Wow, tremendous excitement in the Microsoft dev universe today with the Build conference kicking off! For those who missed the details, we will be able to download the Developer Preview bits for Windows 8 after 11:00pm EST tonight (9/13).
Additionally, all of the tech sessions at build are being recorded and will be available on Channel9 within 24 hours after recording.
I browsed through the list of great content being provided and put together my own video queue of training - posted below. My day job is Silverlight development and training, so I think the XAML/C# sessions will be a great fit. And I need to do my share of HTML/js development as well, so I am curious how good the design/develop/debug story is for HTMl5/js. But I also moonlight as a WP7 app developer, so the Gaming/Graphics sessions will be great.
XAML/C#
You’ve built your first basic Metro style app in XAML and now you’re ready to dive into the specifics of deeply integrating it with Windows. Come discover how you can deliver a first-class experience using new Windows 8 concepts. You’ll learn about the new activation model, how to incorporate…
Get the knowledge and guidance needed to build an app for an intuitive, powerful touch experience. Understand how touch design principles are firmly grounded in customer needs of comfort and utility. Discover how your app can use Windows 8 touch language and patterns, capabilities like smart…
C#, Visual Basic and the .NET tools have first-class support for the Windows Runtime. Learn about this integration and how to use C# and Visual Basic to write Metro style apps that call the Windows Runtime and how to build libraries that integrate with your Metro style apps using HTML.
Windows runs on a broad array of devices and form factors. Get your app on all the devices your customers use by building a great user experience that adapts to different screen sizes, aspect ratios and pixel densities using XAML. Learn how your app can take advantage of new multi-tasking views and…
A great Windows 8 app starts with a great user experience. Come to this session to see how Visual Studio 11 Express enables you to take full advantage of the rich platform features, efficient workflow and tools that maximize your productivity and creativity when designing Metro style apps using XAML.
This talk will cover how to bring existing C# or Visual Basic code into your Windows Metro style apps, enabling you to speed development through reuse. We will walk through the process of porting an app from Windows Phone to Metro style. You will see common issues that you may run into when bringing…
Does building a new Metro style app for Windows 8 mean you have to start from scratch? Absolutely not! Come learn how you can leverage existing code when developing Metro style apps for Windows 8. In this session, you will get an opportunity to learn directly from developers who have already…
HTML5/JS
Get started writing Metro style apps using your HTML5, JavaScript, and CSS skills today! Come dive into the specifics of this exciting platform and see how you can use your Web skills to build deeply-integrated Windows apps. You’ll discover how this mirrors or differs from traditional Web…
Get your app on all the devices your customers use by building a great user experience that adapts to different screen sizes, aspect ratios and pixel densities using HTML5, JavaScript and CSS. Through this session, learn how your app can take advantage of new multi-tasking views and orientations and…
Metro style apps using JavaScript allow developers to combine the powerful and vibrant Web platform with the rich capabilities of Windows, to build exciting apps for Windows 8. JavaScript developers building Metro style apps have access to not just all of the Web platform, but also hundreds of…
Data-centric apps with rich user experience often require significant plumbing across multiple tiers. We simplify n-tier apps by bridging Web client technologies with services – using WCF RIA Services, rich JavaScript client cache, OData, jQuery and effective data binding to UI elements. We will…
Combine your own app’s style with the familiar Windows personality. Use Blend and the power of CSS to customize the look and feel of your app, style the individual HTML and WinJS controls, and the elements within them. Infuse your app with your distinct character while keeping Windows' great touch…
Animations are fundamental in making Metro style apps lively and beautiful. Discover the animation library in Windows 8 and see how to bring these great animations to your apps with standard CSS 3.0 transitions and animations. In this session, you will learn how using standard templates and controls…
Learn how to use Expression Blend to visually construct, style and layout Metro style apps using HTML for Windows 8. In this session, we will demonstrate how Expression Blend makes it possible to create a better user experience with greater productivity. We’ll start with semantic markup and…
