Twist: on Tech » My Twist http://www.twistontech.com Life Seen Through Geek Goggles - Technology Blog Wed, 07 Dec 2011 22:02:09 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 The First Rule of Windows 8 is: You Don’t Talk About Windows 8 http://www.twistontech.com/mytwist/the-first-rule-of-windows-8-is-you-dont-talk-about-windows-8/ http://www.twistontech.com/mytwist/the-first-rule-of-windows-8-is-you-dont-talk-about-windows-8/#comments Wed, 07 Dec 2011 22:02:09 +0000 George Roberts http://www.twistontech.com/?p=477 Mary Jo Foley posted an interesting tidbit in her Microsoft could charge for Skype video archiving and authentication article today:

Songhurst told attendees that Windows 8 was the topic he could say the least about “because we’re very careful in what we say about Windows 8.”

“(W)e really don’t talk about Windows 8,” Songhurst repeated when asked another question which touched on the topic.

It instantly brought to mind the 1999 Film Fight Club and its rules and generated an instant chuckle.

]]> http://www.twistontech.com/mytwist/the-first-rule-of-windows-8-is-you-dont-talk-about-windows-8/feed/ 0 Network Dashboard 2.1 Passed Certification, Published To Marketplace http://www.twistontech.com/gadgets/network-dashboard-2-1-passed-certification-published-to-marketplace/ http://www.twistontech.com/gadgets/network-dashboard-2-1-passed-certification-published-to-marketplace/#comments Tue, 08 Nov 2011 23:24:19 +0000 George Roberts http://www.twistontech.com/?p=469 Just a quick note to let everyone know that version 2.1 of Network Dashboard has passed certification and has been published to the Windows Phone Marketplace. It usually takes about 24 hours from this point until it’s available to everyone.

For more information on what’s included in this update, see this post.

]]> http://www.twistontech.com/gadgets/network-dashboard-2-1-passed-certification-published-to-marketplace/feed/ 0 Network Dashboard 2.1 Submitted For Marketplace Certification http://www.twistontech.com/mytwist/network-dashboard-2-1-submitted-for-marketplace-certification/ http://www.twistontech.com/mytwist/network-dashboard-2-1-submitted-for-marketplace-certification/#comments Sat, 05 Nov 2011 21:57:39 +0000 George Roberts http://www.twistontech.com/?p=467 Network Dashboard version 2.1 has been submitted for certification testing for the Windows® Phone Marketplace. If everything goes according to plan, it should be available in the marketplace in a few days.

Version 2.1 brings the following changes:

  • NOTE: To properly support multiple locales, we have changed how reminder times are stored. This may have caused your reminders to become disabled. Please check your settings.
  • NEW: Added new language support. This release contains English, French, Italian and Spanish. You will need to launch Network Dashboard to make any pinned tiles update their language.
  • NEW: Added a new Live Tile style called “Text” … it is a scaled down live tile with the status in the upper right corner in text.
  • NEW: Added an “Other Tiles” settings option to give users the ability to change the Bluetooth and Airplane Mode tile styles.
  • NEW: Added a toggle to the live tiles pivot item in the settings screen to allow users to configure whether the background sync task runs or not.
  • FIXED: If the background agent was disabled Network Dashboard would not start properly.
  • FIXED: Network Dashboard was not properly reading in the current setting of Live Tile style, so if the user accessed the setting screen it would not show the current setting properly.
]]> http://www.twistontech.com/mytwist/network-dashboard-2-1-submitted-for-marketplace-certification/feed/ 0 Seeking Translators For Network Dashboard http://www.twistontech.com/mytwist/seeking-translators-for-network-dashboard/ http://www.twistontech.com/mytwist/seeking-translators-for-network-dashboard/#comments Tue, 25 Oct 2011 13:02:45 +0000 George Roberts http://www.twistontech.com/?p=464 I’m currently seeking volunteers to help translate Network Dashboard into other languages. It’s a fairly small app, so there’s only about 45 phrases that need to be translated. I’ve had offers for German and Italian translations already and have sent the template off to them, so I will hopefully have those translations soon. Anyone interested in translating Network Dashboard into another language, please contact me at groberts@purity.net.

