Officially supported Chevron Unlock tool coming - Windows Phone 7 General

Just got this via twitter:
http://www.winrumors.com/microsoft-...itterwp&utm_medium=twitter&utm_source=twitter
Microsoft and the ChevronWP7 unlock team are teaming up to produce a low-cost developer unlock tool.
The tool will make Windows Phone development more accessible and allow developers to avoid the typical $99 per year cost of becoming a full Windows Phone developer. “The service will require a small fee to offset costs,” says ChevronWP7. “We assure you it will be more affordable than the App Hub.” ChevronWP7 recommends that those who wish to write and publish apps immediately should sign up to the App Hub.
“One of our goals was to make Windows Phone development more accessible,” said a statement from ChevronWP7 on Friday. “Plans have recently solidified and we can now reveal a solution we’ve been working on.” The developers didn’t release too many details on the unlock tool but it’s thought that the tool will simply allow developers to unlock their devices and experiment with applications before signing up to publish apps. ChevronWP7 has launched a “labs” section on its website, where it promises more information soon.
Microsoft originally blocked the ChevronWP7 application that unlocks Windows Phone 7 devices for homebrew third-party applications. Microsoft representatives met with Rafael Rivera and Long Zheng of the ChevronWP7 team earlier this year to discuss the tool and Microsoft’s plans to support homebrew applications on Windows Phone 7. ChevronWP7 famously released their Windows Phone 7 “unlock” tool in late Novermber that allowed owners to side load home-brew applications. The tool, named ChevronWP7, used a method to trick the OS into registering itself as a Windows Phone 7 developer device with the application rather than Microsoft directly. Microsoft normally charges $99 a year for the privilege of loading developer applications. ChevronWP7 pulled the tool at Microsoft’s request just two weeks after it was originally released. It was later revealed that Windows Phone 7 devices “phone home” after around two weeks to re-lock unofficial developer devices, rendering the tool useless.
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Watch this site for more info:
http://labs.chevronwp7.com/

but the closed hole of chevron after two weeks wasn't "microsoft" per se, only till nodo did microsoft completely close the hole. Even the chevron group publicly said that...
otherwise I would be eager to try it if I didn't have a student account but 3 xaps is horrid

Why are you complaing? Its good thing microsidt are with them.
Sent from my 7 Mozart T8698 using XDA Windows Phone 7 App

andoridkiller said:
Why are you complaing? Its good thing microsidt are with them.
Sent from my 7 Mozart T8698 using XDA Windows Phone 7 App
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no one is complaining...

If your previous post wasn't a complaint, then I'm afraid I don't understand what you were trying to say.
An officially approved, permanent unlocking solution is coming very soon. The ChevronWP7 team has already confirmed that it won't be done through the App Hub (so it won't expire in a year), and the one-time small fee will go to the Chevron team, not Microsoft, and is only being charged to cover their hard work over the past several months. They did the work, not Microsoft.
The only thing this solution won't do is allow someone to publish to the Marketplace. That will still require a paid (or student) developer license.

I think its great that MS is supporting this and look forward to kicking a few nickels over to the Chevron team for their work.

I am impressed by MS and how cool they have become.

Power in numbers
Hey Guys,
my guess is, ms turned chevron to go white hat because they try to gain momentum in the app market and therefore have to present an appealing platform for devs by keeping piracy in check and making sure those pale, hardworking guys get their bucks rolling. As far as I understand, chevrons new and official unlocker will be a paid app to drag even those devs into the boat, which are unable or unwilled to pay for a ms dev account while on the other side keeping in check, that this solution wont be a backdoor to sideload pirated apps from the market. This approach would take some amount of security integration and maybe some new kind of app-drm or how ever you may call it. Till now this is mere speculation and just my two cents to the topic

Paid unlock feels totally wrong. Especially if it's just an unlock, without a service like Cydia. I personally don't mind paying for software and services, and it's not the $99 price tag that's stopping me from going the official route, but the paperwork hassle.
But requiring payment for jailbreaking is totally unacceptable, IMO.

