In line with the todays launch of Windows 8 Consumer Preview, I have collected a set of useful resources and links
Developer downloads
Content
URL
Details
Windows 8 Consumer Preview Download
http://preview.windows.com
Windows 8 Consumer Preview download (web installer or ISO’s), videos, and FAQ’s.
Developer downloads for Metro style apps
http://msdn.microsoft.com /windows/apps/br229516
Visual Studio 11 Express and the Windows 8 SDK + all the extra tools and SDK’s for Metro style app development.
Design assets for Metro style apps
http://design.windows.com
100+ Photoshop files with common controls, shell components, tiles, icons, animation clips, color wheel references, and more.
Metro style app developer content
Windows Dev Center home
http://dev.windows.com
Links to Metro style app, Desktop app, Hardware, and IE development.
Metro style app development home
http://msdn.microsoft.com /windows/apps
Links to key resources for designing, developing, and selling Metro style apps.
Product guide for developers
http://msdn.microsoft.com/windows/ apps/hh852650
Windows 8 Consumer Preview Product Guide for Developers.
Official documentation
http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/windows/apps/
Comprehensive docs, articles, quickstarts, roadmaps, tutorials, checklists, developer agreements, and whitepapers covering all aspects of app design, development, and selling:
· Getting started · Planning apps · Designing UX for apps · Developing apps · Packaging apps · Debugging and testing apps · Selling apps · API reference · Concepts and architecture · Language reference · End-to-end apps
Design resources
Design principles, UX design patterns, detailed UX guidelines, downloadable design assets, assessing usability.
Selling apps in the Windows Store
http://msdn.microsoft.com/library/ windows/apps/br230836
Windows Store markets, developer agreements, and checklists to prepare.
Visual Studio Express and the Windows 8 SDK + extra tools and SDK’s for Metro style app development.
Metro style app samples
http://code.msdn.microsoft.com/ windowsapps/
Over 200 official samples from Microsoft are available in multiple programming languages. You can copy code inline, upload new code, rate, and leave comments.
Developer forums
http://forums.dev.windows.com
Developer forums for Metro style apps covering designing, developing, and selling apps.
Blogs for developers
Blog Name
Building Windows 8 blog (B8)
http://blogs.msdn.com/b/b8/
An inside look at how, what, and why different features of Windows 8 are being built. This blog is written by Windows President Steven Sinofsky together with members of the Windows engineering team.
Windows Store blog for developers
http://blogs.msdn.com/b/windowsstore
All about doing business in the Windows Store. Members of the engineering team who’ve built the Windows Store write posts along with Antoine Leblond, Vice President of Windows Web Services.
Windows 8 app developer blog (D8)
http://blogs.msdn.com/b/windowsappdev
Explores best practices for coding and designing Metro style apps. It is written by the team of developers who are building Windows 8.
IE blog
http://blogs.msdn.com/b/ie/
Windows Internet Explorer Engineering Team Blog.
Inside Windows Live blog
http://windowsteamblog.com/ windows_live/b/windowslive/
The engineering being Hotmail, Messenger, SkyDrive, and Windows Live.
Visual Studio Blog
http://blogs.msdn.com/b/visualstudio/
The official source of product insight from the Visual Studio Engineering Team.
The Windows Blog
http://windowsteamblog.com/
Consumer and general interest topics.
Social channels for developers
Channel
Facebook (developer)
http://fb.windows.com/developers
Developer blog
Twitter (Building Windows 8)
http://twitter.com/BuildWindows8
Developer log
Twitter (Windows Dev Center)
https://twitter.com/windevs
YouTube
http://www.youtube.com/user/ WindowsVideos
Video
Channel 9
http://channel9.msdn.com
Developer videos
Consumer Preview Newsletter
Launching with Consumer Preview
Tips, offers, and news about Windows 8 including resources for developers and businesses.
Desktop app developer/partner content
Desktop app certification requirements
http://msdn.microsoft.com/library/windows/desktop/hh749939
Certification requirements for Windows 8 desktop apps.
Desktop App Certification Kit
http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/desktop/hh852363
The Windows 8 SDK includes the Windows App Certification Kit to test desktop apps and get them ready for certification.
Compatibility Cookbook
http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/p/?LinkId=242534
Tips and fixes for common issues with desktop apps for the Windows 8 Consumer Preview and software for Windows Server 8 Beta.
Compatibility Center
http://www.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/compatibility/en-US/CompatCenter/Home
Compatibility of desktop apps and devices with Windows 8. Partners can add products and update compatibility status using this template.
Hardware developer/partner content
Hardware Certification Requirements
http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/windows/hardware/hh833793.aspx
Windows 8 Hardware Certification Requirements and Policies
Hardware tools and certification kit
http://msdn.microsoft.com/windows/hardware/br259105
Windows Consumer Preview Kits and Tools for hardware development
Driver development documentation
http://msdn.microsoft.com/library/windows/hardware/ff554651
Developing, testing, and deploying drivers
Hardware and driver community resources
http://msdn.microsoft.com/windows/hardware/gg454517
Forums, blogs, and newsletters for the hardware and driver developer community.