]]> http://www.twistontech.com/mytwist/seeking-translators-for-network-dashboard/feed/ 0 Network Dashboard 2.0 Released; Available Now in the Marketplace http://www.twistontech.com/mytwist/network-dashboard-2-0-released-will-be-in-marketplace-within-24-hours/ http://www.twistontech.com/mytwist/network-dashboard-2-0-released-will-be-in-marketplace-within-24-hours/#comments Fri, 07 Oct 2011 20:29:58 +0000 George Roberts http://www.twistontech.com/?p=458 I’m happy to announce that Network Dashboard 2.0 has been released and is available now in the Windows Phone Marketplace.

Network Dashboard 2.0 brings the following changes:

  • Network Dashboard has changed from being a free app to a paid app with a free trial. The free trial contains all the features of previous versions, so is essentially the same as the previous free version. The trial never expires and does not contain nag screens. The paid version includes new features not included in the previous free releases. My understanding is that anyone who downloaded the free version will get the full, paid version when they upgrade. If that’s the case, please accept it with my thanks for being an early adopter! :)
  • NEW: Added the ability to select between three different live tile styles. Additional live tile styles will likely be added in future versions. Ideas are welcome. :) (Paid Only)
  • NEW: Added optional reminders for Wi-Fi and Mobile Data. If the specified service is turned off at the time the reminder is set for Network Dashboard will remind you to turn it back on. (Paid Only)
  • NEW: Added a background task to periodically keep the Live Tile status in sync.
  • FIXED: A bug that would cause the Live Tile to not be updated if it was previously pinned before turning on the Live Tile option without removing and repinning.

Network Dashboard – More Information

]]> http://www.twistontech.com/mytwist/network-dashboard-2-0-released-will-be-in-marketplace-within-24-hours/feed/ 0 “What happened to Network Dashboard?” http://www.twistontech.com/mytwist/what-happened-to-network-dashboard/ http://www.twistontech.com/mytwist/what-happened-to-network-dashboard/#comments Thu, 06 Oct 2011 23:00:09 +0000 George Roberts http://www.twistontech.com/?p=454 That’s a question I’ve heard quite a few times over the last couple of days. I figured I’d write up a quick post to let everyone know what happened and what’s going on.

First, Network Dashboard has been hidden from the Marketplace for the time being.  I submitted a version 1.2 update to the Marketplace for certification a few days ago. After doing so, I realized there was a fairly major bug in the configuration of some of the new features that it brought. I opened a support ticket with Microsoft, hoping to have them “reject” the submission so I could fix the bug and resubmit. Unfortunately, they don’t have the ability to stop a submission once it’s been put in, which meant that the version 1.2 (bug and all) made it through certification (which is interesting in and of itself … why didn’t the tester catch the bug? It causes a full application crash).

Rather than have a bunch of people with Network Dashboard breaking on them, I hid the application from the Marketplace. I’ve submitted version 2.0 for certification and am just waiting on it to complete testing. This will hopefully happen in the next day or two. I’ll post here once it’s available!

]]> http://www.twistontech.com/mytwist/what-happened-to-network-dashboard/feed/ 0 Zune Music Pass Changes Coming to US on October 3 http://www.twistontech.com/gadgets/zune-music-pass-changes-coming-to-us-on-october-3/ http://www.twistontech.com/gadgets/zune-music-pass-changes-coming-to-us-on-october-3/#comments Thu, 29 Sep 2011 19:19:38 +0000 George Roberts http://www.twistontech.com/?p=446 Microsoft just sent out an email to Zune Pass subscribers announcing plan changes that will go into effect October 3. They will be discontinuing the current $14.99 a month plan in favor of a $9.99 a month plan. The downside is that the $9.99 a month plan no longer includes the 10 song credits per month. The upside? Existing Zune Pass subscribers get to keep their current plan if they choose, so long as they remain a subscriber.

