Windows Phone gets its own Cydia. Introducing Marketplace alternative 'Bazaar'.

Bazaar

The idea of an alternative to the Windows Phone Market place, one based on homebrew and freeware analogous to the iOS Cydia, has been kicking since Mean solar day 1 (run across this early on attempt). Just with the increasingly wide spread availability of official unlocking opportunities e.g. ChevronWP7 Labs, the notion has become more reasonable, more often than not due to the increase number of users.

Over at XDA, 'BAZAAR' has launched equally an early beta for those interested in taking information technology for a spin. The alternative Marketplace won't be confined to the strict, seemingly arbitrary rules of the official Marketplace (see Ffffound) simply it also won't be a oasis for cracked or pirated apps. Instead, this will exist a source for developers to distribute their homebrew apps that Microsoft would not approve likewise as standard freeware apps.

That's the good news. But here'due south the bad: yous demand to accept a DFT, NextGen or Deepshining Custom ROM installed on your phone i.due east. a ROM that supports XAP-installation past IE9 (yes, yous can do that in a custom ROM). That'due south a shame and quite a big limitation correct now as going the custom ROM route cuts out a huge chunk of potential users, including all Gen ii devices. Still, it's an initial framework and nosotros can hope that there will be a breakthrough where this will be immune

The app itself just allows browsing right now as they work on getting permissions for the repository. The developers are looking for user feedback from those with custom ROMs and volition be calculation the following features in the future:

Creating an account within Bazaar
Managing favorites applications list and the ability to download and install them as a batch procedure (very useful after reset/flashing new ROM version)
Add ratings and comments for applications
Submit new applications via Boutique spider web site
Online search in Boutique applications repository
And many more…

It is absurd looking and we hope the showtime of something bigger. Perchance Microsoft could country a hand to an unofficial Marketplace?

Source: XDA; Thanks, Carlos, for the tip!

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