UPDATED!! - Free Windows Phone 7 Workshops - Birmingham, Manchester and London - Windows Phone 7 Software Development

Hi,
we are holding 4 FREE windows Windows Phone 7 Workshop Events over the next few weeks
• Birmingham - 26th March 2011 - Sign up at http://www.developerdeveloperdeveloper.com
• London - 2nd April 2011 - Sign up at https://www.clicktoattend.com/invitation.aspx?code=154634
• Manchester - 9th April 2011 - Sign up at https://www.clicktoattend.com/invitation.aspx?code=154635
• London - 16th April 2011 - Sign up at https://www.clicktoattend.com/invitation.aspx?code=154636
If you are creating apps for Windows Phone 7, as a professional, independent or student developer please join us at one – or all – of these free events, which are all about APPs!! The goal is to get as many apps ready for Marketplace submission as possible, to give you the opportunity to get one-on-one assistance from MVPs and Microsoft evangelists to overcome issues that are blocking you, to get help with the Marketplace app submission process and to have some fun along the way.
We’ll be providing prizes at each event:
• Windows Phone 7 devices
• An Xbox and Kinect system
• Software licenses for .Net Reflector from RedGate
In addition, every attendant will receive a FREE licence for Phone Elements for Windows Phone 7 worth $299 from Mindscape
At these workshops, you can get:
• One-on-one assistance from MVPs and Microsoft Evangelists
• Tutorials on demand on such topics as:
o Tombstoning
o Databinding
o Startup performance
o Designing with Expression Blend
o Data storage
o – anything else you can think of! –
• Help and advice from your peers
So come along if:
• You’ve got a great idea for an app and need help getting started
• You’re building an app but need help on implementing some features
• You have an app that’s nearly ready and need advice on how to get it through the Marketplace submission process
• You want to learn from, or assist, other WP7 devs
• You want to contribute to the creation of open source libraries, demo/starter apps or components
These events will run every Saturday for 4 weeks to give the most chance for developers to attend outside of work or college commitments, starting from 9:00 running through to 21:00. We’ll provide lunch and refreshments!
We’ll be providing expert help including MVPs from APPA Mundi who have loads of experience creating apps and getting them through the Marketplace submission process and we hope to have some superstars from Microsoft’s DPE group drop by who can help overcome technical challenges, and give advice on WP7 development.
Prizes will be awarded for the best app ideas, for the best app created during the event, the most improved app and there’ll also be random prizes.
Places are limited, so sign up fast! We can accommodate up to 50 developers at each event, so if any event is over-subscribed, we’ll give preference to those who already have a Windows Phone 7 developer account setup on AppHub (http://create.msdn.com ).

Hi,
I have just sent this to my editor - maybe he'll post it to some of the blogs.
Tam

Related

New Dev Tools! Coming May 2011!

