Participate in Windows App Challenge Contest and Win One Assured Windows Phone

[saurabh595]

When will the results going to be announced.............

[shauvik]

Good news for everybody! On popular demand, the contest has been extended till 29th Feb, 2012! Happy "apping"!

[coolpcguy]

Dude now you say :\ Could've announced this earlier.

[noob]

Looks like they haven't got sufficient entries

[abhishek.130490]

Since date extension is already given in mag, you guys should have declared it earlier.

What does the "winner" mean here. Are you referring to someone with most number of apps.

Also admin replied someone that :

Your apps are currently reviewed by Microsoft and they have passed the Thinkdigit verification. You will hear back from us shortly, once we hear from Microsoft.

What kind of review is done by MS other than app certification?
What is Thinkdigit's verification?

[AlphaOmega]

I am interested in this, but there are a couple of things that I would appreciate having clarified.

Reading the FAQ, I noticed that the rules mention that the app should be “non-trivial”. I guess that’s to stem the flood of uninspired take-a-note apps, and the nth tip-calculator app. Even so, the wording is a little ambiguous on where exactly the line between trivial and non-trivial app lies.

I have some questions about the apps I am planning to develop. My team and I have developed and run an aluminium industry portal (price listings, job listings, industry event aggregator and alert etc.). Some of the best features require a login (free). I was thinking of making apps that allow the user to get updates on his selected events or listing info and interact with the same. Is there any restriction on making an app that requires a user to signup to a site? I basically want to make company branded apps that allow interactions with a particular feature of the site, right from the user’s mobile.

And, perhaps most importantly , I couldn’t help but notice that no details about the prize phone are given. May we get the model that’s to be given to successful participants?

[shauvik]

Originally Posted by abhishek.130490

Since date extension is already given in mag, you guys should have declared it earlier.

What does the "winner" mean here. Are you referring to someone with most number of apps.

Also admin replied someone that :



What kind of review is done by MS other than app certification?
What is Thinkdigit's verification?

Besides reviewing the apps, Thinkdigit's role is also to validate whether the apps fall in the contest date range, whether they have come from developers and companies, whether the original apps and ported apps belong to the same participant, so and so forth.

The monthly winner will be the one with maximum published Apps during the contest period.

[shauvik]

Originally Posted by AlphaOmega

I am interested in this, but there are a couple of things that I would appreciate having clarified.

Reading the FAQ, I noticed that the rules mention that the app should be “non-trivial”. I guess that’s to stem the flood of uninspired take-a-note apps, and the nth tip-calculator app. Even so, the wording is a little ambiguous on where exactly the line between trivial and non-trivial app lies.

I have some questions about the apps I am planning to develop. My team and I have developed and run an aluminium industry portal (price listings, job listings, industry event aggregator and alert etc.). Some of the best features require a login (free). I was thinking of making apps that allow the user to get updates on his selected events or listing info and interact with the same. Is there any restriction on making an app that requires a user to signup to a site? I basically want to make company branded apps that allow interactions with a particular feature of the site, right from the user’s mobile.

And, perhaps most importantly , I couldn’t help but notice that no details about the prize phone are given. May we get the model that’s to be given to successful participants?

Hi,

The trivial apps will be counted as apps but does not guarantee a chance to win the prize/(s).

There is no restriction on “making apps that require a user to signup to a site”. However this should not be done in a hidden manner from the user. To be able to help properly – we will need more understanding and details of what exactly you want to do.

The model name is yet to be disclosed. It will be declared, once the contest gets over.

[abhishek.130490]

Originally Posted by shauvik

The trivial apps will be counted as apps but does not guarantee a chance to win the prize/(s).

So, you mean idea for app must be Unique??

Line between trivial and non-trivial is so blurry. It would be nice if you would care to explain, as I really want to win guaranteed Win phone (as now it seems, it is not fully guaranteed).

Also, is the guaranteed device a "windows mobile" device or "windows phone 7 " device.

