Ever wondered when you will get an optimized Facebook application for Windows Mobile? The time is now.

Some key features are:

• Send messages to any of the people in your Friends list.

• Take pictures and videos on your phone, then upload them right to Facebook.

• Send messages or call people in your Friends list.

• Manage your profile and post anytime, anywhere.

A more detailed description can be found here.

Or download it directly from your mobile browser here.

 

 
(Source: Microsoft)

Very often I get asked via Mail or Messenger “Can you help me”, “How do I…”, “Can you tell me how…” or similar questions.

My general reply is (especially for german based persons) to use the Windows Mobile Forum on MSDN. There is even a localized forum for those who aren’t that familiar with the english language… (Okay, in that case they aren’t able to read that post, but this is another story ).

The reason I tell people to use this forum has several reasons:

• Probably there is someone out on the Net, who has the same problem. Documenting it that way makes it easy for others to find THAT solution.
• Searching the forum minimizes the questions.
• I don’t know all the answers. On the forums are several other people around, who can answer questions even better than I do.
• You can ask in native german language.

Even those of you who tried it earlier and haven’t been satisfied with it shall give it another try: The Forums have been reworked at the beginning of this year.

This doesn’t only mean a facelift but new functionality as well. If you are interested in a breif german overview I suggest reading Kai’s blogpost on this.

As I’m a Moderator on this Forum as well seeing forward to see you there.

Link: German Windows Mobile Forum on MSDN

Yes, I know. I’m old school regarding Web 2.0.

However – haven’t had the chance to resist Twitter any more instead of using the Facebook Status all the time.

So, if you want to follow, you can follow me at: http://twitter.com/PeNoWiMo

Do you want to know, which requirements have to be met for creating Apps for the Windows Mobile Marketplace? Then you should have a look at the Submission Guidelines. This document is actually a 32 pages long Draft in PDF Format.

For a quick overview I’d suggest to head over to pocketnow.com and take a look at the short summary, which gives you a quick overview of which requiremnts have to be met.

Did you ever had the opinion, that GDI drawing operations are slower, when working with a rotated screen?
Probably you are right.
Chris Take from OpenNETCF goes down on this and analyzes it in his blog post.
His testing tool has been published as well.

Good job, Chris.

This is, how you shall be greeted by VS each morning.

 

Nearly every mobile business application uses a database, whether on client side, or on server side.

How you can use a local database, sync with a server database and incorporate in other ways shows this special last edition from the Lost Files series.

Again, this document is kept in german. If anyone is willing to translate it into english, feel free to contact me.

In contrast to the other Lost Files episodes, this time this document is a full featured chapter.

As this german native document has been written at the end of 2006 a few new hot topics are missing, but still it is worth the read.

Happy reading. :)

Please be aware of, that this article and samples are AS IS. No support, no update is being given.

 

I get questioned a lot of times, where to find new or different mobile controls from third partys.

First of all I’d like to point you to Resco.net. With the MobileForms Toolkit you get new forms, which are enhanced in touch functionality.

A list of all included controls including screenshots can be seen here. The toolkit itself is compatible with VS 2008 as well.

A smaller set of interesting UI components can be found at http://www.beemobile4.net/.

As it looks like this company is just starting, the included elements look promising. Especially the offer of suggesting new elements looks promising.

 

But what do you do, if you want to create your own alphablended or transparent controls?

In this case you shall have a look at Alex Yakhnins post to see, how the basics work.

If you aren’t interested in creating evereything from scratch, you are probably interested in taking a look at the AlphaMobileControls on CodePlex.

These available base elements can be used for developing more compelling controls, if needed.

The AlphaMobileControls have been shortly covered in our WebCast Series as well (unfortunatly in german only):

Windows Mobile für Profis (Teil 3 von 6) - Wege zu ansprechenden Benutzeroberflächen unter Windows Mobile: Alphablending, gradiente Farbverläufe und Transparenz

You know, that a “Hello World” is always the first starting point on how to develop your first application.

Maarten Struys, a Netherlands Device Apllication Development MVP, has assembled some videos in english, to give you a staring point in creating your first mobile application in managed Code. The 20 minutes videos cover as well, which tools are needed to start your mobile development.

Just take a look over here, if you are interested. Good job Maarten!

As you are aware of, that you have already a Cellular emulator for your Windows Mobile Emulator, how would you like the idea of emulating Bluetooth as well?

In that case you shall have a look at the Bluetooth for Microsoft Device Emulator.

It shows how to install and configure the necessary components. This includes the FreeBT Bluetooth stack, which has to be installed on your hosting machine. As FreeBT is still in alpha stage you shall have a look at the troubleshooting section for more information…