We know a lot of you use DreamSpark but we’d like to know a little more about its value to you. So…..there is a survey we are running in conjunction with c3education to get a more detailed understanding of UK Students use of it. We would like to see if it is helping raise attainment levels for students and get general feedback on the programme. We need this so that we have evidence to share with the public and with journalists interested in the story and the data needs to be very defensible. The ideal situation would be to establish a baseline for the beginning of the programme and to record impact perhaps twice a year, to check whether we are on track.
Now we know surveys can be quite tedious and offer little value to you so… c3education will offer an Xbox 360 and a Kinect sensor to one lucky winner who completes the survey by 29th Feb 2012 and gives us their contact details at the end of the survey. You have to be a UK student. The winner will be drawn at random from all completions who fill in their details in the survey. That is if you want to win one . We will also share top level results through this blog and our Facebook and twitter accounts.
To complete the survey click here – should take no more than 5 mins to complete.
In addition there is a separate Educator survey so if you want to promote that then email us on ukmsp@microsoft.com and we can send you the link so you can pass it on to your educators.
Thanks.
Below, hear from Russell Hunt, a student at Staffordshire University, on his experiences of developing for Windows Phone, and what he learnt at the Staffordshire Windows Phone Camp:
I’ve been aware of Windows Phone 7 (and the Mango update) since they were released, but have not had the time to devote to learning how to develop mobile applications for them until recently. I’m a final year student at Staffordshire University studying Web Development, and started a business last year with a fellow student from the course. App Haus, our business in Stafford, produces websites and mobile apps primarily for iPhone and Android.
Over the past 18 months, we’ve had clients ask for apps for iPhone, Android and BlackBerry, but never Windows Phone – hence not devoting time to learning the SDK until now.
I was excited to hear that Microsoft would be coming to Staffordshire University to host a Phone Camp event, designed to instill our students with the knowledge and ethos of the Windows Phone platform, and the Metro design language behind it. Although I’d never looked into designing apps for WP7 before, I had used friends’ devices and come to admire the thought-out UI which places emphasis on surfacing information through great typography rather than searching for it among icons and gradients. We’d been academically introduced to Metro just last semester in a lecture on User Experience Design.
Students at the Phone Camp came from across the broad spectrum of web, multimedia and computing students at the university. The demand to attend was huge and doubling the original capacity still left a few students without a ticket. Some were there as part of their Mobile Multimedia and Gaming module to begin to implement the designs they’d already produced into a working app. My business partner, our employee, and I all attended with a view to evaluating whether we can offer clients Windows Phone 7 apps in future.
I’d given myself a head start for the Phone Camp, having installed the tools and thought out my app a few days beforehand. I read the User Experience Design Guidelines, downloaded and investigated the Sample Projects, and found 31 Days of Windows Phone particularly helpful. Thanks to a selection of Windows Phones at our university, I had the opportunity to borrow a device to evaluate the look and feel of existing built-in and 3rd party apps.
The app I am developing, known currently as Local Chat, will show other users of the app who is nearby, and facilitate conversations between users. Before the Phone Camp, I was able to implement the main screen of the application, featuring a Pivot control between a Bing map, current conversations and settings. I learnt how to respect the user’s accent colour, and ensured this was used to highlight important information. I had a basic grasp of data binding and Converters too.
During the Phone Camp, I learnt some of the core functionality required in any app such as how to create more pages and link them together, how to attach event handlers to controls and how to customize the application icon displayed on the Start Screen.
Since Phone Camp, I’ve put my learned skills into action and have finished a large amount of the user interface. Currently, I’m writing the Node.js server that will power the application, then I’ll return to C# to hook up the application. Once it’s ready and polished, I’ll submit it to the Marketplace and consider adding new features I’ve thought of or that users suggest.
I’ve found the visual tools inside Visual Studio to be more than sufficient for me so far, but have seen other students really getting along with Expression Blend. Adobe Fireworks is my graphics editor of choice, having used it for years before Macromedia got bought out. My sketches for the app were a little less hi-tech, with pen and paper using Michael Bach’s template.
I’m not really a console gamer and definitely not a games developer, so while I can appreciate the look and feel of the Metro dashboard on a friend’s Xbox 360, I can’t see myself developing any games for it at present. My experience with the Phone Camp and WP7 development should however prove very useful when it comes to Windows 8 development, and I eagerly await the Consumer Preview. I used my hybrid stylus-based Windows XP Tablet PC extensively in school, and enjoyed using the applications that were enhanced for tablets (OneNote, Crosswords, Hexic!). I use and develop for an Apple iPad and Android Galaxy Tab 10.1 at present, but certainly look forward to getting reacquainted with a Windows tablet.
With my final year at Staffordshire University coming to an end this spring, I look forward to returning full time to App Haus, developing mobile applications. Depending on how my experience with Windows Phone progresses, I hope to be able to either offer it as an additional platform in the business or perhaps to continue developing apps in my free time.
