsoft seems desperate to get as many developers as possible to its platform, these type of tools will help them to get the numbers rolling but will they be enough.
While the idea seems good on surface, I doubt any serious developer will want to try that Windows Phone App Studio for creating apps. The tool might be good for users who want to create apps for personal use, or for niche things like their own site RSS feed etc., other than that the tool is not really useful for Windows Phone appstore.
Microsoft at this stage doesn’t want sub par apps built by novices all over the Windows Phone market. Microsoft may not allow all the apps built with this tool, but the app description says that it is geared towards savvy developers with great ideas.
We know you – the savvy developer filled with great ideas but not enough time. If only you had a way to quickly build and test your latest innovations. With the Windows Phone App Studio, you do!
The Windows Phone App Studio lets you swiftly build apps for immediate publishing, testing, and sharing with clients, co-workers, and focus groups. Need to make changes or try variations? With the App Studio it’s a snap!
May be it is useful for some developers to play with the tool and generate prototypes and get the source code to work on later.
In related news Microsoft has eased the phone unlock process, now any developer can unlock and register one phone to load up to 2 apps. Developers with Dev Center accounts can unlock three phones and upload upto 10 apps on each of the device. If you are developer and don’t have a Dev Center account this is a good time to start as the registration price dropped from $99 to $19, this offer will end by August 26th so hurry up.
The tool will provide source code after one finishes creating an app. What do you think? is Microsoft desperate to get apps or this is a nice tool to help you publish your app to the world?, let us know.