]]> http://www.twistontech.com/gadgets/zune-music-pass-changes-coming-to-us-on-october-3/feed/ 0 Network Dashboard – Seeking Feedback on Switch to Paid App http://www.twistontech.com/mytwist/network-dashboard-seeking-feedback-on-switch-to-paid-app/ http://www.twistontech.com/mytwist/network-dashboard-seeking-feedback-on-switch-to-paid-app/#comments Wed, 28 Sep 2011 05:10:47 +0000 George Roberts http://www.twistontech.com/?p=441 I’m just putting the finishing touches on a new version of Network Dashboard that fixes a couple of bugs and adds a couple of neat new features. I’m seriously considering a change, though, from a free app to a 99 cent app with a trial. Just to be clear, the trial will NOT be a timed trial … you can use the trial free of charge forever, no nag screens or anything. All the existing features of the free Network Dashboard app will be available for use in the trial version.

Switching to a paid app with a trial allows me to offer a few extra features and get paid for the work I’ve put into the app. Additionally, it means I can keep the app ad-free, which is something I’d like to do as I don’t feel ads fit in Network Dashboard.

So, I’m looking for some feedback on this decision before I release the next version. Anyone have any thoughts?

]]> http://www.twistontech.com/mytwist/network-dashboard-seeking-feedback-on-switch-to-paid-app/feed/ 0 Brandon Watson Loves Network Dashboard! http://www.twistontech.com/mytwist/brandon-watson-metions-network-dashboard-on-windows-phone-developer-podcast/ http://www.twistontech.com/mytwist/brandon-watson-metions-network-dashboard-on-windows-phone-developer-podcast/#comments Fri, 16 Sep 2011 00:45:32 +0000 George Roberts http://www.twistontech.com/?p=431 Yesterday at the Build Blogger Bash at Microsoft’s Build conference, Brandon Watson, Microsoft Senior Director of Windows Phone Development, mentioned Network Dashboard during a live recording of the Windows Phone Dev Podcast. I showed him Network Dashboard and he immediately downloaded it on his phone. On the podcast He said, “I love it!”

You’ll find the mention at about 36 minute mark in the video:

Thanks for the shoutout Brandon!

]]> http://www.twistontech.com/mytwist/brandon-watson-metions-network-dashboard-on-windows-phone-developer-podcast/feed/ 0 Live Blog: Build Day 1 Keynote http://www.twistontech.com/mytwist/live-blog-build-day-1-keynote/ http://www.twistontech.com/mytwist/live-blog-build-day-1-keynote/#comments Mon, 12 Sep 2011 00:15:28 +0000 George Roberts http://www.twistontech.com/?p=396 I’ll be live blogging the Build Day 1 Kenote address Tuesday from Anaheim, CA! Come back at 9AM Pacific on Tuesday, 9/13 for complete coverage.

12:19pm

http://dev.windows.com for bits at 20:00PT tonight. #bldwin

12:17pm

Beta, then RC, then RTM, then GA. Driven by quality, not by a date.

12:02pm

Photos app like pictures hub in Windows Phone.

12:01pm

People app like the people hub in Windows Phone.

11:33am

The developer preview tablet is a really nice machine.

11:21am

Windows 8 supports NFC natively.

11:04am

Silverlight to Windows 8 is super simple. Just a few namespace changes.

10:54am

HTML5 and XAML are equal citizens. Yay!

10:53am

App store … Will require apps to be certified.

10:30am

App developers can integrate into the settings panel, search screen, sharing system.  Very cool stuff.

10:25am

“I don’t think anything is better than an entirely chrome-free browser.” -Steven Sinofsky

10:14am

Julie Larson-Green to demo Windows 8.

10:13am

Windows 8 uses only 281 MB of RAM.

10:10am

Demoing Windows 8 experience, metro style platform and tools, hardware platform, and cloud services.

10:07am

Everything that runs on Windows 7 runs on Windows 8.

10:07am

Services are intrinsic to all software.

10:05am

Steven Sinofsky, President of the Windows Division, is giving the keynote.

10:03am

The WiFi here isn’t working hey well, so ill be using my Windows Phone to post updates.

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