Windows SideShow Team Blog

Last chance to enter your gadget to win a trip to CA and a Dell XPS420!

Just a friendly reminder that the Gadget Development Contest for Windows SideShow entry period ends this coming Friday, July 18, at 11:59pm PDT, so be sure to get your entries finished and submitted before then!  We want to see what you can do!

- Dan

Windows Media Center Gadgets for Windows SideShow Beta!

We’re excited to announce the Beta release of the Media Center Gadgets for Windows SideShow! Click the following link to join our open Microsoft Connect program for the Media Center Gadget Beta:
http://connect.microsoft.com/InvitationUse.aspx?ProgramID=2380&SiteID=312&InvitationID=GPB-79MM-RFJ2 (This link can be used only once. Login to Microsoft Connect after joining to access this program.)

You can use these gadgets from any SideShow device. If you have a Windows Mobile device, you can download and install our developer preview.

4 gadgets are included with this beta that allow you to:

• Browse the TV Guide and schedule recordings. Browse Recorded TV by thumbnail.
• Browse your music library and control music playback.
• Browse Picture and Video libraries.
• View "now playing" information and control Media Center with playback controls.

Connect Site permanent links:
Download
Installation Instructions
Gadget general information and known issues
Send Feedback

We greatly appreciate your help in making this a great release! 

- Darryl

New gadgets from SideShow Jim!

The folks over at Ikanos Consulting have just released a Windows Live Messenger gadget for Windows SideShow!  Check out the announcement, as well as more SideShow-related posts over on the SideShow Jim blog.  I have a feeling this isn't the last of them :)

- Dan

It's here: SideShow support on Windows CE 5.0!

Yesterday, the Windows Embedded team released support for Windows SideShow on Windows CE 5.0!  Combined with our Universal Driver, this new platform can work over USB, Bluetooth or TCP/IP connections, and easily enable SideShow functionality on a wide variety of CE-based devices.  If you've got an existing CE 5 based device with one of the supported transports, adding SideShow support in most cases won't require any additional hardware.

It's also a standard part of Windows Embedded NavReady 2009, a SKU designed specifically for navigation devices.  With SideShow, now your PND could be as useful outside the car as it is inside--imagine using it as a remote control for your music library at home, or even a PowerPoint remote (with full slide previews and speaker notes) once you've gotten to your destination?  The possibilities are endless, and now they're easy to implement as well!

All you need to get started is Platform Builder 5.0--so what are you waiting for?

- Dan

Write a Gadget, Win Cool Stuff!

Now that we've released the Windows SideShow Managed API SDK and Windows SideShow for Windows Mobile Developer Preview, we figured we'd give you some incentive to stick the two together: a gadget contest!  Yes, you heard us right: free stuff for building the best gadget for Windows SideShow.  We've teamed up with NVIDIA to provide some great prizes, including a trip to San Jose, CA in August for NVISION 2008 for all finalists (including transportation to CA, hotel accomodations, and a per diem), and a grand prize Dell XPS 420 SideShow-enabled desktop.

For more details on the contest, including the complete rules and entry form, head on over to www.nzone.com/gadgetcontest.  

If you're new to SideShow gadget programming, there's a good book on the subject to help you get started: Professional Windows Vista Gadgets Programming by Wei-Meng Lee (ISBN: 978-0-470-17661-0).  Or if you're more of the do-it-yourself type, just download our SDK, create a new gadget using our template, and forge your own path.  There are even a few articles by Jeffrey Richter and Dr. Neil Roodyn to help you get your bearings.  When you need some guidance, just head on over to our MSDN forum and we'll help you out.

Let your creative juices flow and show us what you can do!  Remember, the contest ends July 18, 2008, so don't delay.

- Dan

SideShow for Windows Mobile Developer Preview Released @ TechReady 2008!

Today we released the Windows SideShow for Windows Mobile Developer Preview.  Now any Windows Mobile 5 or 6 phone can work as a Bluetooth Windows SideShow device!  We've got some favorite uses of it already, including using it to control PowerPoint presentations while viewing the speaker notes, using it as a remote control to Windows Media Player, and viewing RSS feeds on the road. Really, though, we’ve barely scratched the surface of what’s possible here, and developers have the opportunity to invent a whole new range of scenarios using the software and the Managed API SDK (see below) that allows Visual Basic and C# development, so we’re really excited to see what’s going to come out next.  Enjoy!