Keep your eyes on the Marketplace for my app, attend a Phone Camp at your university if you’ve not done so yet and comment below or get in touch if you’ve got any questions or comments.
We recently “supported” Global Game Jam and we thought you might be interested in a guest post from a team from Nottingham Trent University - This Statement is False - who developed a game called ‘FLERBS’ XNA and won the best game award.
So a quick intro bio of the teams skill sets, experiences and how they went about developing an XNA app within 48 hours!
All members contributed to the level creations.
Why did you attend the game jam?
Patrick :- I attended the Jam as I have been doing for several years now, I enjoy the challenge of the limited time frame and seeing so many awesome games being produced in such a short time frame.
Frank:- I attended to do something out of the ordinary and challenging and learn a bit about game development.
Danielle:- I believed that joining a team from DevSoc to go to the Global Game Jam in Birmingham was a great opportunity in gaining experience and furthering my skills as a games programmer.
What skills did you use were these taught, learnt or was this something new?
Patrick :- the main thing's I learnt from this jam were related to team management and how to get everyone to produce components that would work together. it was much more difficult than it looks.
Frank:- I learnt how to animate mainly and do art but thank god they had Photoshop, I know alot about Photoshop.
Danielle:- Most of the skills I contributed to making the game (sprite animation and sound effects) were totally new and learnt within the first half of the event.
What technology did you use? i.e. Visual Studio, Xbox controllers etc..
Patrick:- XNA 4.0, VS2010, XBOX 360 controllers, GIMP 2.0, Audacity.
Frank:- I used photoshop mainly and the level editor that Patrick made.
Danielle:- I used Visual Studio 2010, XNA Game Studio 4.0, Xbox 360 controllers, and Audacity.
What were the outcomes?
Patrick An awesome game!, that and a better understanding of team management.
Frank:- I knew that when Patrick, team leader thing, was happy with it, then I was happy with it, but I definitely need to learn more about tile sets and the art could have been a lot better from my part, but it was useable.
Danielle:- As a whole we created a really fun and addictive multi-player game. Got a sound effect stuck in your head? You can blame me for that one!
What next? Are you thinking of building Windows Phone app or finishing of the xna programme, thinking about PC or Xbox opportunity?
Patrick:- looking at entering the next Jam either developing an XNA game or a windows phone game, and would be happy to enter if an event was organised specificity for it.
Frank:- With a team? Whatever's happening at the next jam.
Danielle:- There might be a possibility of a remake of the game from scratch (for Xbox 360), but I would love to start learning to make games and apps for my Windows Phone 7.
What are the teams members aspirations future career intentions?
Patrick :- continue on with the Phd, and continue jamming.
Frank:- I want to be a teacher funnily enough.
Danielle:- Being the only member of the team who is not studying a computer science degree of some variety, but a Forensic Science (Physical) degree instead, I want to one day become a Forensic Ballistics expert. I will always be looking to enhance my coding skills though as I find it really enjoyable.
They have a website if you are interested: - http://www.devsoc.co.uk/, lots of pictures on Flickr:- http://www.flickr.com/photos/75666795@N03/ and http://www.flickr.com/photos/75352867@N06/. Alternatively watch them on YouTube http://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLCB15D86703073568&feature=view_all
So I guess our message is – GO FOR IT! it always impresses me the skills and abilities most students have. Believe in yourself and its amazing what you can achieve.
Codeworks and Sunderland Software City are doing a “regional heat” of the Microsoft Imagine Cup, and invite interested parties to come along to the information session where our very own Ben Nunney will be speaking. The information sessions take place on Thursday 2nd of February in Newcastle (http://www.amiando.com/ImagineCupNCL) or Friday the 3rd of February in Teesside (http://www.amiando.com/ImagineCupTees) from 17:30-20:00.
If you are no longer a student but want to be involved in the Imagine Cup North East, then go along to Imagine Cup North East's 36Hour Hack on February 17th-18th as a mentor for the student teams. Imagine Cup North East are looking for people who have run their own software business, venture capitalists, professional software developers and designers, and marketeers with a good understanding of software.
Becoming a mentor will give you the opportunity to spend time with the next generation of developers and designers, and give something back to the community, whilst assessing the skills of students currently on courses within the region's universities.
As a mentor you would need to do be available the weekend of the 18th February to meet with the different groups and offer advice over an 8 hour period (minimum), and be willing to answer a few follow up emails or calls from the teams.
There is more information on becoming a mentor at http://www.imaginecup.com/CompetitionsContent/Mentors_Faculty.aspx
Thanks for getting involved!
Here’s a slightly different approach. Read Omid’s journey to Windows Phone development. He started really as an “infrastructure” guy/student but now he is both – and having fun.