Yay! As from mailed by: "[email protected]" (dev)
"
New Windows Phone Dev Tools for the next version of Windows Phone Available in May
Earlier this month at MIX we announced that we will release in May a new set of Windows Phone Developer Tools for the next version of Windows Phone. Developers can use the new tools to create the next-generation of Windows Phone apps and games, which will be faster, more capable, and more deeply integrated with the next version of Windows Phone.
The next version of Windows Phone will be available to consumers later this year and will introduce many features, such as multitasking, the best mobile Web experience with IE9 and HTML 5, support of real time communication and messaging, twitter integration with the People Hub, and a broader connectivity to Skydrive.
The new Developer Tools will allow you to write apps that make full use of multitasking via fast application switching and background agents; runtime and framework enhancements with over 1,500 new APIs and the support of Silverlight 4, access to new sensors, on-device SQL CE database, and Phone Contacts and Calendar stores; socket support to enable networking communication beyond HTTP; XNA/Silverlight Integration; and an improved Push Notification and Live Tile experience. The new Developer Tools will also include a new emulator will full support for accelerometer and GPS location data.
We are very excited about the opportunities the new release will create for developers, and we look forward to the next wave of innovation in apps and games.
For more details on the new features supported by the next version of Windows Phone and the new Developer Tools check out the MIX Webcasts!
Extended Marketplace Opportunities in the next version of Windows Phone
Also at MIX, we presented a comprehensive list of new features that will improve the Windows Phone Marketplace experience for both consumers and developers with the next version of Windows Phone.
For consumers, the new Windows Phone Marketplace experience will include an improved design with panes and more panoramas, a better search experience with autocomplete queries and search results grouped by app, music, or games sections. A new jump list and a soft-search button will make it easier to find installed apps on Windows phones. (fiinix: well, the leaked search button, that a guy by accident cam'ed (Link to post))
For developers, the new Windows Phone Marketplace experience will introduce new Beta and Private Distribution services and a more streamlined app submission flow. More details on the certification status of apps will be available in the App Lifecycle tab and an updated Dashboard will provide notifications and important performance indicators. Developers will also be able to perform more granular data analysis and filtering with the ability to export data from the download and payout reports to XML.
Finally, we will extend the reach of the Windows Phone Marketplace from 16 to 35 countries, increasing the market potential for your apps and games. The 19 new end-user countries are:
Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, Greece, Hungary, India, Japan, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Russia, South Africa, South Korea, Sweden and Taiwan. (fiinix: Yay! Netherlands and Sweden (My countries get Marketplace, no need to cross UK account anymore?))
"
Nice!
Chile will have full marketplace support now!
Can we imagine hackers May be port Mango on devices from the SDK tools release in May?
Thanks for the info
Will developers have access to mango beta at the same time ? I think it was mentioned in MIX 11 that there will be a beta version available for download.
I have asked the WP7 support via Twitter and they said nothing has been announced officially :-(
Anyhow I think there will be a beta version before the official, we just don't know when.
Cyruss89 said:
I have asked the WP7 support via Twitter and they said nothing has been announced officially :-(
Anyhow I think there will be a beta version before the official, we just don't know when.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
yeah saw that email. Nice cant wait to play with it.
What I dont understand is if you compile an app using these new apis will we be able to test it on a device and submit it to the marketplace or do we need seperate tools and compile for pre mango without those apis and post mango?
That will be a bit ****, certainly if there is no mango for devs so we cant test on real devices.
Marvin_S said:
yeah saw that email. Nice cant wait to play with it.
What I dont understand is if you compile an app using these new apis will we be able to test it on a device and submit it to the marketplace or do we need seperate tools and compile for pre mango without those apis and post mango?
That will be a bit ****, certainly if there is no mango for devs so we cant test on real devices.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It will be the same as when devs were given access to the emulator before the RTM release of Windows Phone. Some developers will be given Mango to test on - just like some people received developer devices.
Most of us will not be able to test the changes on devices until Mango is released. Only high-profile clients and a limited number of developers will most likely have access to a Mango build.
Blade0rz said:
It will be the same as when devs were given access to the emulator before the RTM release of Windows Phone. Some developers will be given Mango to test on - just like some people received developer devices.
Most of us will not be able to test the changes on devices until Mango is released. Only high-profile clients and a limited number of developers will most likely have access to a Mango build.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
ah and apps with mango capabilities will just be put on hold in the marketplace until sombody actually has mango installed
eried said:
Nice!
Chile will have full marketplace support now!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Don't get too excited!
always a shoot and a miss...always
anyway good stuff I can't wait to update my dev tools for may!
Heathcliff74 said:
Don't get too excited!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
highly doubt that rumor is true. Microsoft nl said dutch language support will come, this is why existing users bought wp7 they promised the support coming in april with nodo but it became mango. It would be stupid not to give them the native language support after promises and delays of approx 6 months (assumin mango in september). We will get our dutch language support, thats what I read and what I believe. It wont boost sales if they will treat their customers otherwise. Just a brainless rumor and I believe they even misquoted their french source (bad translation, causes a bunch of brainless panic). Certainly in our country and the other new language supported countries being multi-lingual is very important so those languages (the current plus the native) are essential.
fiinix said:
Yay! As from mailed by: "[email protected]" (dev)
"
New Windows Phone Dev Tools for the next version of Windows Phone Available in May
Earlier this month at MIX we announced that we will release in May a new set of Windows Phone Developer Tools for the next version of Windows Phone. Developers can use the new tools to create the next-generation of Windows Phone apps and games, which will be faster, more capable, and more deeply integrated with the next version of Windows Phone.
The next version of Windows Phone will be available to consumers later this year and will introduce many features, such as multitasking, the best mobile Web experience with IE9 and HTML 5, support of real time communication and messaging, twitter integration with the People Hub, and a broader connectivity to Skydrive.
The new Developer Tools will allow you to write apps that make full use of multitasking via fast application switching and background agents; runtime and framework enhancements with over 1,500 new APIs and the support of Silverlight 4, access to new sensors, on-device SQL CE database, and Phone Contacts and Calendar stores; socket support to enable networking communication beyond HTTP; XNA/Silverlight Integration; and an improved Push Notification and Live Tile experience. The new Developer Tools will also include a new emulator will full support for accelerometer and GPS location data.
We are very excited about the opportunities the new release will create for developers, and we look forward to the next wave of innovation in apps and games.
For more details on the new features supported by the next version of Windows Phone and the new Developer Tools check out the MIX Webcasts!
Extended Marketplace Opportunities in the next version of Windows Phone
Also at MIX, we presented a comprehensive list of new features that will improve the Windows Phone Marketplace experience for both consumers and developers with the next version of Windows Phone.
For consumers, the new Windows Phone Marketplace experience will include an improved design with panes and more panoramas, a better search experience with autocomplete queries and search results grouped by app, music, or games sections. A new jump list and a soft-search button will make it easier to find installed apps on Windows phones. (fiinix: well, the leaked search button, that a guy by accident cam'ed (Link to post))
For developers, the new Windows Phone Marketplace experience will introduce new Beta and Private Distribution services and a more streamlined app submission flow. More details on the certification status of apps will be available in the App Lifecycle tab and an updated Dashboard will provide notifications and important performance indicators. Developers will also be able to perform more granular data analysis and filtering with the ability to export data from the download and payout reports to XML.
Finally, we will extend the reach of the Windows Phone Marketplace from 16 to 35 countries, increasing the market potential for your apps and games. The 19 new end-user countries are:
Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, Greece, Hungary, India, Japan, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Russia, South Africa, South Korea, Sweden and Taiwan. (fiinix: Yay! Netherlands and Sweden (My countries get Marketplace, no need to cross UK account anymore?))
"
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
YEEEES! Let's hope they won't rip us off with pricing
Heathcliff74 said:
Don't get too excited!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yeah, and that news says "language" not countries I really hope they extend the support to allow developers here to publish applications.

