Windows Phone App Studio makes it easy to build WP8 apps

[wraggster]

http://www.blogcdn.com/www.engadget.com/media/2013/08/msdnapp.jpg (http://www.engadget.com/2013/08/06/windows-phone-app-studio-build-wp8-software/)Say what you will about Microsoft's ecosystem struggles (http://www.engadget.com/2012/12/14/editorial-windows-phone-future-without-google/), but no one can fault it for trying. In an effort to get more developers to give Windows Phone 8 more than a passing glance, the outfit has just launched a beta version of Windows Phone App Studio (http://apps.windowsstore.com/default.htm) -- a web-based dev environment that's "designed to help anyone quickly bring an idea to life by applying text, web content, imagery, and design concepts to any one of a rich set of customizable templates." Moreover, Microsoft is now allowing any dev to unlock and register a single phone to use with up to two apps, and it's also offering a $19 "Summer Break" Dev Center registration offer for those looking to actually publish software to the store. Finally, a new "Click To Chat (http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/p/?LinkID=293697)" support program is being instituted to help those who can't quite seem to overcome a programming hurdle. Take a look at the company's blog post (http://blogs.windows.com/windows_phone/b/wpdev/archive/2013/08/06/making-it-easier-to-get-started-with-windows-phone-app-studio-beta-simplified-phone-registration-support-options-amp-more-payout-markets.aspx) for the full skinny.

http://www.engadget.com/2013/08/06/windows-phone-app-studio-build-wp8-software/