Fancy being among the first developers to get an app into the Windows Store? Get submitting!
Microsoft has closed the Windows Store, but is opening submissons up to developers who want to being among the first featured
As of May 2012, the Windows 8 app store is closed. While that means activity will slow down until the expected launch around October this year, Microsoft isn’t moving away from developers. In fact, the company is offering more incentives: the chance for developers to be among the first featured in the Windows 8 Store.
Submitting apps requires a token which, after creating an application or game, is gained by contacting Microsoft’s Matt Harrington through his blog contact form at http://blogs.msdn.com/b/matt-harrington/contact.aspx. Then, the app will go through the Application Accelerator Labs where the app gets reviewed. Along with the app getting reviewed, the Lab confirms it’s done and fits the Metro guideline and submission requirements.
Harrington says this isn’t only a chance to submit an app early and have it receive feedback from Microsoft (though welcome). The team is also holding events and what is called office hours to help developers. The Windows 8 Developer camps are in:
- 1. Redmond, WA, May 11, 2012
- 2. Dencer, CO, June 1, 2012
- 3. Chandler, AZ, June 8, 2012
While the Windows Application Accelerator Labs, to build apps:
- 1. Redmond, WA, May 15, 2012
- 2. Mountain View, CA, May 22-24, 2012
Check out the source link for all the links to register for the events if you’re interested in going to one of the events.
Wealth of apps key to success
These kind of pushes for apps in Windows 8 are essential, because while Microsoft will have plenty of customers come launch they won’t be incentivised to use Metro or develop for it if developer support isn’t there. With Microsoft pushing a range of tablet and hybrid devices, I bet app support is a very high priority. Windows Phone is suffering from slow developer adoption of the platform, so Microsoft’s probably learned the lessons from that operating system.
The only question is the quality of apps after the existing apps are ported over. It’ll be interesting to see what developers take advantage of Metro in a unique way.