91 replies to this topic

[PayableOnDeath]

Sounds like a great app, cant wait for release    

LSmith4285, on Sep 4 2007, 18:34, said:

Also would it be possible to export the xml files? The reason being this could be an excellent way to rebuild a device from scratch! Install App2Date then import the xml files and let it automatically goes away and downloads all the apps you use, this could save us all a lot of time.

my guess is you would backup the AppToDate folder which would contain the xml files then just restore that and then run AppToDate and have it install all the programs

[PaulOBrien]

Restoring apps isn't something i've thought about yet.

Doing as you say would still check versions, even though there would kinda be nothing install. Maybe a recovery mode?

P

[ppcmd]

I have to say this would be an awesome way to get updates done.  I have about 20 apps on my smartphone and I don't always know if there is an update out.  This would be very beneficial and has the potential to drive business for the developers.  If say the current update is beyond the current FREE update then it could let the user know and bring business.

I would gladly use this option, anything to keep me from going to Handango for updates and having to pay $3 per app to Handango (not the developers) to get my updates.  Personally I prefer to buy from developers directly and if I could get my update alerts from an app that would be great.

[birdsoft]

I would add the files to Extreme Agenda and some of my other applications as well... Good Idea....

[pisquee]

Get the support base going, and then see if MS/HTC/Networks will put the software in the ROM - am sure the guys over at XDA Devs will cook it into some versions.

[akac]

M@rkC, on Sep 4 2007, 10:49, said:

My bad.....still, an "I'm from WebIS" signature wouldn't have hurt  

Now that I look like a complete numpty, I'll go and watch from a safe distance

Mark.

Typically, no. But when you're typing on a mobile phone signatures are a luxury I have been traveling for the last few days and so saw this on 4WinMobile via my RSS reader and just had to make a post.

--
Alex Kac
CEO/Founder Web information Solutions, Inc.
http://webis.net/

[M@rkC]

akac, on Sep 5 2007, 03:29, said:

Typically, no. But when you're typing on a mobile phone signatures are a luxury I have been traveling for the last few days and so saw this on 4WinMobile via my RSS reader and just had to make a post.

--
Alex Kac
CEO/Founder Web information Solutions, Inc.
http://webis.net/

Thanks for the explanation Alex!!  I'll give myself a pat on the back for posting the details over on 4WinMobile - otherwise you might not have discovered AppToDate until much later

Cheers,

Mark.

[Pr0sper]

I've posted about this great app on SBSH forums yesterday. We need SBSH in !!

http://forums.sbsh.n...showtopic=18847

[michehrlich]

I would love that.
Obviously, it would need to be published with a list of which apps are included.
The major developers would need to be in -- SPB, the MemMaid people, SK Tools, etc. (WebIS as well, obviously, although I don't use their stuff.)

[akac]

michehrlich, on Sep 5 2007, 08:53, said:

I would love that.
Obviously, it would need to be published with a list of which apps are included.
The major developers would need to be in -- SPB, the MemMaid people, SK Tools, etc. (WebIS as well, obviously, although I don't use their stuff.)

Just curious - any reason? I mean I know not every piece of software is perfect for every person, but we do try so I'm always looking for feedback.

--
Alex Kac
CEO/Founder Web information Solutions, Inc.
http://webis.net/

[PayableOnDeath]

Paul (MVP), on Sep 4 2007, 20:32, said:

Restoring apps isn't something i've thought about yet.

Doing as you say would still check versions, even though there would kinda be nothing install. Maybe a recovery mode?

P

ah yeh didnt think of that, it would still think it was installed and unless a new ver was out it wouldnt do it again, unless there was a reinstall button then i guess it would work

[geneb]

What versions of Win Mobile will this be compatible with?

[PaulOBrien]

Any PPC or SP with .net CF 2 upwards...

P

[akac]

Paul (MVP), on Sep 5 2007, 12:34, said:

Any PPC or SP with .net CF 2 upwards...

P

That would be a major issue. We would not be able to ask people to install .NET CF 2.0. We must be able to support whatever is on a stock WM2003 PPC or WM5 Smartphone and up.

[johncody]

Paul (MVP), on Sep 4 2007, 09:29, said:

M@rkC - Spread the word. The more the merrier!

I was thinking of calling it 'AppToDate'

P

PS If someone goes off an registers that domain before me, it WON'T be called that

Hey Paul,

Count on my (OMNISOFT) support too!

Also, I thought of a similar idea last year and registered the domain name "pocketupdates.com" just in case.

So, if the 'AppToDate' name is not written in stone yet and you like "Pocket Updates", I could make that domain availible for this project

-John Cody

[johncody]

akac, on Sep 5 2007, 15:13, said:

That would be a major issue. We would not be able to ask people to install .NET CF 2.0. We must be able to support whatever is on a stock WM2003 PPC or WM5 Smartphone and up.

I totally agree that it's important to support these older OS ver's

[johncody]

Some ideas I had for an updater app:

1) Allow the program to run on a schedule or manually
2) Allow to user to "Ignore" a found update - meaning if the user is not interested in a particular update version, then can inform the updater app to just ignore that particular version, but notify the user of any updates higher then the ignored version. This would eliminate any false "update found" notices that the user is not interested in.
3) Since smartphones don't really support pop-up tip windows like Pocketpc's, another method needs to be used to inform the user that new updates exists for one or more apps after a scheduled update scan was performed. I think it would be cool for the updater app to offer two ways to notify the user. a) Create a new Task item in pocket outlook with the details of each found update that the user will see in their agenda, B ) Create and send an email to the user themself with details of the update found (since many people user their inbox as a todo list).
4) In the remote XML file, I think it would be cool to include these fields:
- What is the currently available version for this product
- Minimum version that this latest version is a free update to
- A link to a "What's New" webpage that will list the changes from the version the user has to the current version (helps the user determine if they want to install the update or not)
- CAB file download link for latest version
- URL of payment page if there is a cost to obtain the latest version (if the user's version is lower then above "minimum free update" version.)
- A short text note field containing any notes about the currently available version (i.e. "IMPORTANT PATCH") which can be displayed in the updater's main listing.
5) Just like microsoft's Windows Update, have three modes for updates: a) Notify user that there is a new version, but don't download or install. B ) Notify user and download the CAB file if the newer version is a free upgrade to the user's existing version, but don't install. c) Notify user, download and install the CAB file if the newer version is a free upgrade to the user's existing version. *** One important thing that I have noticed...If a windows mobile device has been running for a while without a fresh reboot, installing a new app could cause very strange problems with the device. Therefor, I don't know if option "C" (automatically install update if one is found) is a good idea.

Edited by johncody, 05 September 2007 - 10:38 PM.

[PaulOBrien]

akac, on Sep 5 2007, 20:13, said:

That would be a major issue. We would not be able to ask people to install .NET CF 2.0. We must be able to support whatever is on a stock WM2003 PPC or WM5 Smartphone and up.

OK, so we can run with CF 1.0. Just means I have to write my own XML selectsinglenode routine. I've done it before, I can do it again

P

[PaulOBrien]

Good points John!

I think even if we roll the first test version with a basic featureset, we can easily put in new features and have the app autoupdate itself

P

[geneb]

I'll volunteer to test.  

I'm using WM2003 on an Axim X5.  Doesn't seem like too many people are using anything older than that.  
Should be a good test of backward compatibility!