Windows 7 Phone devices will become available later this year. A few lucky people have received theirs for testing, etc… Still waiting on mine :-/

One way to get the Windows Phone 7 experience is by customizing your Windows 7 desktop to show the tile interface which is similar to the Windows Phone 7 application.  There is a popular freeware program on the web called Rainmeter that allows you to customize your Windows 7 desktop. 

This application seems to be pretty robust in its capabilities to change and customize your desktop.  It also supports different skins, themes, etc…  See the finished product in the image above.

Another nice component is the network monitor, office applications tile, and a host of other widgets.

If you woul like more information regarding documentation help and tips/tricks, view their documentation page here. If you would like to get the source for Rainmeter, you can download from here.

Step 1 – Download and install the Rainmeter software.  Here is a quick description from the Rainmeter website - “Rainmeter is a desktop customization platform.  Through Rainmeter, you can enhance your Windows computer with skins: handy, compact applets which float freely on your desktop, much like windows sidebar gadgets, or dashboard widgets for the Mac.”

Step 2 – Download and install the Windows Phone 7 Skin which is called the Omnimo UI. 

1st – Download the Omnimo Windows Phone 7 skin from the link above or from the image below:

2nd – Extract the zip file and run the Omnimo skin by double clicking on Omnimo (see image below)

3rd – Select the Express or Custom Install

 

That is all there is to it.  You should be good to go to start configuring the weather, mail, Office, Network, etc…  You can also modify the Panel, Skin, and Background colors by clicking the + button.

Hope this helps,

Carlos

twitter.com/cfemmer

I ran across a few issues when trying to get the new beta bits (July 12) Windows Phone Developer Tools Beta.  I had April CTP installed and tried to install the beta bits.  I got the following warning:

I made the mistake of uninstalling in the wrong order and got the Windows 7 Phone Developer Tools CTP wedged in a bad state.  The first thing you should uninstall is the “Microsoft Windows Phone Developer Tools CTP Refresh”.  When I finally tried to uninstall the CTP, it jumped directly to the install of the components I uninstalled previously.  Ultimately, I was left in a state where the CTP was not able to be removed.  I read a few forums where people uninstalled the OS, etc… (Crazy Talk).

I am currently attending the ESRI UC in San Diego so I took a break (In frustration) to get a cold beer.  The only reason I bring this up is I go get a couple of beers and brought them back to the room.  Have you ever tried to open a Corona without a bottle opener? 

Need to give props to Marriott Harbor in San Diego for the nice view from my room:

OK – I digress.  I can say the Corona helped ! 

I came across Aaron’s blog and he has instructions for running the XNA Game Studio Cleanup which has an option for cleaning up the Windows Phone Developer Tools CTP.  Here are the steps I followed:

1.  Download and extract the tool (http://bit.ly/9WfGzV). 

2.  Run the tool and select Windows Phone Developer Tools

3.  Let the process complete.

4.  Download new beta bits from here (http://bit.ly/cuOTDx)

5.  Everything installs correctly.  I did find one artifact. I had to reinstall Silverlight 4 Runtime but this might be due to some of the uninstalls I previously tried.  Other than that, Up and running.

Hope this helps,

Carlos

twitter.com/cfemmer

PivotViewer, a nice control built by LiveLabs, is now released to the developemnt community.  This control offers a unique way of interacting with large amounts of data on the web.  It is a based on the idea of a collection and it lets you present this data in an informative, powerful way.

 Use Scenarios:

• Business Intelligence
• Intranet Navigation
• Living Info Graphics
• Academic Research
• Retail
• Image Galleries
• Others, the possibilities are endless

Developer Info: Overview

Collections combine large groups of similar items on the internet, so we can begin viewing the Web as a "web" rather than a series of isolated pages. As a developer, you can create collections of your own. New collections can be created with no code – it’s only data. 

 There is a pretty cool Netflix Demo located here - http://netflixpivot.cloudapp.net

To get started, download the control from http://www.microsoft.com/silverlight/pivotviewer/

Hope this helps,

Carlos

twitter.com/cfemmer

Just ran across some interesting information. Sql Azure now supports spatial datatypes. 

• Microsoft announces the SQL Azure Development Accelorator Core.  This will be available August 1st and will contain a promotional discount for partners and customers.  It states that you can subscribe to a larger SQL Azure database size at a 25% discount savings.  The limit has also been extended to 50GB.  SQL Azure Database

• Spatial Data Support : Sql Azure is offering support for Geometry and Geography data types as well as query support in T-SQL.  I have been waiting for this feature for a while.  Nice to see it is currently available.

• Data Sync Service : This is a cool feature I was not aware of.  It allows for flexible control over data by deciding which data components should be distributed across multiple datacenters in different geographic locations based on the business needs of an organization.  It is only available as a community technology preview at the moment.  http://www.sqlazurelabs.com

• (SSWM) Sql Server Web Manager : This is a new management tool for SQL Azure databases and designed for web debelopers to develop, manage and deploy their data driven applications to Sql Azure.  Will be available as a community technology preview later in the summer.

• Access 10 now supported in Sql Azure : Access 10 now offers native data connectivity.  This offers the ability for office applications to access cloud based data.

The current state of Sql Server 2008 R2 seems like it has a ways to go when dealing with Sql Azure.  I tried several different ways of exporting data to load into Sql Azure and after several attempts, I have documented what I needed to move data over.  Here is a quick and dirty way of moving data from Sql Server 2008 R2 to Sql Azure:

The first thing I did was generate scripts from my local sql server 2008 R2 database.

 Next, you will have to go through the wizard steps of selecting what you would like scripted out:

The following step requires a a few checks.

