Mark Arteaga

Mike Temporale a good friend and fellow Canadian MVP just launched a new site dedicated to talking about mobility called Mobile Jaw.  Here is an excerpt about what the site is about:

Mobile Jaw is a site dedicated to talking about mobility.  We’re not trying to be another breaking news site - there’s plenty of those around.  Mobile Jaw is going to focus on articles, reviews, tips & tricks, and our random thoughts as they relate to mobility.  When we say mobility, we’re not just talking about phones - although, that will be a big part of our focus.  For us, Mobility is using technology to help keep you connected to the things that matter when you’re out and about.  We don’t want to restrict the conversation to any one area.

Check out the site and make sure to subscribe!

Back in September 2007 we released our first version of Task Manager (formerly called TaskManCF). 

Last week we released Task Manager 2.0.  A few major things we have added to this version:

1. Changed the name from TaskManCF to Task Manager.
2. Improved the UI for Windows Mobile Professional
3. Ability to switch to application
4. Ability to find an applications associate process
5. Ability to kill all running applications

One of the more exciting things is we decided to get Task Manager logo certified and it is now we can proudly say Task Manager is "Designed For Windows Mobile 6"!.

Of course this does not mean it only runs on Windows Mobile 6, it also supports Windows CE, Pocket PC and Windows Mobile 5.  Only requirement is .NET Compact Framework 2.0 which can be downloaded here.

Here is a screen shot of Task Manager running on Windows Mobile 6 Professional device

Currently it does not support Windows Mobile Standard (aka SmartPhone) but if there is a need for it we can add that.

Go ahead and download the Evaluation version and let us know what you think and if you want other features added!

From my recent DevTeach and EnergizeIT sessions I got a lot of interest in WCF Store and Forward feature in .NET CF 3.5 and I promised to put together a white paper on the topic. 

I just finished an article on Exchanging Data using Windows Mobile, Windows Communication Foundation, .NET Compact Framework and Exchange 2007 and posted it on our Community site.  It basically goes through some of the technical details with getting WCF and Exchange working using two sample applications, a Dispatch Sample and a Photo Sharing Sample.

Looking to deploy Windows Mobile?  Want $10,000 worth of software and devices to deploy Windows Mobile within your organization?  Microsoft Canada is having a "Mobile Business Makeover Contest" to help organization deploy Windows Mobile by giving Windows Mobile devices, Exchange, Office worth approximately $10,000.

If you are a Canadian company and interested go here to get more details and to sign up!

EnergizeIT 2008 is happening this Saturday May 24, at the Toronto Congress Centre.  I'll be there participating at the ATE Booth plus I'll be doing a short demo on WCF and Windows Mobile under the "Grok and Load Visual Studio 2008" track.

Here are some more details for the event:

EnergizeIT is all about recognizing and realizing the potential of you and the IT industry. We start the day by looking at how great your potential as an individual working in the IT field is, and provide insight into how the field is changing so that you can take control of your career and continue to realize your potential. We will also take some time to recognize the potential achieved and accomplishments of your peers whose hard work will be rewarded at EnergizeIT. Phil Sorgen, the President of Microsoft Canada will present the MSDN Code Award and TechNet Innovation Award to these accomplished winners.
Finally, working in the IT field, you also understand the potential of technology and the real possibility to make anything possible. Before the morning is over you will see and be a part of three examples of technology impacting the way you live and work. Don’t miss it.

Date: Saturday May 24, 2008
Location: Toronto Congress Centre - Toronto, Ontario MAP IT
Time: 9:30am – 4:30pm. Registration starts at 9:00am
Cost: Free of charge. Come and enjoy the day!

Register Now.

With TechEd 2008 quickly approaching wanted to point out some sessions OpenNETCF partners (well one partner :) ) will be doing related to Compact Framework and Windows Mobile

Building CustomDraw and OwnerDraw Controls Using the Microsoft .NET Compact Network (Alex Feinman)
Standard Windows controls allow a degree of customization that offers significant UI flexibility, while relying on proven and robust foundation of existing OS controls, such as TreeView, ListView. This session shows how to build such controls in managed code, using the .NET Compact Framework 2.0 or newer.

Using Microsoft DirectDraw in Windows Mobile Applications (Alex Feinman)
As GAPI becomes deprecated, the recommended approach to building high-speed, device-independent Windows Mobile applications is using DirectDraw API. This session provides information on DirectDraw for mobile devices basics, as well as common problems and pitfalls associated with using it.

Hope you are able to attend!

For those not familiar, Windows Mobile 6.1 comes with a new application called Welcome Center which basically is a help system for users. 