[AlphaOmega]

Thanks for replying. About the apps I am going to develop. I have decided to base them around the free features of our site, so the previous concern doesn't apply. The apps will need network connectivity to function of course. That shouldn't be a problem, right?

I would also like to know whether participating in this contest changes the control that the developer has over his apps. The control over the apps (ability to update, modify, change price, remove the app etc.) submitted will still remain with the developer, or does participating alter the MS-dev agreement in anyway? Will I have to release the source code of the apps to MS?

[abhishek.130490]

I would also like to know whether participating in this contest changes the control that the developer has over his apps. The control over the apps (ability to update, modify, change price, remove the app etc.) submitted will still remain with the developer, or does participating alter the MS-dev agreement in anyway? Will I have to release the source code of the apps to MS?

As far as I know those abilities remains with the developer. Also you won't have to release source code.

[AlphaOmega]

I have been going over the App Hub process and rules for registration, and I believe how much of a PITA it is!

Lot's of things, but my biggest gripe is that they require the credit card to be in the same name as the name given in the account info. Ditto for address. This is off-putting, especially in India, where most don't have credit cards. I never got one. I know people who do, and have just paid them to make the payment for me in cases it's really required (only once before was a CC actually needed). But in this case it appears that I can't use a friend's card to register. Is that correct?

I have my first application entirely completed too. Now I will have to think about what to do...

[sygeek]

Microsoft gives away free App Hub membership to members of dreamspark program.

Also, there was a exactly similar contest by microsoft a few weeks back.

[AlphaOmega]

^^ DreamSpark is only for students, which I am not. Moreover, students are barred from this contest.

[abhishek.130490]

Lot's of things, but my biggest gripe is that they require the credit card to be in the same name as the name given in the account info. Ditto for address. This is off-putting, especially in India, where most don't have credit cards.

I have also used my father's card. Name and address thing to be same with account info was not required.
But it's really funny you can't pay with your own money (I have a debit card) but pay with credit. It was real annoyance for me too.

DreamSpark is only for students, which I am not. Moreover, students are barred from this contest

Students are barred for this reason only. I mean if you pay $99 (actually it's 4500 INR) you are good to go as Individual Developer. But that's just my opinion.

[AlphaOmega]

Originally Posted by abhishek.130490

I have also used my father's card. Name and address thing to be same with account info was not required.
But it's really funny you can't pay with your own money (I have a debit card) but pay with credit. It was real annoyance for me too.


Students are barred for this reason only. I mean if you pay $99 (actually it's 4500 INR) you are good to go as Individual Developer. But that's just my opinion.

Wait a sec! So you used your father's CC, and the name and billing address linked to the card was different from the info you gave on the App Hub account info page? And the registration was successful? I mean entirely successful? Everything I have read online seems to indicate that the name given for the account and the name on the card should be the same.

Registration
"13. My credit card is valid but I’m unable to successfully pay for registration. What should I do?

Many registration errors occur because the country or region or the information entered on the Personal Information page does not match the information associated with the credit card. If you are unable to register and you know your credit card is valid, try the following checks:

The name on the card should match the name of the individual."

Can't register with App Hub (credit card not valid) - App Hub Forums - MS rep says the same.


Please share with us all the steps you had to take, and how long each step took. Did you get a call from GeoTrust to verify your identity? Did you mail/fax them proof of your identity (what did you use? Driver's license?)? Has your account been fully activated, with your submitted app available on the market place? I would really appreciate it if you would give a summary of your experience, as, I am sure, would others considering this.

[abhishek.130490]

GeoTrust is for Company I think.

I have also used my father's card. Name and address thing to be same with account info was not required.

Sorry that was not my father's card but my uncle's.
For your address query, I am not sure which ones (i.e. mine or the CC's address) is used, as the final payment process was completed by my uncle. Now I am not sure if that was same or not.
Also, I had no GeoTrust call/mail. No proof given.