• Make sure Convert UDDTs as Base Types = True
• Script Extended Properties = False
• Script Logins = False
• Script USE DATABASE = False
• Types of data to script = Schema and data (Note: If you already applied the schema, then you can choose data only)

SQL Azure currently does not support windows authentication, USE statements, extended properties, or user-defined data types.

 You now have a generated sql file. 

 Next, Open the sql file generated by the script and delete the following statement from the generated CREATE TABLE statement ( "WITH (PAD_INDEX = OFF, STATISTICS_NORECOMPUTE = OFF, IGNORE_DUP_KEY = OFF, ALLOW_ROW_LOCKS = ON, ALLOW_PAGE_LOCKS = ON) ON [PRIMARY]" )

Also, delete the ( "ON PRIMARY]" ) clause from the create table as well.

Now we are ready to connect to SQL Azure and run the script.  Make a connection to SQL Azure.

Follow Step 1, 2, and 3 below.

On connect to database, select the target database from the drop down list.

 Once connected, open Query menu and load the generated sql file.  Press F5 to execute the script.

I am porting a windows azure project over to the new build of Visual Studio 2010 RC.  I had an older project which referenced Microsoft.ServiceHosting.ServiceRuntime (which does not exist in the released version).  I went through some trials and tribulations to figure this out.  Also, I wanted to test the Bing search to see if I can research this problem completely using only Bing.  Here we go.

 The first issue when I opened and converted the project was the missing assembly references.

After doing some digging in Bing, I found the new service reference was now called -- Microsoft.WindowsAzure.ServiceRuntime.

You will also have to replace the using statements from the class files.  I did a quick replace across the entire solution to replace with Microsoft.WindowsAzure.ServiceRuntime:

After trying to build it states that the RoleManager does not exist. It needs to be replaced with RoleEnvironment. Be careful if you intend to use the quick replace. 

Next you have to replace IsRoleManagerRunning with IsAvailable:

Next, I got an error stating the role does not contain a definition for "GetConfigurationSetting".  It needs to be replaced with GetConfigurationSettingValue

Next, Error at catch(RoleException).  You need to replace with catch(RoleEnvironmentException).

Basically these are the main items that would need to be changed.  If you implemented other features of Azure (e.g. Diagnostics), then you would also have to change out to support the new version.

In Summary -

I was able to use Bing to find the information I needed :)

Updating the information was trivial.  Just had to take one error at a time.

I created a new OS using Boot to VHD.  I set up my C partition to equal 10 GB and made it dynamic.  When I booted into my system, I noticed I only had 3 GB left. I needed another 3 GB to install VS 2010.  Here i a quick tutorial of expanding the disk volume within your new OS (Boot to VHD OS).

First we need to find out the disk volume. 

I have a project I am currently working on to convert my old VHSC tapes into digital format.  I have some VHSC cassettes from 1998 that I am trying to convert over.  I know they have + / - 10 year life span and the oldest tape is going on 13 years (Not cool).  Instead of making this a mundane chore, I plan to use the latest in video streaming to convert these videos to digital format and might look at the blog storage on windows azure to store some of the videos (i.e. I might be able to pull together 1 -  2 hours of video over the past 13 years and create a playlist for family behind a password protected site - probably my blog).  Anyway, Time to get cranking.

I have an analog to digital converter so I now have some data to test in digital format (wmv).  In order to get it web ready, I need to set up my local environment to test out smooth streaming.  I don't want to do this on my production box (i.e. My office computer upstairs or my wife's business computer downstairs).  I posted a blog earlier today demonstrating how to set up a test OS for just this kind of scenario.  You can get to the tutorial by clicking the skydrive image below.

 1st step is to set up IIS7 Media Services.  You will need to go online and get the IIS Media Services 3.0.  I am downloading the 64 bit version.

2nd step is to get is installed and configured.

3rd step is to verify IIS Media Services is available.

 Scroll to the bottom and verify Smooth Streaming Icon exists (see below).

You probably want some sample data to play with.  You can download the Big Bunny Sample data by clicking the image below or clicking the following link (Big Bunny Sample Data).

I downloaded the sample to C:\inetpub\wwwroot\BigBuckSampleData.  The next step was to open IIS7 and create an applicaiton out of it. 

From IIS7, Right click on your sample data folder and select Convert to Application.  Next, select OK to accept the defaults.

Now we are ready to see what this looks like.  Open a browser and type http://localhost/BigBuckSampleData/default.html.  You will see the following screen pop up.  Click the Start Playing button.

To get more inormation about IIS7 Smooth Streaming, there is a great technical overview document online.  You can download it here. 

The technical overview contains some interesting information.  It talks about Traditional Streaming vs. Adaptive Streaming.  Here are two images from the document that demonstrate how they differ:

Good luck!

Reference Section:

Here is a quick tutorial on setting up a new OS for development purposes.  I always find myself trying to test new software but having to wait for countless (days, weeks, months - Not cool) to test the software.  Why do I have to wait you might ask.  Let's just say (NO COMMENT) :)) 

We recently had Michael Kennedy from DevelopMentor come in to give a .NET 4 Fundamentals course.  He was kind enough to share a video screencast of setting up the Boot to VHD.  I always like to have something printed in front of me so I made a PDF version of all the steps required.  He mentions some of the software and tools required during the video so I added an Appendix to the bottom of the document with links.  I am currently using this at home to test out VS2010 Beta, ESRI 9.4 (Or Version 10 since they changed the new release), Sharepoint 2010, etc...

 The beautiful thing I love the most about Boot to VHD is the ability to stroke up your new OS and have all CPU, RAM, USB devices from the hardware dedicated to your new instance.  I have used VMWare for years and I always had to allocate 2 Gig of Ram and leave the other 2Gig so my host OS can still function.  Not anymore!!!

I posted a tutorial to my  skydrive account.  I hope this is helpful if you are looking to get this set up.