Arriving at L.A. I have already heard, that there wouldn't be much on Windows Mobile @ PDC. So I've started asking myself, if this would be the right conference to attend to as a Device Application MVP.

Looking back from today I have to say: Yes it was - definitly!

The Windows Mobile Booth at the Microsoft Pavillion was most of the time pretty crowded. (Not the time the picture has been taken, as it was i hour before the PDC closed)

The Windows Mobile Booth was also a meeting point for a lot of interested mobile devs, as well as (Device Application) MVPs. So I have been able to meet Maarten Struys, Ginny Caughey, Torsten Weber, Paul Yao, Dave Glover and many more. Even Lillian Eng, Eric Nelson and Loke  Uei Tan have been available @ the booth to answer questions.

Especially to that Constanze Roman has had a lot of work to do, besides networking. She did a lot of video interviews with different people (including me) on Windows Mobile. Starguests have been Amit Chopra and Giorgio Sardo, who announced Silverlight 2 Mobile and showed a lot of demos during their session @ PDC.

You can see the video on the Microsoft PDC Homepage or directly here on Channel 9. The first demo by Amit showed his Visual Studio for Windows Mobile which indeed has been a Silverlight presentations of Screenshot, but still very amusing.

Unfortunatelly this session was only able to show the demos by themselves, which was very impressing, so that taking time to dive in into one or 2 Codesamples would have been nice. In my opionion it should have been a second session where a codedive could have taken place at. But the session was so crowded that even 2!!! overflow rooms have been established. Thanks Amit and Giorgio for this great session!

As Amit announced the first CTP on Silverlight 2 Mobile is supposed to be available very early of 2009.

Regarding the session, there were no more sessions explicitly on Windows Mobile. One session was cancelled earlier, so this was the only session.

But during keynotes and sessions it was shown, that Windows Mobile is still a very important platform.

So was Bluehoo announced on Monday, which is part of the new Windows Azure Platform, especially on Windows Mobile. Other sessions on this topic, especially Windows Live Services have shown different demos on how to integrate Windows Mobile here as well. As nothing officially on an API for Windows Mobile regarding Live Services has been said or shown, my personal impression is that there is something in the pipe. How otherwise should have the demos been working on Windows Mobile?

All in all - not very much on Mobility @ PDC, but the little bit was quite impressing.

Seeing forward to attend PDC 2009 from Nov 17 - 20th in L.A.. And who knows? Probably that time Windows Mobile will be the lineup for the keynote? *JOKINGLY*.

Ich wollte mich auf diesem Weg nochmal für alle E-Mails bedanken, die ich von Euch während meiner Abwesenheit erhalten habe. Für diejenigen, die es noch nicht wissen: Ich war leider durch eine kleine OP und die Heilungszeit danach ein wenig von der Bildfläche verschwunden. Nun bin ich aber wieder (halbwegs) genesen, was mich dazu führte letzte Woche die PDC zu besuchen. Dazu mehr im folgenden Post.

Leider habe ich noch eine "traurige Mitteilung" machen: Ich habe mich entschlossen diesen Blog nur noch in englischer Sprache fort zu führen, da der Aufwand für beide Sprachen nicht zu unterschätzen ist. Dies ist somit der letzte zweisprachige Post.Wenn ihr dennoch wünscht, dass ich meine Entscheidung nochmals überdenken sollte, schreibt mir einen Kommentar, oder eine E-Mail und ich lasse mich überstimmen.

Somit also: Back to work.

- Englisch Version -

I wanted to say once again "Thank you" for all those E-Mails I got from you during my absence. For those, who haven't heard of: I have been on a small surgery and the healing time caused my absence from the PC. But now I'm (almost) back to duty, which allowed me to be at the PDC last week. More on this in the following post.

Additionally I have a "sad" announcement to do: I've chosen to keep the following posts only in english as the ongoing work to keep this blog bilingual isn't to underestimate. This is actually the last bilingual post. If you want to have it going on bilingual, just post your comment or send me a mail and I will reconsider my decision.