Microsoft App Store - July 15th BIG DATE for WM 6.x

On July 15, 2011 Microsoft will no longer accept new Windows Mobile 6.x applications or application updates. In addition it will no longer be possible to modify prices, metadata or other information. You will be able to remove apps by contacting support.
Windows Mobile apps will be available for download/purchase after July 15th as will reporting and payouts.
What ???
It's very very very bad :\
But i don't understand a thing, microsoft want to devellop Windows Embedded Handeld (wm6.5.3), so, if they stop the Marketplace, will be there a replacement ??
And what about microsoft myPhone ? I love this service, and i hope that we could continu to use it !!
I hope news about the Microsoft team !
Here is the email I got:
May 16, 2011
Dear Windows Marketplace for Mobile Developer,
We are excited about the momentum we have with Windows Phone. Since we launched Windows Phone last fall, technical reviews have been very positive and, most importantly, customer satisfaction has been extremely high. Moreover, our Windows Phone Marketplace continues to grow at a fast pace. It now features more than 15,000 apps and games and there are over 40,000 registered developers.
At MIX we announced that in May we will release the beta version of the Windows Phone Developer Tools for the next version of Windows Phone, code-named "Mango," which we are still on track to do. The Mango release will be made available to users later this year, and it represents the next step in our continued focus on advancing the Windows Phone platform and expanding the opportunity for developers.
To innovate faster on the Windows Phone Marketplace, we are scaling back our investments in the Windows Marketplace for Mobile service. We are sharing this plan with you, in advance, so that you can make thoughtful plans and preparations.
• App Submission and Management. On July 15, 2011, we will no longer be accepting new Windows Mobile 6.x applications or application updates. In addition, it will no longer be possible to modify prices, metadata, or other information. However, you will still be able to remove your apps by contacting support.
• App Distribution. Even though app submission will stop on July 15, users will still be able to purchase and download your Windows Mobile 6.x applications through the Windows Marketplace for Mobile.
• App Reporting. Sales and download reports will continue to be available for your Windows Mobile 6.x applications through the App Hub after July 15.
• Developer Payouts. Developer payouts will continue to be processed in accordance with the provisions of the Windows Phone Marketplace Application Provider Agreement.
Additional information regarding the scaling back of our investment in the Windows Marketplace for Mobile will be shared over the coming months as plans become finalized.
We would like to thank you for being part of our Windows Marketplace for Mobile developer community, and we look forward to helping you build more Windows Phone applications.
For more information, please visit the App Hub Forum. For further assistance, please contact support directly.
Thank you for your support,
The Windows Phone Marketplace Team
WTF????
what about us?!?!?!?
I (we) prefer still with WM 6.5 why they do this to us?
where can I send my bad opinion about it?
thanks!
Bad News
This is really a bad news . May be MS want all users to move to /develop for Win Phone 7... but what abt the existing users who are still staying with 6.5.x
I hope My Phone server will remain active as that is a part of their service.
Yes !! My Phone is very very useful !!!
And what about the futur of Windows Embedded Handeld??
Sorry to be late posting this but it contains information about the shutdown of 'My Phone' and the Windows Mobile App Store on the Web:
Shut-down of Windows Marketplace for Mobile Web Site and My Phone Service Notification
June 8, 2011
Dear Windows Mobile 6.x customer:
Microsoft will be discontinuing the My Phone service for Windows Mobile 6.x. We will also be discontinuing the Windows Marketplace for Mobile web site. Because you may be affected, please review the details below:
Windows Marketplace for Mobile Web Site To Be Discontinued
The Windows Marketplace for Mobile web site at http://marketplace.windowsphone.com will no longer be available starting on July 15, 2011. After July 15, 2011, you will no longer be able to browse, buy or download applications for Windows Mobile 6.x phones via the Windows Marketplace for Mobile web site.
The Windows Marketplace for Mobile service will continue to be available on your phone, however. You will continue to be able to browse, buy and download applications for Windows Mobile 6.x on your phone.
My Phone To Be Discontinued
On August 7, 2011, the My Phone service will stop saving content from phones to the My Phone service. If you rely on the My Phone service to back-up the content on your Windows Mobile 6.x phone, you will be affected.
Starting on August 7, 2011, Microsoft will begin moving your My Phone content to Windows Live SkyDrive. SkyDrive is Microsoft's free online storage service that helps you access and share your files such as photos and Microsoft Office documents. Contacts, calendar entries, text messages and photos will be moved to SkyDrive for you. Once moved, you will be able to access this content by logging into SkyDrive using the Windows Live ID that you used to register for the My Phone service.
Other content types, including videos, music, documents and favorites will not be moved from My Phone to SkyDrive for you. If you want this content, you must save it from the My Phone service to your local PC.
On October 6, 2011, the My Phone web site at http://www.microsoft.com/myphone will no longer be available. On this date, you will no longer be able to log in to the My Phone service to access your content stored to the My Phone service. Microsoft will continue to store your My Phone content for one (1) year. Physical copies of your content can be shipped to you upon request until October 5, 2012.
Take Action
To learn more about the My Phone service shut-down, including information about your content moving to Windows Live SkyDrive and how to save other content to your local PC, please visit this web site:
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/2557520
Microsoft is committed to making this transition easy. In the meantime, we want to sincerely thank you for your use of Windows Mobile 6.x.
-The Windows Phone Team
I think this just made the transition to Android a little easier and moved up my date also.

