6 hours ago, Maddus Mattus wrote

Where can I get started for making apps for XBox 360?

XNA.

I don't believe there's a strict requirement that what you make be a 'game' - I wanted to develop my own Xbox web-browser (with my own self-written CSS2.1-compliant layout engine written in C#) but that got stalled somewhere about 4 years ago.

Hmmm,...

Time for XNA then!

Lets be clear, these "Apps" which show up in the "Marketplace" on the Xbox are developped by priviledged companies AFAIK. There is know way (currently) to get your own apps on there.

You still need a very expensive special Dev Xbox to write XNA games and deploy them to the XBox. And I'm pretty sure these new apps are not XNA based.

3 minutes ago, CKurt wrote

@Maddus Mattus: Nowhere.

Lets be clear, these "Apps" which show up in the "Marketplace" on the Xbox are developped by priviledged companies AFAIK. There is know way (currently) to get your own apps on there.

You still need a very expensive special Dev Xbox to write XNA games and deploythem to the XBox. And I'm pretty sure these new apps are not XNA based.

Eh?

XNA with the Creators Club allows anyone with the right skills to develop arbitrary software for the Xbox with games delivered through XBLIG. Developers who like to do things by the book can enter into a formal agreement with Microsoft (I've signed the forms myself when I toyed with the idea back in 2007) where you can submit your software to XBLA.

The "XDK" and special developer-edition consoles are only required if you want to be targeting the native Xbox console - all you need to do is set-up a bona-fide games development company (even "indie" companies with a handful of employees) and apply to Microsoft. Assuming you pass the audit and stump up the $30k needed to join the programme then you're all set.

But mainly my point was to get your apps into the "App Marketplace" (apps which are not games) there is no official story I know of.

35 minutes ago, Maddus Mattus wrote

Would rock to write a Channel9 app on it!

Please don't - this is the exact kind of thinking that spams app stores with single-purpose applications that accomplish the same task a simple and preexisting website does. Or worse: host a webpage view of the actual website itself.

We don't need "%sitename% App" - instead we need the websites to improve the mobile user experience, and stick to developing useful applications.

Device applications should present a strong value proposition to the consumer - an application with the same user-experience and functionality as an equivalent website is a wasted effort. A good example is the Maps app on iOS: it provides the same basic functionality as Google Maps in the web-browser, but integrates with the phone's GPS and compass feature, not something web applications can do (for now).

But I'm cynical of the "Check out our app in the store!" slogans pasted to the end of adverts on TV when it's there to get people to buy into a marketing gimmick. This is similar to how every company suddenly felt the need to get a website in the late 1990s, even when it wouldn't be appropriate (obviously it's a necessity now). I'm just wary of gimmicks.

A good example is that UK Train Times application - it provides the exact same functionality as the National Rail website - but it loads faster and targets NR's train times web-service directly instead of going through a fiddly designed-for-desktop web form.

So I suppose a dedicated C9 app might be a good idea - but it really has to be useful and not just a glorified RSS reader with built-in MP4 player.

8 hours ago, ScanIAm wrote

@W3bbo:Meh.  We still don't have a good WP7 app that will work with C9 forums.

Working on it

V2.0 of my app wil have all kinds of goodies,..

edit;

Here is my architecture,.

10 hours ago, W3bbo wrote

*snip*

Please don't - this is the exact kind of thinking that spams app stores with single-purpose applications that accomplish the same task a simple and preexisting website does. Or worse: host a webpage view of the actual website itself.

We don't need "%sitename% App" - instead we need the websites to improve the mobile user experience, and stick to developing useful applications.

I think I'd have to disagree with that. It's much faster to use a well-designed application than haul your way around a website that has been 'optimised' for both desktop and mobile browsers. They're two completely different experiences.

There is a lot of data involved to render something like the frontpage of Channel9. The HTML is the compacter then all the data in an XML feed.

1 day ago, Maddus Mattus wrote

*snip*

Working on it

V2.0 of my app wil have all kinds of goodies,..

I look forward to it.  I have had V1 since I got my phone...I was just disappointed that the coffeehouse wasn't part of it.

1 day ago, Maddus Mattus wrote

@W3bbo: My Channel9 app for wp7 is get's it's data via an OData layer, it's not some RSS feed reader. It also does smooth streaming instead of MP4. It has features this website has not, like a watchlist and resume where you left off.

edit;

Here is my architecture,.

 

1 hour ago, cbae wrote

*snip*Are you sure that the arrows between the C9 client and the other components are pointing in the correct direction?

From the point of view of who initiates the connection, looks fine to me.

I've got my new architecture down, so that I can realease new modules incrementally. V1 was a bit to tightly coupled. Also doing a revision of the UI, the episode screen is horrible. And working on a way to make it free for Niners,.. Maybe include some messaging and a geolocate Niner or somesuch. Live tiles obviously of your favorite show,..

So many ideas, so little time.