I'm Omid Raghimi (@raghimi, About.Me). I'm currently an International computer Science(Network Communications) Student at Kingston University. I came from Iran to study my course in the UK. I also have a MCTS (Windows 7) certificate from Microsoft. I've been through many Microsoft Technologies from MS DOS 6.0 to Managing Forefront 2010. I learned how to troubleshoot windows 98 by myself and after that upgraded myself to Windows XP and after years to Windows 7. My abilities rely mostly on Microsoft Windows Server and related tools and technologies to design and manage Microsoft Networks. Actually, the biggest job I've ever done was designing and implementing a 50 client Domain network with MS Windows Server 2008 R2 and Windows 7 by myself and also designing security policies and implementing security using MS Forefront 2010 for that network.
About me as a developer; first started programming in Visual Basic at the age of 14. I only learned some simple and basic parts of Visual Basic and Borland Delphi and with this background I started understanding HTML, PHP, xml and some more.
With this background, let me tell you about My First experience developing app for phones...
At the beginning of studying computer Science in London and after limitations in my country I was introduced to a Microsoft Introduction Lecture over the Imagine Cup. Although it was mostly about Imagine Cup, they talked about a Windows Phone camp in the uni which was coming up. So this was the time which I heard some news over updated Windows Phone. They gave us a link to more information over the Windows Phone camp which lead me to the App Hub. App Hub gave me lots of information over the new Windows Phone and as I had just learned how to write code in Java (simple principles) at the beginning of my course I become curious to write code for Windows Phone. So I started going through the tutorials which were available at App Hub. I downloaded Visual Studio from DreamSpark which was great and free. DreamSpark lets student download software they need which is a great benefit. It was awesome having both a Graphic Design Software (Microsoft Expression Blend) and coding software (Visual Studio) - both good for programmers and designers. I came up with the idea of creating an app which sends polls through SMS with the help of my friend. I started to build my first app with the big help of Microsoft MSDN. It was so much fun because actually they have made an introduction for almost every part. So I just made the app in a day by using both Visual Studio and Expression Blend and went to the Microsoft Phone Camp in my Uni. I talked to The Microsoft Guy about the App and he came up to my laptop and tested it, he asked me to submit it online and after a minute he gave me a Samsung Windows Phone. So the First Easy coding app brought me a Windows Phone. The App made me to upgrade my HTC VIVA touch (windows 5.1 OS) to a Samsung Windows Phone 7.5.
I called the App QSMS and Published it to the Marketplace so easily. It was my first time developing for mobile phones and it was so easy and fast learning how to code. I have plan to develop and publish more useful and free apps to the marketplace and of course the first step would be upgrading QSMS to be able to track and rate the polls.
After my app published, I received an email regarding a point base reward system from Microsoft so every time I develop and publish an App I will get rewarded which is so great.
So I suggest you take a look at the facilities that Microsoft has provided for Students at DreamSpark and if you are thinking about how to code for the first time just take a look at the easy tutorials. You cannot imagine how easy this is. I've always hated to develop for mobile platforms from old platforms like Symbian to new ones like Apple iOS. The reason was that I never found a good help for how to start. No easy step to step guides, no simple examples and so on but when I came up to Microsoft support for Windows phone apps! Man the website really gave me anything I wanted to complete, run and code my Idea for an App. that became the reason for me to consider myself as a developer of Microsoft's Windows Phone.
Trust me! Try it, you will be thrilled.
This was the best experience in my IT life.
OK – I have been tardy in updating the blog with news about DreamSpark, but as we have re-launched it with a new site and rebranding of MSDNAA to Microsoft DreamSpark premium I really should have been quicker so I apologise. I have also taken a lot of Lee’s content from the Faculty blog but he is cool with that!
Lee has put a couple of summary slides up on Slideshare to give you the basics but here goes in detail!
DreamSpark is the first step for students, educators and institutions to make learning software development from the basics eg KODU, to full on App development with Visual Studio more motivating, relevant, and engaging for today’s students by providing no cost access to professional-level development, design, and gaming software.
DreamSpark is:
For Students
DreamSpark is simple; it's all about giving them our professional-level developer and designer tools at no charge so they can chase their dreams and create the next big breakthrough in technology - or just get a head start on your career.
DreamSpark gives Students the chance to develop world class software, web applications, cool and creative designs as well as amazing games. Microsoft believes that students can do amazing things if they only have the right tools. Check out the DreamSpark getting started-guide on Slideshare.
For Academics
DreamSpark is about giving educators no cost access to the same professional-level developer, designer and gaming software so you can reach, motivate, and ensure students achieve their greatest potential. DreamSpark gives you the software and resources to ensure classrooms always have the latest technologies to challenge, motivate, and keep students engaged in new ways. Plus DreamSpark {remium has a few more products in it!
