Posts tagged WP7
DashBuddy
Bringing Your Dash to WP7
The New Faces of DashBuddy
Initial screenshots of DashBuddy for WP7 - Version 5. Alongside the first screenshot of DashBuddy for Windows 8 - Version 1.
These two share a codebase and API - and I’m writing this one from scratch, my own OAuth provider, my own MVVM model, async built in as standard for easier cancellation of tasks, everything as close to the metal as possible in order to try and enhance the performance and manage the experience specifically for Tumblr users - rather than using 3rd party libraries that are forced to put in extra layers of abstraction in order to be of benefit to all developers.
This has already helped in a dramatic way, as the Windows 8 version uses new security features in Windows 8 in order to give DashBuddy permission to the app the same way any other website would, rather than using XAuth like I have to in WP7.
It’s slower development work as I’m progressing the functionality of both apps in parallel, and I’m really re-writing the entire thing in order to make sure each decision is the right one, but I hope to have it ready for June - as that would give me the opportunity to attend a Microsoft UK Lab, and try to make DashBuddy for Windows 8 available at launch!
Keep everything crossed and I’m sure I’ll post more as the project progresses.
Steven
“And now for a taste of things to come”
After real life, once again, got in the way - I’ve started looking at DashBuddy improvements for the next version. This is a simple screenshot showing the new theme that I’m working on after comments about the application being “ugly”. The idea is for those people who still prefer the traditional Metro feel - there will be an option in the app settings to switch the styling back to the way it was.
I’ve already improved rendering performance and made some headway into image downloading. The regular refreshing of the post lists and dashboard is going to be removed, so that they have to be refreshed - plus the ability to cancel a refresh will be added (icon change on the app bar at the bottom of the screen).
The main screen is undergoing a major overhaul no matter which theme you choose, making the visual side of things much more appearing; a hub-style main screen which will have sections for your dashboard, blog links, follower avatars and post options available to you.
I hope to be able to give you a proper “hub” screenshot of the new Theme very soon.
v3.12 Submitted
Just a quick note to let you know I’ve submitted another small update to DashBuddy. This one makes a tweak to the background task as I’ve noticed it’s been alerting even when you’ve checked your dashboard and it needed fixing.
The other change I’ve made is a new icon on the more details page for a post. This “share” icon allows you to share the link from a post to any of the social networks you’ve got set up on your phone (Facebook, twitter, Windows Live etc.)
Hope you like the update!
Steven
Failed Submission Because…what?
Email when I woke up - failed submission. All I did was remove China from the submitted country list!
Very concerning. The report notes read:
“The Developer must provide valid account information and specific login instructions to fully test the application.”
Huh? I can understand if this is a new app - totally understand - but I’m over a dozen updates in and not one of them has raised this before. They’ve logged in, tested and raised problems.
My concern is not the effort required in adding a new account to Tumblr, but the fact that this means they’re not testing my app in a consistent manner. If they were - the login details would be available to this guy immediately.
So I’m adding a new account, adding them to my submission, and updating the code so that the new reblog/change blog functionality is in the version that eventually gets applied.
The annoying thing is that this means more delay to the people using it.
Microsoft failed my latest update because Tumblr might offend people in China
I’ve got to re-submit DashBuddy. Not because there’s anything wrong with the code - but because it’s a Tumblr app.
I failed on section 3.10 of the app requirements document, which states:
Content that is offensive in any country/region to which your application is targeted is not allowed. Content may be considered offensive in certain countries/regions because of local laws or cultural norms. Examples of potentially offensive content in certain countries/regions include, but are not limited to, the following:
People in revealing clothing or sexually suggestive poses
Religious references
Alcohol references
Sexual or bathroom humor
Simulated or actual gambling
Countries/regions for which one or more parts of 3.10 may apply include the following:
Group 1: China
Group 2: Malaysia, Indonesia
I’ve submitted with China in the list before (I select worldwide distribution), but now I’m not allowed it appears. Which is interesting - I guess it depends on what the tester sees as part of their examination of a random Tumblr feed when testing functionality. They can only see it if they’ve searched for it and followed it. Whatever they saw this time displeased them because the failure stated.
The application prominently features sensitive content sources and includes countries listed in Group 1 within Application Certification Requirements 3.10 in its targeted distribution
So there we go - the content (or Tumblr - as we call it) is the reason. No technical failures, but it failed anyway.
I’ve removed these sensitive countries from the list for the update and re-submitted. So I apologise for the delay.
