I've been seeing code floating around that suggests that in order for you to get an assembly's version number in Windows Phone SDK 7.0/7.1 you have to call Assembly.ToString() or Assembly.FullName and then parse the output. Please don't do that. There is a better, more stable, and more supported way…
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Most people by now are aware of the design changes from Visual Studio 2010 to VS11 Beta, and from Beta to RC. There were quite a few complaints about the Beta design, not the least of which included the lack of colors and the ALL CAPS tool window title bars…
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This week I got a Samsung Focus Flash. It's a nice upgrade from my first-generation LG Optimus 7. Although I have a Nokia Lumia 710, I can't actually use it because it still doesn't support tethering. While the Focus Flash does support tethering (or "internet sharing"), the functionality is tied…
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Every so often I see articles and news blurbs about yet another product that allows people to create a mobile app once and automagically publish it on all of the major smartphone platforms. Recently, I've seen lots of buzz around PhoneGap becoming fully-featured in regards to Windows Phone. And just…
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I strongly believe that a distinguishing mark between a good app and a great app is resilience, or in other words, its ability to adapt to unusual conditions. Naturally, it's up to the app's architects and developers to make it resilient, but too often I see apps that break with…
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I have recreated my arktronic.com blog in a new version of Drupal. The old one started having some issues that I don't care to fix, and recreating it was the easiest solution. Some of the old posts have been added back because I have deemed them useful in one way…
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June 8, 2011 is World IPv6 Day. If you don't know what that means (and you want to find out), then here are some links. This post is targeted toward tech-savvy people who (1) haven't had a chance to IPv6-enable their networks, (2) want to do it, and (3) don't…
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Microsoft has released updated application certification requirements for submitting apps to the Marketplace that, according to this blog post, will go into effect on June 3 (after the release of Mango tools).
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This recent Slashdot article is sure to cause some hubbub. As usual (when it comes to anything Microsoft), it's completely inaccurate. The only licenses that have been banned are GPLv3 and its derivatives and equivalents, including LGPLv3, and Affero GPLv3. Why these particular licenses, and why specifically version 3?
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Since it has been made painfully obvious that Windows Phone 7 application piracy is possible, at least for developer unlocked devices, it's about time I outlined a fairly simple idea I had a couple of months back about curbing such piracy for a significant subset of the WP7 apps out…
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