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Microsoft released a developer tool on April 29 that is aimed at helping iPhone developers port their applications more easily to Windows Phones.
Microsoft officials described the new API (application programming interface) mapping tool as similar to a translation dictionary. From a new post on the Windows Phone Developer Blog:
“With this tool, iPhone developers can grab their apps, pick out the iOS API calls, and quickly look up the equivalent classes, methods and notification events in WP7. A developer can search a given iOS API call and find the equivalent WP7 along with C# sample codes and API documentations for both platforms.”
The first iteration of the tool focuses on network/Internet, user interface and management APIs. Microsoft officials said not to expect a mapping for all of the APIs, as the two phone platforms are built on different architectures and user interface.
“For this first round we focused on identifying the one-to-one mapping when it exists. In the following versions we’ll expand the scope and anytime the concepts are similar enough, we’ll do our best to provide the appropriate guidance,” according to the post.
Microsoft is looking for developers to suggest other APIs they’d like to see mapped, and is asking them to submit them to the http://wp7mapping.uservoice.com site. Microsoft also is providing interested developers with a 90-plus page “Windows Phone 7 Guide for iPhone Application Developers” white paper.
There are approximately 15,000 applications available now for Windows Phone 7.
In other Windows Phone news, it seems Microsoft has temporarily halted distribution of the cut-and-paste “NoDo” update for Samsung Omnia 7 handsets due to a “technical issue.” As noted on WinRumors.com, Microsoft officials have said the fix for this is nearly done. I’ve asked Microsoft for more specifics as to what caused the latest problems and when the fix should be available, but haven’t heard back so far. Samsung Windows Phone users had problems with the first Windows Phone update in February 2011, when there were reports that the Microsoft updates were bricking some handsets.
