Microsoft Press free ebook : Creating Mobile Apps with Xamarin.Forms

The third and final version of the Microsoft Press ebook -

Creating Mobile Apps with Xamarin.Forms: Cross-platform C# programming for iOS, Android, and Windows by the legendary author Charles Petzold is now available for download.

Download PDF  (~56 MB PDF)

EPUB and MOBI versions will be made available in the future.

This is the third version of the ebook about writing applications with Xamarin.Forms, the mobile development platform for iOS, Android, and Windows unveiled by Xamarin in May 2014. (The first two versions of this book were Preview Editions.) The two previous versions of this book were called Preview Editions because they were not complete. At 1200 pages, this is the first edition that can claim to be complete, even though several topics are not included and Xamarin.Forms continues to be progressively enhanced with no sign of slowing down.

This book is for C# programmers who want to write applications using a single code base that targets the three most popular mobile platforms: iOS, Android, and Windows, encompassing the Universal Windows Platform and Windows Phone.
Xamarin.Forms also has applicability for those programmers who eventually want to use C# and the Xamarin.iOS and Xamarin.Android libraries to target the native application programming interfaces (APIs) of these platforms. Xamarin.Forms can be a big help in getting programmers started with these platforms or in constructing a prototype or proof-of-concept application.
This book assumes that you know C# and are familiar with the use of the .NET Framework.

(Source)

BLU Win Jr LTE may get Windows 10 mobile upgrade

There’s still some hope for BLU Win Jr LTE Windows Phone users to get Windows 10 Mobile upgrade!!

BLU Win Jr LTE was not listed in the supported phones list for Windows 10 Mobile Insider Preview. After Microsoft rolled out the Windows 10 Mobile upgrade last week, this Phone from BLU was not listed in the list of supported Windows Phone that can be upgraded to Windows 10 Mobile.

But why this particular phone is discussed about is because this phone is being made available from the Microsoft official stores and was being advertised as Upgradable to Windows 10 Mobile when available. Though the other Windows Phones from BLU; BLU Win HD w510u and BLU Win HD LTE x150q are listed which can be upgraded to Windows 10 Mobile. (But it seems these too are on hold for the time being)

After the BLU Win Jr LTE users raised quite a noise being denied of the upgrade, though Microsoft has not officially announced it. But when ‘Upgradable to Windows 10’ was quietly removed from the BLU Win Jr description, it further annoyed the users as they felt cheated. But as said Microsoft has not said any thing officially of not supporting the upgrade. As expected, Windows 10 Mobile Upgrade Advisor app. when run on the BLU Win Jr LTE says “Your Phone is not supported for the upgrade to Windows 10”

There’s is still hope!

But the users of BLU Win Jr LTE, still there’s some hope. In one of the threads in the Answers Forum where I’m having the discussion with fellow Phone users, one of the user Kanishk Singh Raghav  in his correspondence with BLU has received reply that

“Unfortunately the release for this device has been delayed. Our Software Engineers are working with Microsoft to ensure that the new software update is stable for your device. We apologize for the long wait and appreciate your patience....”

When further queried about the date of availability of the update , BLU promptly replied:

At this point in time there is no estimate time of release for the new update as our engineers want to ensure that the update is stable for your device. We sincerely apologize for any inconvenience this matter may have caused.

(Mail correspondence screenshots courtesy: Kanishk Singh Raghav )

Which BLU Win Jr device will support the upgrade:

But point to note here is that the model of BLU Win Jr LTE sold in India is with 1 GB RAM and 8 GB internal memory (BLU Win Jr LTE X130e). So this version will support the Windows 10 upgrade.

While models made available in US , Canada were of 512 MB RAM and 4 GB internal memory. (BLU Win Jr LTE X130q) will not get the upgrade. While the BLU Win Jr made first available will also not get the upgrade.

BLU Win Jr LTE X130e : Update pending

BLU Win Jr LTE X130q : Update not available

BLU Win Jr : Update not available

So there’s some hope for the Indian buyers of the BLU Win Jr LTE phones as they come with 8GB of internal storage and 1 GB RAM. Also to note, there’s no official communication from Microsoft  . Let us wait and see how soon we can get this upgrade, if one is getting!

