yashsingh1/xdaforums huggingface dataset:
[Windows Mobile Development and Hacking General] xmodinc:
hey great app! i jus tried the beta..

i can help with the UI designing, am a graphics and web designer.. if you need my help then feel free to send me an email or PM concerning the same..
[Windows Mobile Development and Hacking General] N1c0_ds:
Yup there is one. On the info page, click on the right or left end of the bottom red bar to check other pages. One's for the main info, the other's for the description and the last one's for the screenshot.

There's no device picking as some developers don't know on which devices they run. All I ask for is supported resolutions and supported devices (e.g. "All Windows Mobile 6 devices, .net CF 3.5 required"). They are not shown in the current beta, but they are in the DB.

I just forgot to draw arrows on it ;)

Just an idea like this: I have the .net 3.5 cab. I'll add it to the DB but I might also add a "Download .net CF 3.5" menu item if ".net CF 3.5" is found in the requirements.

I'll be out 'till Dec 27 or 28, so don't expect quick replies (but maybe a much better Confetti 2.0 that looks like device Post Its!).
[Windows Mobile Development and Hacking General] dzign-it:
Hey..might just be me, but when i try instal BTonOff or (Bluetooth Shortcut) it install fine, but doesnt launch, something about it cannot find all the resources.

But, looking elsewhere i downloaded it...installed, and it works fine.. :S
[Windows Mobile Development and Hacking General] umexed:
I simply love this app! :) cant wait for the final skinned version! works great with my HD
[Windows Mobile Development and Hacking General] eisean:
program is super stable for me at least...just need more programs in the database
[Windows Mobile Development and Hacking General] the-equinoxe:
Tested the app.

It works great!

Maybe in the future when there are more applications available, it could be handy to hsve some sort of a sorting Like a tab for tweak.cabs, system tools, etc etc..).

But for now (this is a beta) it does exactly what I wanted to do: list apps, download them and install them.

Quite an impressive beta.

Keep up the good work.
[Windows Mobile Development and Hacking General] jandeinze:
Hey,

I'm new here, so sorry if I'm asking something I should not be asking here. I'm having some problems installing this program on mij Samsung i600 (WM6). I just copied the .CAB-file to my Micro-SD-card and now i want to install the program.

When i open the .CAB-file in explorer, i get a message. I use the Dutch version of WM, so I can't literaly say what the message is, but it says that the installationfile is not made for my device.

What should I do?
[Windows Mobile Development and Hacking General] :
touch flo 3d skin would be great

but i am getting my hd soon...

will it work with wvga????
[Windows Mobile Development and Hacking General] N1c0_ds:
Strange.

I'm pretty sure it's related to the .Net CF version you are using. Gecko requires .net Compact Framework 2.0. If you don't want to use the MSI installer, .NETCF 2.0 and 3.5 .cabs will be added to the database when I will be back home (I'm too lazy to get a USB cable in my laptop bag).

@GIZNETIC:

Yes it will. I got feedback from various people saying it works on their WVGA devices. If you look at the code, SQVGA, QVGA, WQVGA, 320x320, SVGA, VGA and WVGA are all supported. It takes two lines to add support to a new resolution (just specify if controls must be doubled for VGA).

I'm not in charge of the graphic design, but a TF3D interface is unlikely. No fancy sliding, only clicking. It might be similar in style, but not in behavior. Trust Nikoo from WApps for the design ;)

I'd love to see how it displays on a Treo (seriously, what's up with those crazy screen sizes?)
[Windows Mobile Development and Hacking General] :
ok.... then maybe along the lines of the ui of the youtube app on the diamond????

you know how it looks like tf3d but it doesnt slide...

again keep up the good work... and... do you want my themes to be on gecko... or only applications....
[Windows Mobile Development and Hacking General] CRCinAU:
Heh - this looks like a lot like my DeviceUpdate application that has been operating for quite some time - however there's a number of differences in the way I run things:

1) Web page front end for administrators to add/modify/remove listings.

2) Centralised server infrastructure to remove reliance on third parties.

3) 7 Geo-location based mirrors to ensure the best performance to everyone around the globe.

4) I use XML based parsing to ensure compatibility for future updates.

