Paul over at MoDaCo is starting to get some interest in a new application he's developing - basically it involves developers providing some XML with their installer that ties in with some similar XML on the applications' download page on their web server.

When a new version is released, the XML on the download page is updated, "AppToDate" will check the download server and you'll be able to see that a new version is available.......

AstraWare, Developer One and SK-Tools have already expressed an interest in making their software work with "AppToDate".......what are you waiting for!?!?!

I'll stop babbling, this is what Paul posted over at MoDaCo "AppToDate"

I have a dream! OK, so it's not quite as ground breaking as some other dreams of our time, but it's a dream none the less. It goes something like this...

I have a whole bunch of software on my device. Probably 15 apps at least. I also write software, which is downloaded by a fair few people, both commercial and free. I like to ensure that my software on my device is up to date with the latest versions, and it's a right pain in the ****. Not only that, I'd like my end users to have the latest versions installed to get the best possible experience... and to facilitate that I have to write a custom update checker into each of my applications. Fine for big apps, not great for quickly rustled up apps or tweaks.

But there could be another way.

What if you could have an application that lived on the device, that wasn't tied to any one application or vendor, that could check for updates for everything installed on your device? IMHO, that would be awesome. A dream. For such an approach to work, you'd need a few things...
Someone to write the update application, and to develop it. A community project perhaps?

• The update application MUST be FREE for end users and developers
• The update application MUST be easy for developers to plug in to
• The application needs to be used by end users!
• Freeware developers need to use the application!
• Commercial developers need to use the application!

Now here comes the audience participation part - if you are a user, would you like to see such an application? If you are a developer - either freeware or commercial - would you like - and would you use - such an application? Make your voice heard here, and if there's an appetite for this, let's make it happen! I'll be updating this topic to list developers who would like to be involved.

Oh, I forgot to mention... I've basically written the update application! It's simple, has plenty of scope for future development, can update itself (of course) and in order to be used by a 3rd party, just needs an XML file dropped into the updater directory from your install CAB, and a current version XML on your server!

Beautiful! The response to this topic will determine how much time I spend on getting it production ready

P

Lend your support to this - with all the updates for various applications flying around, it's an almost impossible task to know if you're running the latest and greatest version - hopefully it will grow into a REALLY useful tool.

Thanks for listening

Mark.

This would also work well for new versions of everyone's favorite rom's....

Originally Posted by Mark Crouch  

Paul over at MoDaCo is starting to get some interest in a new application he's developing - basically it involves developers providing some XML with their installer that ties in with some similar XML on the applications' download page on their web server.

When a new version is released, the XML on the download page is updated, "AppToDate" will check the download server and you'll be able to see that a new version is available.......

AstraWare, Developer One and SK-Tools have already expressed an interest in making their software work with "AppToDate".......what are you waiting for!?!?!

I'll stop babbling, this is what Paul posted over at MoDaCo "AppToDate"



Lend your support to this - with all the updates for various applications flying around, it's an almost impossible task to know if you're running the latest and greatest version - hopefully it will grow into a REALLY useful tool.

Thanks for listening

Mark.

Beta version suitable for app developers, ROM chefs and 'cabbers' now at http://apptodate.modaco.com

Free of course for developers AND end users, and I know at least a couple of chefs who are planning to cook it into the ROM (I'll be offering an OEM package early next week to supplement the existing CAB).

Come on over and get involved, let's get everyone supporting this!

P

Great work modaco..will look at it

WMWifiRouter will support this with the next release.

I have now releaed a version with the necessary configs to enable ROM update notifications.

ROM chefs: please contact me if you have any questions re: cooking into the ROM and notifying your users of updates!

Note that via the stats mechanism, you can watch how many people are checking for updates on your ROM!

P

Hey modaco..im cooking my ROM so i would like to use your wonderful app in it..kindly PM me the instructions or post it here..i would also like u tell me how to integrate stats mechansim

Check your PM!

P

Sounds like a great idea, but one slight problem I have with it is: if the app is not hosted on it's own website, what can be done?

I haven't had time to dig any deeper than reading this, although I'm now going to look at the "Official site" and see what info I can get.

All you need to be able to host is 1 XML file somewhere!

P