Microsoft Attempting to Recruit App Store Developers for Zune HD?
Microsoft may be trying to draw iPhone and iPod touch developers away to develop apps for the Zune platform. Daring Fireball's John Gruber describes an e-mail he received from an iPhone developer in response to a previous article from Gruber on the Zune HD outlining how Microsoft had offered the developer "a bucket of money" to port his Twitter app to the Zune.
After my post, I got an email from the developer of an iPhone Twitter client. He was contacted by Microsoft a few months ago, with an offer to port his app to the Zune in exchange for "a bucket of money". He turned them down, but assumes, as I do, that Microsoft reached out to the developers of multiple popular iPhone apps.
My source is certain the offer was for the Zune, but because he turned it down early on, he doesn't know the details regarding the OS or SDK. If any other iPhone developers have gotten a similar pitch from Microsoft, I'd love to hear about it.
The Zune HD is available for pre-order from Amazon at $219.99 for the 16 GB model and $289.99 for the 32 GB model, compared to $299 for the 16 GB iPod touch and $399 for the 32 GB iPod touch. Apple, however, is widely expected to update the iPod touch at a keynote event rumored for early September. Gruber has mentioned that he sees Apple releasing new camera-equipped models in 16 GB, 32 GB, and 64 GB capacities at price points of $199, $299, and $399 respectively.
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33 months ago
Why turn down a "bucket of money" so quickly? Not even getting the details first?
33 months ago
John Gruber describes an e-mail he received from an iPhone developer in response to a previous article from Gruber on the Zune HD outlining how Microsoft had offered the developer "a bucket of money" to port his Twitter app to the Zune.
Hey, Microsoft, if you want to pre-pay me to write apps for the Zune, I'll do it. Do I still get 70% of the sales proceeds for the app as well?
33 months ago
looks like a bulky chunky Iphone 2G
Definately think that Microsoft needs to get their foot into the market but they better come out with a cell phone version as well if they are really looking to compete with the touch and iPhone.
Also its probably not best to have your Photos showing that your device menus that you made are chopped off the screen
Definately think that Microsoft needs to get their foot into the market but they better come out with a cell phone version as well if they are really looking to compete with the touch and iPhone.
Also its probably not best to have your Photos showing that your device menus that you made are chopped off the screen
33 months ago
LOL! Microsoft has to pay developers for porting apps to their platform. Not that there's anything wrong with that, but it's just like the laptop hunters ads.
33 months ago
I definitely like the design...
Glad to hear that the price wars (well, that and falling flash memory prices) has pushed Apple to hopefully drop their prices on the iPod Touch. Personally, all I look for is storage capacity, and if and when the iPod classic is put out to pasture, I really hope that the high capacity Touch's will be affordable, which the trend appears to support.
Judging off how easily M$ hands out money for legal issues, I would think one would have to be the highest level of RETARDED to flat out turn down an offer with "buckets of money" involved (without at least getting details)...
Glad to hear that the price wars (well, that and falling flash memory prices) has pushed Apple to hopefully drop their prices on the iPod Touch. Personally, all I look for is storage capacity, and if and when the iPod classic is put out to pasture, I really hope that the high capacity Touch's will be affordable, which the trend appears to support.
Judging off how easily M$ hands out money for legal issues, I would think one would have to be the highest level of RETARDED to flat out turn down an offer with "buckets of money" involved (without at least getting details)...
33 months ago
Why are MS designs always stuck in the 80s??
That angular design was so military and low rent at the time, and these days it looks like a device that will be highly pixilated and annoying like the tech of the 80s.
Good luck to MS. Money won't buy you love, guys. They should try to enthuse creativity a little, to get the best out of people.
That angular design was so military and low rent at the time, and these days it looks like a device that will be highly pixilated and annoying like the tech of the 80s.
Good luck to MS. Money won't buy you love, guys. They should try to enthuse creativity a little, to get the best out of people.
33 months ago
I hope this app store takes off, if only to provide the iTunes store with some competition.
33 months ago
Somebody lures the (paying) developers with:
- excellent hardware
- excellent OS
- excellent SDK
- successful store model
- excellent usability for the end user (i.e. excellent chance the end user get to buy and use more and more Apps)
- in a word, a successful and revolutionary project
Somebody else needs to bribe them...
- excellent hardware
- excellent OS
- excellent SDK
- successful store model
- excellent usability for the end user (i.e. excellent chance the end user get to buy and use more and more Apps)
- in a word, a successful and revolutionary project
Somebody else needs to bribe them...
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