Create and build accessible Metro style apps to reach more customers. Accessibility support is built into each stage of creating an app and includes accessible templates, samples, controls and accessibility testing tools. Come learn how to make your apps accessible in screen reading, keyboard…
Come to this session to learn more about JavaScript, the language of Metro style apps using HTML, which provides the features you need to build real-world, full-featured Windows 8 apps. In this talk, you'll learn how to organize your code using the same coding standards we used to build Windows…
Gaming and Graphics
- Introduction to DirectX for Metro style apps
Learn how you can harness the power of DirectX for your app! As the foundation for all graphics on Windows 8, DirectX enables you to create the most compelling apps for connecting to people, visualizing information, storytelling, entertainment and creativity. Attend this session for a comprehensive…
Games are undoubtedly one of the most popular style of apps with users today and one of the largest money makers as well! If you have ever thought of writing a game, this session is for you! Windows 8 offers an end-to-end platform for developing games. Come to this session to learn how Windows 8…
Visual Studio 11 brings the most significant set of improvements for developing graphics-intensive apps in over a decade. Whether you are just getting started with 2D/3D games or a self-proclaimed "guru," there's something for you in this talk. We will walkthrough a slew of new tools integrated into…
3D graphics enable you to create the most immersive and impressive games around. But developers often think that creating 3D graphics is hard. In Windows 8, creating 3D graphics is easier than you think! You can write a Metro style game that uses the Direct3D API for high-performance 3D experiences.…
Make it fast! Great performance is a huge motivator of satisfaction and user preference with apps. Direct 2D powers high-performance 2D graphics rendering in Windows 8. In this session, you will learn advanced techniques for optimizing your Direct2D code for maximum speed and efficiency in your apps.
Every day, people are using apps that process images to create a variety of effects. The new image processing infrastructure in Windows 8 enables apps to perform high-performance image enhancements, transformation and composition using the GPU for photos, vector graphics and UI elements. In this…
Building a great social gaming experience for your users can be a challenging task. Your game has to be well designed, have a great user interface and perform under the most demanding conditions. This session will show how Windows 8 empowers you to build great user experiences with languages and…
Xbox LIVE, Microsoft's premier entertainment service, is coming to Windows 8. Whether you are developing a game or another kind of entertainment app for Windows 8, Xbox LIVE can help your app stand out in the crowd and help engage and delight users. You will learn about how to implement our…
Compelling audio and video are no longer optional enhancements in games; they are a requirement! Windows provides a spectrum of technologies you can use to create exhilarating experiences for your players. This session will profile the audio and video technologies available in Windows for Metro…
Windows offers a wide variety of input mechanisms for players to control your Metro style game, from touch, to gamepads, to classics like the keyboard and mouse, or even device sensors such as an accelerometer. At first glance, it may seem challenging to handle it all, but the input and sensor APIs…
Other
Microsoft Visual Studio 11 enable developers to take full advantage of the capability of Windows using the skills and technologies developers already know and love to deliver exceptional and compelling apps. Whether working individually or in a small, medium or large development team the Visual…
Come join Mark Russinovich for an overview of Microsoft’s new cloud OS. Assuming no prior knowledge of Windows Azure, this session will start by explaining the Windows Azure Platform-as-a-Service (PaaS) app philosophy and how it differs from that of traditional server apps. Then, demonstrating key…
The Windows Runtime (WinRT) is a key piece of technology used by all Metro style apps in Windows. What actually is the Windows Runtime though? This session explores this key question by digging into the concepts of language projections, the WinRT type system and advanced API patterns included in the…
Windows 8 enables users to log into any device with a single Microsoft account and continuously interact with your app on all of their devices. Your customers will expect the ability to bring their documents, photos, videos, and contacts with them as they move between their devices. Come see how you…
More and more users are becoming familiar with the concept of "the Cloud." More than ever, users are storing their data in the Cloud. SkyDrive is one of the world's leading cloud storage and document collaboration services. Learn how you can easily allow your users to read and write documents,…