OneDrive app for Windows Phone 8.1 updated

OneDrive (formerly SkyDrive) app for Windows Phone 8.1 just got updated to version 4.1.2.0 . No new features added but bug fixes and performance improvements.

New in version 4.1.2:
• Bug fixes and performance improvements

Works with:
Windows Phone 8.1
Windows Phone 8
Windows Phone 7.5

Update your app from Windows Phone Store or check more details here.

[video] Meet Windows Phone 8

See some of the most exciting new features in Windows Phone 8, including Kid's Corner, Rooms, Live Apps, and more.
Joe Belfiore, Corporate VP of Windows Phone, shows how you can childproof your phone with Kid's Corner, collaborate with your family or coworkers in Rooms, use Live Apps that provide real-time information at a glance, and back up everything to SkyDrive.

(Source:The Windows Phone Blog)

Nokia Lumia 510 announced – Specifications

The most affordable Lumia so far, Lumia 510 has been launched as it was announced today in India. The entry-level smartphone comes in five eye-catching colors: red, yellow, cyan, white and black.

Here’s the complete Specs -

• Display: 4-inch WVGA 800×480 TFT, capacitive touch screen
• Memory: 256MB RAM (4GB internal storage)
• Camera: 5-megapixel auto-focus; video recording in VGA resolution @30fps
• Size: 120.7 x 64.9 x 11.5mm
• Weight: 129g
• Connectivity: GPRS/EDGE, WLAN 802.11 b/g/n, Bluetooth 2.1 + EDR, GPS/A-GPS, micro-USB, 3.5mm audio connector (AHJ + WP Controls), Dual Transfer Mode
• Processor: Snapdragon S1 800MHz
• Talk time: (GSM/WCDMA) Up to 8.4 h/ 6.2 h; Standby time: (GSM/WCDMA) Up to 653 h/ 738 h
• 1300 mAH battery
• Powered By Windows Phone 7.5

You’ll also have instant access to the best mobile navigation and location services available today, in the form of Nokia Maps, Drive and Transport.

The Lumia 510 also comes with 7GB of free SkyDrive cloud storage, allowing you to store and access your photos & videos almost anywhere

The Nokia Lumia 510 will be available to buy starting in November in India, China, South America and Asia. It will cost approximately USD199, before any local taxes and operator subsidies.

Update: As  per @NokiaIndia tweet, Lumia 510 will be priced below Rs.11000 in India

(Source:Nokia )

Bill Gates on Surface, Windows 8 and Windows Phone 8

With just days left for the launch of the Windows lineup – Windows 8, Surface and Windows Phone 8, Steve Clayton talks to Microsoft co-founder and chairman Bill Gates.

“Check out his thoughts on everything from natural user interfaces to the color of his new Surface RT tablet”

Source : Windows Phone Blog

Nokia Lumia 920 and Lumia 820 detailed Specs and fact sheet

 

Nokia today announced the Nokia Lumia 920 and the Nokia Lumia 820, the first devices in Nokia's Windows Phone 8 range.

Nokia Lumia 920

The Nokia Lumia 920 is the flagship Windows Phone 8 smartphone, including the latest advances in Nokia PureView imaging innovation. Using advanced floating lens technology, the camera in the Nokia Lumia 920 is able to take in five times more light than competing smartphones without using flash, making it possible to capture clear, bright pictures and video indoors and at night. It also compensates for hand movement while the photo is being taken.

The Nokia Lumia 920 also comes with Nokia City Lens, the latest addition to the Nokia location suite. By pointing the camera at a city street, City Lens overlays information about restaurants, shops, hotels and more on the surfaces of buildings, for the most intuitive way to explore surroundings. Nokia City Lens is the start of a new augmented reality experience that also enhances Nokia Maps, making it possible to move between maps view and augmented reality view to help people check their direction and surroundings. Along with enhancements to Nokia Drive and Nokia Transport, the Nokia location suite of services represents the most comprehensive, integrated mapping experience of any smartphone.

The Nokia Lumia 920 also comes with Nokia's largest ever battery (2000mAh) and, for the first time, built-in wireless charging for an easy, convenient way to get more out of every day.

