- Posted by christhi on July 14, 2010
Beta is here! This means we are getting closer to release, which means it is time you start building your Windows Phone applications ASAP. Just in case you are asking, here is a great resource to help you get started building great Windows Phone applications.
As part of our efforts to help developers jumpstart their development of Windows Phone applications, we released a refresh of the Windows Phone Training to meet the changes in the Windows Phone Beta tools release. You can download a local copy of the training kit, or you can go to the online version on Channel 9.
More information about the new tools can be found here
This release of the WP training kit includes all the labs from the previous release (updated to the Beta tools) and all the videos from the previous release. In addition we added two new labs:
- Using Windows Phone Launcher and Choosers In Your Applications
- Understanding the Windows Phone Application Lifecycle (handling Tombstone)
A new functionality in this Beta release tool is the exposure of APIs for using Windows Choosers and Launchers. The launchers and choosers framework enables Windows Phone applications to provide a set of common tasks for users, such as placing phone calls, sending email, and taking pictures. The “Using Windows Phone Launcher and Choosers In Your Applications” lab covers some of these new launchers and choosers. The emulator doesn’t provide the full Windows Phone user experience, and therefore we don’t cover all the available choosers and launchers in the API. But there is more than enough for you to learn about this topic.
Understanding the Windows Phone Application Lifecycle (handling Tombstone)
As you probably already know, Windows Phone allows only one application to run at any given time in the foreground, and no 3rd party applications are allowed to run in the background. Therefore when a user navigates away from your application, either to a chooser like picture chooser, or to a launcher like phone call, Windows Phone operating system terminates your application.
Tombstoning is the procedure in which the operating system terminates an application’s process when the user navigates away from the application. The operating system maintains state information about the application. If the user navigates back to the application, the operating system restarts the application process and passes the state data back to the application. This lab explain in great detail what tombstoning is, how it works, and what you should be handling in your application
Another area of improvement in the API is Push Notification Services. We’ve upgraded the lab to work with the updated Beta API and while doing so gave it a nice facelift. This lab features an end-to-end scenario for a simple weather application that registers to receive Push Notifications as well as a WPF client application that mimics the 3rd party backend server.
On top of that, the training kit includes four additional labs (all refreshed and up-to-date with the latest Beta tools):
Hello Phone - This lab aims to be the classic “Hello World” application, introducing you to the tools and procedures required to build and test Silverlight for Windows Phone applications. During the lab, you will see how to use Microsoft Visual Studio 2010 Express for Windows Phones, Expression Blend to build and design your Windows Phone applications, and how to deploy and debug your Windows Phone application on the Windows Phone Emulator
Building Your First Windows Phone Application – This lab introduces you to the basic building blocks of any Windows Phone Silverlight application. During the course of this lab you will create a simple puzzle game. The lab takes you through the different stages of starting a new project, adding controls and code behind, and testing and debugging. Unlike the Hello World lab, this lab focuses more on phone-related topics like navigation, using pages, frame and navigation services, multi-touch, and isolated storage.
Windows Phone Navigation and Controls – This lab introduces you to the Windows Phone layout system, the phone’s chrome, and few new controls. The lab explains the basics of navigating between different screens (pages) in a Windows Phone Silverlight application. During the lab you will build a navigation application that switches between various screens, with each screen displaying different phone functionality, such as playing an audio or video file.
Game Development with XNA Framework for Windows Phone – This lab introduces you to XNA game development on Windows Phones, as well as to the basics of XNA game development. During the lab you will build a simple XNA game application that introduces key concepts in XNA game development and learn how to use Microsoft Visual 2010 Express for Windows Phone to build and design your XNA games for Windows Phones
- Posted by christhi on July 12, 2010
Windows Phone Developer Tools Beta ReleasedJUL1220
10
0
First things first: go get the Windows Phone Developer Tools Beta. It has arrived!
It’s time to get serious about building the actual apps and games for Windows Phone 7 that consumers will be looking for starting this holiday season.
One of the things I really want to do is just take a step back and congratulate the entire Windows Phone 7 team. They have done an amazing job of delivering code month after month on our path to releasing later this year.
