Monday, August 12, 2013

Develop first Windows 8 app

Developers from all over the world, unite and start making Windows 8 great! Definitely, the increasing interest of developers for Windows 8 has been a part of Microsoft’s strategy in pushing its latest and greatest OS everywhere. We’re not sure if the increasing number of apps should make the iPad be afraid, but most definitely, it will make users happy. But for developers out there that are wondering just how to create Windows 8 apps, it seems that the help is coming straight from where it should- MICROSOFT.


Tools to create Windows Store apps

Steps you need to take to be able to make Windows 8 applications

I think these are the tools that any starting Windows 8 developer would need to create Windows 8 applications. But if you think you need more, then head over this page and pick what more you think you’ll need. Sadly, I’m not a developer myself, but I would love to know how to create some beautiful Windows 8 applications that people would love. For example, you might also need the Bings Maps SDK or the Windows Azure mobile services. Now that you’ve got your developer downloads for programming Windows Store apps.
Step 1 – get your free developer licence
Basically, step one has been the download of all the free tools from above. If you’ve done that, now you need to Run Visual Studio to get a developer license. To be able to test and to create apps suitable for Windows Store (Windows 8, RT and Pro), you need first to get a licence, which is free. Here’s how Microsoft tries to convince you to create apps for their Windows Store:
A Windows Store app is a new type of app that is sold in the Windows Store and runs on Windows 8 devices. They install easily and uninstall cleanly. They run in a single window that fills the entire screen by default. They automatically work with a variety of input sources, including touch, pen, mouse, and keyboard. Instead of static icons, they use live tiles that can display notifications. You can write Windows Store apps in a variety oflanguages, such as C# and Visual Basic with XAML, C++ with XAML or DirectX, and JavaScript with HTML/CSS. Follow this guide to get the tools you need, create your own apps, and release them on the Windows Store.
Step 2 – learn some tutorials

Microsoft informs you that you don’t need to learn anything else besides what you probably already know – JavaScript with HTML/CSS, C#, Visual Basic, or C++ with XAML, C++ with DirectX. After all this, you’ll need to get through some tutorials to get even deeper in thecreation of Windows 8/Windows store applications. Here they are:
  1. JavaScript with HTML: Create your first Windows Store app using JavaScript
  2. C# or Visual Basic with XAML: Create your first Windows Store app using C# or Visual Basic
  3. C++ with XAML: Create your first Windows Store app using C++
  4. C++ with DirectX: Create your first Windows Store app using DirectX
Step 3 – plan and design your apps
Basically, this is what the users will see and this matters A LOT. Here’s what Microsft says about this:
When planning your Windows Store app, think less about what features you want to include and more about what your app should be good at. Planning ahead for different form factors, accessibility, monetization, and selling in the global market can reduce your development time and make it easier to create a high quality app and get it certified. Taking advantage of user experience guidelines and design patterns can make it easier to design an app that’s attractive and easy to use.
User experience guidelines explain how to design apps that provide a consistent, elegant, and compelling experience, and offer advice for working with specific design features (such as layout) and individual controls (such as the ListView). Design patterns are blueprints that you can follow for designing common UI features, such as navigation, commanding, touchinteraction, advertising, and branding.
And here are the tutorials that you need to learn:
Step 4 – the hardest part (develop)
This is the core part of how to create Windows 8 applications. You will learn how to create an User Interface (UI), how to create and update tiles, how to search and share with other apps and how to use devices and sensors.
  • Create the UI
  • Search and share with other apps
  • Create and update tiles
  • Use devices and sensors
Step 5 – sell your apps
Well, that’s about it. These are the tutorials, steps and tools that you need to use in order to be able to create interesting Windows 8 or Windows Store applications that will appeal to users. Get your coding on, developers! I hope this has proven helpful to you.
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Saturday, August 10, 2013