Skype [Stockholm, Sweden]: Software Engineer, Windows Phone

Skype is willing to sponsor relocation for this position
About Skype
Skype is software that enables the world’s conversations. Millions of individuals and businesses use Skype to make free video and voice calls, send instant messages and share files with other Skype users. Everyday, people everywhere also use Skype to make low-cost calls to landlines and mobiles.
The Brief
Skype for Windows Phone will be the 'next big mobile' app to be used by millions of users around the world. It is a strategic platform for Skype and an important revenue generator.
Skype is committed to actively introducing new functionality and product features on the Windows Phone platform and devices to lead groundbreaking developments on the platform.
The Windows Phone development team produces elegant, robust software that delight and excite our customers. Working as part of a highly skilled team delivering several major releases on the platform yearly, the developer will innovate new features, optimize existing ones and drive improvements in the overall performance of the application.
Responsibilities
• Developing new features in cooperation with designers, product management and quality engineers, iterating daily and contributing to maintaining a healthy build
• Demonstrating creativity in finding optimal ways to implement features
• Demonstrating critical thinking and paying attention to corner cases
• Maintaining daily estimates of remaining effort on active work as conventional in a Scrum team
• Making sure that software components are consistent and work well with each other
• Actively communicating with fellow developers in order to synchronize work and making sure that developers understand each other's work
• Taking responsibility and ownership in the team's work
• Investigating incoming bug reports
• Comprehensively testing one's own code for bugs, demonstrating meticulous attention to detail
• Developing robust fixes to bugs and implementing improvements
• Pro-actively searching for potential optimization possibilities
• Learning new technologies
• Continuously keeping an eye on the latest cutting edge technologies and leveraging these in one's own work as necessary
 
