For those of use that prefer our technical information printed on paper, Microsoft Press has a book that should hopefully get you started with the new APIs, creating rich Windows 7 enhanced applications in no time.

Introducing Windows 7 for Developers is that book. A collaborative effort between Yochay Kiriaty, Laurence Moroney, Sasha Goldshtein and Alon Fliess, this book looks at most of the cool new features in Windows 7, and how to use them in your own applications.

What it Covers

The book covers the major new features in Windows 7 like the Superbar and Multi-touch, as well as the how to implement the Ribbon that is included for all developers in the new OS. However the book does not cover the new DirectX APIs like Direct2D and DirectWrite, claiming that the APIs are simply too large to cover. Small overviews are provided of each technology so you have somewhere to start from.

The book covers developing for Windows 7 as both a native (C++) developer and a C#/.NET developer, however I noticed quite a large focus on the C++ side of things. The big strength of the book is in explaining the process for working with these new technologies, rather than the syntax. If you find the .NET explanation insufficient, there should be numerous resources online that provide the syntax and class definitions for working with the .NET Windows 7 libraries.

A very short overview is provided at the end for developer oriented features such as troubleshooting or profiling. I would have liked to have seen more detail on these topics, and some of the other “hidden” features of Windows 7 that make maintaining and developing applications easier.

Style

The book approaches each topic with an overview of the new feature, before diving into implementing some example applications that make use of the features. This hybrid theory/hands-on approach works quite well, however the authors expect the reader to know how to work with the other technologies used like WPF.

I found the examples to be simple, but effective. They get straight to the point and tell you what you need to know to get the specific task done. In the topic on multi-touch, they provide examples on what each type of touch should be used for, and throughout the book they provide small overviews of the API relating to that particular topic.

There are plenty of diagrams, tables and screenshots that demonstrate what is going on, and many of those will even provide a little hint on where you can go past the samples and play around with more advanced features.

Conclusion

For those who have a solid background in developing for Windows in general, either using MFC or WPF/WinFoms for .NET, you will find this book to be a good starting point for enhancing your applications with the new features in Windows 7. Topics are explained in detail before they work on implementation, and through this you can gain an understanding of how the features should be used in your application. This is especially important with multi-touch, where there are standard gestures that you should not alter – although you certainly can go your own route, and the book will explain how to do that as well.

Weighing in at 395 pages (including Index), this book is not a hefty tome like many other programming books. The abundance of lists, figures and code samples means that you won’t be reading giant blocks of text all of the time, which makes the reading experience much nicer. This is certainly an introductory book for a very specific topic, and if you are interested in working with these technologies, I would highly recommend using this book as a starting point.

MS Press Australia sells this book through its online store for $69.95 AUD.

Book Details

Title: Introducing Windows 7 for Developers
Author: Yochay Kiriaty, Laurence Moroney, Sasha Goldshtein, Alon Fliess
ISBN: 978-0-7356-2682-9

Buy from Microsoft Press Australia (AU $65.95)

How would you like to work in and experience a different culture?

AIESEC, the worlds largest student organisation is looking for interns to work in some of the world’s exotic locations, like Turkey, Malaysia or China.

Come along and learn how you can learn a new language, experience a different culture, and even change a community. At the same time we will show you how the modern Microsoft is different from the Microsoft you know.

Experience the cool offerings available from a modern Microsoft, and learn how you can contribute to developing countries and see the world!

When is it?

2:30 PM – 3:30 PM
Thursday 20th May 2010

Where is it?

CB02.04.11
University of Technology Sydney

Wakey wakey! It’s ime to shine, and yank open those curtains to your penthouse…. wait! did I say penthouse?!

That’s right kids, a new competition hosted by Microsoft is giving you and 5 mates a chance to win a penthouse of your choice (whichever city) FREE for 7 MONTHS! (Rent up to $1500 per week) And in the spirit of all geeks, loaded with Dell notebooks, Xbox game packs, and HTC Windows Phones!

All you have do is:

1. Be a university student
2. Get Facebook, if you miraculously don’t have it  O.O
3. Become a fan of The Student House: http://www.facebook.com/?ref=logo#!/TheStudentHouse?v=app_4949752878&ref=mf
4. Go to the “Win A Share House” tab and sign up
5. Run around your uni and show people how much you luuuuuvvvv Windows 7!

It’s that simple!

And one more thing, just make sure that if you DO win that penthouse, don’t forget to leave a space there for me!  XD

Albert moovin out! =]

On February 15th, anyone still running the RC will be notified about upcoming bi-hourly shutdowns, that will begin on March 1st.

So to continue to enjoy an uninterrupted and up to date experience in Windows 7, be sure to move to a release version before March 1st.

For students, remember that you can get Windows 7 for $50 by going to www.itsnotcheating.com.au and following the links.

I am still working with Microsoft to get Windows 7 Professional available free for technical students through the MSDN:AA subscription the university has, and I will update here when more news is available regarding that.

Robbie Bach, President of Microsoft’s Entertainment and Devices division, will be giving a talk at the University of Sydney on Tuesday, February 9th, 2010.

