Get Started with Mobile Dev

benko — Sun, 22 Feb 2009 00:08:47 GMT

We're delivering some sessions this quarter on how to build applications with Windows Mobile 6 and I wanted to provide some links to help you get started. Although I will be doing my development with Visual Studio 2008 you can also use VS 2005 with the Mobile 5 SDK as well. To build a development environment here are some links:

Try Visual Studio 2008 Professional (download a 90 Day trial copy here...)
Visual Studio 2008 Service Pack 1 with .NET 3.5 sp1
Windows Mobile 6 Refresh SDK
Mobile 6.1.4 Emulator Images
Virtual Hands On Labs for Mobile

Some related links with additional resources include

Developer.WindowsMobile.com
Windows Mobile Team Blog
Windows Mobile Developers Wiki
Windows Mobile Developer Center
MyMobiler - Share your Mobile Screen on your PC
Visual Studio Magazine article on Mobile Deployment
Andy Wigley does Sync Framework

By the way, look for some QuickTip Screencasts coming soon to help you get started. Stay Tuned!

March Technical Events

benko — Sat, 14 Feb 2009 00:39:39 GMT

It's been a long time coming, but we finally have our event plans locked in for March 2009. And we have an exciting addition to our event plans – we've added TechNet Events Unleashed to our rotation in a handful of cities for interested IT Professionals. Let's start with those new events. And if you want to skip the details, just take a look at the event schedule.

TechNet Events Unleashed
Working in partnership with our IT Professional Evangelists, we're very excited to introduce TechNet Events Unleashed to our schedule, and the first topic digs into Windows Server 2008.

Windows Server 2008
In this session we will look at Windows Server 2008 and the improvements that have been made to Microsoft’s premier server operating system. Microsoft Windows Server 2008 is the most advanced Windows Server operating system yet, designed to power the next generation of networks, applications, and Web services. With Windows Server 2008 you can develop, deliver, and manage rich user experiences and applications, provide a highly secure network infrastructure, and increase technological efficiency and value within your organization.

Windows Server 2008 introduces several new capabilities including 64bit virtualization, a robust web and development platform, improvements in networking, security, high availability and disaster recovery. In addition, there is a new “Core” installation option that reduces the operating system overhead by removing the graphical user interface thus freeing resources and lowering the potential security attack surface. Come see demonstrations on many of the features in a technical deep dive you won’t want to miss!

After we discuss Windows Server 2008, we’ll briefly discuss the improvements coming in Windows Server 2008 R2 which is in development and now available for beta testing.

ArcReady
For our next ArcReady, we will explore a topic on everyone’s mind: Cloud computing. Several industry companies have announced cloud computing services . In October 2008 at the Professional Developers Conference, Microsoft announced the next phase of our Software + Services vision: the Azure Services Platform. The Azure Services Platforms provides a wide range of internet services that can be consumed from both on premises environments or the internet.

Session 1: Cloud Services
In our first session we will explore the current state of cloud services. We will then look at how applications should be architected for the cloud and explore a reference application deployed on Windows Azure. We will also look at the services that can be built for on premise application, using .NET Services. We will also address some of the concerns that enterprises have about cloud services, such as regulatory and compliance issues.

Session 2: Mesh and Live Services
In our second session we will take a slightly different look at cloud based services by exploring Live Mesh and Live Services. Live Mesh is a data synchronization client that has a rich API to build applications on. Live services are a collection of APIs that can be used to create rich applications for your customers. Live Services are based on internet standard protocols and data formats.

MSDN Events Unleashed
Enhance your coding capabilities with new tools, tips, and inside secrets from MSDN Events. You’ll see how developing for a Windows Mobile phone leverages your current coding skills and can make it simple to build, deploy and debug cool new devices. Additionally, we’ll be showing you how to take full advantage of the Visual Studio debugger. We’ll offer some great tips and tricks to help you debug faster and more efficiently, while applying fresh techniques to ramp up your problem solving abilities.

Session 1: Tips & Tricks for the Visual Studio 2008 Debugger
The Visual Studio debugger is a highly underutilized tool for many developers. In this session, you’ll learn how to use it like a pro, while picking up new techniques to fast-forward your problem solving and debugging abilities. We’ll show you how to use advanced breakpoints, advanced watch window / Expression evaluator tricks, modifiers, assertions on the fly, remote debugging, and more. Whether you’re writing C#, VB, WPF, ASP.NET, Windows Forms, or services, we’ll provide tips and tricks that will have you debugging faster and much more efficiently. The debugger is your primary tool for finding bugs, so join us and learn how to make the most of it.