RoboDad said:
If your previous post wasn't a complaint, then I'm afraid I don't understand what you were trying to say.
An officially approved, permanent unlocking solution is coming very soon. The ChevronWP7 team has already confirmed that it won't be done through the App Hub (so it won't expire in a year), and the one-time small fee will go to the Chevron team, not Microsoft, and is only being charged to cover their hard work over the past several months. They did the work, not Microsoft.
The only thing this solution won't do is allow someone to publish to the Marketplace. That will still require a paid (or student) developer license.
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1. correction of the article which noted microsoft closed the hole 2 weeks later. They didn't until nodo [edit whoopsie misread that one]
2. I said openly I was intrigued by the idea, and even if I have a student account I'm still intrigued

With this I will can use File Manager with full access (more than documents, windows folders) for LG Optimus 7?

minep said:
With this I will can use File Manager with full access (more than documents, windows folders) for LG Optimus 7?
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I doubt it

what does evry1 here think they will charge? coz $1 to $98 is a huge range.
i would be more than happy to pay a one off fee of no more than £10.....
but then again if its a one off fee and the unlock is perpetual through all updates
i may pay a bit more..
ps. happy fathers day to all the dads

yeah but don't you have to pay to jailbreak now? IMO it's not worth it. i was hoping this would allow custom UI's and such but it just seems micro$oft found yet another way to milk the cash cow.

Great news!
Sent from my OMNIA7 using XDA Windows Phone 7 App

fixxxer2008 said:
yeah but don't you have to pay to jailbreak now? IMO it's not worth it. i was hoping this would allow custom UI's and such but it just seems micro$oft found yet another way to milk the cash cow.
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You should have read the thread completely. It's not Microsoft that charges the users for the tool, but the Chevron team.
I for one consider it a great possibility to pay a one time fee and then be able to write applications for my device and use them on it.

dkp1977 said:
You should have read the thread completely. It's not Microsoft that charges the users for the tool, but the Chevron team.
I for one consider it a great possibility to pay a one time fee and then be able to write applications for my device and use them on it.
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I know. That's exactly what I've been trying to tell people, but everyone around here seems so eager to jump on the extremely misguided "I've been betrayed! They're thieves!" train. I could go on about that particular topic, but what's the point. Let the bitter people enjoy their bitterness.
I'll gladly pay the one-time small fee (I think the Chevron team more than deserves it), and then I'll have a permanently unlocked phone. Even after Mango is released. Even if I have to hard reset some time in the future.

Thank You.
Thank you MS and the Chevron team for coming up with this solution. Good for you Microsoft.

sounds good but...
http://www.withinwindows.com/2011/06/20/short-windows-phone-mango-blocks-interop-services-apps/
I read this the other night and I would like to know what effect this will have on apps sideloaded with Chevronlabs.

It will most likely affect them in the exact same way it affects official app hub developer unlocked phones.
From everything they have told us so far, phones unlocked with the new Chevron service will behave exactly the same as app hub unlocked phones. The only difference will be that you won't be able to submit apps to the marketplace.
So, whatever works on an app hub unlocked phone will work on a Chevron unlocked phone, and anything that doesn't work on one, won't work on the other.