CANDIDATE PROFILE
Experience:
• Experience in developing applications for embedded/mobile devices
• Experience in multihtreaded programming, asynchronous and event driven application design
• Experience of Agile and iterative development processes, e.g. Scrum
Technical Skills & Knowledge:
• Windows Phone 7 development using C# and/or Silverlight
• Development experience using the .NET framework
• Development experience using C and/or C++
• Experience with other platforms and programming languages (iOS / Objective-C, Symbian / C++, Android / Java)
• Excellent working English skills, both written and spoken
Problem Solving Skills / Analytics:
• Providing meaningful input in discussions and analysis on new features: analytical skills, technical judgement and the ability to use data get a coherent point across
Leadership:
• A genuine, contagious can do attitude with capability to chase issues and dependencies between different teams at Skype until complete resolution.
• A strong will to follow through on each task until it's finalized, a strive for true excellence
Interpersonal Skills:
• Track record working within / contributing to high performing teams.
• An ability to understand technical requirements and articulate them in plain English, as well as ability to understand commercial requests and translate them into technical requirements.
• Cultural sensitivity and a proven ability to work with teams and partners across multiple geographies.
Motivation & Passion:
• A passion for software development and Skype products as well as passionate advocate of great customer experience.
• Professional and personal mature, a self-starter able to work well without direct supervision and a demonstrable commitment to achieving strategic, operational and project goals.
Qualifications:
• Bachelors Degree in Computer Science or related subject
Interested individuals should send their resume to james.cooper-richardson(at)skype.net

[App][plugin] in-app feedback for Windows 8 apps

I am working on a web service and thought it might be of interest to Windows 8 app developers out there, who might find the service useful and could even help testing it and offer advice on how to improve.
The product (codename Myelin, currently in alpha) brings powerful user feedback tools directly into your mobile apps. With just a couple of lines of code, you can integrate functionality that not only allows users to send comments directly to the dev, but also to track any replies and provide additional follow-up after the first submission. No private information (such as email address or account name) is ever shared, and no registration is required. It just works directly from the app.
Coming in the future are even more exciting features that make meaningful communication between the dev and the end user simpler and faster.
On the backend we have a feedback management portal that allows to monitor incoming feedback efficiently and manage any required follow-up in a bugtracking-like approach (think support tickets).
We have recently rolled out a client (== app plugin) for Windows 8 HTML apps, and would welcome devs willing to take it for a spin and give us feedback. BTW, XAML support is coming in the future; if you'd be interested, let me know and this work may move further up the priority list. XAML version for C#\VB Win8 apps is also available.
The service is currently free while it's in active development. While there are plans to eventually take it commercial, we will in any event be very accomodating to our early adopters.
You can read more at https://www.tfp0.com/s/windows8. If you're interested in learning more, reply here, PM, or just go ahead and sign up over at the website (we have plenty of spots available) to see what we have going there.
Below is a collage of various screens that the plugin introduces in the form of settings flyouts.
<= clickable
Since I've seen some offline interest in a XAML-based version, I wanted to note here that we did in fact roll out a version of the plugin for XAML.
In addition, both versions (HTML and XAML) are now available through NuGet as Timefork.DyneinXaml and Timefork.DyneinHtml .

Publishing desktop bridge apps (personal experience)

Hi guys,
probably it's not a proper forum, and my post is offtopic, but it's a most reliable forum on xda-dev for this post, other forums are simple dead
For the "rara avis", developers who still do something on Win10 platform, I'd like to share my personal experience to publish an app with restricted capabilities (desktop bridge) on Microsoft store. Might be, someone will find this useful (I hope so!).
So:
- on March, 29 I created a "desktop bridge" app from already existing app and started submission. Of course, package submission failed, and I issued a "desktop bridge permission request".
- next day, March 30, I received automated confirmation.
- on April, 10, I've got mail from Windows App Consult with request to fill some form(s) in Word document format, zip it with my app (.appx or .appxbundle) and share with Microsoft team.
- two weeks later, on April, 24, I've got another mail (quoting):
Hello, we have completed the testing of your desktop application. Congratulations, your application is compliant and, as such, your developer account has now been unlocked! Please allow 24-48 business hours for the permissions to propagate, then you’ll be able to start the submission process on the Dev Center’s website.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
- and, after two days (48 hours, not an hour or minute sooner ), my app was published and become available on the next day(s) or so
Here we go: the very first console app published in the Microsoft Store (if it's not please let me know). App is completely free and open source; I set $0.99 price just in case if someone wanna donate a bottle of good beer to me ($1 isn't enough of course but it's OK). App "trial" isn't different from paid; and of course you can download it directly from the github, or build by yourself.
The main purpose of this experiment was to check an ability to the regular, third party developer, to publish an app with restricted access via MS store, and, I can say, it works as promised...
P.S. Oh, I forgot to say: please download the app, use it (if you really need it) and rate up to five stars, please!

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