Microsoft job listing hints at App Store-like 'Skymarket' for Windows Mobile

by Darren Murph, posted Aug 31st 2008 at 11:03PM

While Apple's App Store was far from being the first of its kind, we're now seeing a job posting over in the Redmond area that suggests that Microsoft is looking to produce something similar for its Windows Mobile platform. The news comes hot on the heels of Google's own Android Market announcement, and if the Product Manager position writeup is to be believed, said platform will be christened Skymarket. Described as a "marketplace service for Windows Mobile," Skymarket could seemingly be a critical part of WinMo 7. But don't take our word for it, the proof is the pudding -- or in the read link, in this instance.

[Via The Raw Feed]

Filed under: Software, Windows Mobile

Tags: app store, AppStore, job, job posting, JobPosting, microsoft, skymarket, windows mobile, windows mobile 7, WindowsMobile, WindowsMobile7, winmo, winmo 7, Winmo7

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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

Neutral

Esquire0399 @ Sep 1st 2008 12:10AM

This is great news. It's awesome that Microsoft appears to be truly making an effort to recreate Windows Mobile as a platform that consumers can be excited to use. Props also go to Apple for not necessarily creating so many great things such as this, but for showing everyone else that the consumers really do come first.

Neutral

This is Apples Market Now @ Sep 1st 2008 1:09AM

its about time microsoft put effort into something

Neutral

deyanimay @ Sep 1st 2008 1:19AM

My comment was @"This is Apples Market Now".

Low Ranked

theguy @ Sep 1st 2008 12:57PM

You're an idiot...

Low Ranked

theguy @ Sep 1st 2008 1:10PM

You're an idiot...

Highest Ranked

Thekidslepthere @ Sep 1st 2008 1:20AM

Sounds like SkyNet, we must stop it before it becomes sentient!

Highly Ranked

This is Apples Market Now @ Sep 1st 2008 1:23AM

apple will stop them in the next software update :D

Neutral

Esquire0399 @ Sep 1st 2008 10:42AM

We have to stop SkyNet and save John Connor!

Highly Ranked

WiiTodd @ Sep 1st 2008 9:36AM

Apple's App Store is just a way of getting programs to your Apple Device. WinMo was always better than Apple because you can buy software at several stores, including the developers website.

Neutral

Scott @ Sep 1st 2008 2:38PM

Copying Apple Once Again
Like Come On How Things Are You Going To Copy
They Have Copied Two Things Now - App Store And Leopard
i bet they are going to copy snow leopard as well

Microsoft Get A Life and Stop Copying

Neutral

AceXMachine @ Sep 2nd 2008 11:51AM

How About You Stop Capping Every Single Word In Your Posts So You Don't Look Quite So Retarded!?

While you're figuring out how to do that, uncouple the round fruit from your puckered ass. Apple was not the first to create anything. Not a PC, not a mp3 player, not an OS, not a phone, not a PDA....nothing (except a disgusting army of lunatic fanboys). Microsoft is simply competing with Apple, something they have not had to work very hard at until recently (read: iPod/iTunes etc). I for one find it a good thing that Microsoft is being forced to put some effort into some (hopefully) real innovation!

Neutral

iNToIT @ Sep 1st 2008 6:05PM

I would think this was great, if I didn't have a Zune, and the experience that comes with the Zune software and Zune marketplace. The impact on system resources the Zune marketplace has on even suitably swift dual core processors with 2GB of ram, on windows XP, not even Vista.. gives me pause. I *do not* need an exceptionally weighty app slowing down my WinMO devices. And based on Microsofts track record, that's what I assume this will be. A productivity and user experience killing resource hog. And no, I'm not an Apple fan. I do like my Zune. I just don't like the bloated and resource burdensome software apps Nicrosoft generates.

I'll keep a somewhat open mind about it however. It would be useful, if it isn't a totally frustrating kludge. And, they allow for the complete uninstallation of it from WinMo. (yeah.. I know.. not being realistic there.)

Neutral

Mark @ Sep 1st 2008 1:13PM

iTunes is FAR FAR worse than the Zune software.

In fact any software you can come up with that has to maintain a library of hundreds to thousands (to tens of thousands) of songs, and then manage possibly hundreds of videos and pictures is going to consume system resources. Its a database, and databases are hungry.

Then there's the inherent CPU hunger that is a result of video decoding or even mp3 decoding.

They need to separate the Zune software player from the software library database and let you manage your songs and build playlists in the library, and just play individual songs/albums/or playlists in the player. System resources are saved as is battery life.

Neutral

Eltawil @ Sep 1st 2008 1:32PM

"The impact on system resources the Zune marketplace has on even suitably swift dual core processors with 2GB of ram, on windows XP."

Apparently you never used iTunes before. And if that is really your system spec then most programs should run smoothly. I think you got something in there that is slowing your system down dude.

Neutral

Joel @ Sep 1st 2008 6:44PM

I tried using iTunes several times before but found it doesn't work well at all for my setup. I keep all of my music on a NAS device with a read-only share (I keep it read only because of an unfortunate incident in which my sister erased a lot of music). iTunes has never completed catalogging the music. It gets stuck on trying open the music files in write mode (perhaps to update the album art?). The NAS has about 70 gigs of music.

Windows Media Player and the Zune software both seem to be able to catalog the music just fine. I don't know what type of resource consumption I am experiencing, but the system has worked well enough such that it has never been a concern.