5) I use full versioning control including smart update features to show program upgrades at a glance

I haven't heavily promoted it as I haven't been able to test things on devices other than the Hermes - as I don't have any other devices.

Technically however, it should work on any QVGA device. VGA probably won't work as the actual CABs will need to be different.

EDIT: Oh, and if you want to get an idea of traffic loads, since August, there's been 67,981 updates served by the mirror system and each mirror serves between 60 and 200Gb of outbound data per month.
[Windows Mobile Development and Hacking General] N1c0_ds:
Only applications!

...for now? ;)
[Windows Mobile Development and Hacking General] _4saken_:
nice start, but I seriously have to ask, why do you folks dont try to join forces. we have so many tools doing or trying to do what the apple app store does.

this beta has a long way to go. there needs to be a finger friendly interface, categories for the applications, automatic update support including version checking and of course an uninstall feature.

seriously, join forces. get in touch with modaco and try to get them to join in, CRCinAU should do so as well. and there are more update tools and another install tool.

this only makes sense if there is one tool that covers it all....

well, this is just my 2 cents.

I'm desperately looking forward to windows mobile 7, it will have an appstore by default.
[Windows Mobile Development and Hacking General] Maestro Nobones:
I agree great idea but needs much more support / apps
[Windows Mobile Development and Hacking General] grafikastudios:
Great!

Would be proud contributing for this !, work on some UI today .....:)

Keep in touch!

By site internet martinique at
[Windows Mobile Development and Hacking General] havocnl:
Wow great app, overlooked this for quite some time i believe. :confused:

You actually made it as a frontpage news post on the biggest IT news site of the Netherlands: Tweakers.net :)

For those of you who can read dutch (or would like to try) here's the link to the article:

Tweakers.net Windows Mobile-gebruikers ontwikkelen eigen 'App Store'

(Title translated: Windows Mobile users develop own 'App Store')

I know there are many great developers here and i know that if you all work together this could definitely kick Apples App Store's ass :cool:

So please!!! Work together and integrate!! :D
[Windows Mobile Development and Hacking General] grafikastudios:
OK guys !

I've done this, morning.....

​

By site internet martinique at
[Windows Mobile Development and Hacking General] derekwilkinson:
Looks nice!
[Windows Mobile Development and Hacking General] l3v5y:
Dutch is a funny language which I can't understand! :D

Would be good to have more developers on this. Maybe if we ask nicely in the developers threads they might start to support it. (It's not that difficult!).
[Windows Mobile Development and Hacking General] Chainfire:
I'm still considering supporting it, but I'm still not clear on the different repo's, apptodate-like functionalities, what/where the DB is, how to approach it, the config of it all, xml stuff, etc. And from I

have

read I'm simply not convinced it works in a "workable" way.
[Windows Mobile Development and Hacking General] :
do you think... you can make an option to select your device.... so you only see the applications that are specific for your device.....

as i do not want to download something with vga res when i have a wvga hd...

i dont meen to ask so much....

if you want i would be glad to put a list of available apps in wvga full screen for the HD...
[Windows Mobile Development and Hacking General] jim256:
And it will suck unbelievably bad like everything else they do lol.

I say more power to the dev's here, who always make better products in the end because they actually listen to feedback and actually use the devices themselves (I swear the people over at MS don't even use these things or they would have to be lightyears ahead of what they are now).

I would also appreciate the select device option...that would be insane! Although, 2 things about it:

1. An interesting idea might be to keep it as an OPTION, so you are still free to browse apps for other devices if you so please for whatever reason.

2. Let's just put it on the wishlist for now as it's not too important a piece until we really get things rolling.

Also, to the dev, what sort of integration do you have with app-to-date? Would be interested to hear how you explain that.

Thanks again! This is AWESOME! If we could get people working together....WOAH. This would be the best app-store type thing BY FAR anywhere because, again of course it is designed by users for users.

Jim.
[Windows Mobile Development and Hacking General] jim256:
Perhaps, similar to what others have suggested, we should make a thread here in the Development and Hacking section calling out to any and all developers willing to help here?

