Microsoft loosens homescreen rules

As it is now, Microsoft’s Windows Phone 7 is the most locked-up development environment in mobile. However, the situation seems to improve gradually…

CNet now reports the following:

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Until now, applications that wanted to run when the screen was locked had to get the user’s explicit permission. Under new rules announced on Friday, programs can do so without permission–provided they first demonstrate to Microsoft that they only use a reasonable amount of battery life (allowing more than six hours of use for an app playing audio and more than 120 hours for a program that does not play audio).

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Unfortunately, Microsoft still insists that developers must use XNA or Silverlight – let’s see when that rule falls due to public pressure…

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