Related

Install XAP without Marketplace on WP7S

Instead of whining about what WP7S isn't going to be (because Microsoft surely won't change their plans and development anymore) let's start to develop and hack this thing.
The most important question for the developers here would be: How to install apps without going through the marketplace. Just as we did it ever before here on XDA-Devs with cabs.
Because I am not alone when I say I'm not ready to pay 75$ a year for a marketplace developer subscription just to release my small just-for-fun freeware app.
Maybe there is already someone out there who figured it out...
EMBRACE CHANGE!
You can just load it with XNA Studio. I do it all the time with my Zune.
Then let's hope that this will still work for WP7S.
There's an option to deploy your project in VS too to deploy to a device, so I presume thats how you would install a non market place app
All phones will be "locked." It appears that only developers who pay the $99/yr fee will be able to unlock their device(s).
DMAND said:
There's an option to deploy your project in VS too to deploy to a device, so I presume thats how you would install a non market place app
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Yes, but this only works with projects for which you have the source code. And this is only for debugging.
I hope someone will hack this, so that we free developers can just post our xap and all users can install it on their phones without marketplace.
Or Microsoft should rethink their business plans for marketplace. Free Apps should stay free. The developers are already spending a lot resources to develop freeware apps. Why forcing them to pay 99$/yr, too??
It's ok for devs who wants to earn money with their app. Or for advertisers who create free apps just to advertise their company. But not for private free-time devs.
If Microsoft is able to do it for students then why not for all other freeware developers who doesn't want to sell their apps for different reasons (open source etc...).
RustyGrom said:
It appears that only developers who pay the $99/yr fee will be able to unlock their device(s).
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I keep hearing about it. Is there a definitive source for this information?
Cipher said:
Instead of whining about what WP7S isn't going to be (because Microsoft surely won't change their plans and development anymore) let's start to develop and hack this thing.
The most important question for the developers here would be: How to install apps without going through the marketplace. Just as we did it ever before here on XDA-Devs with cabs.
Because I am not alone when I say I'm not ready to pay 75$ a year for a marketplace developer subscription just to release my small just-for-fun freeware app.
Maybe there is already someone out there who figured it out...
EMBRACE CHANGE!
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Click to collapse
For my know,M$ allows business user install xap without Marketplace, so I am sure xda brother can find the way to do that
vangrieg said:
I keep hearing about it. Is there a definitive source for this information?
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I spoke with a Microsoft employee (Technical Evangelist Developer Platform & Strategy Group) at CeBIT this month and he told me that. He also told me that he himself is not happy about this decision especially for all those freeware developers.
Well, that sucks. They could have avoided users relying to hacking their devices to do basic stuff. Jailbreaking, cracked DRM and piracy it is then. They made their choice.
The various presentations at MIX mention developers unlocking their devices for deployment.
It's important to note that a lot of the marketplace details are still up in the air. The pricing may change. They've specifically stated that they haven't decided on the 5app (or is it 3, I forget) limit. They very well may allow developers to sign up for a free account and only publish free apps with no advertising. We shall see.
I'm sure they are having much more heated discussions about it than we here are.
Cipher said:
I spoke with a Microsoft employee (Technical Evangelist Developer Platform & Strategy Group) at CeBIT this month and he told me that. He also told me that he himself is not happy about this decision especially for all those freeware developers.
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Hey my Friends,
let me ask this question: I'm using an HTC HD2 with a Windows 7. I love it, but the camera is really bullsh..!
So I found an XAP, what gives me the full camera option.
Does it means, that I have to pay Microsoft, to put this App on? Or is there another way to install it on my phone?
This is not really hacking, because if I can't use my cam, I have to go back to the android system. That will hurt Microsoft even more?!?
Please let me know about your oppinions
Thanks
KegelS said:
Hey my Friends,
<snip>
I'm using an HTC HD2 with a Windows 7
<snip>I have to go back to the android system. That will hurt Microsoft even more?!?
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How will it hurt Microsoft for you to stop using their OS when you haven't paid for a licence for it?