 

Download

Installation instructions 

SideShow Development Forums

 

-Toby

Announcing the Windows SideShow Managed API SDK and Runtime releases!

Download Locations

Windows SideShow Managed API 1.0 SDK (for developers writing gadgets using managed code)

Windows SideShow Managed Runtime 1.0 (for running gadgets built using managed code)

 

It has been 16 months since the release of our Managed API Beta. We’re excited to have these RTM releases now available, and cannot wait to see what creative gadgets you build based on this! Post any questions you have on our Windows SideShow Development forum. We look forward to seeing new gadgets up on the Windows Live Gallery!

 

The SDK installs the runtime and development components that are required to build and run gadgets for Windows SideShow in managed code using the .NET Framework.  Windows SideShow project templates in C# and Visual Basic have been integrated with Visual Studio (supporting 2005 and 2008) to give you a great starting place when developing gadgets.

 

Updated documentation is included with the SDK and is integrated with Visual Studio. Among many other updates, the documentation includes a walkthrough of building a setup package for a gadget that depends on the managed API.

 

The runtime package is targeted for end users. It installs the runtime components that are required to run gadgets for Windows SideShow built on this SDK.

 

 

-Darryl

Come visit us at TechEd: Developers in Orlando, FL!

Want to learn more about our new managed API, or just want to come see the latest and greatest Windows SideShow-enabled devices?  Or do you just want to see what new things we have coming?  Come visit the Windows SideShow team at TechEd: Developers (June 2 - 6, 2008) in Orlando, FL!  Go ahead and add these items to your schedule so you don't forget.

While you're at TechEd, make sure to stop by our booth in the Windows section of the Technical Learning Center; we'll be there all-day, every-day with a few surprises to show off.  We've also got two hands-on labs available for the entire event:

• WIN04-HOL: Writing Gadgets for Windows SideShow using Microsoft Visual C# (NOTE: if you're feeling adventurous, we've also snuck in a Visual Basic version of the lab into this image--so give it a shot if you're more of a VB person!)
• WIN12-HOL: Writing Gadgets for Windows SideShow using Microsoft Visual C++

In addition, I'll be presenting a session:

• WIN203: Gadget Development for Windows SideShow (Wednesday, 8:30 - 9:45 AM)

Immediately after the session, I'll be appearing in the Windows "Ask the Experts" zone in the Technical Learning Center on Wednesday from 10:00 - 11:00 AM.  This will be a much more informal setting, so come on by to ask questions and learn what we're up to!

Travel safely, and we hope to see you in Orlando!

- Dan

Announcing the Universal Driver for Windows SideShow 1.5!

Last week, we quietly released to Windows Update a new version of the Universal Driver for Windows SideShow!  This new release includes support for additional transports, bringing the complete list to:

• USB
• Bluetooth
• TCP/IP
• TCP/IP with SSL

In addition to powering devices built using the Windows SideShow Device SDK for .NET Micro Framework v1.4 (and later), and perhaps the most exciting part of this release, is the protocol documentation which explains how you (yes, you) can implement your very own Windows SideShow-compatible device without having to write any PC code at all.  That's right, no more writing a PC driver when you build a SideShow-compatible device; we've done that work for you.  And did I mention it's free?  Yes, that's right: there's no royalty, license, or any other legal documents you need to sign in order to get access to, and use, the documentation and driver for your device.

This driver even has a few more tricks up its sleeve, including the ability to support custom icons for devices.  When your device shows up in Windows, it actually looks like your device (instead of the generic Windows SideShow-compatible device icon, and assuming you provide your own).  Hey, it's all the little things that count :)

We're extremely excited that the universal driver and documentation are now available, and hope that this helps make it easier for you to add SideShow support to your devices.  As always, if you need any assistance getting things going, head on over to our Windows SideShow Development forum on MSDN and post away!

- Dan

Pre-order Ricavision's VAVE100 at Amazon.com

Want to get your hands on the VAVE100 Windows SideShow-enabled remote control?  It's now available for pre-order through Amazon.com, so you can be one of the first to get it once it's out.