Session 2: Developing for Windows Mobile Devices
Mobile development is growing fast, and Windows Mobile is at the forefront with over 18 million phones shipped last year and many more cutting-edge devices on the way. Visual Studio developers have tremendous opportunities in this space. Why? Developing for a Windows Mobile phone leverages your existing coding experience and takes it to new heights. In this session, we’ll look at some of the coolest new devices, you’ll learn how to set up Visual Studio with the latest SDK and device emulators, and you’ll see how to build, deploy and debug Windows Mobile applications. We’ll also explore how Internet Explorer Mobile 6 provides new AJAX capabilities that offer the richness of the desktop with pan and zoom features tuned for mobile devices.

Event Schedule
Here is a quick summary of the events scheduled in March.

ArcReady	MSDN Events Unleashed	TechNet Events Unleashed
St. Louis, MO – March 5, 2009 9:00 AM	St. Louis, MO – March 5, 2009 1:00 PM	St. Louis, MO – March 5, 2009 3:00 PM
Downers Grove, IL – March 9, 2009 9:00 AM	Downers Grove, IL – March 9, 2009 1:00 PM	Downers Grove, IL – March 9, 2009 3:00 PM
Austin, TX – March 10, 2009 9:00 AM	Austin, TX – March 10, 2009 1:00 PM	Austin, TX – March 10, 2009 3:00 PM
Knoxville, TN – March 10, 2009 9:00 AM	Overland Park, KS – March 10, 2009 1:00 PM	Indianapolis, IN – March 12, 2009 3:00 PM
Overland Park, KS – March 10, 2009 9:00 AM	Indianapolis, IN – March 12, 2009 1:00 PM	Irving, TX – March 19, 2009 3:00 PM
Indianapolis, IN – March 12, 2009 9:00 AM	Irving, TX – March 19, 2009 1:00 PM	Chicago, IL – March 23, 2009 3:00 PM
Nashville, TN – March 13, 2009 9:00 AM	Columbus, OH – March 20, 2009 1:00 PM	Houston, TX – March 24, 2009 3:00 PM
Irving, TX – March 19, 2009 9:00 AM	Chicago, IL – March 23, 2009 1:00 PM	Detroit, MI – March 31, 2009 3:00 PM
Columbus, OH – March 20, 2009 9:00 AM	Houston, TX – March 24, 2009 1:00 PM
Chicago, IL – March 23, 2009 9:00 AM	Mason, OH – March 27, 2009 1:00 PM
Houston, TX – March 24, 2009 9:00 AM	Detroit, MI – March 31, 2009 1:00 PM
Bloomington, MN – March 25, 2009 9:00 AM	Waukesha, WI – March 31, 2009 1:00 PM
Cleveland, OH – March 26, 2009 9:00 AM
Mason, OH – March 27, 2009 9:00 AM
Detroit, MI – March 31, 2009 9:00 AM
Waukesha, WI – March 31, 2009 9:00 AM

Technorati Tags: ArcReady,MSDN Events Unleashed,TechNet Events Unleashed

Going Mobile!

benko — Wed, 01 Nov 2006 23:00:08 GMT

Today I had the rare and great opportunity to tag team with my TS2 counterparts to deliver a Mobility Seminar in Minneapolis. My good friend and presenter extraordinaire Fred Pullen and I tag teamed a presentation which showed what is possible with Microsoft's Mobility Stack. Beyond simple email we covered how to secure the channel, integrate the CRM products, and to really take advantage of the Mobile Office offerings.

I wanted to thank Paul and Jacob who presented from Palm and Brightpoint for their insight into the market. I have to say that I've been very impressed with my mobile solution in how well it keeps me in contact with my team. On that note, I'm at the airport waiting for my flight to St. Louis, something that without this mobility.

If you were there, thank you for joining us. If not, you should check it out. We'll see you on the road.

- Mike

BenkoBLOG : Mobile

Get Started with Mobile Dev

March Technical Events

Going Mobile!