ChevronWP7: The Unlock That Isn't An Unlock

Load homebrew apps on your WP7 device.

Nov 28 2010, 2:01pm CST | by Robert Evans

ChevronWP7: The Unlock That Isn't An Unlock

Rejoice, Windows Phone 7 users! You are now free from the cloying constraints of the Microsoft App Marketplace. The ChevronWP7 unlocker allows the sideloading of applications that are not approved for the Marketplace. The developers claim that the pricess is simple enough for anyone to do, and 100% reversible. Windows XP SP2 is the minimum supported OS.

Windows Phone 7 may be an even more closed ecosystem than iOS. Microsoft appears to want to use it as a way to get people to bridge all of their Windows devices together. It's too early to tell if this venture will succeed- early reports have been mixed. The Marketplace has increased to an impressive 3,000 apps, but Redmond still refuses to release any sales numbers. That doesn't necessarily mean Bad Things, but the fact that Microsoft touted the Kinect's million sales so loudly makes me wonder.

Anyway, Chevron WP7 isn't quite like a jailbreaking application. What it actually does is trick your phone into believing it has been unlocked as part of the Developer Registration process. The creators bill this as a way to allow would-be developers to get right into testing and building apps, no approval process necessary. With any luck, Microsoft will be clever enough to see the logic and approach this app with benign neglect.

Chevron WP7 will also allow any user to sideload homebrew applications. Not every denied app is crappy or derivative. Microsoft also blocks apps that run in the background or use the hardware search button. They also ban apps that require direct access to hardware, making LED flashlight apps only available from a homebrew source.

There are also different themes, like Justin Angel's WP7 Dark. Possibilities for the future include game emulators, overclocking apps and, sooner or later, a homebrew application marketplace.

Even if Microsoft decides to get nasty, they won't kill the "homebrew" movement. You can no more stop geeks from fiddling with their toys than you can stop the world from turning or the tide from rolling in. The question is, how long will it take Steve Ballmer to learn that lesson?

Updates

You're Only Lonely

Source: MSN Entertainment

Description: Eleven of the mammals died in the incident and the rest will be released back into the wild. Msnbc.com's Al Stirrett reports. Behind the scenes of Disney's Nighttime Spectacular Cat wants to be Hollywood's next big star Description: Vit ...
Full article at: MSN Entertainment More like this 36 minutes ago

Hurricane Trackers: Survival tools for iPad, iPhone and even Desktop users

Source: ZDNet

Summary: The iPad can be an invaluable tool to help you stay out of harm’s way during hurricane season. Note: This article was originally published in September of 2010. It has been updated to reflect current content. During Labor Day ...
Full article at: ZDNet More like this 4 hours ago

Windows Phone Marketplace goes Mango only

Source: ITWorld.com

May 26, 2012, 7:25 AM — If you're having trouble downloading apps from the Windows Phone Marketplace, you just might be a pre-Mango Windows Phone 7 user. Microsoft is now enforcing a rule that only users of Windows Phone 7.5, cod ...
Full article at: ITWorld.com More like this 9 hours ago

where to buy

Buy from Amazon

Don't miss ...

Windows Phone 7

Microsoft Paid Developers to Write Apps for Windows...

Robert Evans
The excitement about new smartphones, tablets and anything mobile drive Robert to unearth the latest rumors and developments in this fast moving space. He adopted 4G as soon as it become available and knows where the mobile market is going.
Robert can be contacted directly at robert@i4u.com.