Here’s a link to the release notes for the beta, but I wanted to talk about a few top level items:
- Microsoft Expression Blend for Windows Phone – Blend is now integrated completely into the Windows Phone Developer Tools Beta.
- Developer Registration Utility – Now you can unlock you Windows Phone 7 device for development purposes.
- XAP Deployment Tool – if you want to deploy XAP files directly to an unlocked device, now you can.
- The Windows Phone 7 API – we’re getting close to completion. Many namespaces that were previously distributed over several different DLLs have now been consolidated into one. In addition, there have been realignments and changes in several other namespaces as well. Push Notifications, Accelerometer and App Bar APIs have all been updated.
- Additional Controls – There are some additional controls coming in the next few weeks (i.e. Panorama and Pivot) which didn’t make the beta release. They are coming soon.
- Control Templates – Silverlight for Windows Phone control templates have been updated to match evolutions in the overall OS.
Get Trained – Windows Phone 7 Jump StartWindows Phone 7 JumpStart is a FREE virtual live class for developers interested in developing applications and games for Windows Phone 7. We’re providing this in partnership with our MS Learning team. The course is organized into four virtual instructor-led sessions that are of 3-hour duration. They will be presented by forthcoming MS Press authors and MVP's, Andy Wigley and Rob Miles. It will provide developers a jump start for developing Windows Phone 7 applications. The Labs will be completed offline with office hours access to the instructors.The dates for these course sessions are:
- July 20 – 8am: Session One: Getting Started with Microsoft Windows Phone and Silverlight
- July 20 – 1pm: Session Two: Programming Game Applications with XNA
- July 22 – 8am: Session Three: Programming Applications with Silverlight
- July 22 – 1pm: Session Four: Review and Wrap Up
Go register for the course now!Devices for DevelopersWe made a promise last month that we would be getting pre-production preview devices to developers this month. We are keeping that promise. In fact, the very first preview devices were awarded last week to a pair of pretty amazing high-school students who won the Windows Phone “Rockstar” contest as part of the Imagine Cup. When we saw what they had done, we knew we had to get them preview phones.Starting next Monday (July 19th), we start shipping the devices more broadly. Sadly, we will not be able to meet all of that demand. We are planning to set up deploy and test labs in major cities to make it a little easier for everyone who wants to have access to a preview phone to have it. More on that soon.Lastly, to get your name in the queue, assuming you haven’t already sent in an email, you can now send an email to wp7req@microsoft.com. A field representative will get back to you as soon as possible. Again, these are preview phones, so they are limited in quantity. When you send email, please include the following information:
- Your name
- Company name, if applicable
- What city/state/country you are located in
- App(s) you plan on developing (category and brief description)
TwitterAt some point, we had to mention Twitter, right? We strongly encourage developers establish a connection with their local field evangelist, since they will be the ones ultimately putting phones into the hands of developers, but they can also point you in the right direction for solving problems, get you connected to other partners, and generally help out. To make it easier to get to know your local evangelist, we’ve set up this list - wp7dev/champs (http://twitter.com/wp7dev/champs).You can also follow other members of the team based on their area of coverage:
- Posted by christhi on March 25, 2010
Microsoft User Experience Kit launched today at SXSW
Today at SXSW, of which Microsoft Silverlight is a major sponsor of the Interactive Festival, Microsoft User Experience Kit is targeted at technical and creative leads who want to better understand the tools, technologies, and scenarios that span Microsoft’s User Experience ecosystem. Key topics range from “Building Immersive Multi-channel Solutions using Expression Studio” to “High fidelity and high Performing Desktop Touch Applications using Windows 7” to “Web Branding and Audience Targeting using SharePoint”. The kit’s contents can be browsed online and/or downloaded for offline use. It includes videos, presentations, sample code, and much more. Get the kit at http://uxkit.cloudapp.net!
The UX Kit is unique because while many technology-specific repositories exist, this is the first kit that helps “map” the Microsoft ecosystem, technology, and tools stack to that of the user experience, agency, and creative world.
