Computer World - A developer today launched a tool that allows adventurous Windows 7 Phone owners upgrade their smartphones \operating system now rather than wait for their carrier to offer the update.
Developer Chris Walsh has apparently done the software giant Microsoft has failed to achieve: let anyone with a Windows 7 Phone Device install two first update of the operating system.
Microsoft said it had contacted the developer, Chris Walsh, asking about his intentions, and possible consequences.
On Monday gave Walsh code that appears to let users download WP7 the so-called No-Do update, which adds the ability to cut and paste and other performance improvements.
Walsh used Microsoft's own update technology to build the new tool, which he called ChevronWP7.Updater.
If users do not have the first update they can download it as well.
Last year, Walsh and created two others, Rafael Rivera and Long Zheng, the ChevronWP7 unlock utility for Windows 7 Phone, but yanked the tool after reaching a deal with Microsoft.
Users report that the updates are working well.
In December 2010, Microsoft promised to talk to them about officially supporting programs that are not available through the company's approved software market.
Walsh notes that there is no process for resetting the phone and that users should try it at your own risk.
Microsoft later met the trio at its Redmond, Wash.
Via Twitter, he also said that using his update method will not prevent people from becoming future official updates from Microsoft.
headquarters.
Microsoft did not immediately respond to a request for comment about Walsh's method to install the updates.
In a blog published on Monday, Walsh explained how to use their ChevronWP7.Updater and warned users they were on their own if they tried it.
The company's attempt to roll out two updates have been riddled with problems.
There is NO return process [so] again, flash at your own risk.
The software made some Samsung phones useless.
The update tool applies to all Windows 7 Phone updates that Microsoft has made to this point, including NoDo update that adds copy and paste functionality, and in February update designed to prepare for smartphones NoDo.
It has also struggled to push out the update known as the No-Do, with cut-and-paste function.
Updates for Windows 7 Phone has been plagued with problems.
According to a status page for company maintains, only two out of five phones eligible for updates in the U.S.
Users have bashed Microsoft over a slow roll-out, and experts have criticized the company for not anticipating that the delays would infuriate early adopters and loyal fans.
it is now.
Walsh is the tool allows users to bypass the carriers and get the official updates directly from Microsoft.
Microsoft began rolling out the first update in late February.
I did not hack the device, I used the official update functionality, Walsh wrote on Twitter.
Walsh and two other developers were known in Windows 7 Phone society when they released a tool that allows users to upload applications to phones that are not approved in the Windows Marketplace.
I just went around the typical carrier bulls ***.
However, Microsoft approached the trio, promised to do more to let developers test applications on their phones and noting that the update would close the hole that allowed the unlock tool to work.
To use ChevronWP7.Updater, users must first download Microsoft Windows Phone Support Tool, a program designed to fix problems with the operating system's update mechanism.
Nancy Gohring covers mobile phones and cloud computing for the IDG News Service.
Microsoft did not immediately respond to a question about whether others can access the Windows 7 Phone updates to build tools that, while posing as a patch, can also contain malicious software.
Follow Nancy on Twitter at @ idgnancy.
Walsh promised to release the source code for its utility on Tuesday, a move that is likely to show others how to make Windows 7 Phone updates using Microsoft's own technology.
Nancy's e-mails address is Nancy_Gohring @ IDG.
Microsoft has traditionally taken a serious view of updates that do not come directly from the company or its sanctioned services.
com.
It did the same today.
We encourage people to use Windows Phone Support Tool provided by Microsoft to insure the best possible user experience, said a spokesperson.
We are aware of Mr.
Walsh's work and has been in contact with him about his intention, and possible consequences.
Gregg Keizer covers Microsoft, security, Apple, browsers, technology and general breaking news to Computer World.
Follow Greg on Twitter at @ gkeizer or subscribe to Gregg RSS feed.
Read more about Mobile Apps and services in the Computer World's Mobile Apps and Services Topic Center.
No comments:
Post a Comment