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Latest Articles: Mobile


Walkthrough: Packaging a Smart Device Solution for Deployment
Entry Date: Sep 2008 site: MSDN Rating:
keywords:Mobile; Pocket Pc; Compact Framework;
Article Description:
This walkthrough demonstrates how to use Visual Studio to package your application and its resources into a CAB file so that it can be deployed to an end-user's smart device.
Comments:

We are used to create MSI's for Desktop applications, but for compact fx? This walktrough will tell you step by step how to create a CAB (installable setup) for your mobile application.

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Tips for ActiveSync with Bluetooth
Entry Date: Aug 2008 site: MobileViews Rating:
keywords:Mobile; Pocket Pc;
Article Description:
Using Bluetooth from a Windows desktop or notebook and anything else seems a lot harder than it should be. And, since Microsoft’s Windows Mobile ActiveSync is a general pain in the neck itself, the combination of Bluetooth and ActiveSync often is a test of patience and some detective skills.
Comments:

Nice step by step guide to configure ActiveSync in order to communicate via Blue Tooth, no more ugly cradle / cables around your table :-).

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Fast and Simple Mobile Access to Pocket Outlook Data
Entry Date: Aug 2008 site: Developer Rating:
keywords:Networking; Mobile; Pocket Pc; Compact Framework;
Article Description:
In order for a new developer tool function to be useful, it must be easy to implement, provide a significant benefit to the task at hand, and perform well. As a Windows Mobile developer, I believe the addition of managed classes for accessing and interacting with the data contained within Pocket Outlook (contacts, tasks, and appointments) meets all these criteria.
Comments:

Nice intro about how to manage Pocket Outlook from your custom application.

The sample shows you only how to handle contacts, but you can as well send e-mails and even force synchronization:

Send E-Mails: Take a look to EmailMessage and OutlookSession, and EmailAccounts[SystemState.MessagingActiveSyncAccountName].

Force synchronization:MessagingApplication.Synchronize(mailsession.EmailAccounts[SystemState.MessagingActiveSyncAccountName])

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Working with files on Smartphone devices with the .NET Compact Framework
Entry Date: Jul 2008 site: MSDN Rating:
keywords:Mobile; Pocket Pc; Compact Framework;
Article Description:
This article will examine some of the considerations when building file based applications for the Smartphone platform with managed code. This will include some code examples you can use to build in file browsing to your .NET Compact Framework applications.
Comments:

Good stuff... how to work with files (create files, get files from a given path/directory...), show common dialogs (browse for files or folders...) using compact framework.

For desktop developers this quick guide can save you a lot of headaches (yep you will realize... compact framework is not exactly the same as .net framework :-))

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Manage Handheld Device Files from Desktop
Entry Date: Jul 2008 site: codeproject Rating:
keywords:Networking; Mobile; Pocket Pc; Compact Framework;
Article Description:

I have recently worked on an application that utilizes the .Net Compact Framework 2.0. We have an application counterpart that is installed on the Desktop, which manages sending files originally created on Handheld Devices over a B2B service.

We have had file-corruption problems in the past involving Microsoft ActiveSync. Let me make it clear that I am not stating that ActiveSync was directly responsible for the problems. We have a unique requirement that requires us to perform a second type of synchronization, which is between a local working folder, and the synchronized files from the handheld device which reside on the desktop computer.

Comments:

... One of the first thing we developers have to face when building an smartphone application / handheld is sinchronization: Smart devices to Desktop and the other way around.

You may think... this is a very common scenario and it has been solved on the .net compact framework, the answer is NO !!, if you want to copy files using ActiveSync you will have to use unmanaged code :-(

BUT... there is a free wrapper avaiable from OpenNETCF, by using this you will only have to reference a DLL and use a nice managed RAPI class to copy files in your C# or VB .net application !!

This article goes beyond this scope and implements a class to fully sinchronize folders, excellent material to download it and take as a sample to code your rapi functionallity.

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What's New for Developers in Windows Mobile 6
Entry Date: Jun 2008 site: MSDN Rating:
keywords:Mobile; Pocket Pc; Compact Framework;
Article Description:
The Windows Mobile® 6 developer platform release focuses on a few core goals: simplify line of business (LOB) application development and deployment, make the task of building a single application that runs successfully across the many different devices in the Windows Mobile family easier, and provide an enhanced user experience. This paper explains the new Windows Mobile 6 features and their purpose from a developer's perspective. This paper also explains the many new tools provided by the Windows Mobile 6 Software Development Kit (SDK), and provides some guidance on getting started developing Windows Mobile 6 applications.
Comments:

Interesting summary about what's new from Mobile 5 to 6

More emulated devices, and more powerful (even Fake GPS or battery emulator), new controls (DatePicker, ...), keyboard based navigation, enhancements over XML and SQL Server CE handling, ...

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Introduction to User Interface Controls in a Windows Mobile-based Smartphone Application Using C++ and Visual Studio 2005
Entry Date: Jun 2008 site: MSDN Rating:
keywords:Mobile; Pocket Pc; Compact Framework;
Article Description:
This article discusses the use of Visual Studio 2005 to develop native applications in Visual C++ for Windows Mobile 5.0 -based devices, with particular attention to dialog boxes and controls. It is aimed at developers who are new to mobile devices, but who have experience with the Microsoft Windows operating system. (15 printed pages). You can also view a video of this article.
Comments:

If you are a win forms developer, jump into mobile is not traumatic but... you have to learn the rules of working with a minimal screen and some different input devices.

This article shows very basics about Mobile UI.

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Visual Studio 2008 adds mobile application features
Entry Date: Jun 2008 site: Windows for devices Rating:
keywords:VS 2008; Visual Studio 2008; Mobile; Pocket Pc; Compact Framework;
Article Description:
Microsoft, which had promised to release a new version of its Visual Studio software development environment by the end of this month, has done so ahead of schedule. Visual Studio 2008, downloadable now, provides a wide variety of enhancements for developers targeting mobile devices, according to the company.
Comments:

How to start developing using Visual Studio 2008 and Windows Mobile 6.0 (downloads and in which order perform it.

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