MSDN Windows Vista and Microsoft Office Beta Experience Newsletter No. 5, Aug. 15, 2006

Editorial

Welcome to the 5th edition of the Beta Experience newsletter for Windows Vista and 2007 Microsoft Office system.

In this edition we will focus on Windows Live™ and how you can leverage Windows Live in your own applications:
Windows Live is a new set of Internet software and services designed to put you in control of the information, relationships and interests you care about. Windows Live will make it easier for you to connect with people, and to quickly find the information you need, more safely and securely, whether you're on your PC or on the go. And it's evolving every day—with your feedback, it will just keep getting better. Most of Windows Live APIs may still be in Beta stage, but as a developer you can explore the various APIs today and start build applications (or web sites) that integrate parts of Windows Live. And there is more to come. No matter if you create desktop or web applications, Windows Live will unlock a vast range of functionality and data for your application.

We are also taking a closer look at Office Live. Office Live is Microsoft’s online offering to small and medium businesses. Click here to learn more... But how do you go about provisioning and planning such a service. We go behind the scenes with Channel 9.

Also this issue we have the first of a hands on lab from 3sharp. There are server side components to this lab so you will need to download the ISO of the server components as well as the Beta 2 clients. And finally Ted Pattison is on hand again to show how to use the new code free tool - SharePoint Designer.
Ted also shows us through Content Types.
The fact that Windows SharePoint Services WSS v3 is implemented using ASP.Net 2.0 means that there are some exciting opportunities for businesses – in particular the ability to host WSS sites on the internet.
There is more to come!

Alexander Holy and Dave Webster
Chief Editors for Windows Vista and Microsoft Office content
Developer & Platforms Group
Microsoft EMEA Beta Experience Team

How to leverage Windows Live

Building Mashups

Mashups are applications that take data from different sources and combine it to form new services or user experiences. By providing open, accessible APIs, the Windows Live Platform offers the opportunity to create mashups using the core services and data of Windows Live. Now you can build applications and mashups that combine your innovation with the power of Windows Live services and social relationships. To create highly interactive mashup web sites, have a look at the ASP.NET Atlas Framework: Atlas Showcase. This showcase highlights applications built on Atlas, a free framework for building a new generation of richer, more interactive Web applications. Atlas makes it easy to take advantage of AJAX techniques on the Web.
Good starting point to explore the APIs are the Windows Live Dev Portal and of course MSDN Online – have a look at the Windows Live Developer Center on MSDN.

Windows Live Messenger

Want to interact with Windows Live Messenger? Add new abilities to the Windows Live Messenger client with the Messenger Add-in SDK beta . Of course it is also possible to exploit the entire object model of Messenger. The Messenger Activity SDK contains technical information about how to develop and test single-user and multiuser applications by using the Activity object model. The SDK also provides detailed information about the MSN development and testing requirements that your Activity must meet, and how to increase the usage of your MSN Messenger Activity application.

Windows Live Local

Windows Live Local (powered by Virtual Earth) is a street-level map of world, combined with aerial photography and stunning 3D-Views and linked to an ever-growing directory. If you want to integrate maps, annotated maps and powerful location search into your application, the Virtual Earth Interactive SDK is for you.

Windows Live Search

Want to include Search into your web sites and application? Windows Live Search makes it possible. Calling the Search Engine APIs is pretty straightforward, but you can also dig deeper and use features like Search Macros to increase the relevance of your search results.

Windows Live Gadgets

Windows Live Gadgets are close relatives to Windows Vista Gadgets. The recently published Windows Live Gadget SDK will help you create your own Windows Live Gadgets. If you are new to Gadgets or want to play with existing ones, Microsoft Gadgets is the place to go. You will find excellent introductions to gadget programming and a huge repository of existing gadgets.

And there is more to come. No matter if you create desktop or web applications, Windows Live will unlock a vast range of functionality and data for your application.

3D XAML Tool for next generation applications

A New 3D XAML tool from Electric Rain provides developers and designers with a quick and easy solution for creating 3D interface elements for Windows Vista based applications.
More information...

Free download of the ZAM 3D Community Technology Preview

Mike Soucie and Jim Foley from Electric Rain did some training on their ZAM3D tool.
These sessions are now available at Channel 9. Take a look at them, learn a bit about ZAM3D and how it's helping designers to model, animate, add textures and lights to 3D models that can then be exported to XAML.

Introduction and Basic Object Creation

Basic Extrusion, Lathe, Textures, Animation

Advanced Modeling, Incorporating 3D into Expression

Where is ZAM3D heading to? Electric Rain 3D demos

From the Community

Windows Live - Services for Developers

Igor Milovanovic is a Software Architect at Mercury Computer Systems AG. His main responsibility is design of system architectures, team coordination and implementation of best practices. Igor speaks regularly at different community events in Germany. His main technology interests are Microsoft .NET, workflow management, aspect oriented programming and agile software development. Visit his blog and read his article about Windows Live!

Events

Microsoft TechEd, Barcelona November 7-10, 2006

Microsoft’s premier EMEA conference designed to provide developers with deep dive technical training, information and community resources focusing on building software solutions with Microsoft development tools.
More information...

2007 Microsoft Office System Solution Challenge - Develop without Borders

Reach out and make a difference. Design an application on the 2007 Microsoft Office system between now and October 1, 2006 to help your favorite charity. The best applications win a share of over $160,000 in awards to help put your concept in action. Find out more here!

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