The Windows Mobile RSS (Reed and Steve Stuff) Feed : general

Microsoft OneApp – what is that thing?

hegenderfer — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 15:15:56 GMT

Okay, so this is officially my second week in the OneApp team, and I must say I am really impressed with the group…sharp cookies one and all. I am definitely bringing down the bell curve here :)

But I am equally as jazzed around the opportunities that OneApp will bring to mobile developers world wide. The ability to reach MILLIONS of users with the EXACT SAME code base ACROSS DEVICES…that is cool!

Of course, the reason we can do this is because we have a CLR that runs above a VM on the device (and boy, it’s a tiny shim…very efficient). So, you won’t be ‘going native’ with OneApp to the metal (so to speak), but you can create some extremely cool apps.

Best of all, for you folks out there that like to tinker, the platform supports free apps and a free tool chain…when I say free, I mean free. As in really free. As in, no cost (aside from your valuable time, of course). I’ll have more info to share in the coming weeks and months, but it is very nice.

And the distribution model should be killer as well (remember the MILLIONS of users ACROSS DEVICES thing above…was that a gratuitous use of caps?).

We are still finalizing some pieces of the business models and such, so I can’t talk about those right now, but I will say that this is a different model…flat out. I think you’ll like it :)

At any rate, as I dig in more, expect me to post more (like I used to); and as tools become available, I’ll try to let you all know about ‘em ASAP!

In the words of my friend John Smith (Xbox team)…peace.

Hegenderfer

Microsoft OneApp…here I come :)

hegenderfer — Fri, 16 Oct 2009 20:53:46 GMT

For those of you who know me, you know I’ve been in the mobile space for awhile and have spent much of my time in Windows Mobile. I will be branching out a bit into another mobile endeavor at MS…OneApp.

Over the next few weeks, I hope to get acclimated with this technology, and then start posting some of my findings. I’m really looking forward to it, as the business model seems pretty unique and the technology is interesting; plus, it spans across phones (primarily feature phones right now, though), giving devs one platform to use across devices.

So, sorry I have been quiet for a while, but expect more postings from me around OneApp moving forward!

Windows Mobile 6.5 Walkthru

hegenderfer — Mon, 10 Aug 2009 20:41:32 GMT

Guess I don't have to do this now :)

Most of you have probably already seen this video, but if not, it's a good Windows Mobile 6.5 walkthru. I've been using this for quite a while now, and I must say that I really DO enjoy 6.5 over previous revs.

Of course, the hardware is getting better all of the time as well :)

WM 6.0 and 6.1 Support in Windows Marketplace for Mobile

hegenderfer — Tue, 14 Jul 2009 19:28:31 GMT

If you haven't heard the news already, we will be supporting WM6.0/6.1/6.5 in the Windows Marketplace for Mobile. This is great news for app devs, as it gives you all over 30 million sockets that are already existing world wide :)

Here is Todd Brix's blog entry around the announce.

Microsoft Windows Mobile Consumer Solution Accelerator

hegenderfer — Thu, 11 Jun 2009 21:51:12 GMT

Here is a great set of sample code and a VS project which steps you through some cool ideas around how to create you own cool apps in the consumer space while using some of the cooler features of Windows Mobile devices (like location, Outlook Mobile, and Virtual Earth).

You can use this as a great education piece, or you can use this to spawn your own ideas :)

Windows Mobile developer support in VS2010?

hegenderfer — Tue, 26 May 2009 16:11:00 GMT

Recently, because of an ill-worded product description in the VS2010 Smart Devices up on MSDN, MANY folks have been going crazy saying "it's the end of the world for Windows Mobile."

Well, I am here to tell you that that could NOT be farther from the truth.

There will be support for Windows Mobile devolvement in Visual Studio 2010. You have to remember that the release of VS2010 is a BETA...not all things are baked or ready to be shipped with it.

Also, remember that every version of the Windows Mobile SDK has, to date, shipped out-of-band from the major VS release. So, this really should not be a big surprise.

As for the official line:

We are absolutely committed to making Visual Studio a great development tool for the Mobile developer. For existing Visual Studio 2008 developers, we will be releasing a new Windows Mobile 6.5 emulator in the upcoming months [weeks hopefully - Hegenderfer] that works with the Windows Mobile 6 SDK. This provides a great solution for existing developers. We will deliver Mobile device tooling for Visual Studio 2010 but we can’t share details at this time.