Beta test the Ricavision VAVE100

Ricavision is looking for beta testers worldwide for the much-anticipated VAVE100 Windows SideShow-enabled universal remote control.  Be one of the first in the world to see what all the buzz is about!  Spaces are limited.

If you're interested in participating, click here to nominate yourself: I want to beta test the VAVE100!

- Dan

Don't read English? No problem!

Windows SideShow is a technology used around the world (and, in fact, many of the cool SideShow-enabled devices on the market today are only available outside the US), but most gadgets we've written so far have been provided only in English.  Until now.  It gives me great pleasure to announce, on behalf of the entire Windows SideShow team, support for sixteen new languages for our Microsoft Office Outlook, Microsoft Office PowerPoint Remote, Feed Viewer, and Stocks gadgets!  The supported languages include (in no particular order):

• Japanese
• Simplified Chinese
• Traditional Chinese
• Korean
• German
• French
• Italian
• Dutch
• Spanish
• Swedish
• Portuguese
• Russian
• Turkish
• Danish
• Finnish
• Norwegian

Please note, the language of the gadget you install must match the UI language of Windows Vista you are using; otherwise, the gadget will still appear in English.  Enjoy!

- Dan

What is Windows SideShow? Check out WindowsSideShow.com

If you're new to Windows SideShow and want an overview of the feature, or if you're trying to explain to all your friends what exactly that little LCD on the lid of your laptop does, send them over to WindowsSideShow.com.  Yes, it is just a fancy redirect to the section of the Windows Vista site that explains SideShow, but it's a LOT easier to find! (I mean seriously, do you remember this URL? I don't.)

By the way, while you're there, let us know what other kinds of information you'd like to see on the site.  We've already been able to make a number of specific improvements based on your feedback (see the Windows SideShow row in the Compare Editions table, for example).  Just use the "Contact" link on this blog to let us know your thoughts, or send your feedback to sshowext at microsoft dot com.

- Dan

It's here! Announcing the Windows SideShow Device SDK for .NET Micro Framework v1.4!

We've been saying "It's coming" for a very long while--and now we can officially say, "IT'S HERE!"  On behalf of the entire Windows SideShow team, I would like to announce public availability of the Windows SideShow Device SDK for .NET Micro Framework v1.4.  To those who participated in the beta program, we want to thank you for your feedback and support.  All of us here can't wait to see the innovative and exciting devices that will come to market as a result of this effort.  This is just the first of many Windows SideShow-related releases in our pipeline for delivery in 2008.  While I can't divulge too much information, we think you'll like what you see :)

This SDK release is big for us in many ways; to name a few:

• We've moved up to the .NET Micro Framework 2.0 SP1 release (so make sure you have that installed first!)
• We've added a whole new portrait-oriented QVGA UI (which looks really sleek, if you haven't seen it)
• We've moved over to a completely new PC-side driver, which now adds support for Bluetooth connectivity (which will also be available through Windows Update shortly)
• The Simulator for Windows SideShow is now based upon the .NET Micro Framework's extensible emulator (and, by the way, you can debug your code in Visual Studio while having it communicate with Windows Vista--another new feature for us!)
• 3 new Northern European languages are part of our standard set, bringing the total to 17
• You can now build a device using the "Assigned User Model" (e.g. the device is always paired to a single user, instead of whoever is on the console)

Now, to quell the rumors before they get started: this is not a release targeting Windows Mobile devices.  I know there is a lot of interest out there in seeing Windows SideShow on Windows Mobile...we are working on it.  That's all I'm going to say for now :)

Enjoy!

- The Windows SideShow Team

[ The full download link for the SDK is http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyID=b877c01d-e80e-4f30-9df9-3a46ec519704&DisplayLang=en ]

New book that covers gadget development using C# and VB.NET

Wrox has recently published a new book by Wei-Meng Lee called Professional Windows Vista Gadgets Programming.  The second half of the book is dedicated to Windows SideShow development using the Windows SideShow .NET Framework Components (beta) release--a.k.a our managed API.  The book is a great introduction to Windows SideShow as well as gadget development, covering the major aspects of the API in C# and VB.NET, as well as the Simple Content Format (SCF).  There's even a comprehensive gadget sample included as well!

Happy readings!

- Dan