I just can't believe that there are already a few similar apps / ideas out there like this...if only we could combine them, it would really be incredible.
[Windows Mobile Development and Hacking General] Midget_1990:
Unless the bandwidth becomes extreme I offer hosting for the cabs (much better to have a centralised repositry?)
[Windows Mobile Development and Hacking General] :
My Idea

What do you think of this ? I created this myself ... Hope it helps.

I don't like the iPhone skin much.

I like the name OpenXDA for this software. I'm willing to help though.
[Windows Mobile Development and Hacking General] rvbcrs:
I have been thinking about making such a program for some time now, even made some beta builds, but I think we have to centralize packages and developement of such a tool. I'm willing to help with development if help is needed.
[Windows Mobile Development and Hacking General] MarcLandis:
Count me in if you need another developer.
[Windows Mobile Development and Hacking General] Vrtfrank:
O.K.

So I missunderstood the concept a little bit. Nevertheless the idea is great.

2 suggestions:

Maybe you could reserve a database field to store the related xda-threads to the software. And some sort of userfeedback would be great. A field where you can put related software others wil like too, when they like the described title.....
[Windows Mobile Development and Hacking General] kwickone:
Love the idea myself...but...N1c0_ds (or anyone), have you received any feedback from the developers of the apps that would be hosted? Curious what they think.
[Windows Mobile Development and Hacking General] srbwap:
beautiful idea!!

but..

1. i don't think that hosting of cabs is good idea, developers mostly have ther own web places for that, link to cab is better option

2. size of cab will be great to know before download them, true?

package management systems work on so many OS, just need to get solutions from them... some info: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Package_manager

and ... "xda Package Manager" or "xda Cab Manager" is my name proposition

this look great on my prophet

//sorry for bad English
[Windows Mobile Development and Hacking General] Girvo:
My $0.02AUD [which is worth next to nothing now :P]:

You need a central CAB repository. The reasoning is this:

Developers often change sites, thus rendering the link null/void after a certain amount of time

It opens up to maliciousness [a far-fetched point, but one nonetheless]: Sites are easier to hack than this application [get around it by using MD5 sums?]

The iPhone-style scheme is ick :P

I'm sure there are a few designers who would gladly give a hand.

Perhaps design it [the menus that is] in the same vein as other applications, so as to have a consistent UI?

In that case, maybe a M2D/ThrottleLauncher style menu system? That'd be neat actually. Contact TL/Someone [:P] about getting their source perhaps?

PayPal integration for donations/purchase.

Think: App Store. It'd be great, no royalties for dev's. :)

Just some stuff to think about :)
[Windows Mobile Development and Hacking General] rvbcrs:
Just saw this thread.. http://xdaforums.com/showthread.php?t=436331

Maybe an idea to merge these threads and develop a application all together?

Just my 2 euro cents...
[Windows Mobile Development and Hacking General] Arktronic:
I have also been considering making an app like this for some time. I think it's important for this app to be either open source or to allow access to other repositories besides the main/default one. All the Linux package managers do both of those things, and I think it would help in the adoption of this app over alternatives that are sure to spring up.

By the way, to distinguish between different devices in order to implement app filtering (assuming you want to give devs the option to filter by device type as opposed to detecting capabilities), you should use the SystemParametersInfo call with SPI_GETOEMINFO, SPI_GETPROJECTNAME, and/or SPI_GETPLATFORMMANUFACTURER. Probably all of those because different OEMs implement some of those but not others.

And I'm willing to help with development, if needed :)
[Windows Mobile Development and Hacking General] bedaweed:
N1co i dont know what design your going to go with

but if you choose to go with the one i made here are the icons
[Windows Mobile Development and Hacking General] Keland44:
things sounds like it will be interesting i'm staying tunned

happy developing
[Windows Mobile Development and Hacking General] sinoo:
I hope we soon will have a try-out version!?
[Windows Mobile Development and Hacking General] aldur:
sorry for quoting with image...

why don't you use an menu style like deviantart does?

i think this would be perfect for this app....
[Windows Mobile Development and Hacking General] bedaweed:
i dont get it

are you talking about the side bar on deviantart?
[Windows Mobile Development and Hacking General] Keland44:
yea i think so if that is the case that is pretty nice looks like it might need flash though
[Windows Mobile Development and Hacking General] bedaweed:
Hey guys my first design was not too appealing so i made a new one

still needs work and i don't know if N1co will use them.
[Windows Mobile Development and Hacking General] N1c0_ds:
Once I get things running well, I will make an option to select repository sources.