I was running some hopper tests on Task Manager 2.0 and looking through the hopper.log file I noticed the following line:

STATS: \Windows\welcomecenter.exe -> #NETCF_AGL_PARK_\Windows\welcomecenter.exe: Time in State =          0 secs ( 0.0%); Actions =      2; Visits =      2; Last visit =    196 actions ago

If you noticed #NETCF_AGL_PARK_ then you know that this means the application WelcomeCenter.exe uses Compact Framework and this is a welcoming surprise.  Let's hope this trend continues with other apps from the Windows Mobile team and other teams within Microsoft!

As for Task Manager 2.0 here is a screen shot of the new version.

And yes we do know that Windows Mobile 6.1 has a Task Manager included but ours does not filter out any processes or applications, allows you to terminate processes, end applications, terminate threads, change thread priorities and view all threads and modules loaded for a process.  The same binary also works on different platforms such as Windows CE, Pocket PC 2003, Windows Mobile 5 and Windows Mobile 6. It's also written using Compact Framework  and leverages the Smart Device Framework.

Just finished my session at DevTeach Toronto.  Thanks to all those that came out at 8am this morning to listen to me blab on Windows Mobile and Compact Framework.

Most demos were similar to my CodeCamp session with the exception of the WCF Demo.

The presentation can be found here and the code can be found here.

Here is a summary of the demos:

SMSInterception - Demo showing how to intercept a message, automatically respond to a message and call back the sender of the message.  Used the Cellular Emulator.

SNAPI - Demo showing some of the functionality of SNAPI, changing battery level, adding headset and detecting incoming calls.

WISPPic - Sample showing some of the WindowsMobile.Forms classes, selecting a picture and displaying it, and using the InkPicture class from Mobile Ink Library and articles can be found here.

WCFDispatch - Sample Dispatch application using Push Email for Windows Mobile and WCF Exchange Server Mail Transport for .NETCF 3.5.  There is a good article here on WCF for Compact Framework which I based WCFMessagingManger from, there is also a lot more info on WCF using Exchange. (Requires Smart Device Framework Community Edition)

If there are any followup questions email me at mark[dot]arteaga[at]opennetcf[dot]com.

DevTeach Toronto is coming up from May 12 - 16.  I'll be doing the only Windows Mobile development session for the week.

Other than seeing the only session related to developing for Windows Mobile, there are a number of reasons why you should attend the event.

Here's a few to start:
Keynote by Scott Hanselman, Microsoft
Scott Hanselman is one of the most prolific, renowned and respected blogger and podcaster about technologies. Scott is a hands-on thinker, a renowned speaker and writer. He has written a few books, most recently with Bill Evjen and Devin Rader on Professional ASP.NET. In July 2007, he joined Microsoft as a Senior Program Manager in the Developer Division. In his new role he'll continue to explore and explain a broad portfolio of technologies, both inside and outside Microsoft. He aims to spread the good word about developing software, most often on the Microsoft stack. Before this he was the Chief Architect at Corillian Corporation, now a part of Checkfree, for 6+ years and before that he was a Principal Consultant at STEP Technology for nearly 7 years.

Silverlight 2.0 workshop
For the first time an independent conference is having a workshop on Building Business Applications with Silverlight 2.0.  Join Rod Paddock and Jim Duffy as they give you a head start down the road to developing business-oriented Rich Internet Applications (RIA) with Microsoft Silverlight 2.0. In case you just crawled out from under a rock, Microsoft Silverlight 2.0 is a cross-browser, cross-platform, and cross-device plug-in positioned to revolutionize the way next generation Rich Internet Applications are developed. Microsoft’s commitment to providing an extensive platform for developers and designers to collaborate on creating the next generation of RIAs is very clear and its name is Silverlight 2.0. In this intensive, full-day workshop, Rod and Jim will share their insight and experience building business applications with Silverlight 2.0 including a review of some of the Internet’s more visible Silverlight web applications. This workshop is happening on Friday May 16 at the Hilton Toronto.

Bonus session: .NET Rock host a panel May 14th at 18:00
This year the bonus session (Wednesday May 14 at 18:00) will be a panel of speakers debating the Future of .NET. Where is .NET going? How will new development influence .NET and be influenced by .NET? Join Carl Franklin and Richard Campbell from .NET Rocks as they moderate a discussion on the future directions of .NET. The panellists include individuals who have strong visions of the future of software development and the role that .NET can play in that future. Attend this session and bring your questions to get some insight into the potential future of .NET! This bonus session is free for everyone. Panelists are: Ted Neward,Oren Eini ,Scott Bellware

Party with Palermo, DevTeach Toronto Edition
Jeffrey Palermo (MVP) is hosting Monday May 12th in Toronto is acclaimed "Party with Palermo". This is the official social event  kicking off DevTeach Toronto. The event is not just for the attendees of Toronto it’s  a free event for everyone. It’s a unique chance for the attendees, speakers and locals  to meet and talk with a free beer.   The event will be held at the Menage club  location and you need to RSVP to attend. Get all the details at this link:

Interested? You can register for Devteach at: http://www.devteach.com/