Included in the UX Kit is a range of collateral and resources including: videos, reference implementations, sample code, live demos, installable tools, presentations, whitepapers and more. Featured technologies include Silverlight, Windows Presentation Foundation, Windows 7 Touch, Microsoft Surface, Windows Phone, SharePoint, Expression Studio, and Microsoft Advertising. Topics covered on the kit range from Rich Media Delivery using Silverlight and Deep Zoom to Multi-Channel Digital Marketing using Windows 7, SharePoint, Windows Phone, and Surface.
·
FAQ
Why another kit? There are many technology specific repositories but nothing that helps “map” the Microsoft ecosystem, technology, and tools stack to that of the user experience, agency, and creative world.
What is in the kit? Collateral such as videos, reference implementations, sample code, live demos, installable tools, presentations, whitepapers and more.
What technologies and tools are featured? Silverlight, Windows Presentation Foundation, Windows 7 Touch, Microsoft Surface, Windows Phone, SharePoint, Expression Studio, and Microsoft Advertising to name a few.
What topics are covered? Topics range from Rich Media Delivery using Silverlight and Deep Zoom to Multi-Channel Digital Marketing using Windows 7, SharePoint, Windows Phone, and Surface.
How do I “get the kit”? By following the link here! The kit’s browser is fully written in Silverlight and hosted on Microsoft Azure.
When can I “get the kit”? The Microsoft User Experience Kit will be launched on March 15th at South by Southwest in Austin and go live right here. – http://uxkit.cloudapp.net
- Posted by christhi on July 10, 2009
No use rehashing what the silverlight team and blog have already kind provided for us but if you haven't heard Silverlight 3 and Expression 3 with Sketchflow have been release as of 12:30am CST today! To get started go to
http://silverlight.net/getstarted/ from here you can download an evaluation of Expression 3 and even get Sketchflow. For those since Mix who have been dying to see play with Sketchflow here is your chance. Enjoy.
- Posted by christhi on July 7, 2009
Today, July 7th, at 12PM CT, 1PM ET – We are broadcasting the Michael Jackson memorial, live in HD from the Staples Center in Los Angeles using IIS Smooth Streaming and Silverlight to the world. This is the same technology (IIS Smooth Streaming and Silverlight) that was used to bring you the Olympics.
http://inmusic.ca/news_and_features/Michael_Jackson is the link to the page where the embedded player experience and is the URL you should share and use.
- Posted by christhi on June 3, 2009
One of the best quotes we got during Internet Week while hosting the Microsoft Experience in New York City and our reception party was "you can tell this is a party thrown by a new yorker and doesn't seem like a Microsoft party" which we took as a serious compliment. We didn't want to throw a run of the mill corporate party but wanted it to truly seem like a art exhibit deliving digital art with a mix of technology such as surface, touchsmarts, etc. The party was a hit in fact the quote I just mentioned came from Mark Cuban himself. Yes he graced his presence at our party, seemed to enjoy himself, and was really a great guy (very friendly and unpretentious).
Here is to a great week of demos and New York vibe.
- Posted by christhi on June 1, 2009
Today Microsoft opens The Microsoft Gallery for Internet Week New York 2009 in Manhattan’s Meatpacking District to showcase digital and digital inspired art alongside Microsoft and Microsoft partner technologies such as multi-touch computing and rich internet experiences.
Where: 414 W. 14thStreet – New York, NY
When: June 2-8, 2009; 12PM –8PM each day
You are invited to attend The Microsoft Gallery during Internet Week New York 2009 in Manhattan’s Meatpacking District. Microsoft will temporarily inhabit the retail space of 414 West 14thStreet, between 9thAvenue and Washington Street, and be open to the public daily for the duration of Internet Week New York 2009; June 1 – 8 at 12:00 Noon. The Microsoft Gallery will celebrate art and technology by showcasing digital and digital inspired art alongside Microsoft and Microsoft partner technologies such as multi-touch computing and rich internet experiences to demonstrate emerging technologies, innovation, as well as, inspire the local technology industry of New York City.