I brainstormed the idea a bit today and I came up to the following conclusion:

-It's impossible to quickly load thousands of entries (I tried 13,000 entries and it took ~10 seconds on my PC) so I will reduce the information available in the main list.

It will work this way:

When an application is selected, the application gets the database file for the given application based on a unique ID assigned to it. All of these files would be hosted on the main server.

APPLIST.csv (available info for each entry):

-Title (let's say "Tippy")

-AppID (FRWA00001, frwa is for freeware, shwa is for shareware)

-DevID (D00001, developer ID)

-Tags (a few tags for searching)

FRWA00001.txt (loaded when application is selected):

-Title ("Tippy")

-Version ("v.1.1")

-Date updated ("14/10/2008")

-AppID

-DevID (to find more from the developer)

-CabLink (link to CAB)

-CabLinkVGA (link to VGA CAB)

-CabLinkSquare (square screens CAB)

-CabLink2 (extra CAB link)

-CabLink2desc ("Previous version", title of the extra cab link)

-ImgLink (screenshots)

-ImgLink2

-ImgLink3

-Long description

D00001.csv (loaded when "more from..." is clicked):

-Like applist.csv but with software from the developer alone

I was thinking about a name that doesn't sound too professional (like "EnnBee Software Cab Repository 2008")or under development-ish ("OpeNCVG 0.452"). I was considering something awe-inspiring like the ones Mozilla find or something cute like Linux apps.

As for the icon, I came up with this (but glossy, vector-based, in 64x64 and in 256 colors)
[Windows Mobile Development and Hacking General] N1c0_ds:
It's beautiful but I'll start without any graphics.
[Windows Mobile Development and Hacking General] Keland44:
crap second double post today blah
[Windows Mobile Development and Hacking General] N1c0_ds:
At Chainfire:

There's a lot left to be done and what you mentionned is to be included somewhere between now and the release.

I'd love to get more details on what you mean exactly.

At Jim256:

I know. Microsoft will try to integrate it with other services they have and it will require a registration to Live, your personal info and your money. Gecko will always have room for small developers, freeware applications and even shareware applications after release.

Also, there's the community behind it. I (and soon we) work based on what users said about the previous version. Look at the very first screens. People hated the huge scrollbars so I started over with a much simpler core. Now stuff worked bad but it all got fixed in Beta 3.1. This is how software development should work.

When the project is fully completed, I'll take an entire month to get as many developers as possible on the project. I'm not only talking about the XDA people, but about the whole Windows Mobile dev community. I won't get help from PocketGear and especially not from Microsoft, but what kind of freeware developer would look down on free hosting and distribution?
[Windows Mobile Development and Hacking General] N1c0_ds:
Here's a little something you MUST try!

http://collabedit.com/display?id=94721

I'm testing the grounds and I might use it for live source code editing if I can't get Wiki on GetGecko.org.
[Windows Mobile Development and Hacking General] Chainfire:
Translation of Dutch news-site article

For those interested, here is a really quick and dirty translated version of the article. Note that this article is horribly sub-par quality-wise for the site it was posted on...

Members of the XDA-Developers community have developed their own 'App Store', with which Windows Mobile users can easily find and download applications for their Smartphones. The second beta version was released this week.

The application, called Gecko Installer, is a program for Windows Mobile smartphones. It's database contains descriptions, screenshots and links for Windows Mobile applications. With a push of a button the user can download and install applications.

The App Store for Windows Mobile should primarily make it easier to find and install application. Right now, applications are spread over the internet and have extensions like .cab for direct installation and .exe for installation through a PC. According to the authors this creates confusion for new users.

