The Windows Mobile app store is about to launch. The team launched a number of videos on the Windows Mobile Dev Channel on YouTube to walk you through the submission process for your application, but as I’m working with the team over at TripCase, we had a few more questions that we got answered over the past weeks. I thought they worth sharing:
Q: My app runs on Windows Phone Standard (i.e. SmartPhone, SP, no-touch) and Windows Phone Professional (Pocket PC, PPC, with touch screen). The application is packaged in a single cab file. The AppStore submission UI doesn’t let me select both platforms. How do I make sure I reach both groups of users
A: Submit the app twice. Once for Standard, once for Professional. You can submit with the same name.
Q: I want to make an update to my application to fix a bug or a spelling error, change the description, etc. What do I do?
A: Fix your cab, don’t change the version number of the application. Re-submit – it’s free.
Q: I’m getting an error: Unable to enable shim engine on device when running the AppVerifier. Help! How do I fix this?
A: Most commonly, the Windows CE 5.0 Test Kit is missing on your machine or you haven’t replaced the libraries as outlined in the release docs. Replace the Application verifier binaries in the processor folder for the device type. For example, replace C:\Program Files\Windows CE platform builder\5.00\CEPB\wcetk\DDTK\ARMV4I with C:\Program Files\Application Verifier for Mobile 5.0\Armv4i.
If you’re testing with retail devices, then you also need to sign Privileged Certificate. Make sure your app meets the requirements for the cert.
Steve has more details.
Q: Do my customers need to install .NET CF Versions that my application needs?
A: No. The Marketplace client takes care of installing the required version of the Compact Framework.
Q: I want to distribute my application through other channels than the Windows Mobile Marketplace. Can I distribute the certified and signed cab from Marketplace?
A: No: You need to sign the cab with your own certificate. Applications signed with the Marketplace certificate can only be distributed from Marketplace.
Looking forward lots of cool WinMo apps on Marketplace.