Despite our coverage of Android we still remain Windows Mobile / Windows Phone fans, so it’s hard to keep reporting on the bad press from the 6.5 launch and Marketplace localization issues. Today there’s yet more bad news for Marketplace and Microsoft as a whole.
Firstly, xda-devs have found that, following the download of a “paid for” app, you can simply copy the CAB file out of the download folder somewhere else on your phone. This will allow the free distribution of paid-for apps all over the web. In theory you could buy an app, copy the CAB, then get a refund. It leaves the whole Marketplace open to pirating with an unbelievably easy process.
Secondly, today Microsoft-owned Danger lost all data served to Danger Sidekick devices sold widely in the USA. Calendar appointments, address books and more – all gone, with the T-Mobile forums even admitting that ..
“The Microsoft/Danger network remains unstable and all content (including contacts, calendar, and notes) that you re-input into your device is not backed up on the network.”
Update – Now they’re pretty much admitting defeat..
“Regrettably, based on Microsoft/Danger’s latest recovery assessment of their systems, we must now inform you that personal information stored on your device – such as contacts, calendar entries, to-do lists or photos – that is no longer on your Sidekick almost certainly has been lost as a result of a server failure at Microsoft/Danger.”
How many more bullets can Microsoft take?
Links – xda-developers.com – PCMag.com
Microsoft needs armour – more bullets fired
October 11, 2009