Written by PatrickJ on Thursday, April 10, 2008

Good Idea: AppToDate – Windows Mobile Software Updater

Here’s a great and overdue idea, that hopefully will take off. Modaco have released a beta of their new AppToDate application – which is a generic software updater tool for Windows Mobile. The idea is that, as AppToDate gains support, you shoudl no longer need to worry about keeping track of updates to each of your individual programs via publisher newsletters or sites (or other similar methods), but could simply use this one app to handle staying on top of *all* updates for you.

This is one of the things that works very well in the iPhone ‘jailbreak’ arena right now – there is a program called Installer that is a single, easy source to use for acquiring new programs – and it automatically keeps you informed about updates to all of your installed apps. Hmmm, wonder whether this tool will ever try to cut over and support new installs as well?

In any case, if this app gets good support from the Windows Mobile developer community, it should be one heck of a useful tool for users.

Read on for details on how you can get started with AppToDate, as a developer or an end user …

Here’s all the details, straight from Modaco, on how to get going:

Back in September last year, I spoke about an idea i’d had to create a generic updater tool for Windows Mobile.

The idea was to create a software update client that was free to end users, free to developers and easy to use for both. The idea received a warm welcome, but has been ‘on the back burner’ somewhat since then as other projects have taken up my time.

I am now however pleased to announce ‘AppToDate’, the evolution of that idea… and i’d like to invite YOU to get involved! True to my vision, AppToDate is now in very early Beta for developers and end users, with a view to improving and shaping the application rapidly prior to a wider publicity push. What can you do to get involved?

DEVELOPERS

* Come on over to http://apptodate.modaco.com, and check out the developer guide. This will tell you how to include AppToDate support in your applications (it’s ridiculously easy).
* Download AppToDate – from the same area above, download the application and test!
* Provide feedback – we want to make ATD as accessible as possible, but also as powerful as you need it to be. Provide your feedback and suggestions to help shape the application.
* Tell us about your support – plans are in place to provide free publicity for all developers / applications supporting AppToDate. Don’t miss out – post in the AppToDate area when you ship support!
* Help – we are looking for someone graphically talented to create icons / banners / badges for AppToDate. Is that you?

END USERS

* Come on over to http://apptodate.modaco.com, and grab a copy of the application. Install it on your device and run it. After all, some of your apps may already be supported… and over time, more and more will be! It’s early Beta code, we need testers just like you to help us find glitches!
* Provide feedback – we want to make ATD a true ‘must have’ Windows Mobile download. Provide your feedback and suggestions to help shape the application.
* Get your favourite developers on board. Do you have applications on your device that you would really love to be able to easily keep up to date? Then ping a mail to the developer, and encourage them to join in with AppToDate!
* Help – we are looking for someone graphically talented to create icons / banners / badges for AppToDate. Is that you?

When I originally posted about the concept last year I was genuinely excited and I still am today… come join in the fun

Here’s hoping this idea takes off …

Tags: AppToDate, Windows Mobile software updates, update tool, Modaco