Pro Windows 8 1 Development With Xaml And C

Windows 8.1 apps are revolutionizing development on the Windows platform. Fast, fluid, tactile and chrome-free, they provide a brand-new look and feel for Windows users. These apps rely on Microsoft's Windows 8 modern UI to provide their rich and engaging user experiences for both desktop and tablet users. The new UI in turn relies upon the Windows Runtime (WinRT) to give its apps unparalleled flexibility and power. Understanding this stack of new technologies and how they tie in to the proven C# language and the XAML standard is the subject of this book. Experienced writers Jesse Liberty, Phil Japikse, and Jon Galloway explain how you can get the most from Windows 8.1 by focusing on the features that you need for your project and bringing your existing C# coding knowledge to bear. They begin with a nuts-and-bolts examination of how the technologies fit together and show you everything you need to get up and running with the new platform. Once you have a good understanding on the basics, you progress to more advanced topics steadily increasing your understanding as a whole. This holistic knowledge is essential to truly master Windows 8.1 development. Each topic is covered clearly and concisely and is packed with the details you need to code effectively. The most important features are given a no-nonsense, in-depth treatment and chapters contain examples that demonstrate both the power and the subtlety of Windows 8.1.

Full color: Learn how to build great Windows Store apps! Figures and code appear as they do in Visual Studio. Windows 8.1 enables you to build stunning applications that integrate with each other, Web services, and Windows itself. You can sell them in the Windows Store, with more options than ever before, for tablets such as Surface, laptops, and traditional desktop PCs! World-renowned Microsoft programming guru Adam Nathan shows you exactly how to write first-class apps for this significant update to Windows. Don’t let the minor name change fool you--Windows 8.1 contains an incredible amount of new developer opportunities compared to Windows 8. Clear, accessible, and intensely practical, this guide teaches through concise code examples, in full color to match their appearance in Visual Studio--the same approach that made Nathan’s WPF Unleashed so popular. Writing with unprecedented depth and insight, Nathan guides you through creating advanced user interfaces with XAML and exploiting key Windows 8.1 features. Whether you’re already comfortable with Microsoft programming or relatively new to it, Windows 8.1 Apps with XAML and C# Unleashed will take you to the cutting edge of Windows 8.1 development. Detailed information on how to... Use XAML to represent state-of-the-art user interfaces, even across multiple windows Handle touch, mouse, keyboard, and pen input, including handwriting recognition Use new Windows 8.1 controls for creating hubs, flyouts, better app bars, performing in-app searches, rendering PDFs, and much more Encode, decode, and transcode multimedia content and speech-enable your app Leverage rich XAML vector graphics and animation Interact with built-in functionality such as the Camera app, file picker, the lock screen, new contacts and appointments integration, and more Exploit the Windows 8.1 charms bar Integrate DirectX graphics seamlessly Work with the rich set of available sensors: accelerometer, compass, light sensor, location (with geofencing support), proximity, and more Control devices such as fingerprint readers, image and bar code scanners, magnetic stripe readers, and custom Bluetooth, USB, HID, or Wi-Fi Direct devices

It is an exciting time to be a Windows developer. The arrival of Windows 8 is a complete game changer. The operating system and its development platform offer you an entirely new way to create rich, full-featured Windows-based applications. This team of authors takes you on a journey through all of the new development features of the Windows 8 platform specifically how to utilize Visual Studio 2012 and the XAML/C# languages to produce robust apps that are ready for deployment in the new Windows Store. Professional Windows 8 Programming: Learn how to utilize XAML to create rich content driven user interfaces Make use of the new AppBar to create a chrome-less menu system See how to support Sensors and Geo-location on Windows 8 devices Integrate your app into the Windows 8 ecosystem with Contracts and Extensions Walks you through the new Windows 8 navigation system for multi-page apps Minimize code with Data Binding and MVVM design patterns Features tips on getting your app ready for the Windows store Maximize revenue for your app by learning about available monetization strategies

“Jeremy builds real apps for real customers. That’s why I can heartily recommend this book. Go out and write some great apps...and keep this book handy.” —From the Foreword by Jeff Prosise Build Exceptionally Immersive and Responsive Touch-Based Windows Store Apps for Windows 8 with C# and XAML This is the first practical guide to building breakthrough applications for Windows 8 from project templates through publication to the new Windows Store. Microsoft “MVP of the Year” Jeremy Likness helps you combine your existing developer skills with new Visual Studio 2012 tools and best practices to create apps that are intuitive and innovative. His guidance and insight will help you dive into Windows 8 development—and gain a powerful competitive advantage for years to come. Likness illuminates the entire apps lifecycle, from planning and Model-View-View Model (MVVM) based design through coding, testing, packaging, and deployment. He covers both business and consumer apps, showing how Windows 8/WinRT development builds upon and contrasts with older WPF and Silverlight approaches. Using carefully crafted downloadable code examples and sample projects, Likness shows how to make the most of new platform features, including integrated social networking, search, contracts, charms, and tiles. Throughout, he addresses crucial development challenges that have only been discussed on MSDN, blog posts, and Twitter feeds—and never with this depth and clarity before. Coverage includes • Mastering real-world Windows 8 development for all devices and form factors • Understanding the new WinRT framework and the unique characteristics of Windows 8 apps • Designing apps that are faster, more responsive, do more with less, and maximize battery life • Creating exceptionally fluid interfaces with VS 2012 templates, built-in animations, and XAML • Building apps that respond consistently to multiple forms of input, including complex touch manipulations • Using contracts and charms to expose services or enable users to do so • Providing information to users through Live Tiles even when your app isn’t running • Connecting your app seamlessly to multiple data sources, including social networks and cloud storage • Syndicating rich, network-based content • Using Model-View-ViewModel (MVVM) • Securing Windows 8 apps through authentication and authorization • Efficiently testing, debugging, packaging, and deploying apps