My thoughts about yours

Took the following quote from http://windowsphonehacker.com/thought_why_activating_your_htc_hd2_is_a_bad_idea-01-14-11.php
Thought: Why activating your HTC HD2 is a bad idea
Hacking normally involves some shady but normally legitimate mods to software to bring to light new functions in your device. In the previous Windows Mobile era, Microsoft leaned towards a policy of ignorance towards what developers did to their devices, which brought forth cooked ROMs, unofficial WM6.5 updates, etc. Today, with Windows Phone 7, the stance has changed.
The HTC HD2, once flashed to Windows Phone 7, will not be able to sync with any Windows Live account. This is similar to Windows activation on the desktop, which requires that the software phone home and register its software key. Since the HTC HD2 is not a Windows Phone 7 device, it is not shipped with a PVK, which means it cannot activate with Microsoft's services. When we first reported yesterday about the HD2 getting live services, we were slightly skewed as to what this actually involves.
After further research, we discovered this to be more of a social hack, a type of hack involving tricking clueless employees into thinking that HTC forgot to activate your device. This calls for reason #1 why activating your phone is a bad idea. By lying to Microsoft, you are basically committing a form of fraud to obtain a license key. We are not experts, and the laws vary from country to country, but keep in mind this is not your usual stealing MP3 type of crime-Microsoft gets your name, number, email address, and device information. If Microsoft wanted to enforce this, long story short, you're in trouble.
Of course, we realize that much of the internet is not concerned about breaking their country's laws, a fact we will not have any judgement on. The second reason why you shouldn't activate your HD2 is a little more concerning for some:
Just think. If Microsoft receives hundreds of calls in 24 hours with users claiming their "HD7s" were shipped without PVKs, they're going to catch on. In fact, when reading on XDA developers, a certain post seemed troubling. A certain user writes:
I called the same # about 30 min ago. She asked me what type of phone it was. I said "schubert" then she asked me what happened to my activation code. I told her they never gave me one when i bought the phone. Then she gave me the code. I think there catching on though. She was like " We sure are selling alot of these phones in the last 24h" There gonna catch on just like with the sd cards a while back. Definitely a red flag. They will probably start asking for the serial # of the phone in the near future.
Other users reported being directed to HTC for support, or having strange comments made by Microsoft representatives. The point is this: when you hack software, the software won't bite back. When you hack humans, someone's going to figure it out, and when they do, a lot is going down.
Of course, by now, Microsoft employees have probably read the news all over the internet, so we're interested in what stance Microsoft takes on the issue. There is no way to "purchase" a PVK, unfortunately, leaving this the only option to activate your HD2 and use the Marketplace. Whatever you do is up to you, but we give our warning: Don't get caught, Don't get Microsoft to backlash on everyone else.
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So my thoughts are thinking we were going to get an upgrade from Microsoft to take our HD2's from Win mobile 6.5 to 7. They were talking about a new os way back when the HD2 came out.
Great I thought, sold my TytynII paid T-Mobile £200.00 with an 18 month contract (Ouch). And guess what NO UPGRADE, instead HTC make HD7 using the same hardware with a different case(No access to SD card), just to keep MS off their backs and hey we'll throw in a little back stand to keep you happy.
What [email protected], It's not like I can go and buy a retail, OEM or Upgrade of the new OS. So if this means tricking Microsoft into giving me a license key. tough I'll sleep well tonight.
Glad to get this rant off my chest.
I honestly bought an hd7 and I dont remember having a microsoft key anywhere...and there were some users prior to the hd2 thing that couldn't access live =/
We all know there gonna catch up to this, but take advantage now and get your key meanwhile this all happens.
domineus said:
I honestly bought an hd7 and I dont remember having a microsoft key anywhere...and there were some users prior to the hd2 thing that couldn't access live =/
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Every device that ships with WP7 should already be pre- or activated during the first setup, well WP7 is not being shipped with HD2, and you are basically exploiting MS activation service.
