Windows Phone 8 SDK Preview Out On September 12; Developers Cry Foul!

Following the release of Nokia’s Lumia 920 and Lumia 820 phones featuring Windows Phone 8 (WP8), Microsoft has announced that it will give a set of developers the chance to develop WP8 apps using a preview of the SDK from September 12th. However, the bad news is that only developers who have already published apps in the Windows Store will be able to enroll in the program.

With the Windows Phone 8 expected to be officially unveiled sometime in late October, along with Windows 8, it might not be a good move to restrict more developers from participating in the preview, as the Windows Store still lags heavily behind the Apple and Android app stores.

According to the Windows Phone blog, select partners and developers have already been working hard on developing Windows Phone 8 apps to push into the marketplace. There is speculation that Microsoft is trying to follow the footsteps of Apple by maintaining a high standard of quality for apps, rather than quantity, and thus are encouraging only mature Windows Phone developers an initial taste of the SDK.

However, the fallout from developers is already apparent on the announcement page itself.

Here are some of the more interesting user comments:

Morten Nielsen: “Limited access? What's up with that? You're already way behind on the "later this summer" announcement. Get the preview out there for everyone to enjoy, build on, promote and push.”  

Seva Alekseyev: “Did I read that right - the general availability of the SDK will coincide with the WP8 launch? So there no chance of getting my app ready by the time the platform first ships? Capital. Thanks for the disappointment, MSFT.”

Bobby Cannon: “UH? You have to have published an app to get the SDK... EVEN if you've paid for a developer account? This is not acceptable even for fan-boys like me. This is a slap in the face.”

Feel free to read the entire announcement here.

So what do you think about this news? Please leave your thoughts and opinions in the comments section below!