 

Tap to play, leave to charge

More feature details here- http://www.nokia.com/global/products/phone/lumia920

The Nokia Lumia 820

The Nokia Lumia 820 is a stylish, mid-range smartphone that delivers high-end performance in a compact package.

While the Nokia Lumia 820 has the same unibody look and feel as the high end Lumia smartphones, it comes with an exchangeable shell design. Exchangeable shells not only make it possible to select from a range of colors, but also to add wireless charging. Beneath the shell is room to insert a micro SD memory card.

Nokia also announced a range of wireless charging accessories and partnerships. The Fatboy Recharge Pillow provides a fun way to recharge, while JBL introduced the JBL PowerUP, a wireless charging docking station with high quality audio in retro styling.

The Nokia Lumia 920 comes in yellow, red, grey, white and black. The Nokia Lumia 820 comes in red, yellow, grey, cyan, purple, white and black.

Both phones will be available in pentaband LTE and HSPA+ variants and are expected to start shipping in select markets later in the year. Nokia will announce pricing and specific roll-out dates country by country when sales are due to begin.

Nokia Lumia 820 with colourful shells

The new wireless charging plate for Lumia

For more feature details, pl check here- http://www.nokia.com/global/products/phone/lumia820

Product speficiations:

	Nokia Lumia 920	Nokia Lumia 820
Display	4.5 inch Nokia PureMotion HD+ WXGA IPS LCD Super Sensitive touch Nokia ClearBlack with high brightness mode and Sunlight Readability Enhancements	4.3 inch ClearBlack OLED WVGA 800x480 Super Sensitive touch Nokia ClearBlack with high brightness mode and Sunlight Readability Enhancements
Battery	2000mAh with integrated Qi wireless charging	1650mAh with support for Qi wireless charging
Processor	1.5GHz Dual Core Snapdragon S4	1.5GHz Dual Core Snapdragon S4
Main camera	8.7MP with Nokia PureView advanced optical imaging stabilization and Carl Zeiss optics Full 1080p HD video capture at 30fps	8MP Auto Focus with Carl Zeiss optics Dual LED flash Full HD 1080p video capture at 30fps
Front facing camera	1.2MP with 720p HD video	VGA
Memory	1GB RAM 32GB mass memory with 7GB free SkyDrive storage	1GB RAM 8GB mass memory with microSD memory card support and 7GB free SkyDrive storage

Get the complete fact sheet -

Nokia Lumia 920 Data Sheet   PDF (375KB)

Nokia Lumia 820 Data Sheet  PDF (394KB)

(Source)

New Smoked By Windows Phone Ads features Nokia Lumia 900 !!

 

Here are some of the New ‘Smoked by Windows Phone‘ Ads !!

So far, “Smoked by Windows Phone” has challenged more than 150,000 people in 45 countries around the world, beating most. Not all, but 98 per cent of them.

We offered Peter and his son tickets to a baseball game if he could prove his Android phone is faster at everyday things, like posting a status update. See how having Facebook built in makes Windows Phone simply faster.

We offered Ramona and four of her closest friends dinner if she could prove that her Android phone is faster at everyday things, like searching for a restaurant and sending the link to friends. See how Local Scout and Groups help make Windows Phone simply faster.

We offered Lindsay and her friend dinner on top of the Space Needle if she could prove her iPhone is faster at everyday things like posting photos to Facebook. See how having Facebook built in makes Windows Phone simply faster.

Skydrive for iPhone and Windows Phone

Recently there were lots of updates to SkyDrive which now uses the latest HTML5 technology making it very fast and very much improved file management. Now Microsoft has come up with SkyDrive app for Windows Phone and iPhone. Since sometime, Microsoft has been providing very good apps for iOS and Android based devices also apart from for Windows Phone.

SkyDrive for iPhone: SkyDrive from Microsoft is the place to store your files so you can access them from virtually any device. With SkyDrive for the iPhone, you can now easily access, manage and share files on the go. You can also upload photos or videos from your iPhone to SkyDrive.