For those who do not know, the E&D division handles products like the XBOX 360, Zune, Windows phone, all of the Microsoft hardware like Keyboards + Mice, and the Surface.

I personally hope we will get to see Natal in action (Natural User Interface), however even if that is not possible, this should be an interesting night.

The event is open to all, but you must RSVP.

To do so, email kumarman[at]microsoft.com

CES has reminded us that some great things are coming out this year from many companies, but of course the focus here is on Microsoft.

This year we can expect to see Natal hit shelves, one of the most interesting input devices to appear in a while, and by the end of the year you will be able to try it as well.

We will also see a great way to play classic arcade games, on both the XBOX 360 and Windows PC, called GameRoom, with 1000 games to be added over 3 years. (30 games on launch)

Not only that, but many cool games are coming, including Halo Reach, which is sure to be a huge launch. (Lets see if it can beat XBOX sales for Modern Warfare 2)

Gaming aside, there should be more details on IE9, Windows Live Wave 4, Windows 7 SP1, and Office 2010. Although I do not know what deals will be available for students yet, I think that there will be some cool stuff (going off last year) and you can expect some cool events this year as well, so keep an eye on this blog.

I will be attending the MSP boot camp some time in January/February, and hope to get some great information and opportunities that I can pass on to everyone.

For those interested in XNA after the Game Camp last year, I have been posting resources and information on my own blog about XNA, you can check it out at http://mquandt.com/blog hopefully you find some of the stuff on there interesting, and I will be keeping it updated with more information, samples and resources as I make/find them.

So enjoy the rest of the summer break, and have a great 2010!

Registration is open from 10:30 to 11am, but trains take ~2hrs to get there, so be sure you know what train you need.

Let me know if you are going to the camp!

-Michael

Well great news, Microsoft is offering Windows 7 Professional Edition (both 32 and 64bit) to students for only $49.95!

If you are interested in taking advantage of the deal, which lasts until Midnight March 31st 2010, head to www.itsnotcheating.com.au and click on the Windows 7 box (the blue one) at the bottom.

The usual details apply just like the itsnotcheating deal. You must have a .edu email address, and must use that when purchasing Windows 7. This is a digital download, however (HINT: Lifehacker) there are ways to turn the downloaded exe into an iso file.

Then you must attend our information session to get all the details!

Find out how you can:

•             Get involved in the world’s premier student competition, Imagine Cup, sponsored by Microsoft

•             Apply for internships with Microsoft in Australia and Abroad.

•             Learn more about Microsoft’s new student initiatives such as DreamSpark and Windows 7

•             Talk to representatives from the Microsoft Student Partner’s Program

•             Discover how you can have the opportunity of a life time to go on an Internship. Learn a new language, create new networks, develop your skills and gain invaluable industry experience through AIESEC.

Date: Wednesday 28th October, 1 – 2pm

Location: CM05C.01.31

Cost: FREE + showbags for those who register!

RSVP: Register at: http://www.aiesecaustralia.org/UTS/Microsoft/

Finally it is October 22nd, and this means Windows 7 is officially available at retail stores, and should be included with new OEM PCs soon!

For those living under a rock for the past few months, Windows 7 is the latest in the line of Windows operating systems from Microsoft, and from the response during the beta and RC, this one is the one to get. Now everyone can get access to the new features like easier Wireless configuration, the Superbar, Aero Snap, and quit a lot more.

I have been using the RTM (made available to MSDN subscribers and Volume License Customers) for a while now, and the RC/Beta before that, and I have never been quite so satisfied with a new operating system. For those who didn’t like Vista, give Windows 7 a try, you can get a trial version from TechNet and try the new Operating System out for up to 90 days: http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/evalcenter/cc442495.aspx

(I would recommend doing this on a Virtual Machine, or a computer you aren’t using – you will have to wipe it once you buy the full product, or the trial ends.)

I have been running Windows 7 on my MSI Wind Netbook, with only 1GB of RAM and a 1.6GHz Atom, and the performance has been just as good as the install of XP that was originally on there. The Superbar made it so much easier to do things on the small trackpad, and I had access to all the features and security of a modern operating system, without the loss in performance.

Those with a Tablet PC, or a touch capable monitor, should certainly upgrade, the Multi-Touch additions and overall improvements to everything touch/stylus really will improve your productivity. I quite like the new Math input panel, which lets you handwrite Math equations and it will understand what you have written, perfect for those taking notes in lectures.

There are tons of reasons to upgrade to Windows 7, so to learn more, head over to http://www.microsoft.com/windows/ to see why you should upgrade.

For students with MSDN:AA access, remember that Windows 7 Professional is included in your subscription, so you can still access it through there for free.

Have you been using Windows 7 during the beta/RC phase, or did you download it from MSDN:AA, or did you just buy the retail copy of Windows 7 (as I write this )? Be sure to post your experiences in the comments. It would be great to hear what new feature you like/love in Windows 7, or even just what you think of Windows 7 in general.

- Michael

Photo Credit: @gcarraro