Archive
Windows Phone 7.5 Data Cookbook
I ‘ve recently read “Windows Phone 7.5 Data Cookbook” . The book covers different database related alternatives in a chapter to chapter basis. You can read what you want without having to read the book from cover to cover. Chapters discuss different topics without being dependent on each other’s.
The book mainly targets experienced Windows Phone developers. The book aims at boosting your mobile database development skills. If you are not familiar with programming C#.net, Silverlight and other necessary development skills , then, you have to check some extra books too for the basics. But if you have been writing some Windows Phone applications and had some hard times with the database stuff, then you are in the right place.
The book uses the latest updates in Windows Phone 7.1 SDK that enable developers write applications for the latest version Windows Phone 7.5
The book discusses new stuff like Twitter , Atom and RSS, and mobile specific database connections using JSON, also the conventional powerful SQLite. and SQLCE . LINQ to SQL and ADO.net.
There are some examples using REST and WCF and the new Model View View Model (MVVM ).
The book uses a simple coding style, straight and to the point, without confusing the reader with complex code that doesn’t add a value. After having hands on every topic separately, at the end of each chapter, you have a sum-up sample app where you combine all the knowledge you gained in the chapter in one single app to see how things fit together in the big picture.
The book also uses examples that can be implemented in the real world, so you learn fast, improve your skills, and you don’t have to reinvent the wheel.
Although the book is great in discussing the different data alternatives, it should have made a comparison between the different alternatives and discussing pros and cons of each using different case studies showing when to use each alternative rather than another.
Overall: that is a really good book. You can download a sample chapter from the book here.
Windows Phone Data Programming..
I found a nice book about Windows Phone data programming..
There is a sample chapter available here for download.
I ‘ll be reviewing this book in the next few weeks.
Orientation in Windows Phone 7
Orientation support is one of the new features on Windows Phone 7.
By default, when you code your applications it is not supported.
If you try to rotate the axis you get this !!
To solve this problem , you need to set the Suppored Orientation property for the application to PortraitOrLanscape
Things will then work fine
SPB Keyboard
Bored of the small QWERTY keyboard on your windows mobile ? IF so and you don’t want to use your Stylus everytime you type on the mobile keyboard …
Check the SPB keyboard .. I tried it .. Amazing
Hello World !! Windows Phone 7
Microsoft has now made a new IDE for windows phone 7.
I ‘ve tried the Visual Studio 2010 Express for Windows Phone ( beta). It is now available for download here.
After installing, launch the application.
Choose new project –> Type “HelloWorld” for the project name.
Make sure that Silverlight for windows phone is selected, and Windows Phone Application.
The IDE now has the toolbox, the emulator area , the XAML editor.
Also the properties window and the solution explorer. ( you can pin whatever you like).
Click on the first text block, in the properties window in the text property, type “Hello World”
I ‘d rather delete the page name.
Now, drag a text block to the emulator. The text block control is much similar to the label control on the windows applications.
In the text property , type “Enter your name:”.
Drag a text box below it. Set the text property to “”.
Drag a button below the text box. Edit the text property to “Hello!!”.
Your final output should look like this
Now, double click the button to move to code.
using System; using System.Collections.Generic; using System.Linq; using System.Net; using System.Windows; using System.Windows.Controls; using System.Windows.Documents; using System.Windows.Input; using System.Windows.Media; using System.Windows.Media.Animation; using System.Windows.Shapes; using Microsoft.Phone.Controls; namespace HelloWorld { public partial class MainPage : PhoneApplicationPage { // Constructor public MainPage() { InitializeComponent(); } private void button1_Click(object sender, RoutedEventArgs e) { string name = textBox1.Text; MessageBox.Show("Hello " + name); } } }
The code is almost the same as a regular windows application.
Now build the application, by pressing F5
The emulator loads
Enter your name in the text box and then press the hello button
Congratulatons !!!
Now you’ve got your first windows phone 7 application.
Synchronizing your Mp3s with Windows Mobile
Synchronizing your Mp3s with Windows Mobile and Windows Media Player is something pretty simple.
Media Player 11 detects the Mobile Device you are using and the the storage card as two separate devices. Just drag and drop the files to the sync list and it is synchronized automatically once you connect your Mobile to the computer
Annoying Mobile Internet connection : Disable GPRS / EGDE connection on HTC
Well..
I ‘m using Windows Mobile 6.0 on HTC Touch. I ‘m paying a lot for weather updates !!!! and stuff like that, when I don’t need to use the GPRS / EDGE so long as I have the wifi and my laptop available.
There is no clear function to disable that without disconnecting your mobile signals too. I had to make a new NULL !!!! connection for Internet access as the default one, then switch between the network connections when I need to have Internet access form my mobile.
Start > Settings > connections > connections > advanced > Select Networks
The first part showing " Programs that automatically connect to the Internet should connect using" :
Just make a new connection with no settings and save it. Choose it as the default connection, when you need to have access, choose your mobile network connection back …
Enjoy 🙂 and save your money 😀
Tamer Maher 