Windows Store Search API

Yesterday I found a great Blog Article from Jason Thomas Carter that give me enough motivation to open this blog and talk a bit about this topic (OK Oho thanks to you too ;) ).

I will definitely not copy/paste its content so invite you to check it explanations about unofficial Windows Store API. To sum up, Jason shows how he managed to grab all informations from the store (aka Metadata) such as screenshots, description and so on...

I was surprised by the way they choose to expose this data : a really standard way using site maps / rss atom with a clear API (like Apple indeed :) )

After a quick test, all seems to work as described, and I even found a way to have an "search API", based on the app name, that could be interesting to plug on an autocomplete field.

For instance, for "Angry Bird" on US Store with english localization :

http://marketplaceedgeservice.windowsphone.com/v8/catalog/apps?os=8.0&cc=US&lang=en-US&q=angry

returns a list of atom entries :

0
11
10
2013-12-02T23:16:35.008247Z
List Of Items
tag:catalog.zune.net,2013-12-02:/apps
10|10
f575c46cecca4bfcb94de34fdca8f1ab

	...... (Result Here)


	Microsoft Corporation

And each result give us its id (here 9168c4f3-217b-4a29-b543-7513bb4ae2ed), title etc... :

	2013-12-02T23:16:35.008247Z
	Angry Birds
	urn:uuid:9168c4f3-217b-4a29-b543-7513bb4ae2ed
	true
	Angry Birds
	2013-05-01T16:04:44.730000Z
	3.3.0.0
	8.020888
	1149
	
		urn:uuid:9da3f8c7-eb6d-4b72-a75c-70f51b07b908
	
	false
	
		
			windowsphone.Games
			
			True
		
		
			windowsphone.PuzzleAndTrivia
			
			False
			windowsphone.Games
		
	
	
		phone.protocol.rovio-abclassic
		Premium
	
	
		
			urn:uuid:3d60b423-8a1e-4737-a166-97e421cf36f9
			urn:uuid:d525c094-bb51-481b-9401-d272d4d3a716
			
				WindowsPhone80
				WindowsPhone81
			
			
				Credit Card
				Mobile Operator
			
			ZEST
			0
			$0.00
			USD
			Trial
		
		
			urn:uuid:dff5b752-cd27-4af2-8408-7434015ace27
			urn:uuid:d525c094-bb51-481b-9401-d272d4d3a716
			
				WindowsPhone80
				WindowsPhone81
			
			
				Credit Card
				Mobile Operator
			
			ZEST
			0.99
			$0.99
			USD
			Purchase
		
	
	
	Rovio Entertainment Ltd
	Rovio Entertainment Ltd
	
	f575c46cecca4bfcb94de34fdca8f1ab
	4

And finally, as Jason explained it, if you want all informations about this app, just call the API and giving it the appid previously found :

http://marketplaceedgeservice.windowsphone.com/v8/catalog/apps/9168c4f3-217b-4a29-b543-7513bb4ae2ed?os=8.0&cc=US&lang=en-US

	2013-12-03T12:05:45.247464Z
	Angry Birds
	urn:uuid:9168c4f3-217b-4a29-b543-7513bb4ae2ed
	Use the unique powers of the Angry Birds to
		destroy the greedy pigs' defenses! The survival of the Angry Birds is
		at stake. Dish out revenge on the greedy pigs who stole their eggs.
		Use the unique powers of each bird to destroy the pigs’ defenses.
		Angry Birds features challenging, physics based demolition gameplay
		with hours and hours of replay value. Each of the over 300 levels
		require logic, skill, and force to solve. The birds are back in town!
		The #1 best-selling app gets a feathery new update with an extra 15
		classic levels. It’s the gameplay you all know and love, and this time
		the flock returns to pop those piggies! NEW CLASSIC LEVELS! The gang’s
		back with an extra 15 levels of classic Angry Birds gameplay! NEW AND
		IMPROVED POWERS! In these levels, fling Red with more accuracy than
		ever thanks to all-new manual targeting! Find out more at:
		https://www.angrybirds.com Terms of Use: http://www.rovio.com/eula
		Privacy Policy: http://www.rovio.com/privacy Important Message for
		Parents This game may include: - Direct links to social networking
		websites that are intended for an audience over the age of 13. -
		Direct links to the internet that can take players away from the game
		with the potential to browse any web page. - Advertising of Rovio
		products and also products from select partners.
	-1
	Angry Birds
	2013-05-01T16:04:44.730000Z
	Live
	Rovio Entertainment Ltd
	http://www.rovio.com/eula
	http://www.rovio.com/privacy
	8.020888
	1149
	