So to say: Back to work.

Vielen Dank an die zahlreichen Teilnehmer, die Simons und meine Session zum Thema "iTextSharp - PDF mittels .NET" auf der BASTA! 2008 in Mainz besucht haben.

Wie versprochen, hier die Slides und und die Code Samples. Wir wünschen viel Spass damit.

- English Version -

Thanks to all attendees, who joined Simons and my session on "iTextSharp - PDF via .NET" at BASTA! 2008 in Mainz.

As promised, you can get the slides (german only) and code samples here. We wish yo a lot of fun with it.

Vom 20.11. bis zum 21.11.2008 (Preconference am 19.11.) finden in Berlin der Technical Summit 2008 und die Academic Days (19.11.) statt. Genau wie Torsten bin auch ich als Experte beim Technical Summit mit dabei. 

Ich freue mich schon darauf einige von Euch dort begrüßen zu dürfen und mal wieder aus dem Büro raus zu kommen.

Zur Erinnerung (insbesondere für mich), wo man mich im laufenden zweiten Halbjahr dieses Jahres noch antreffen kann, in chronologischer Reihenfolge:

- English Version -

From Nov. 20th to Nov 21st 2008 (Preconference Nov 19th) the Technical Summit 2008 and the Academic Days (Nov 19th) take place in Berlin. Like Torsten I'll be at the Technical Summit available as ATE. 

I'm glad to see most of you over there and to get out of my office for a few days again.

As a remider(especially for myself), where you can catch me during the ongoing second half of this year in chronological order:

Ab heute findet eine neue englische Chatreihe statt, welche sich generell um das Thema der Entwicklung mobiler Anwendungen befasst.

Den Anfang heute, am 12. August um 18 Uhr deutscher Zeit macht:

Windows Mobile App Dev Chat: Top 10 Developer FAQ
Do you have questions regarding Windows Mobile application development that you need answers to? Spend an hour with Microsoft employees and MVPs who are experts in Windows Mobile application development. Please join us for a live chat and bring on the questions! This chat will cover the tools and technologies used to develop applications using the Windows Mobile operating system. This month we will also go through the top 10 FAQ

Weitere Termine und Themen sind:

• Aug 12 - Topic: Top 10 FAQ
• Sept 16 - Topic: TBD
• Oct 14 - Topic: TBD
• Nov 11 - Topic: TBD
• Dec 16 - Topic: TBD
• Jan 13 - Topic: TBD
• Feb 10 - Topic: TBD
• Mar 17 - Topic: TBD
• April 14 - Topic: TBD
• May 12 - Topic: TBD
• June 16 - Topic: TBD

Die offizielle Seite finden Sie hier. Wenn Sie gerne ein Thema vorgeschlagen haben möchten, lassen Sie es mich wissen.

- English Version -

Today a new chat series starts on Windows Mobile Application Development.

It begins today,  August 12th at 9 AM PST:

Windows Mobile App Dev Chat: Top 10 Developer FAQ
Do you have questions regarding Windows Mobile application development that you need answers to? Spend an hour with Microsoft employees and MVPs who are experts in Windows Mobile application development. Please join us for a live chat and bring on the questions! This chat will cover the tools and technologies used to develop applications using the Windows Mobile operating system. This month we will also go through the top 10 FAQ

Further Appointments and topics are:

• Aug 12 - Topic: Top 10 FAQ
• Sept 16 - Topic: TBD
• Oct 14 - Topic: TBD
• Nov 11 - Topic: TBD
• Dec 16 - Topic: TBD
• Jan 13 - Topic: TBD
• Feb 10 - Topic: TBD
• Mar 17 - Topic: TBD
• April 14 - Topic: TBD
• May 12 - Topic: TBD
• June 16 - Topic: TBD

Check out the official page here. If you have anything that you would like to see let me know.