To help bring art and technology to life, The Microsoft Gallery will display innovative Microsoft and Microsoft partner technologies such as Microsoft Silverlight and Expression Studio for designing and delivering rich internet experiences, Microsoft Surface for multi-touch social computing, HP TouchSmart for intuitive multi-touch personal computing, and XBOX 360 gaming consoles for high fidelity gaming and entertainment. As well, the work of digital artists Jonathan Zimmerman and Yorgo Alexopoulos will be showcased with multiple high-resolution projectors and LCD displays. There will also be a number of other digital or digital inspired works presented as video, sculpture, and mix media.
Come Join Us! Bring your family, your customers & your friends to see what it is all about and be a part of Internet Week in NYC.
The Microsoft Gallery will host a number of daily presentations and panel discussions from industry thought leaders at digital agencies such as Schematic, Cynergy Systems,and Vectorform. Microsoft will host startup focused sessions that introduce the Microsoft BizSpark program that provides free access to Microsoft tools and servers products to technology entrepreneurs.
- Posted by christhi on May 28, 2009
Are you a blogger, press, or simply interested in seeing some of Microsoft’s latest technologies such as Windows 7, IE8, Silverlight 3, Surface, and much more. Come visit me at 414 W 14th Street in New York City starting June 1st. I can help arrange discussions with top local agencies, hardware partners, and of course Microsoft evangelists to review these technologies with you in a open forum.
If you are a local startup in New York come get signed up for the BizSpark program (www.microsoft.com/bizspark) on the spot from one of our evangelists. BizSpark will provide qualified startups with free software, support, and visibility for 3 years.
As a venue for thought leadership, the Microsoft Experience space can host at least one presentation, speaking panel, or activity per day of Internet Week. Sample topics and activities are:
· Designing Multi-Touch Experiences for the Web and Desktop
· How Technology Enables Art and How Art Influences Technology – Artist and Partner Panel
· Coming of Digital Age: What is Your Agency’s Mix of Traditional vs Digital? – Partner Panel
· In-Game Advertising Presented by Massive and Microsoft Advertising
· Silverlight 3: Ready for Prime Time
· Surface is a Big Table with Big Experiences - Partner Pane
· Opening Night Reception
· Weekend Evening Reception and XBOX 360 Rock Band or Gaming Competition
· Webby Awards Pre-Event Reception
- Posted by christhi on May 11, 2009
with pixel shaders in silverlight 3 effects such as blurs and drop shadows are literally one line of xaml markup – no code required. More advanced effects can also be applied by writing your own pixel shader or leveraging the already converted WPF Pixel shade library for SL which can be found at http://wpffx.codeplex.com/
<Page
xmlns="http://schemas.microsoft.com/winfx/2006/xaml/presentation"
xmlns:x="http://schemas.microsoft.com/winfx/2006/xaml">
<Grid>
<Grid.ColumnDefinitions>
<ColumnDefinition Width="300"/>
<ColumnDefinition Width="*"/>
</Grid.ColumnDefinitions>
<StackPanel Margin="8" Grid.Column="0">
<TextBlock Text="This text should be blurry" FontSize="20">
<TextBlock.Effect>
<BlurEffect />
</TextBlock.Effect>
</TextBlock>
<TextBlock Text="Shadow on Text" FontSize="20">
<TextBlock.Effect>
<DropShadowEffect ShadowDepth="5" />
</TextBlock.Effect>
</TextBlock>
</StackPanel>
<StackPanel Margin="8" Grid.Column="1" Orientation="Horizontal" VerticalAlignment="Top">
<Ellipse Height="100" Width="200" Fill="Blue" Margin="10 0 0 0">
<Ellipse.Effect>
<DropShadowEffect ShadowDepth="10" />
</Ellipse.Effect>
</Ellipse>
</StackPanel>
</Grid>
</Page>
- Posted by christhi on May 4, 2009
Check out my interview on the business maker radio show last weekend. We discuss the bizspark program and how it benefits startups through free software, support, and promotes visibility for their new company.