History

After there was evidently a huge demand for Folders on Windows Phone after our demonstration, we've prepared the project for public release. Here's some background:

Originally, this project was intended to be a simple way of cleaning up some ugly homebrew applications in the Start Menu, and placing them into a folder. Some people got wind of the project, though, and it became immediately clear that this would be something the general public would want.

This application is "What you see is what you get". What we showed in the demonstration video is what you'll get at this stage. We've received some very positive feedback from the homebrew community, which we're very grateful for. This being said, the application is a work in progress, and don't expect any magic.

In our new branch, we brought the ability for on-device configuration. In the old branch, you will need the Folders Config application on the desktop, which will handle setting up the folders on your phone, sans much hassle. You can add Marketplace apps, homebrew apps, System apps, and websites to a folder.

The tool makes adding Marketplace applications quick and painless, and finding applications should take less than a few seconds. The reason for the quirkiness is because we cannot list the applications on the device yet, because we do not have root access to the \\Applications\\Install folder to enumerate which applications are installed.

We appreciate feedback, but please be open minded. Thanks.

The setup requires the following:

• Developer/Chevron/etc unlocked phone. This should be less of an issue once ChevronWP7 Labs is released
• Windows Phone 7.5 Mango (for the secondary tiles)

Features

• Create unlimited folders to pin to your start screen
• Completely custom groupings (not restricted by categories of any sort)
• NEW: configure directly from your phone! (on-device branch)
• Add Marketplace, homebrew, built-in applications, and websites to a folder (Desktop branch)
• Automatic Marketplace look up
• Automatic homebrew XAP parsing
• Shortcuts to WiFi, Bluetooth, Flight mode, and cellular settings
• Fully customizable with the ability to manually edit application entries
• Folders. Something other Windows Phones don't have. Gotta love homebrew, no?

Instructions

For the new on-device branch, simply deploy the XAP file found in the description (make sure your phone is developer unlocked, Chevron'd, WindowBroken, etc).

For the desktop branch only:

• Download the file below
• Run FoldersConfig.exe
• Create a new folder
• Add applications into that folder
• Repeat until setup the way you want
• Connect your phone and sync it with Zune, put it on the start screen, and press Deploy
• An application will appear on your phone with a list of your folders. Tap on them one by one to pin them to your start screen
• Profit.

[YT Link]

Please do not mirror/hotlink the files. Link to this current page instead.

Download:

On-Device Branch (recommended)

folders_ondevice2.xap

folders_ondevice_settings2.xap (settings version: installs into Settings instead of the app list. Install above version to uninstall it)

Desktop Branch

foldersconfig_v3.zip

foldersconfig_v2.zip (Historical)

foldersconfig_v1.zip (Historical)

Any questions or concerns, let us know. Thanks to all the testers, and to all the people who have given us outstanding support throughout all this. It's not magic, but it is homebrew.