Essential Windows Phone 8, Rough Cuts, 2nd Edition

Description

• Copyright 2013
• Dimensions: 7" x 9-1/8"
• Pages: 700
• Edition: 2nd

• Rough Cuts
• ISBN-10: 0-13-337258-8
• ISBN-13: 978-0-13-337258-8

This is the Rough Cut version of the printed book.

“Shawn has created a guide that is easy to read, up-to-date, and comprehensive–covering the entire application surface area for Windows Phone developers. Enjoy!”
–Jeff Wilcox, Senior Software Development Engineer, Microsoft

Essential Windows® Phone 8 is the definitive guide to creating powerful mobile apps with Microsoft’s dramatically improved Windows Phone 8 platform. Ten-time Microsoft MVP Shawn Wildermuth draws on his extensive experience teaching Windows Phone development, helping you to get started fast and master techniques that lead to truly outstanding solutions.

Updated throughout, this edition reflects new APIs and development best practices, ranging from new WinRT APIs to voice integration. It also contains a comprehensive new chapter on developing enterprise solutions for business.

After introducing the platform and its key improvements, Shawn dives directly into the essentials. Using realistic code, he illustrates today’s best techniques for delivering robust, well-performing apps. You’ll build a complete app from start to finish and then deepen your skills with increasingly sophisticated techniques.

From planning through delivery, Shawn guides you through the entire lifecycle, helping you make the most of Windows Phone 8’s valuable capabilities. Whether you’re a Windows developer going mobile or a mobile developer moving to Windows Phone, here are all the skills you’ll need.

Coverage includes

• Setting up the WP8 development environment, including the emulator
• Using XAML to fully control the look and feel of your app’s interface
• Providing robust user interactivity through controls
• Creating mobile experiences built around the real needs of Windows Phone users
• Localizing your app for native languages and global markets
• Utilizing vibration, motion, sound, the camera, or other hardware features
• Supporting voice commands such as “Call Mom” or “Open Twitter”
• Integrating features that use Contacts, Appointments, Alarms, the media library and hubs, and the lock screen
• Storing data in simple files, caches, or a full-fledged database
• Multitasking in the background without compromising performance
• Implementing location-aware apps that can track where users are
• Retrieving external data and assets via REST, Web services, push notifications, or Windows Live
• Preparing your application for the Windows Phone Store
• Building and distributing enterprise apps for your company’s internal customers

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Sample Content

Table of Contents

1  Introducing Windows Phone     1

A Different Kind of Phone     1

Phone Specifications     7

   Input Patterns     10

   Designing for Touch     11

   Hardware Buttons     12

   Keyboards     12

   Sensors     15

Application Lifecycle     15

Driving Your Development with Services     17

Live Tiles     18

The Windows Phone Store     19

   Distributing Your Application Through the Windows Phone Store     20

   App Hub Submissions     20

   Application Policies     22

   Content Policies     25

Where Are We?     26

2  Writing Your First Phone Application     27

Preparing Your Machine     27

Creating a New Project     29

   Visual Studio     29

   XAML     34

Designing with Blend     39

Adding Code     48

   Working with Events     51

   Debugging in the Emulator     52

   Debugging with a Device     53

   Using Touch     58

Working with the Phone     61

Where Are We?     66

3  XAML Overview     67

What Is XAML?     67

XAML Object Properties     69

   Understanding XAML Namespaces     70

Naming in XAML     71

Visual Containers     72

Visual Grammar     77

   Shapes     77

   Brushes     79

   Colors     80

   Text     81

Images     82

Transformations and Animations     84

   Transformations     84

   Animations     87

XAML Styling     90

   Understanding Re

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