Microsoft (NASDAQ:MSFT) issued its latest Windows Phone Developer Tools Update, replacing the previous update issued in October 2010. Touting revamped assemblies slated to ship in the forthcoming Windows Phone OS update, the toolset includes support for new copy and paste features, as well as improved app performance and other enhancements. Among the most notable changes: Updated reference assemblies, a new version of the Windows Phone OS emulator image and a series of minor bug fixes.
Writing on the Windows Phone Developer Blog, Windows Phone 7 director Brandon Watson explains that all existing Windows Phone Marketplace applications will still work on any device updated to the new version of the operating system--conversely, all apps built with the new tools will also work on smartphones not running the new OS. "We do encourage every developer to open their projects with the updated tools and do a sanity check on their projects," Watson adds. "Most apps will not need to be recompiled or resubmitted. All apps will benefit from the changes made in the forthcoming OS update, resulting in performance increases, as well as copy/paste functionality for your customers who update to the new OS."
Watson adds that more than a million developers have now downloaded the Windows Phone Developer Tools--more than 27,000 developers have registered with the App Hub resource and support website, and Windows Phone Marketplace now features over 7,500 apps in all. Late last month, Microsoft began distributing Windows Phone Marketplace payouts to its mobile developer partners.
For more:
- read this Windows Phone Developer Blog entry
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