Beginning Windows 8 Application Development – XAML Edition introduces you to the Windows 8 modern app design paradigm and the new Windows 8 programming model developed around this paradigm. You'll learn to build rich, immersive applications designed to run on the many devices that will be powered by Windows 8. With the introduction of Windows 8, once again Microsoft has re-envisioned the way that PCs and devices will be used and applications will be built in a world that has become far more connected. The Windows 8 modern UI style is far more than a programming model and Beginning Windows 8 Application Development – XAML Edition takes you beyond the syntax of any development language. We examine the factors such as UX (User Experience), social integration, and maintaining data and settings across multiple devices. Gives an early start to building next-generation connected applications Introduces new programming libraries available in Windows 8 Explores Windows 8 app design concepts

Learn to use exciting new development tools and create applications for Windows 8 If you're a beginning developer, there's no better place to get up to speed on the Windows 8 SDK than this Wrox guide. A team of Microsoft experts provides a complete course in Windows 8 programming, helping you take full advantage of the innovative new SDK. Written in an easy-to-read style, this book is packed with reusable examples that showcase the endless possibilities of the Windows SDK and also introduces the new Windows 8 app store. It explains how to set up the development environment and covers user interface design, using special effects and graphics, working with C# and C++, and much more. Provides a complete introduction to the Windows SDK and Windows 8, starting with setting up the development environment and building your first application Covers user interface design, touch- and event-driven design elements, leveraging windows-based services, and offline application development with HTML 5 Explores creating C# applications for the Windows 8 system, XNA 4 and Silverlight 5 considerations, and the role of C++ Shows how to debug, certify and deploy your applications Introduces the new Windows 8 app store and offers advice on marketing your apps Beginning Windows 8 Application Development is perfect for anyone who's ready to get started developing apps for the exciting new Windows 8 OS.

"Learn to build fast and fluid Windows 8 Apps in a variety of contexts and projects"--Cover.

Real World Windows 8 Development is a developer’s handbook - an essential guide to building complete, end-user ready Windows 8 applications on the XAML and C# programming stack from start to finish. Starting with Windows 8 basics and walking through practical aspects of building your Windows 8 application, you'll find step-by-step instructions and practical advice that will leave you with a modern, elegant app written to the highest of standards. Author Samidip Basu, an early adopter of Windows 8 app development techniques, breaks down the design, development, and polish of a real-world business application, adding handy tips and tricks around controls, user interface design, storage, navigation, contracts, and more. Give your Windows 8 application development efforts a kick-start with Real World Windows 8 Development. What you’ll learn Discover the pertinent points of the technology stack in Windows 8 from a developer’s perspective. Familiarize yourself with best practices around usage of controls, user experience paradigms, navigation, storage, service integration, contracts, and more. Incrementally make your Windows 8 application feature-rich and an integrated well-behaved citizen in the operating system. Learn from crisp, standalone discussion of topics in each chapter Who this book is for Real World Windows 8 Development is by a developer, for developers. The book is for .NET developers wanting to utilize their existing skills in XAML and C# towards building a Windows 8 application. On the fence about how your C# and .NET skills apply in the new WinRT world? Have a dream application idea that you slowly want to build up? This book is for you. Table of Contents Part I - Knowing the Ecosystem: Introduction to Windows 8 Part I - Knowing the Ecosystem: Modern UI Design Part II - Getting Started: The Platform & Developer Tools Part II - Getting Started: The Right Controls Part II - Getting Started: The Look & Feel Part II - Getting Started: Content Structuring & Navigation Part III - Into the Groove: Orientation & Visual States Part III - Into the Groove: Handling Data Part III - Into the Groove: Application Lifecycle Management Part III - Into the Groove: Contracts Part IV - The Bling: Media & Sensors Part IV - The Bling: Tiles, Badges, and Toasts Part V - Above & Beyond: Cloud Augmentation Part V - Above & Beyond: Live Service Integration Part V - Above & Beyond: Real-World Techniques Part V - Above & Beyond: Deployment