Microsoft updates HealthVault Windows 8 app with new features

In March, Microsoft launched the first public version of its HealthVault app for Windows 8. The app was made to give ordinary people a way to collect, store and share their medical and fitness information so they can better monitor their health. Today, five months after it first launched, Microsoft issued the first major update to the HealthVault app with a number of new features.
The app's change notes shows that one of the new additions will allow users to pin its health and fitness tiles to the Windows 8 Start screen. That should allow for much faster access to information such as exercise stats and food monitoring. Yet another new feature lets users customize the app's home screen so they can see the tiles and information they want to see and do away with the tiles they have no interest in reading.
If you are a parent, the HealthVault app for Windows 8 now allows you to track and chart the height of your son or daughter, in case you don't want to do it the old fashioned way and track it via pencil marks on your kitchen wall. Finally, people who have diabetes can now use the app to track and chart their blood glucose measurements.
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More than 30,000 projects started within 48 hours of Windows Phone App Studio release

  Microsoft released the Windows Phone App Studio just three days ago, but the company is already seeing an massive influx of projects started with the online program that's designed to make building an app easy.
According to Bryan Tomlinson, a senior product manager at Microsoft, more than 30,000 app projects were started with the program within the first 48 hours of its release. Tomlinson's comments came on last Thursday's live Windows Developer Show, where he emphasized the fact that users don't need coding experience to use the product.

"Right now we're sort of throttling usage, which is one thing," he said. "The response to it was a little greater than we anticipated. Over 30,000 app projects were created within the first 48 hours. It was incredible – a nice problem to have – but now we're throttling use. So all you do is get on there and you're going to request an access code. ... We'll reply within 24 hours with your own access code so that you can get in."
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Tizen App Challenge 2013

It's time!

Tizen is a brand new ecosystem, with a brand new store. Now is the time to get your apps into the store, and get a head start on the next big application ecosystem.
The Tizen App Challenge is open through November 1, 2013 - it's time to get started!

So what do I do next?

Entering the Tizen App Challenge is easy, just follow these simple steps.

Step 1: Sign up so you don't miss a thing.

Sign up here! We'll make sure you know the important contest dates, and keep you up to speed with the latest development resources, hack-a-thons and port-a-thons, and other useful information.

Step 2: Submit your app to the Tizen Store Seller Office and pass certification.

Register for an account at the Tizen Store Seller Office and submit your app. You will receive an Content ID. When you've been notified that your app has passed certification, you're ready to move to the next step.

Step 3: Register your app in the Tizen App Challenge.

To enter your app, fill out the Tizen App Challenge Registration Form. You can enter as many certified apps in the contest as you'd like, but remember, each app can only be entered one time.
NO PURCHASE NECESSARY. Subject to the complete official rules.

Awesome prizes.

With over $4M in cash prizes, there's never been a better time to create or port that awesome app for Tizen.
Enter the Tizen App Challenge, and compete for one of 54 prizes among nine categories. The best entries will be selected by a panel of judges. In addition, the top 10 ranked HTML5 apps will be eligible for an additional $50,000 prize!



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How to upgrade from Windows 8 to Windows 8.1 preview

Windows 8.1 will enable new hardware, further the integration with other Microsoft services and address customer issues with Windows 8, and will be provided to Windows 8 customers when available at no additional charge.
Before you go ahead with Windows 8.1, your system should conform with the following requirements:-





SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS-

PROCESSOR- 1GHz or faster

RAM- 1GB or 2GB

HARD DISK ( Free space)- 16GB (32-bit) and 20GB (64-bit)
Graphics card- Microsoft DirectX9 graphics device with WDDM driver.
Backup you data-
The most crucial thing while upgrading your OS is backing up of your data. Though Windows provides its Recovery Drive feature, you can use other 3rd party tools.
Enable the update-
NOTE: On this site, you’ll find the ISO files as well.





 Now, click on ‘Get the update’ as shown in the pic above.
  • You’ll see a security warning, just click on ‘Open’.
  • After a while you’ll get the actual system updater, click ‘Yes’ to run it.
  • In a minute or so you’ll get the ‘Installation complete’ message along with a restart button.
  • Click on the restart button, once you boot up, you’ll get something like this:-
  • Now, click on ‘Go to Store’ to install the upgrade.


So, go ahead and give Windows 8.1 preview a shot!

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