Learning must be relevant, exciting, and engaging. DreamSpark is aligned with universities, associations, and employers to ensure that educators are able to discover, create, and deliver courses to students that lead to increased technical proficiency, employability and of course creates the next generation of technical leaders. Again on Slideshare DreamSpark & EES licensing
DreamSpark Pricing Model and usage
For more details regarding Microsoft DreamSpark offering contact the DreamSpark support team
NB. Licensing does not allow for the products to be used in class, and FREE licensing does not cover educators
Changes to licensing and costs
DreamSpark for Schools, College and Unis subscription is now available and priced at $99 FREE for EES customers – This change allows all DreamSpark software to be installed for teaching and learning on Institutional Lab machines and it’s a campus license as per EES so you only need to purchase 1 license and not 1 per school or faculty and if your a EES subscriber its included for FREE. (also it now covers educators and students for personal non-commercial usage and is available for all taught discipline, previously this only covered students usage and not licensed for intuitional equipment)
DreamSpark Premium – Previously MSDNAA so includes more products including Visio, OneNote and Project and is aimed at STEM FE and HE institutions and all IT Academy Subscribers. The cost has been reduced to $499 from £1000+ (also it now covers educators and students for personal non-commercial usage and all lab installations)
Microsoft was started when many of the founders were still students so we know that anything is possible. To make this happen, we are aligning with universities, associations, and other communities around the world to make sure that DreamSpark reaches everyone as fast as possible.
Got talking to Tim Rogers and I was staggered to see what he has done in a very short space of time. Its a great story, especially as he is not a Computer Science student. Have a read of Tim’s experiences and let me know what you think.
On these platforms, I’ve always found the learning curve to be too steep to learn the native code and so the user experience of my apps has never been brilliant. However, when I made the jump onto the Windows Phone platform this was not necessary – things just fell into place and I found it very easy to get up and running with the drag and drop design and pretty simple coding.
In just a few months, I’ve built a number of apps that I never thought I would be able to create so quickly. I’ve made a news app for my university, University College London, using one of the many great free templates available on the Internet, SocialViewer. But my main success and my proudest achievement has been with soundboards that I’ve built. Without doubt, soundboards are one of the staple parts of the app ecosystem! I made these from scratch, learning the C# code I needed as I went along, and they’ve turned out to be really good.
I’ve had by far the best developer experience on the Microsoft platform in publishing as well as in the developing itself. On iOS, there are all sorts of bizarre profiles and certificates you have to use to submit to the App Store. Android is similar but a little better, requiring you to use command line tools to sign your apps. But Windows Phone makes this incredibly easy, you don’t even have to think about it – you just build the app directly in Visual Studio with one click and it’s ready to go – just upload the .XAP file to App Hub, the Marketplace developer portal and you can be on the Marketplace. From Visual Studio, you can also try your app on your own phone if you’ve got one! What’s more, there are great prizes you can get if you’re a developer in the UK just for making apps, whatever you’re building – Microsoft runs the Windows Phone Incentive which gets you points for each app which can then be exchanged for serious prizes – including an Xbox (my personal choice!) which I’m just waiting for now – not bad!
If you’re a student like me, you can get all this experience for nothing – the chance to learn, be creative and maybe even make some money – through DreamSpark. All you have to do is identify yourself as a student, and then you can submit to the Marketplace without paying the $99 subscription and download the Windows Phone Developer Tools for free as well – you’ll be going in no time.
All in all, I’d highly recommend trying Windows Phone development for yourself, whether you’re a programming expert or a complete novice – whatever stage you’re at, there will be a path to make something brilliant and you’re guaranteed to enjoy yourself and learn in the process. You can see everything I’ve built on the Marketplace!
To mark the start of 2012, we are launching a new, exclusive group..
Are you a Windows Phone app developer? Would you like a chance to be rewarded for your efforts with extra support from us, exclusive job and internship opportunities, and getting your app showcased to thousands of other students?
We have created an exclusive Facebook group just for this purpose!
If you are a student at a UK institution and have at least one app in the Windows Phone Marketplace then we want to welcome you in.
To get a place in the group, please email ukstu@microsoft.com with your:
- Full name - Apphub Publisher name - Link to your app on Marketplace - University or college
And then ask to join the group here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/144237529012583/
We look forward to hearing from you soon!
A simple post today. The team here has done a lot of work encouraging, helping, incentivising and cajoling (?) students to write apps and submit them into MarketPlace. Grace and I (Phil Cross) have just called a few students to see how they were getting on and it was a great experience.
Why?
Nearly all the students had submitted their apps, they were all excited and enthused about their experience, some a little more than others
We’ll try and promote some of the apps when we can draw breath but I just wanted to highlight this one – cos we liked the solution and the design! Its not live yet but waiting for verification – well done Manfredas!
Students are awesome and the call-out really made me realise how much I enjoy my job.
Thank you!