App Extensions and Rooting - Two Questions


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Hi

I'll get straight to the point:

1) Android apps have the extension APK. What is it for Windows Phone?

2) Do I need to look at rooting? I only root my Android to allow some apps permissions, but other than that it's stock (not really much of a customizer).

Thanks

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XAP, though you can't really side load anyway (and newer devices make it a lot harder to sideload even if you were trying too) outside of the restricted developer account allowances. The XAP files are also now encrypted when submitted to the marketplace, so unless you're getting them directly from the developer before encryption they're rather useless, and can't be normally sideloaded.

Regarding rooting / jail breaking / interop unlock, no. Personally I don't thinks there's really anything out there worth downloading on the homebrew scene, outside of little things like change some tile colours or taking screenshots. And it's not actually possible on all devices yet either - and those that are, a number of them don't have full permission anyway, just the ability to sideload.

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Sorry, side-loading as in (Android translation) "installing non-market place apps" IE installing apps from a separate place, rather than the Market?

That's a bit of a moo as I like to backup all APKs for a just in case scenario. Shame as I'd jump at the chance to re-install to get rid of carrier rubbish.

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Sorry, side-loading as in (Android translation) "installing non-market place apps" IE installing apps from a separate place, rather than the Market?

That's a bit of a moo as I like to backup all APKs for a just in case scenario. Shame as I'd jump at the chance to re-install to get rid of carrier rubbish.

I'm not 100% sure but I think a requirement for Windows Phone is that the consumer must be able to remove any application including the ones installed by the carrier? Think I read this somewhere....

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I'm not 100% sure but I think a requirement for Windows Phone is that the consumer must be able to remove any application including the ones installed by the carrier? Think I read this somewhere....

100% true. I have uninstalled almost all crap put in by AT&T and Samsung. (what's left can be removed but I actually use one app from at&T and one from Samsung).

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The only future side-loading that will happen will be via enterprise tools/services, things like InTune or System Center Manager which can push apps out to registered devices in your work place.

Consumer side-loading, well, you "can" sorta unlock your phone and do the whole homebrew thing but you'll be stuck with an older build of the OS.

On the flip side, since the mechanism is in WP8 for business to push out apps then I'm sure, in time, some XDA guys could find a way to use that to load apps. You'd have to fake or hack certs though, I bet anyways.

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Some Windows Phones have been unlocked so you can install .xap, I unlocked my Lumia 710 and installed an unlocked ROM and had a play with things like that but wasn't keen so flashed back to stock

Check XDA to see if yours has been unlocked

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