If you know of CyanogenMod Team Douche, they are basically cooking their own distribution of Android, in the earlier days they were packaging their release with Google apps, it didn't sit well with Google, and they had requested CM remove Google apps from their build tree. The reason is that every OEM who decides to issue a device running an Android flavor is getting the OS for free, but have to pay loyalty to include access to the Market.
With the recent developments around WP7 on HD2, one could easily see why MS might not be too happy about it. OEM's pay roughly $10 in licensing fees r per device to MS to put WP7 on their offerings, well HD2 now becomes a device that got it for free.
Seeing how quickly MS moved to shut down ChevronWP7 tools, and actually patching their OS in the next update to prevent unlocking with ChevronWP7 tools, they might incorporate counter measures to prevent HD2 devices running WP7 from access to their Live services, etc.
On the bright note, once it has been hacked it will only be a catch up game between MS and the enthusiasts - see Apple vs IPhone Dev Team.
good little article! i agree with it, not sure i agree with your opinion though.
Nah Cyanogen Mod wasn't in trouble for that. Google was just *****ing about source code sharing. Android is free, Google Apps just need approval.
Also they pay Microsoft $15 usd per license per phone.
vetvito said:
Nah Cyanogen Mod wasn't in trouble for that. Google was just *****ing about source code sharing. Android is free, Google Apps just need approval.
Also they pay Microsoft $15 usd per license per phone.
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agree, never heard of a loyal fee for the market..android is totally free...
MS do not help us upgrade to WP7,,then we do it ourselves...
whenever MS sell the activation code for let's say $30,,i would like to get one right away.
hacking the wp7 in hd2 should not affect the “Genuine” wp7 phone user (now we can say the keys are not unique to each phone.)
and the problem in the future would be the catch up game between MS and dft(?),, the situation could be more difficult than the one in IPHONE. (iphone sales is increasing. hd2 is almost out of shaves.)
vista1984 said:
agree, never heard of a loyal fee for the market..android is totally free...
MS do not help us upgrade to WP7,,then we do it ourselves...
whenever MS sell the activation code for let's say $30,,i would like to get one right away.
hacking the wp7 in hd2 should not affect the “Genuine” wp7 phone user (now we can say the keys are not unique to each phone.)
and the problem in the future would be the catch up game between MS and dft(?),, the situation could be more difficult than the one in IPHONE. (iphone sales is increasing. hd2 is almost out of shaves.)
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Android as an OS is free, however to provide the Market access OEM's with carriers have to pay Google.
^ nah, just a myth. You just have to follow Google rules and be approved for the use of Google apps. Its free. Such as the device must be able to make and receive calls in order for it to be approved for the Google market app
vista1984 said:
hacking the wp7 in hd2 should not affect the “Genuine” wp7 phone user (now we can say the keys are not unique to each phone.)
and the problem in the future would be the catch up game between MS and dft(?),, the situation could be more difficult than the one in IPHONE. (iphone sales is increasing. hd2 is almost out of shaves.)
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The hammer will come down hard on this one. People are basically screwing MS and HTC out of money.
Your screwing MS out of licensing fees and HTC out of new device sales.
I'm willing to bet MS is preparing to take action right now.
vetvito said:
^ nah, just a myth. You just have to follow Google rules and be approved for the use of Google apps. Its free. Such as the device must be able to make and receive calls in order for it to be approved for the Google market app
The hammer will come down hard on this one. People are basically screwing MS and HTC out of money.
Your screwing MS out of licensing fees and HTC out of new device sales.
I'm willing to bet MS is preparing to take action right now.
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ouch,,, i do not deny that there is no direct benefit for MS and HTC..
but when it comes to the advertisement or marketing.. we never know..
or would we hd2 users buy more app and music from marketplace?
or is it a big price gap between brand new hd2 and hd7?
..........
it really depend on how manufacturers think.
they don't need to worry about if another "hd2" case will come up,, this phone is real special one
I've been saying this since news broke of all of this.... I would not be surprised if Live accounts, this means your Xbox Gamertags, get indefinitely banned for this...