The free program is still under development. This week the second beta of Gecko was released, which strangely enough carries version number 3.1. It is as of yet unclear if manufacturers have expressed interest in including this program on their Windows Mobile devices.
[Windows Mobile Development and Hacking General] Chainfire:
Enough with the MS bashing already. I'm seeing it all over this topic, and yes, they don't always do things right, but they do do a hell of a lot of good and useful things, perhaps not perfect, but hey, do you? I am not an MS fanboi by any means, but the mindless bashing I see all over the place is just plain silly.

Well first off let me say the following: we're ditching app-to-date support as soon as anything comes along that is truely better. App-to-date is a very good app by itself, but the people behind it are douchebags. I'm not saying this lightly, at first I thought it was just a matter of some difference of opinion between me and them or perhaps miscommunication. However, since then I have talked to a few other people who have experience with them, and their "method of operation" seems to be "use people to get what they want, and never deliver their part of the deal". In other words, they're not people I'd ever want to do business with. Some of you may know who are behind it and be surprised at this statement, if so, I'd say take a closer look at exactly how their site is run...

Anyways, how it is now is that our apps provide certain data to the app-to-date app, both server-side and client-side, and the app-to-date app compares these informations and decides whether something should be updated or not. You really should look at the app-to-date 'specification', it's pretty well thought out (though IMHO it still misses some things).
[Windows Mobile Development and Hacking General] _4saken_:
i couldnt agree more with what chainfire just said!
[Windows Mobile Development and Hacking General] N1c0_ds:
Same here, I'm flabbergasted.

But again, I must say it, I'm doing what my budget and talent allows me to do. If I had Visual Studio, years of experience and time, I'd put it to use, but what you see is what I can give.

As for the standard, yes, I try to make it the best I can. I want the best possible database (and with the current available tools, SQLite is the best), the best possible system (easy and fast, highly customizable), but at the same time, I'm not even in college, I work in an hotel and I can't afford the right tools. I'd love to learn C#, C++ and PHP, to play with Python, but right now, I'm just a man and his hobby ;) That's what I mean when I'm talking about "too much work" and "impossible".

Nonetheless I can see you are a pro in the omain and your advice is worth gold. I'll carefully follow it but at the same time I have a few corrections:

-The UI is not my main preoccupation. However many "noobs" came in expecting the best they have ever seen.

-I didn't abandon the idea of getting to Microsoft and PocketGear. I want to get to carriers, manufacturers and developers, but I need a credible, tangible proof I am up to the task. That project has the potential to give my career a start, so I'm taking all the time needed to get things done right.

I laughed at the AppToDate part :D

EDIT:

You are right about the Gecko name. I found out about Gecko (from Mozilla) too late and now is the right time to change. Do you happen to have an idea?
[Windows Mobile Development and Hacking General] Chainfire:
Instead of responding to this in-depth again (I may do so later), why don't you hop onto IRC (if you are around right now) and we can have a bit of a chat? Just click the #xda-devs link in my signature.

EDIT: If you do, say my name there and wait a few minutes, I don't watch that window 24/7 ;)
[Windows Mobile Development and Hacking General] rjmjr69:
What a great idea. I'm behind this 100 percent any help needed let me know I'll do what I can
[Windows Mobile Development and Hacking General] N1c0_ds:
Thanks rjmjr69! I'll contact you if I need help.

Meanwhile I uh... accidentally deleted the folder with the source code... :(

I got a backup from december 21, before the resolution support and screenshot fixes. Nonetheless, I'll get back to work this week once I've set up my Ubuntu box and spent enough time with Battlefield: Bad Company (my gamertag's random noob 284 ;))

Meanwhile, here's a contest: 25$ bucks to whoever comes up with a better name for Gecko, since Mozilla already took Gecko.
[Windows Mobile Development and Hacking General] :
well you have got....

dev store

app solution

get app

get dev

app now

app here

app box

dev box

hope it helps....

i dont need $25.00 though... keep it for the team...
[Windows Mobile Development and Hacking General] churka:
Dulux........sickest
[Windows Mobile Development and Hacking General] N1c0_ds:
AppBox... Nice one!
[Windows Mobile Development and Hacking General] :
no problem.....

good luck with developement my friend.....

and by any chance you will make this skinable... later on?
[Windows Mobile Development and Hacking General] N1c0_ds:
When the UI will be there, it will be skinnable.