Features:

• Access all of your SkyDrive content including files shared with you
• View recently used documents
• Upload photos or videos from your phone
• Share a link to any file using email
• Create folders. Delete files or folders

Available now in the App Store: http://bit.ly/v1JLYR

SkyDrive for Windows Phone

SkyDrive for Windows Phone is available in the Marketplace now: http://bit.ly/w2xMQW

The SkyDrive app for Windows Phone allows you to browse and manage your SkyDrive on the go.

(Source : Inside Windows Live )

Nokia Lumia 800 sales starts in India !

As expected the sales of Nokia Lumia 800 started in India, today, as just a few minutes back Nokia India tweeted about the same. Tennis Star Sania Mirza handed over the Nokia Lumia 800 to consumer who had pre-booked their Lumia 800s.

Sania Mirza giving away Nokia Lumia 800 to consumers who pre-booked at Ambience mall, Gurgaon. (pic courtesy @NokiaIndia)

This is the First Windows Phone from Nokia.

For more details about this stunning phone, check Nokia India.

UPDATE: 16/12/11  From the blog of a person who actually was there at the Ambience Mall, Gurgaon, there were lots of #smallamazings as NokiaIndia describes. Whoever got the Nokia Lumia 800 yesterday at the inauguration sale at Ambience mall got a gift of Xbox 360 with Kinect !! That’s really Wow!! (Source: ZOMGITSCJ ) (<< This has to be confirmed as I’m also getting reports that it was a lucky draw, not all of them got the gift >>  Now confirmed by Clinton Jeff – “ It was supposed to be a lucky draw but Nokia India decided to surprise everyone and give it away to pre-orders yesterday “ )

Also the Lumia 710 went on for Sale. Also there was a  Lumia shaped cake cut….and much more

Below posted Picture Courtesy ZOMGITSCJ

For more excellent pictures and first account view of the Inaugural Sale Please check ZOMGITSCJ

Nokia Lumia 800 Bookings Opens in India !

Since few days the Nokia India site was providing a form to fill details and submit which in turn will keep you informed about the availability of Nokia Lumia 800 in India.

Today they are providing a New form for booking the same at http://www.getnokia.in/800/  So those interested can Pre-order Nokia Lumia 800 .

Its estimated to be priced around Rs.30K (~ $580) . No official word about the pricing though.

• Also check out at your nearest Nokia Priority Stores for Pre bookings. Be among the first to own The coolest Windows Phone !!
• UPDATE: Just saw an Nokia Lumia TV Ad which displays another way to pre book Nokia Lumia 800, Just SMS Lumia to 55555

For more details on Lumia 800, please check http://www.nokia.com/in-en/products/phone/lumia800/

UPDATE 06/12/2011:  Just now @NokiaIndia tweeted the Best Buy price of Nokia Lumia 800 – Its Rs.29999/-    So its just a Re less than what I posted earlier its estimated price above 

Nokia lights up London with an amazing 4D projection

Nokia Lumia 800 with Windows phone http://nokia.ly/uBVXxw brought deadmau5 and the world's most advanced 4D technology together and created an amazing free light show at Millbank Tower, London.

Millbank was plunged into darkness with the iconic tower acting as the canvas for a never-before-seen spectacular. Each of the 120 metre high building's 800 windows were covered with vinyl as 16 powerful projectors, stationed 300 metres away on the other side of the river, beamed 3D images onto the structure. Huge butterflies flew across the London skyline and the tower was twisted, pulsated and even fell down. Billed as the "future of live events" the spectacular show was accompanied by music from super producer deadmau5, who created exclusive remixes for the performance -- adding the 4th dimension.

Xbox Companion app for Nokia Lumia– Its Not Just gaming;watch films,listen to music controlled from Lumia

 

Earlier in our posts, we had seen how to Play Kinectimals on Windows Phone, transfer it and continue playing on Xbox. So its not just gaming, Nokia Lumia phones come with some amazing features and functions. You can interact with your Xbox 360 right from your Nokia Lumia smartphone using the Xbox Companion app. You’ll be able to watch films and listen to music, all controlled by your smartphone. Upon activating the app in the Nokia Lumia phone, you can use Bing to search for any content.

The video demos an overview of the Xbox companion app which integrates Xbox Live and Windows Phone on Nokia Lumia handsets.