ChevronWP7 shuts down, handsets to be re-locked in 120 days

http://wmpoweruser.com/chevronwp7-shuts-down-handsets-to-be-re-locked-in-120-days/
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1598050
What the hell man, this is just crazy what is Microsoft thinking? This will only drive more people away from the platform and will keep phone sales at the rate they are now or lower. Who in the world wants to pay $99 a year just to be able to customize a phone? I personally do currently pay the $99 but will stop soon this is just a death sentence for Windows phone, really someone over at MS gets fired over this.
do you realize that most people would not care about these stuff, and we only nerds that like to hack our phones will matter. Maybe microsoft has something better in store? possibly in apollo we will get sideloading capabilities and other power user functions.
lovenokia said:
do you realize that most people would not care about these stuff, and we only nerds that like to hack our phones will matter. Maybe microsoft has something better in store? possibly in apollo we will get sideloading capabilities and other power user functions.
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I sure hope you are right my friend. Maybe Apollo won't have all this Apple style locked down crap.
what it means, in practice?
In practice, what this means for me?
I've a Samsung WP unlocked by Chevron. So, I've installed Nokia Drive, Nokia Maps... this means that after the 120 days, theses apps won't work in my phone?
So basically MS and the Chevron team just ripped off everyone that went and bought a token? I thought the token was forever, was there ever any metntion that it would expire in the future? if not this sounds like a scam, well for those who paid. I see a law suit.
sinister1 said:
What the hell man, this is just crazy what is Microsoft thinking? This will only drive more people away from the platform and will keep phone sales at the rate they are now or lower. Who in the world wants to pay $99 a year just to be able to customize a phone? I personally do currently pay the $99 but will stop soon this is just a death sentence for Windows phone, really someone over at MS gets fired over this.
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seen the latest articles about lumia sales lately? I'll assume not since you insisted on posting this.
Side loaded apps
Like most people, I just want to know if apps already side loaded will continue to work after the tokens are revoked? If they do work, it may be possible to keep it unlocked through a Registry Editor, Root Tools etc.
sinister1 said:
So basically MS and the Chevron team just ripped off everyone that went and bought a token? I thought the token was forever, was there ever any metntion that it would expire in the future? if not this sounds like a scam, well for those who paid. I see a law suit.
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I don't see any law suits as Microsoft as offered to refund $99 and swap Chevron unlock for App Hub Developer unlock.
However, interesting thing would be how many $9 unlocks are from non-supported countries!?
Surely out of 10,000 there are at least 100 people who paid $9 and don't have access to App Hub - those can go for a law suit unless Microsoft is going to make up for it in any other fashion in a separate announcement.
sinister1 said:
So basically MS and the Chevron team just ripped off everyone that went and bought a token? I thought the token was forever, was there ever any metntion that it would expire in the future? if not this sounds like a scam, well for those who paid. I see a law suit.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yeah, I'm pissed that I was only renting the unlocker....this was definitely a hose job....these dudes are re-locking already paid for phones.
Side-loaded apps will probably cease to work, just as they do if you were to relock your device now.
quicoli said:
In practice, what this means for me?
I've a Samsung WP unlocked by Chevron. So, I've installed Nokia Drive, Nokia Maps... this means that after the 120 days, theses apps won't work in my phone?
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Yes, probably lol.
Pathetic.
MSFT is giving away free APP HUB accounts for these users. Is no one else reading it?
Sent from my TITAN X310e using Board Express
....the app hub is yearly, so we got a year long account for $9...what was I complaining about
/sarcasm.
quicoli said:
In practice, what this means for me?
I've a Samsung WP unlocked by Chevron. So, I've installed Nokia Drive, Nokia Maps... this means that after the 120 days, theses apps won't work in my phone?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You're one of the people who make me disgusted at this community. Nokia apps (and other OEM apps) are device specific. You need to buy those devices to get those apps, as those apps on other devices is called stealing. Yet, this entire community insists they are entitled to things they have never paid for... Most of you don't want these accounts to "develop" or contribute, you want these accounts to sideload apps you have no way of paying for/getting.
FiyaFleye said:
You're one of the people who make me disgusted at this community. Nokia apps (and other OEM apps) are device specific. You need to buy those devices to get those apps, as those apps on other devices is called stealing. Yet, this entire community insists they are entitled to things they have never paid for... Most of you don't want these accounts to "develop" or contribute, you want these accounts to sideload apps you have no way of paying for/getting.
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My point! Thanks!! Hence $9 for whatever time it was unlocked for + a year of sideloading stuff (not developing anything) - more than enough!
I don't mind the side loading. I mind the people coming in here to ***** about not having any way to load stolen software into their phone... Its just pathetic. I would understand if you're developing your ass off, but you're stealing... C'mon...
Sent from my Lumia 900 using Board Express
i did the chevron unlock than used the interlop unlock will i be affected ?
FiyaFleye said:
You're one of the people who make me disgusted at this community. Nokia apps (and other OEM apps) are device specific. You need to buy those devices to get those apps, as those apps on other devices is called stealing. Yet, this entire community insists they are entitled to things they have never paid for... Most of you don't want these accounts to "develop" or contribute, you want these accounts to sideload apps you have no way of paying for/getting.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I could be wrong, but didn't Nokia release these apps in the earlier versions for other non-Nokia devices? Of course (now) Nokia is claiming that their updated apps will be only for Nokia devices. Not condoning piracy here, but I don't see a problem with side loading device specific apps on other Windows Phones. These apps are free to the the users anyway right? -Well most of them... As we all know, each manufacturer has its own collection of apps for their devices. -And we can all agree there are apps that are better than others in each manufacturer app store. If the apps are free, I find it a little ridiculous to say that Windows Phone users would have to go and buy a certain WP just to be able to use a device for a specific free app on their phone. -Now if each manufacturer released their apps to EVERY WP device with the apps being free for that specific device and had a paid version for non-specific devices, my argument would be irrelevant here. -But we know this is not the case.
Anyway, yes I do agree somewhat that some users want their phones dev unlocked just to sideload apps that they themselves didn't develop or buy, but I have to say that I believe some/most members here on XDA contribute to some form or fashion to the development/modding/hacking phone world. I myself became a Windows Mobile/Phone developer because I was amazed at what I could do with my phone when I first started getting into flashing roms for Windows Mobile. I kept on coming back to this forum to see what I could do next with my phone. I finally realized that I couldn't wait for the next thing to come out for my phone, so I started learning the development side of the phone. As the years kept rolling on, I became very familiar with the development process and even made quite a bit of money on my apps. -So the point is, calling people out on wanting the dev unlocks just to sideload restricted apps on their phones is sort of unfair. You and I do not know the motives of the other users on this forum.

