main speaker: Jeff Brand
http://slickthought.net
jbrand@microsoft.com
we were strongly advised to sign up for this: http://aka.ms/30days
How to develop a Windows 8 app in 30 days. SPONSOR: “jeff brand”
Begin your 30-day journey to create a Windows Store style app. Sign up to get started and receive:
Insider tips and tricks on Windows 8 application development.
Personal on-the-phone access to a Windows 8 architect*.
An exclusive one-on-one Windows Store design consultation*.
An opportunity to get expert help from a Microsoft Services Engineer at an App Excellence Lab.
Sign up today and get started. Your new Windows 8 app could be mere days away.
also: good to create a userID here (this is for an Azure cloud hosting account): http://aka.ms/apps
session: “Platform for Windows 8 Store Apps”
my take: Microsoft REALLY – REALLY wants developers to develop apps for their app store.
today’s session all about WinRT API’s:
communications + data
graphics & media
devices & printing
language “projections”: a wrapper for Win32 API – looks like .NET or javascript API’s
session: html development / javascript / css
WinRT is kind of what was somewhat promised a long time ago – where the OS would be managed code.
asynchronous programming is the rule. dwight says, “about time they made is usable by mere humans.”
async and await keywords in c#
app lifecycle is neat; app can detect of shutdown OK; suspended; crashed; whatever.
WinJS seems kind of neat. Like jQuery and/or KnockoutJS frameworks. Can create WinRT apps with this.
‘Blend’ is integrated into vs2012. nice way to create xaml stuff.
session: windows store
“can make more money on ads than your app…”
trial, ads – easy to add to your app choices.
session: metro apps
don’t get overwhelemed by GUI / UI choices.
http://design.windows.com
went through a nice example of how to create an app – including simple requirements and use cases.
the big 3: “Search; Share; Settings” – that all [metro] apps should implement
session: Mike Benkovich – Azure deployment / Visual Studio 2012 integration
mike.benkovich@microsoft.com
http://www.BenkotIPS.com
mike has been working on Azure – the microsoft cloud stuff
http://bit.ly/bqtCloudTip17 // mike walked through building this app.
scaling is neat – truck hook up to connectors – instant data center; no building required
session: tiles, logos, icons (jeff brand again)
note
I have found that two .EXEs run these Win8 apps – they ‘own’ them: WWAHost.EXE; WSHost.EXE. They do NOT show as separate processes in taskmgr. Apparently, these two .EXEs are the WinRT host that runs as a Win32 process on Windows 8.
session: multitasking
only 1 WinRT app is running – the foreground app. others are suspended. that’s to save batteries.
RTC apps: ‘real time communication’: user will have to place your app on their ‘lock screen’
Lock Screen apps run in bkg; realtime stuff; run code periodically; run in response to system events. “use the cloud” for event.
session: media, Windows.Media API’s
“GDIPlus long dead and forgotten.” It’s all DirectX now, kids.
sensors: shake, rotate, gyro; light sensors; GPS
link: http://aka.ms/kit : download all samples
only way to install WinRT app outside of store: need visual studio installed…create app package…place on local folder…copy to another machine that has visual studio installed. “side loaded”. run a powershell script as-administrator. OR…if you have Enterprise edition of windows8…AND have group policy enabled…