Patrick wies mich gerade darauf hin, dass mein letzter Post zu diesem Thema auf eine ältere Version des SDKs verwies. Die neue Version, welche hier erhältlich ist, neben der Unterstützung des Nav sensors ebenfalls das HTC Light Sensor SDK enthält. Letzteres ermöglicht die Abfrage des Umgebungslichts in Lumen.

Danke Patrick, selbst, wenn du beim Thema "Managed Code" innere Qualen erleiden musst.

- English Version -

Patrick told me actually, that my last post on this topic relied on an old version of the SDK. The new Version, which is available here, has beside of the support for the Nav sensors as well the HTC Light Sensor SDK included, which enables requesting the ambient light in lumens.

Thanks Patrick, even if the topic "Managed Code" causes inner pain for you.

Vom 17.10. bis zum 19.10.2008 finden in Leipzig die .NET Open Space 2008 statt, wie Torsten hier ankündigt.

Dabei handelt es sich um keine klassische Entwicklerkonferenz, sondern das Konzept sieht anders aus. Auf designiere Sprecher und eine feste Agenda wird verzichtet. Man vereinbart vor Ort, worüber man sprechen mag und diskutiert über das Thema dann in einem so genannten Open Space. Alle sind demzufolge gleich und agieren einfach als Teilnehmer und bringen Informationen ein, wenn möglich - Ein sehr interessantes Konzept, wie ich finde.

Die Veranstaltung selbst ist kostenlos, jedoch sind die Plätze selbst limitiert.

Ich selbst werde wahrscheinlich leider aus zeitlichen Gründen nicht dabei sein können. Allen Teilnehmer wünsche ich auf jeden Fall viel Spaß.

Anmeldung und weitere Informationen zur Veranstaltung gibt es hier.

- English Version -

From Oct. 17th to Oct 19th the .NET Open Space 2008 takes place in Leipzig, as Torsten announces here.

But this isn't a typical developers conference, but the concept behind is different. There are no designated speakers and a predefinied agenda doesn't exist. It is agreed at the conference where and what to talk and probably discuss about  which then takes place in a so called Open Space. All persons are therefore equal and act out as participants, which contribute their information if possible - I think a very interesting concept.

The conference itself is free, but the available places are limited.

I by myself think that I can't participate out of timing issues. I wish all participants definitly a lot of fun.

Registration and futher information on the conference are available here.

Eines der verwirrensten Konstrukte sind Netzwerke und Verbindungen als solche unter Windows Mobile.

Simon Hart beschriebt hier in seinem ersten Teil, wie man diesem Thema mittels Configuration Service Providern Herr wird.

- English Version -

One of the most confusing points are networks and connections as themselves under Windows Mobile.

Simon Hart describes here in his first part, how to deal with this topic using Configuration Service Provider.

Zugegeben - das HTC Diamond / MDA Compact IV ist schon ein nettes Gerät. Die neue eigens entwickelte Bedienoberfläche sieht schon klasse aus. Doch interessanter als diese finde ich persönlich den implementierten Bewegungssensor.

Dieser wird u.a. vom Fotoalbum, dem Opera Browser verwendet und dient zum automatischen Drehen des Displays. Das Spiel Teeter selbst wurde eigens hierfür entwickelt, womit durch Gewichtsverlagerung eine virtuelle Kugel durch ein Labyrinth bewegt werden muss.

(Teeter, Quelle: http://www.worldofppc.com/HWTests/diamond.htm)

Mittlerweile gibt es auch einige Spassanwendungen, wie das "Diamond Beer" (http://wmpoweruser.com/?p=581) oder das virtuelle Lichtschwert "HTC Light Saber" (http://www.freewarepocketpc.net/ppc-download-htc-light-saber-v1-0.html), oder sogar die virtuelle Wasserwaage "Kai's Wasserwage.Net"(http://pocketland.de/42544/Kai_s_Wasserwaage_fuer_HTC_Touch_Diamond.html), welche dieses Sensor ebenfalls verwenden.

