Back in March we mentioned that WP7applist, the unofficial online Windows Phone Marketplace directory, would be getting its own mobile application. The WP7applist website doesn’t play well with Windows Phone’s internet browser, so an app was definitely needed. That app has beaten our application to the punch (if only slightly) as it’s now available on the Marketplace.
The app starts out on a Spotlight page, much like the official Marketplace. More useful is the Discovery page, which links to several categories of apps: all recent changes, just released, app updates, deals & price drops, and apps gone free. It’s a fast and easy way to find deals and other changes. The Most Popular page tracks numerous app categories, including games, news & weather, and more. A Reviews page tracks WP7applist’s handful of reviews. Finally, the Search page allows searches by title or publisher.
Once you’ve located an app that you’re interested in, selecting it brings up WP7applist’s unique App Details page. It contains the usual Marketplace description, screenshots, and user reviews, in addition to the app’s overall popularity rating and a history of its price changes and updates. Click the Get It button and the app seamlessly switches to the real Marketplace page for easy purchasing and downloading.
Oh, it has a Live Tile too that shows current Marketplace app count, number of app updates and new releases in the last 24 hours, updated every hour on the device.
WP7applist for Windows Phone is an incredibly convenient way to learn about new applications and changes in the Marketplace, easily outdoing the official Marketplace in several ways. It doesn’t quite have the full WP7applist website’s functionality yet – there’s no way to keep track of the apps you actually own. But the app is off to a fantastic start and hopefully even more features will come in the future.
The WP7applist application is free and a must-download. Grab it here (Zune link) on the Marketplace.