		urn:uuid:9da3f8c7-eb6d-4b72-a75c-70f51b07b908
	
	
		
			urn:uuid:53346aab-0ede-4074-be6a-4c6617351ce3
			90
		
		
			urn:uuid:546607d3-e715-4e4a-80fa-0e6946108401
			90
		
		
			urn:uuid:0b902b52-af72-4b28-abcb-0dfae8f9a16e
			90
		
		
			urn:uuid:8ac27c53-6e37-4404-a959-370ffbde3e74
			90
		
		
			urn:uuid:72a934db-2216-4535-b682-5a73320ac63d
			90
		
		
			urn:uuid:8b8b8e0b-1c88-4006-b719-3e4c53d0e882
			90
		
		
			urn:uuid:0f245472-9099-409f-9f0e-94f2671a55b4
			90
		
	
	
		
			windowsphone.Games
			
			True
		
		
			windowsphone.PuzzleAndTrivia
			
			False
			windowsphone.Games
		
	
	
		phone.protocol.rovio-abclassic
		Premium
	
	
		
			urn:uuid:3d60b423-8a1e-4737-a166-97e421cf36f9
			urn:uuid:d525c094-bb51-481b-9401-d272d4d3a716
			
				WindowsPhone80
				WindowsPhone81
			
			
				Credit Card
				Mobile Operator
			
			ZEST
			0
			$0.00
			USD
			Trial
			2100-01-01T00:00:00Z
		
		
			urn:uuid:dff5b752-cd27-4af2-8408-7434015ace27
			urn:uuid:d525c094-bb51-481b-9401-d272d4d3a716
			
				WindowsPhone80
				WindowsPhone81
			
			
				Credit Card
				Mobile Operator
			
			ZEST
			0.99
			$0.99
			USD
			Purchase
			2100-01-01T00:00:00Z
		
	
	plus applicable taxes
	
		urn:uuid:e89d5358-1ed9-481e-956c-ff4605cb74cf
	
	Rovio Entertainment Ltd
	urn:uuid:8b098e44-a00a-477b-9733-fcd85de0a196
	
		2013-12-03T12:05:45.247464Z
		Angry Birds 3.3.0.0
		urn:uuid:d525c094-bb51-481b-9401-d272d4d3a716
		3.3.0.0
		urn:uuid:615b994e-5008-47af-b55e-dfcd91c4584b
		urn:uuid:d525c094-bb51-481b-9401-d272d4d3a716
		2013-10-11T14:58:57.610000Z
		true
		true
		true
		true
		false
		http://cdn.marketplacecontent.windowsphone.com/public/31972abd-db1c-404d-96b5-0bfc23c55421
		24254618
		114979840
		
			WindowsPhone80
			WindowsPhone81
		
		
			English (United States)
		
		
			
				ID_CAP_GAMERSERVICES
				Xbox
				Disclose
			
			
				ID_CAP_IDENTITY_DEVICE
				phone identity
				Disclose
			
			
				ID_CAP_NETWORKING
				data services
				Disclose
			
			
				Resolution
				ID_RESOLUTION_HD720P
				HD720P (720x1280)
				true
			
			
				Resolution
				ID_RESOLUTION_WVGA
				WVGA (480x800)
				true
			
			
				Resolution
				ID_RESOLUTION_WXGA
				WXGA (768x1280)
				true
			
		
	
	
		Microsoft Corporation
	

Even if it could be replaced in a few month with the new "merged store" between Windows8 and Windows Phone, it is a great way to fetch this kind of metadata. Hope that will survive the refactor !

Enjoy ;)