(Diamond Beer, Quelle: http://wmpoweruser.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/08/diamondbeer.jpg)

(HTC Light Saber, Quelle: http://www.freewarepocketpc.net/img2/pocket-pc-light-saber.jpg)

(Kai's Wasserwaage.Net, Quelle: http://pocketland.de/images/screenshots/screenshot.42544.gif)

Viele weitere Applikationen finden sich beispielsweise hier.

Das interessante daran ist jedoch, dass viele dieser Anwendungen ein installiertes .NET Compact Framework benötigen. Somit muss sich wohl der Sensor auch von verwaltetem Code ausführen lassen...

Koushik Dutta gibt in seinem Post Informationen, wie der Sensor Daten bereitstellt und bietet einen Managed Wrapper zusätzlich als Download an.

Das nenne ich doch mal innovativ!

- English Version -

Indeed - the HTC Diamond / MDA Compact IV is a cool device. The especially developed UI is awesome.

But more interesting than that is the builtin Accelerometer.

This one is used by the included photo application, the Opera Browser and helps to rotate the screen automatically. The included game Teeter was developed especially for this, where you you can navigate a virtual ball through a labyrinth via acceleration.

(Teeter, Source: http://www.worldofppc.com/HWTests/diamond.htm)

Meanwhile there are a few fun applications available which make use of the accelerometer, like "Diamond Beer" (http://wmpoweruser.com/?p=581) or the virtual Light Saber "HTC Light Saber" (http://www.freewarepocketpc.net/ppc-download-htc-light-saber-v1-0.html), or even a virtual level "Kai's Wasserwage.Net"(http://pocketland.de/42544/Kai_s_Wasserwaage_fuer_HTC_Touch_Diamond.html).

(Diamond Beer, Source: http://wmpoweruser.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/08/diamondbeer.jpg)

(HTC Light Saber, Source: http://www.freewarepocketpc.net/img2/pocket-pc-light-saber.jpg)

(Kai's Wasserwaage.Net, Source: http://pocketland.de/images/screenshots/screenshot.42544.gif)

A few more interesting applications can be found here for example.

Even more interesting than that is the fact, that a lot of these applications need a preinstalled .NET Compact Framework. This means, that there has to be a possibility to use the sensor from managed code...

Koushik Dutta gives in his post information, how the sensor delvers data and offers additionally a managed Wrapper as a download.

This is, what I call innovation!

Wie Constanze berichtet, wird es ab August eine neue englische Webcastserie zur Entwicklung von Windows Mobile Anwendungen geben:

New Windows Mobile Application Development chat series coming up in August

Mark your calendars. Starting on August 12th, 2008 we are launching a new chat series that focuses exclusively on Windows Mobile Application Development. This chat will cover the tools and technologies used to develop applications using the Windows Mobile operating system. MVPs and members of the Windows Mobile product team will be joining this chat to answer your questions. For the August chat, we will also go through the top 10 FAQ on Windows Mobile.

The chat will take place on August 12, at 9 AM PST. To register for it, please click on this link: http://www.microsoft.com/communities/chats/vcs/08_0812_msdn_MOBILE.ics.

Stay tuned on any upcoming chats! 

- English Version -

Constanze reports, that in august a new webcast series is starting on Windows Mobile Application Development:

New Windows Mobile Application Development chat series coming up in August

Mark your calendars. Starting on August 12th, 2008 we are launching a new chat series that focuses exclusively on Windows Mobile Application Development. This chat will cover the tools and technologies used to develop applications using the Windows Mobile operating system. MVPs and members of the Windows Mobile product team will be joining this chat to answer your questions. For the August chat, we will also go through the top 10 FAQ on Windows Mobile.

The chat will take place on August 12, at 9 AM PST. To register for it, please click on this link: http://www.microsoft.com/communities/chats/vcs/08_0812_msdn_MOBILE.ics.

Stay tuned on any upcoming chats!