Get your apps up: upcoming Windows 8 Metro Apps activities

The first Belgian Windows 8 developer event did not go by unnoticed: a full day of sessions and a first code night with the Windows 8 Hackathon generating the first apps. But now is the time to get further: more technical sessions, hands-on labs and support from the local team to help you go from idea to app in the Store.

I’m summarizing the main activities you can already register for, as we are moving to get even more content online.
A good overview can already be found on our Metro Map, showing you the way in the coming months.

1. Windows Camps at Microsoft and the Innovation Centers
2. MIC Call for Projects Windows 8 Metro Style Apps: still a few seats
3. MSDN Webcasts
4. Community events

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1. Windows Camps

• 20/04/2012, 09.00-21.00: Academic Windows 8 Day and coding.   
  From Metro Style to app development, to launching and selling your Windows 8 app in the Windows Store. A full day of Windows 8, specifically for academic audiences.
  Where: Brussels VUB
• 4/26/201209.00-17.00, Windows 8 Coaching Camp – Managed code and XAML Apps
  Spend a full day learning and coding Windows 8 Metro Style apps. Learn hands-on how to leverage your XAML, Silverlight or WPF skills and ride the metro.
  Where: Business Faculty Brussels
• 30-May-2012, 09.00-17.00 - Windows 8 Coaching Camp – Metro Style apps with HTML and JavaScript
  A full-day mix of presentations and hands-on labs designed to share all the knowledge you need to start building Metro-style applications for Windows 8 by leveraging HTML and JavaScript.
  Where: Business Faculty Brussels

2. MIC Call for Projects Windows 8 Metro Style Apps: still a few seats

A Microsoft Innovation Center Call for Projects is a streamlined process to call for ideas, give you training and support going from technical to Metro Design guidelines and UX. In addition, by participating in a Call for Projects you have a privileged access to App Clinics (testing on devices, discussion of the app) which leads to a selection of apps to go through App Excellence Labs later in June. The Excellence Labs are currently the only ticket for getting Windows Store tokens.

While the first info session has already been done end of March, there is still an opportunity to register. Make sure you register for each of the sessions separately in order to secure your full project call attendance.

MIC Brussels Project Call (all in English)

1. 16 April, 2012 09:00 — 17 Apr 17:00 – Windows 8 Metro Style apps - Hands-on Session
   Two full days of sessions and hands-on labs to build a Windows 8 Metro Style app in C#/XAML or HTML/JavaScript. 
   http://micbru.fikket.com/event/call-for-projet-windows-8-metro-style-apps-hands-on-session
2. April 24 2012 9:00 to 17:00 – Windows 8 Metro Style apps - Brussels - UX Workshops session 1 - http://micbru.fikket.com/event/mic-project-call-windows-8-metro-style-apps-brussels-ux-coaching-sessions—3
   Attention: date change!
3. 14 May, 2012 09:00 — 17:00 – Windows 8 Metro Style apps- UX Coaching session 2 - http://micbru.fikket.com/event/mic-project-call-windows-8-metro-style-apps-brussels-ux-coaching-sessions
4. 21 May, 2012 09:00 — 17:00 - Windows 8 Metro Style apps - Brussels - Developer Q&A session - http://micbru.fikket.com/event/mic-project-call-windows-8-metro-style-apps-brussels-developer-qa-session

MIC Mons Project Call (in French)

1. 19 avril 2012 09:00 — 20 avr. 17:00 - Windows 8 Metro Style apps - Appel à projets – Windows 8 Hands-on training : http://events.mic-belgique.be/event/windows-8-metro-style-apps-appel-a-projets--2
2. 9 mai 2012 09:00 — 10 mai 17:00 - Windows 8 Metro Style apps - Appel à projets – UX Coaching sessions :  http://events.mic-belgique.be/event/windows-8-metro-style-apps-appel-a-projets--4
3. 16 mai 2012 09:00 — 17:00 - Windows 8 Metro Style apps - Appel à projets – Developer Q&A : http://events.mic-belgique.be/event/windows-8-metro-style-apps-appel-a-projets--5

3. MSDN Webcasts

• 24 April 2012, 14.00-15.30Windows 8 Metro Style Apps: How to build a great app
  Learn how to integrate the Metro Design Principles. As we'll focus on UI and UX expect little code but lots of input on how to make your app great, whether you are a designer or a developer.
• 8 May 2012, 14.00-15.30MSDN Live Meeting: Continuous Integration using TFS11 & NuGet
  This session will provide you with guidance, tips and tricks on how you can take benefit from NuGet and TFS11 to take your CI environment to the next level.
  Speaker: Xavier Decoster

4. Community events

• 4/27/201214.00-17.30, Windows 8 Metro Style apps - Conférence technique
  Join this technical conference to discover the Windows 8 Metro Platform and how to take advantage of the cloud to build connected apps. (Session in French)
  Where: MIC Mons

• 8 May 2012 18:30 - 20:30, Belgian C++ UG: Writing Metro Style Apps in Native C++
  User Group session consisting of two talks: Introduction to Writing Metro Style Apps in Native C++ (Marc Gregoire) and Going Deeper Into Writing Metro Style Apps in Native C++ (Karthick Gopikrishnan)
  Where: Microsoft Zaventem
• 9-May-2012, 14:00 - 17:30 - Windows 8 Metro Apps & Cloud
  Spend half a day at the Windows 8 Technical Conference, and learn all about Cloud powered Windows 8 Metro apps.
  Where: MIC Brussels
• 10 May 2012, 18:00 to 21:00 - FEWEB Full Screen session: How You Can Build Apps For Windows 8 in HTML5
  We would like to share how you can benefit from your existing skills and leverage them for Windows 8. There is a big opportunity for companies building Metro apps for Windows 8. You will Also get to know how you can prepare yourself for Internet Explorer 10.
• 11-May-2012 - 09.00-17.30 - Windows 8 Camp - Hands on session
  Spend a full day learning and coding Windows 8 Metro Style apps. Learn how to leverage your HTML5 and JavaScript, or C# skills and ride the metro.
  Where: MIC Brussels
• 21 and 22 May 2012 – Multi-Mania 2012
  Join Metro workshops and sessions in the largest Belgian multimedia and web conference.
  Where: Kortrijk
• 30-May-12, 14.00-17.30 - Windows 8 Conférence Technique MIC Mons
  Assistez à cette conférence technique afin de découvrir Windows 8 Metro Platform et comment tirer avantage du cloud pour concevoir des applications.
  Session in French
  Where: MIC Mons
• 5-Jun-2012, 18.00 - 21.00 - AZUG: Taking a metro ride on Windows 8 and Windows Azure
  Let’s explore what Windows 8, WinRT and Windows Azure can do together, how you can publish your application and how you can get live diagnostics from your users. Dive into push notifications and modern slavery in the form of worker roles in this evening filled with two practical sessions!
  Where: CapGemini Diegem
• 8-Jun-2012, 14.00-17.30 - Technical Conference- Windows 8 Metro Apps & Cloud
  Spend half a day at the Windows 8 Technical Conference, and learn all about Cloud powered Windows 8 Metro apps.
  Where: MIC Brussels
• 21-Jun-2012, 09.00-18.00 - Community Day Windows 8 track
  Where: Mechelen Utopolis

But wait, there’s more! You’ll find some Summer Hackathons and more sessions on our online Metro Map. See you soon at one of our events or App Clinics.

Don’t miss on the developer opportunity. Combining the broad reach of Windows, best-in-class developer tools, a reimagined user experience, support for new chipsets, and a built-in Store with industry-leading business terms — Windows 8 is the largest developer opportunity, ever.