ChevronWP7 Labs says the unlock expire in 120 days. How is that possible?

Hello all,
You might have been heard about the news from ChevronWP7 Labs saying the unlock they sold while ago will expire in 120 days from today.
My question is, how does the expiration work?
Suppose both my PC and my phone do not have internet connection, how does the phone get developer locked back?
Does it have some kind of time bomb already since I unlocked it?
Thanks!
In Q&A
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1598050
OK, thanks your message but it does not answer my question.
I don't have answers but would like this discussion in the Q&A on one thread. This needs some serious investigation.
andreiuc said:
Hello all,
You might have been heard about the news from ChevronWP7 Labs saying the unlock they sold while ago will expire in 120 days from today.
My question is, how does the expiration work?
Suppose both my PC and my phone do not have internet connection, how does the phone get developer locked back?
Does it have some kind of time bomb already since I unlocked it?
Thanks!
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Click to collapse
This is a presumption. The unlock of the phone is tied to a certificate that is only valid for a certain timeframe. So, the phone validates the "unlock" certificate each time an operation is requesting access to an otherwise locked feature (such as developer tasks). The certificate is only valid for a specific timeframe, which in ChevronWP7's case expires in 120 days. So, when the phone tries to validate the "unlock" certificate it will fail and the phone will deny access to the requested feature.
Thanks. So it does work like a time-bomb.
In this case, does this mean Chevron knew about this before?
andreiuc said:
Thanks. So it does work like a time-bomb.
In this case, does this mean Chevron knew about this before?
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Click to collapse
And if this be the case how do they get away with all the thousands of dollars they made out with like bandits because they knew all along the 9 dollar unlock was not a real unlock...
Already side loaded apps?
Like most people I want to know if apps already side loaded will continue to work after the tokens are revoked? If they do work, it may be possible to keep it unlocked through a Registry Editor, Root Tools etc
JamesAllen said:
Like most people I want to know if apps already side loaded will continue to work after the tokens are revoked? If they do work, it may be possible to keep it unlocked through a Registry Editor, Root Tools etc
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Click to collapse
If you have access to the registry, you can just remove that developer check URL (I don't know it's official name) to stay unlocked.
Otherwise if you connect to Zune and your token has expired, you will lose your unlock and you won't be able to launch sideloaded apps anymore.
I bought chevron unlock then I made my mozart interopunlocked, is my phone also will be locked again?
majkeljj said:
I bought chevron unlock then I made my mozart interopunlocked, is my phone also will be locked again?
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No locked, if you register your Chevron account in Microsoft App Hub (http://create.msdn.com/en-us/home/membership). Then you get developer account on one year by free. ONLY IF YOU REGISTER BEFORE 10 august 2012.
Source: http://www.chevronwp7.com/post/21027437967/the-chevronwp7-labs-experiment-comes-to-an-end
You read my blog in Polish: http://encyklopediawindowsphone.pl
from chevron
’’ While we kicked butt on the former, the latter didn’t work out so well. Our data indicates that most developers simply unlocked their devices for non-developmental reasons and never went all the way to publish an app in the marketplace. There was also some confusion about the actual purpose of the ChevronWP7 service –some folks thought we provided SIM-unlock capabilities, while others thought we were a hacker group providing full root access. On top of this, there were a larger than expected number of support emails.
As a result, both sides amicably agreed to discontinue the ChevronWP7 Labs experiment.’’
Lol actually they are some kinfs of thieves suckers ass holes..
sorry about it but it is really frustrating for people who paid
Jean-Simon Chénard
Sent from Samsung Galaxy i9100 using Tapatalk
I would say to all people that used the Chevron Unlock Token method to demand your money back. Seems like a rip off!!!!
Homebrew Apps
geddeeee said:
I would say to all people that used the Chevron Unlock Token method to demand your money back. Seems like a rip off!!!!
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I would go further than that. If the revocation of the token causes any of the homebrew apps you installed on the phone to cease to function, I would urge everyone who purchased tokens to consider a class action suit against MS and Chevron Labs.
JamesAllen said:
I would go further than that. If the revocation of the token causes any of the homebrew apps you installed on the phone to cease to function, I would urge everyone who purchased tokens to consider a class action suit against MS and Chevron Labs.
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MS won't be involved in the law suit. It's a third party as far sa it's concerned. Only people who can file a suit against MS here will be ChevronWP7. It's like you protesting against Middle East for the rise in Petrol. You always do it against the govt. of your country.
BTW - http://forum.xda-developers.com/showpost.php?p=24890667&postcount=30
You can get a refund. ChevronLabs are refunding $9 even for a used token if you don't want to take the AppHub option. Ofcourse phone relocks.
lol wait a minute
it is saying on the main page of chevron as a trademark : unleash the potential of your windows phone
now they said on their blog they made an end to this because majoriry of people didnt create an app........
but the term is clear..
you really should fight to keep ur phone unlock without subcribing to anything
Jean-Simon Chénard
Sent from Samsung Galaxy i9100 using Tapatalk
Anyone feel scammed? I've been using custom ROMs so I didn't buy a token but this is a pretty bad move for ChevronWP7. Hiding a "this could only be temporary" clause in your TOS is a pretty sly move to get people to think they're getting something they're not. I imagine they're going to have 9000 refund requests. People want Homebrew as end-users, not as developers.
I feel scammed. They never stated this would only work for a certain period of time, and if you want your 'free developers account' you have to pay for it anyway, although you do get a refund after a couple of months.