I hope this helps reassure some folks :)

Addition to this post:

Someone brought to my attention this post, and I feel I have to correct it. Over time, priorities and products change. We still have not annouced any plans for support of WM 6.X in VS2010.

Windows Mobile Getting Good Press? No... :)

hegenderfer — Fri, 15 May 2009 03:51:38 GMT

Windows Mobile: Alive and well -- and suitable for business

Computerworld, Michael Gartenberg, May 14, 2009

http://www.computerworld.com/action/article.do?command=viewArticleBasic&articleId=9133099

Fun read.

Windows Marketplace for Mobile is ready for ISVs :)

hegenderfer — Sat, 02 May 2009 01:28:31 GMT

All, if you haven't seen, you can go to http://developer.windowsmobile.com/marketplace.aspx now and register to start selling your apps in the Marketplace.

If I were an app developer, I would register now and get in line first. There will be a line-up as application ingestion starts, so you want to make sure you are at the head of the queue as we start rolling thru the certification process :)

Windows Mobile Marketplace FAQ...and good news :)

hegenderfer — Mon, 30 Mar 2009 19:17:16 GMT

The Marketplace team has just announced some more details around the 'Windows Marketplace for Mobile', which I think is great news:

Q: Do I need to pay the $99 fee again to submit an application update?

A: No, if your application has been previously certified and published in the catalog, you can submit subsequent updates without incurring any additional fees. The application update will be made available through Windows Marketplace to all customers that have downloaded your application in the past.

Q: I previously heard that you only had 7 days to submit a free update. Has this changed?

A: Yes, we originally communicated that only application updates submitted within 7 days of their publish date would benefit from a free submission. After talking to the developer community and better understanding the dynamics and frequency of application updates, we have decided to extend the original 7-day window and make it permanent. This means that if an application has been previously approved in the marketplace the developer can submit updates to it without incurring any additional fees.

WAHOO!

We hope to get a good FAQ around the Marketplace up on the developer.windowsmobile.com site ASAP, so hang tight.

Also, expect more details in the coming weeks and months around this at developer.windowsmobile.com...

Tech Days and Windows Mobile Development

hegenderfer — Sat, 28 Mar 2009 03:57:16 GMT

If you are planning on going to Tech Days, there will be a pretty good line-up of Windows Mobile sessions:

Developing Mobile Applications with Visual Studio 2005/2008

Abstract:

Visual Studio 2008 brings lot of improvements for mobile developers, and Windows Mobile 6 SDKs tools that allow developers easier and faster solution development. This session will show you how to effectively develop Windows Mobile client applications. You will see some of the cool features that can be easily used in you applications, such as POOM integration, SMS interception, state and notification broker and camera integration. Session will be packed with live demos and code samples.

Using SQL Server Compact Edition for Data Storage and Synchronization in Mobile Applications

Abstract:

This session explains how to program SQL Server Compact Edition 3.5 SP1 for use as a fast, queryable local data store. You will learn how to use SQLCeResultSet objects as the fastest way to access data in a SQL Server Compact Edition database, and outline how to use LINQ to Objects to access data from the database. Finally, you will learn how to use SQL Server Compact 3.5 as the client-side datastore for a data synchronization solution using merge replication or Microsoft Synchronization Services for ADO.NET solution, and some tips for effective usage.

Windows Mobile Performance and Power Optimization

Abstract:

Windows Mobile Devices have a lot of processing power. However, when you are developing applications for Windows Mobile Devices you have to be aware of the fact that devices are battery powered and have less resources then desktop computers. In this demo filled webcast Maarten Struys explains how to create great performing applications that are not consuming too many system resources and that do not drain the battery. Using the ideas presented in this webcast not only allow you to create better applications, your end users will also get a better experience because your applications will look snappy and will help preserve battery life.

Win32 and .NET: For Windows Mobile, Which, When, and Why?

Abstract:

The Windows Mobile platform offers two core APIs. Each has its strengths and situations when one makes sense over the other. This session provides a framework for selecting which API makes sense, when it makes sense, and why each choice makes sense for the given scenarios. This session provides details that will ensure that you never feel at a loss when encountering this question.

Windows Mobile Web and Widgets: Leveraging web technologies to build experiences for Windows Mobile

Abstract:

The last few years have shown people the power of having a full-fledged web browser on a mobile device. From content providers building dedicated mobile sites, to cheaper mobile data tariffs, mobile devices have usher a new era of content an experiences available on the go. A new programming paradigm called mobile widgets has emerged in response to these recent trends. Widgets enable web developers to write application-like experiences that run outside of the existing browser, but are powered by the same technologies [HTML, JavaScript and CSS]. Gone are the days of building WAP sites. By leveraging the capabilities of a fully fledged browser on windows mobile, web developers can now build rich experiences for mobile devices without resorting to native/managed code. In this session, members of the windows mobile widget team will give you a sneak peek at the upcoming widgets platform. They will demonstrate how easy it is to develop widgets that mash up existing web technologies in novel ways.

