Deploy XAP or Unlock without running Zune software [Homebrew]

For those of us who like to sideload Homebrew apps on our Windows Phone, the process can be a little tedious e.g. your phone re-locks often, having to run the Zune software, etc.
The latter piece though can be avoided, that is you don't have to run the Zune Desktop just to sideload a XAP file or even unlock your device (using ChevronWP7). XDA member xbodmod has described a way to just run the "connect" part without Zune, making the process much more streamlined. The process is fairly simple:
- Disable Zune auto-start (Zune --> Settings --> Software--> General --> "Start the Zune software..."
- Create a shortcut to desktop from C:\Program Files\Microsoft SDKs\Windows Phone\v7.0\Tools\WPConnect\WPConnect.exe
- Plug in phone
That's it. Just running WPConnect.exe and allowing it load for a second does the job and now you can run Tom's XAP installer (opens in new tab), ChevronWP7, etc. We like simplicity around here.
Update: @adamUCF lets us know that Microsoft themselves have described this exact method (opens in new tab), so credit to them first.
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Daniel Rubino is the Editor-in-chief of Windows Central, head reviewer, podcast co-host, and analyst. He has been covering Microsoft since 2007 when this site was called WMExperts (and later Windows Phone Central). His interests include Windows, laptops, next-gen computing, and for some reason, watches. Before all this tech stuff, he worked on a Ph.D. in linguistics, watched people sleep (for medical purposes!), and ran the projectors at movie theaters because it was fun.
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He didn't "figure out" anything. It's officially support/recommended by Microsoft.http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/gg180729(VS.92).aspx
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Yeah, I updated the post already ;-)
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did everything as said above... while using tom xap installer gives error connection....say -- make sure ur phone was unlocked and make sure u connected device to pc and zune launched... reply plz!! btw do i need a unlocked phone??