Dont you think Chevron was a Big Failure?

Well , I'm sorry to say this but I seriously feel that Chevron was/is a utter failure on the face of WP7 community.
As a WinPhone7 User I expected Chevron to
1. Unlock to install as many apps from Marketplace.
2. Unlock /Activate my Phone to enable it to use with Marketplace.
But at the end it turned out that,
He released it as a Subscription tool with payment, (Although I agree that the infrastructure to unlocking costed the developer).But selling up you service to Microsoft in turn spoiled the little meaning .
Atleast not making the process or idea behind the hack open source after going broke with the earlier idea really hampers or insults the xda team.
Learn from iOS hackers who released Cydia,Cinject,Redsnow,Absynth. you can find it opensourced and its legal.
shreedharcva said:
As a WinPhone7 User I expected Chevron to
1. Unlock to install as many apps from Marketplace.
2. Unlock /Activate my Phone to enable it to use with Marketplace.
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Click to collapse
What are you talking about? You can install any Marketplace app but of course you should pay for the apps first!
Chevron was designed for developers, who are not students and can't afford $99 annual subscription (but definitely not for regular users who want to pirate and sideload apps).
P.S. BTW, it's completely wrong forum, you should "cry" in General, not in "Development and Hacking"
You are completely lost man. LOL
What the f** are you talking about?
Moved to General...
Chevron unlocking was intended for developers and not hacking or pirating software. The only reason Microsoft agreed to it was to try and get people that were on the fence or located in countries that the marketplace didn't support to start developing for WP. In that regard, it was a failure and shut down because people used the service for something it was never intended for.
shreedharcva said:
Well , I'm sorry to say this but I seriously feel that Chevron was/is a utter failure on the face of WP7 community.
As a WinPhone7 User I expected Chevron to
1. Unlock to install as many apps from Marketplace.
2. Unlock /Activate my Phone to enable it to use with Marketplace.
But at the end it turned out that,
He released it as a Subscription tool with payment, (Although I agree that the infrastructure to unlocking costed the developer).But selling up you service to Microsoft in turn spoiled the little meaning .
Atleast not making the process or idea behind the hack open source after going broke with the earlier idea really hampers or insults the xda team.
Learn from iOS hackers who released Cydia,Cinject,Redsnow,Absynth. you can find it opensourced and its legal.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
What phone do you have? Have you checked the forms to see if there is a custom rom avilable for your phone? I did and I found it; went and cancelled my stupid dev account right after that too.
Ren13B said:
Chevron unlocking was intended for developers and not hacking or pirating software. The only reason Microsoft agreed to it was to try and get people that were on the fence or located in countries that the marketplace didn't support to start developing for WP. In that regard, it was a failure and shut down because people used the service for something it was never intended for.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Spot on.
If you were using Chevron simply so you could pirate apps, you're doing it wrong. As an RD mentioned above, what it was designed for and what it ended up being used for (in some cases) are two different things.
Thread closed.

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