But I have got 3 apps uploaded to Marketplace, they got some DLs too
If that's what you want to know.
As for Proof I got
1. Windows Marketplace account notification
2. Email ID confirmation
3. Microsoft Purchase Confirmation
from MS in my LIVE ID used for app-hub.

But this trivial/non-trivial is bugging me...

[AlphaOmega]

^^Thanks for your quick reply. GeoTrust verification is for both individuals and companies. Though, from you experience, it appears that the verification/CC restrictions may have been relaxed for India!

Originally Posted by abhishek.130490

...For your address query, my app-hub acc has diff address than the one used for credit card...

Sorry to keep harping on that single point, but I need to have it absolutely clarified before using my friend's CC. You mention that the addresses given to App Hub and on the CC were different. Does that also mean that the names given were different as well? That, though you used your father's CC, the App Hub account had your first/last name and not your father's?

BTW, did you set the apps as free or charged? Just curious...

[abhishek.130490]

Hey, actually I don't know what address was used when feeding CC info,
CC was on my uncle's name which is not my app-hub account name.

billing.microsoft.com shows all my account info as it is in my app-hub.
BUT for CC info it shows my uncle's name and my address (that's why I don't know which address he used).

Yes they were free!

[AlphaOmega]

Can we also get shauvik (or someone else from digit) to chime in on the concerns expressed?

[sygeek]

Originally Posted by AlphaOmega

^^ DreamSpark is only for students, which I am not. Moreover, students are barred from this contest.

Doesn't matter, you get a free app hub account anyway.

[tarey_g]

The registration process does not work on MS latest browser properly (had to use Firefox), and they save your credit card info and give no option to remove it !

[AlphaOmega]

I have registered in App Hub, using my friend's card. The registration went through (after quite a few headaches), and they confirmed my mail. Then I got the message that the account will be activated after they confirm my identity (how?), but I could start submitting apps for certification in the meantime. /confused

Going to submit the first app today. Let's see what happens.

@shauvik: What does MS mean when they say that my identity verification is pending?

Also, when I submit my 3 apps to digit, will I be informed whether they meet digit's criteria for valid apps before the end of the offer, or after? I hope it's before, since if there any reason an app doesn't pass the digit criteria (non-trivial etc.), at least the developer has the opportunity to make another app and not have his time/effort/money go to waste.

[abhishek.130490]

@shauvik: What does MS mean when they say that my identity verification is pending?

Got the same message from MS,, but nothing after that, those 3 mail are the only thing, though last mail (purchase confirmation) came later.

Also, when I submit my 3 apps to digit, will I be informed whether they meet digit's criteria for valid apps before the end of the offer, or after? I hope it's before, since if there any reason an app doesn't pass the digit criteria (non-trivial etc.), at least the developer has the opportunity to make another app and not have his time/effort/money go to waste.

Yeah that would be helpful..

[abhishek.130490]

Thread got quite for sometime now... AlphaOmega U thr???

[tarey_g]

Does anyone here know, how to remove the Credit Card info from sh1tty MS App hub account. I am pis5ed !

[abhishek.130490]

Originally Posted by tarey_g

Does anyone here know, how to remove the Credit Card info from sh1tty MS App hub account. I am pis5ed !

I think https://billing.microsoft.com/
not for sure.

[tarey_g]

Originally Posted by abhishek.130490

I think https://billing.microsoft.com/
not for sure.

Tried that, its just impossible. Btw cancelled my credit card altogether because stupidity of MS billing, good riddance.

[AlphaOmega]

All my apps certified and published to the marketplace, finally!

Submitted all three to digit, and sent off a mail as well.

Now waiting for digit's response with bated breath.

[shauvik]

Abhishek:

In case you participate and publish your app on marketplace before the contest end and have a proof to show it to us, we will still consider that. Also, you would need to let us know about such event before the contest ends. Hope this helps!