![\"RIP](\"http:\/\/www.pocketpccentral.net\/newscenter\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/12\/chevronwp7_rip.jpg\" "\\"RIP"){kind=icon}
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Just a few days after its release<\/a>, the Windows Phone 7 \u201cjailbreaking\u201d tool ChevronWP7 is no more; the software utility has been 86ed, and is no longer available for download.<\/p>\n Why? According to its developers<\/a>, they were contacted by Microsoft Director of Developer Experience for Windows Phone 7<\/em> Brandon Watson regarding the tool. After the conversation(s) an agreement was struck: ChevronWP7 would be pulled in order to \u201cfast-track discussions\u201d with Microsoft regarding \u201cofficially facilitating homebrew development on WP7.\u201d<\/p>\n This explanation would seem to indicate an openness within Microsoft to making such tools available in a more official capacity, and if that\u2019s the case, we applaud the move. But, it\u2019s also possible that this is simply a slapdown couched in public relations feelgoodism, and that we\u2019ll never see anything like ChevronWP7 with any sort of Microsoft endorsement, tepid or otherwise.<\/p>\n For the majority of Windows Phone users \u2013 at present, anyway \u2013 this doesn\u2019t matter all that much. But how Microsoft handles situations like the release of ChevronWP7 specifically \u2013 and steps toward user freedom and open development in general – will indicate where on the spectrum between iOS and Android OS that Windows Phone will reside.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Just a few days after its release, the Windows Phone 7 \u201cjailbreaking\u201d tool ChevronWP7 is no more; the software utility has been 86ed, and is no longer available for download. Why? According to its developers, they were contacted by Microsoft Director of Developer Experience for Windows Phone 7 Brandon Watson regarding the tool. After the […] Continue reading