Windows Runtime, or shortly WinRT, is a new runtime (siting on top of the Windows kernel) that allows developers to write Metro style applications for Windows 8, using a variety of languages including C/C++, C#, VB.NET or JavaScript/HTML5. Microsoft has started rolling out information about Windows 8 and the new runtime at BUILD.
(source www.zdnet.com)
WinRT is a native layer (written in C++ and being COM-based) that is intended as a replacement, or alternative, to Win32, and enables development of “immersive” applications, using the Metro style. Its API is object oriented and can be consumed both from native or managed languages, as well as JavaScript. At the same time the old Win32 applications will continue to run just as before and you can still (and most certainly will) develop Win32 applications.
Microsoft has created a new language called C++ Component Extension, or simply C++/CX. While the syntax is very similar to C++/CLI, the language is not managed, it’s still native. WinRT components built in C++/CX do not compile to managed code, but to 100% native code. A good news for C++ developers is that they can use XAML now to build the UI for immersive applications. However, this is not available for classical, Win32 applications.
You can get a glimpse of the new system and the tools by downloading and installing the Windows Developer Preview with tools, that includes the following:
- 64-bit Windows Developer Preview
- Windows SDK for Metro style apps
- Microsoft Visual Studio 11 Express for Windows Developer Preview
- Microsoft Expression Blend 5 Developer Preview
- 28 Metro style apps including the BUILD Conference app
Notice this is a pre-beta release and you might encounter various problems.
Before you start here are several additional articles that you might want to read:
There are also several new forums available on MSDN forums for developing Metro style applications, which you can use for addressing technical questions. Hopefully thee will be answers from Microsoft people working in this area.
.NET, C++, COM, javascript, metro, MSDN, runtime, win32, Windows, winrt Hits for this post: 6636 .
Throughout January I have published on codeguru.com a series of articles about developing Silverlight applications for Windows Phone 7. Here is the list of articles:
If you want to develop for WP7 you need to install the Windows Phone 7 Developer Tools. They are available to download for free at AppHub, or using this direct link. You might also want to install the Silverlight for Windows Phone Toolkit that provides additional controls (such as WrapPanel, DatePicker, TimePicker, etc.) and higher-level support for touch.
Here is a list of recommended additional readings:
Enjoy the tutorials!
phone, tutorials, Windows, wp7 Hits for this post: 5006 .
In my previous post I wrote about a feature called “god mode” available in Windows 7 and Vista. By creating a folder with a specific name you get one entry point to all the commands available in Control Panel. It was reported that several such shortcuts exits. Below is an image with the 16 folders that are god modes.
All 16 god modes
You can create them all by making and running (from the desired parent folder) a .cmd or .bat file with the following content:
mkdir ControlPanel.{ED7BA470-8E54-465E-825C-99712043E01C}
mkdir LocationSensor.{00C6D95F-329C-409a-81D7-C46C66EA7F33}
mkdir BiometricDevice.{0142e4d0-fb7a-11dc-ba4a-000ffe7ab428}
mkdir PowerOptions.{025A5937-A6BE-4686-A844-36FE4BEC8B6D}
mkdir TaskbarIcons.{05d7b0f4-2121-4eff-bf6b-ed3f69b894d9}
mkdir Credentials.{1206F5F1-0569-412C-8FEC-3204630DFB70}
mkdir InstallFromNetwork.{15eae92e-f17a-4431-9f28-805e482dafd4}
mkdir DefaultPrograms.{17cd9488-1228-4b2f-88ce-4298e93e0966}
mkdir PublicKeys.{1D2680C9-0E2A-469d-B787-065558BC7D43}
mkdir WifiNetworks.{1FA9085F-25A2-489B-85D4-86326EEDCD87}
mkdir Network.{208D2C60-3AEA-1069-A2D7-08002B30309D}
mkdir Computer.{20D04FE0-3AEA-1069-A2D8-08002B30309D}
mkdir Printers.{2227A280-3AEA-1069-A2DE-08002B30309D}
mkdir workplaceConnetions.{241D7C96-F8BF-4F85-B01F-E2B043341A4B}
mkdir Firewall.{4026492F-2F69-46B8-B9BF-5654FC07E423}
mkdir PerformanceRatings.{78F3955E-3B90-4184-BD14-5397C15F1EFC}
(You can get the GUIDs of the folders from the above listing).
You can read more about this here.
godmode, tricks, win7, Windows Hits for this post: 7497 .
There has been some buzz in the last few days about a feature in Windows 7 called “God mode”. Well, it doesn’t empower you as a God but allows you to access all the nested features available in Control Panel from a single entry point. All you have to do is creating a folder (or renaming an existing one) with the name GodMode.{ED7BA470-8E54-465E-825C-99712043E01C}
Create a folder with the name GodMode.{ED7BA470-8E54-465E-825C-99712043E01C}
After the folder was created/renamed its icon changes to the icon used for Control Panel.
Same icon as Control Panel
When you enter the folder you find all the commands that are available in Control Panel, but in a single list with no nesting. So this could be a good place to access quick commands.
Commands available in GodMode folder
On the other hand you can get the same from the Start menu by searching for the name. Here is an example of the commands made available when searching for “defrag”.
Start menu results for "defrag"
Of course, in this later case, one needs to know what to search for, but in general that should not be a problem.
This feature also works in Windows Vista and Windows Server 2008, but it is reported that is crashes with Vista 64 bit.
This feature only works from Windows Explorer. It is not available from tools like Total Commander or FreeCommander.
godmode, win7, Windows Hits for this post: 7722 .
Windows 7 RTM and Windows Server 2008 R2 RTM are now available for download on MSDN for MSDN and TechNet subscribers. Currently, the only available bits are in English. The other languages will become available on October 1st. Volume License customers with an existing Software Assurance license will be able to download the bits starting tomorrow.
For more information on these releases check the Windows Team Blog.
Update: Windows Server 2008 R2 is not yet available.
download, MSDN, release, RTM, win2008, win7, Windows Hits for this post: 12568 .