Coming in the next couple of months, Xbox users will be able to download the system software that updates the dashboard look and feel, as well as giving you a whole heap of new features.

(Source)

A Visual Guide to custom ringtones for Windows Phone

Want to create a cool ringtone for your Windows phone? Check this Visual guide which will take you through the steps.

(Click for enlarged view of pic)

Also check how-to article on custom ringtones and review of some of the new ringtone-making apps in Marketplace

(Source: Windows phone Blog)

Play Kinectimals on Windows Phone, transfer it via Tag and continue playing on Xbox

Play with your Kinectimals cub on your Windows Phone, so allowing you to travel around with the cub in your pocket with you. But the coolest thing about this new Windows Phone game is the cross platform interaction with the Xbox 360. After playing Kinectimals on your Windows Phone, you can transfer that animal into Xbox 360. And continue playing on XBox360. There’s an option within the game that when selected displays a QR code. Pop this code in-front of the Xbox 360 Kinect and it will register your animal, transferring it to your Xbox 360 in an instant.

Check it out to see how it all works on your Windows Phone

(Source:Channel9)

Spotify Demo - Music Subscription Service coming to Windows Phone !

Hugely popular Music Subscription service Spotify coming to Windows Phone. Spotify gives you on-demand access to millions of songs. Spotify service which costs $9.99 a month, also lets you share your music on Facebook, Twitter, and Windows Messenger—and do some other cool things on Windows Phone:

• Browse and play your friends' Spotify top tracks, artists, and playlists
• Pin your playlists as Live Tiles to your Start screen for fast access
• Play music in the background while running other apps or when your phone is locked
• Pause, play, or change tracks when your phone is locked
• Stream over WiFi or 2.5/3G - all your existing playlists are available
• Offline playlists - play your music without an internet connection
• On-the-fly sync - every track you add to a playlist appears on mobile and computer
• What’s New view
• Receive music from friends via the inbox
• Starred tracks - tag all your favourites into a special list

Here is the Demo of Spotify on Windows Phone -

(Source: Channel9)

To get Spotify on your Windows Phone 7, just head over to the Marketplace.

UPDATE: Seems Spotify app is only in the US marketplace at present but will be available soon at other places too, so keep checking

You can signup for the first in line when it launches in your country – here

Windows Phone Minimum Hardware requirements changed- Cameras are optional

Microsoft quietly changed Windows Phone Minimum Hardware requirements. These are the Standards as of now in the MSDN document dated Sep 23, 2011 . As it shows the Cameras are optional, even the Primary Camera. So does it mean soon we can see low priced Windows Phones coming to markets ?

Windows Phone Hardware -

Standard Hardware

• A common set of hardware controls and buttons that include the Start, Search, and Back buttons.

• A large WVGA (800 x 480) format display capable of rendering most web content in full-page width and displaying movies in widescreen.

• Capacitive 4-point multi-touch screens for quick, simple control of the phone and its features.

• Support for data connectivity using cellular networks and Wi-Fi.

• 256 MB (or more) of RAM and 8 GB (or more) of flash storage.

• A-GPS

• Accelerometer

Optional Hardware

• Compass

• Gyro

• Primary Camera

• Front-facing Camera

NOTE- Additional sensors, such as proximity and light, are on the phone but are not available for developer interaction yet.

Personally I’m not in favor of removal of Cameras though there will be section of people who may not be wanting Cameras as in Organizations where Cameras are not allowed for security reasons.So a Smartphone without cameras will be a good idea.

[videos] Nokia Lumia 800- First Hands-On video

 

Here are 2 videos providing sneak peek at the absolutely stunning Nokia Lumia 800 running Windows Phone 7.5

 

[video] Nokia Drive - Voice-guided turn-by-turn navigation in Windows Phone

One of the big announcement at Nokia World was the introduction of Nokia Drive, Nokia’s proprietary voice-guided turn-by-turn navigation tool provided with Windows Phone.

It’ll complement to Windows Phone’s already built-in navigation via Bing Maps.

Nokia Lumia 710 and Lumia 800 Full Specs

Just sometimes back Nokia CEO Stephen Elop unveiled Nokia’s first Windows Phones, the Nokia Lumia 800 and the Nokia Lumia 710 at the NokiaWorld.