Distributing and Monetizing Windows Mobile Applications through the Windows Marketplace for Mobile

Abstract:

This session presents developers with a unique opportunity to understand the next generation of Windows Mobile application distribution: Windows Marketplace for Mobile. Windows Marketplace will revolutionize distribution of Windows Mobile applications, games, and content, and is designed to solve the two largest problems of the Windows Mobile consumer-focused developer community: distribution and monetization. This session will provide application developers with the insights, tools, and processes necessary to begin distributing and monetizing their applications on the Windows Mobile platform.

Creating Compelling and Attractive UIs for Windows Mobile Applications

Abstract:

We explain how to utilize the Alpha blending and Gradient drawing APIs on the Windows Mobile platform to create a compelling and attractive user experience in your mobile applications. We also provide an example of how to create a framework that could be used to simplify the development of custom user interfaces

Students get into the Windows Mobile Marketplace for free

hegenderfer — Wed, 25 Mar 2009 01:24:00 GMT

In case you missed the official press release:

Developers who sell applications through Windows Marketplace for Mobile will receive 70 percent of the revenue from the sales of each application. In addition, they will be able to set the price for their applications in each market, maximizing their revenues based on targeted pricing strategies. Developers can also choose to distribute their applications at no cost. Up to five application submissions to Windows Marketplace for Mobile is included in the introductory annual registration fee of $99 (U.S.). Each additional submission within the annual period will cost $99 (U.S.). The registration fee is waived for student developers who want to reach Windows^® phones customers, through enrollment in the Microsoft DreamSpark program.

So, for those of you who are students and are looking to get started in Windows Mobile development, sign up for DreamSpark and get crackin' :)

Windows Mobile at SXSW

hegenderfer — Sat, 14 Mar 2009 21:19:24 GMT

Well, I'm sitting here at SXSW in Austin, TX, in the Blogger's Lounge that we are sponsoring...it's really busy :)

Lots of interesting folks here from all over the place, but what I'd really like to see are some folks who want to develop for Windows Mobile.

So, if you're down here and are a mobile dev, or want to figure out how you can get over to Windows mobile, stop by the blogger's lounge on the 3rd floor and come say hi!

Look forward to seeing some of you down here...

Good Business Week read about Windows Mobile and the challenges ahead

hegenderfer — Wed, 11 Feb 2009 03:54:28 GMT

If you didn't catch it already, here is a good read about Window Mobile and the catch-up game that we need to play.

"We're going to double-down on the Windows brand," says Todd Peters, head of marketing for Microsoft's mobile communications business. He says to expect a major advertising push. "When people go shopping in the future, we want them to ask specifically for a Windows phone."

A different direction. Coupled with some of the announcements we will be making at MWC, this should be great news for ISVs and partners who build apps for WinMo devices.

Windows Mobile is a Viable Mobile Platform

hegenderfer — Sat, 06 Dec 2008 04:25:36 GMT

Here's a fun read from Michael Gartenberg

--------------------------

Media Bistro, Michael Gartenberg, December 5, 2008

http://www.mediabistro.com/mobiledevicestoday/on/windows_mobile_is_a_viable_mobile_platform_101732.asp

"Last week, I jokingly suggested that Microsoft's Zune was the Rodney Dangerfield of tech. I was wrong, I think it's Windows Mobile that like Rodney, is lately, getting no respect...making the right choice of platform and device is a decision that has many factors for both business and consumer users, Windows Mobile should be on any of those decision short lists."

Windows Mobile and Microsoft Dynamics

hegenderfer — Fri, 21 Nov 2008 21:47:30 GMT

I thought you guys may get a kick out of this great case study. It features Windows Mobile (Motorola Devices), Microsoft Dynamics Mobile and two Microsoft Dynamics partners work at a popular Rock Music festival in northern Europe – Roskilde Festival.

Spend 2 minutes and 52 seconds of your time here:

http://blogs.msdn.com/dynamicsmobile/archive/2008/11/21/microsoft-dynamics-mobile-case-study-at-roskilde-festival-watch-the-video.aspx

I think you'll like it :)