[Windows Phone 7 Development and Hacking] GoodDayToDie:
Hi hackers!

Found something pretty cool while I was digging around looking for new interop-unlock hacks. The bad news is that it looks like it's not usable for interop unlock, the good news is that it's still pretty cool.

This previously required a dev-unlock, but no longer does. It does not require interop-unlock. It works on all phones (as far as I know).

UPDATE 3: ZIP file usable on non-unlocked phones EDIT: I think this will not work on most phones. Sorry! The XAPs still work, if you can sideload them

I've added a ZIP file that can be used to switch the OEM Marketplace without needing to sideload a XAP at all. Instructions are inside, but basically you tap the XML file for the OEM you want, then reboot the phone.

UPDATE 2: Dell Apps.xap, Nokia Apps.xap (v2)

The Dell apps collection is hidden, like the Nokia one was (see Update 1 below). The only app I was able to find was "Newsroom" (another app kind of like HTC Hub). If there are others, please let me know and I'll try to find them.

Nokia has collected their apps into a single marketplace section, like HTC/Samsung/LG. The new Nokia Apps.xap reflects this, so disregard the Update 1 note below for Nokia, and download the new XAP!

UPDATE 1: Nokia Apps.xap (See the Update 2 note - Nokia Apps.xap has been changed)

Be aware that this app works a little differently. Rather than actually adding a "Nokia" store to your Marketplace list, it just enables your phone to access Nokia's apps though the normal marketplace. Not sure why some OEMs did their own store and others didn't, but that's why it wasn't working before (it isn't a stand-alone store section).

An easy way to find the Nokia apps is to do a seach for a well-known app, like Nokia Maps. Then, open it and tap the "More from Nokia Corporation" link. This will take you to a list of all of Nokia's apps.

WHAT IS IT?

Install a XAP or tap an XML file in the ZIP, and restart your phone. Then, open the marketplace, and you'll discover that, instead of "HTC Apps" or "Samsung Zone" or whatever your default is, you can install OEM apps from a different OEM.

WHAT CAN I DO?

If you want to install Nokia, HTC, Samsung, LG, or Dell apps, open the ZIP file on your phone, look for the OEM name you want, and tap the XML file immediately under that OEM name. You'll need to restart your phone before the Marketplace changes.

If you want to help out, give me as much info as you can about the other OEM marketplaces (Toshiba/Fujitsu, perhaps?)

IS IT DANGEROUS?

Well, it's a hack. There's always *some* danger. However, you don't need to worry very much. The phone will automatically revert the Marketplace after a day or so. You can also get your proper marketplace back by installing the corresponding app/tapping the desired ZIP.

However, you *really* should keep an up-to-date restore point any time you're messing with stuff like that, especially with new hacks. If something screws up and doesn't straighten out, restore a backup or hard-reset and it will fix itself.

EDIT: The ZIP does not appear to work on most phones. The XAP files should still work on 7.8, though.

WHO CAN I THANK?

Well, aside from myself :D thanks go to:

Heathcliff74, for the XAP deployer hack and the Samsung marketplace configuration file.

Schaps, for TouchXplorer (let me find the relevant file).

Voluptuary, for info about both OEM and MO marketplaces (working on those).

wpxbox, for the info about "Nokia collection".

CAN I ASK A QUESTION?

You just did, or at least, I did for you. Please see the next post after this one for FAQ. Otherwise, feel free to post a reply with your question. Please, if it's at all relevant, include the make, model, and version of your phone and OS/firmware.