Nokia Lumia 800 Specs -

The Nokia Lumia 800 is a flagship device, bearing more than a similar resemblance to the much-lauded Nokia N9. Behind the 3.7-inch AMOLED display sits a 1.4GHz processor with hardware acceleration and a separate graphics processor. Storage is taken care of, too, with 16GB on board and a further 25GB available free on SkyDrive, Microsoft’s cloud-based storage space

• Curved glass, 3.7" touchscreen, smooth one-piece body
• Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, email, Chat, SMS
• Bing, Internet Explorer 9, HTML5, Wi-Fi
• Carl Zeiss optics, 8 MP camera, HD video
• Weight- 142 g
• Maximum 3G talk time - 9.5 h , Maximum 3G standby time - 335 h
• Maximum music playback time 55 h, Maximum video playback time 7 h
• Hardware CPU clock rate 1400 MHz
• Hardware CPU type Qualcomm MSM8255 (WCDMA)
• 16 GB mass memory (no slot for micro-SD cards)
• SDRAM memory 512 MB
• Operating System Windows Phone 7.5 Mango
• Available in Cyan, Black, Magenta
• Extra features: TV out,Micro SIM,Nokia Maps,Bing Maps,Flight Mode,Nokia Drive, Nokia Music,Nokia Store, 2 Microphones, Microsoft Lync, 3D Accelerometer, Proximity sensor, Magnetometer Sensor, Ambient light sensor, Nokia Contacts Transfer

The Nokia Lumia 800 will be available in France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Spain and the UK in November.

It will be priced at approximately €420 before taxes and subsidies. It is also scheduled to be available in Hong Kong, India, Russia, Singapore and Taiwan before the end of the year, and in further markets in early 2012. It’s available to pre-order in select countries now via the Nokia website.

For a detailed Specifications, in action video, 360⁰ view and much more , please check http://www.nokia.co.uk/gb-en/products/phone/lumia800/specifications/

(picture courtesy: Windows Phone blog)

Nokia Lumia 710 Specs - 

The Nokia Lumia 710 is an affordable smartphone offering a new alternative to people looking for a mid-level smartphone. The Nokia Lumia 710 offers incredible value to a whole new range of smartphone buyers. With interchangeable back covers (in a choice of black, white, cyan, fuchsia and yellow) and a choice of black or white device, there’s no shortage of personalization available, particularly when you consider the vast suite of apps on offer. Nokia Lumia 710 also sports a 1.4GHz processor together with hardware acceleration and a dedicated graphics processor.

• ClearBlack display, anti-glare screen, 3.7" touchscreen
• Swappable covers, changeable home screen colours
• Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, email, Chat, SMS
• Bing, Internet Explorer 9, HTML5, Wi-Fi
• 5 MP camera, auto-focus, LED flash
• Weight 126 g
• Maximum 3G talk time 7.6 h, Maximum 3G standby time 400h
• Maximum music playback time 38h, Maximum video playback time 6h
• Hardware CPU type Qualcomm MSM8255 (WCDMA)
• Hardware CPU clock rate 1400 MHz
• 8 GB mass memory, expandable with micro-SD card up to 24 GB (max 16 GB cards)
• SDRAM memory 512 MB
• Operating System Windows Phone 7.5 Mango
• Extra Features: Micro SIM,Bing Maps,Flight Mode,Nokia Drive,Nokia Music, Nokia Store, 2 Microphones,Microsoft Lync, 3D Accelerometer,Proximity sensor, Magnetometer Sensor, Ambient light sensor,,Nokia Contacts Transfer

For a detailed Specifications, in action video, 360⁰ view and much more , please check http://www.nokia.co.uk/gb-en/products/phone/lumia710/specifications/
The Nokia Lumia 710 will be available in Hong Kong, India, Russia, Singapore and Taiwan towards the end of the year with other markets joining early in 2012. Lumia 710 will be around €270 excl taxes.

Also on board are new signature Nokia experiences, optimized for Windows Phone. Nokia Drive turns both the new Lumia smartphones into dedicated personal navigation devices, with free turn-by-turn navigation and dedicated in-car user interface

(picture courtesy: Windows Phone blog)