Professional Windows Phone 7 Application Development: Building Applications and Games Using Visual Studio, Silverlight, and XNA (Wrox Programmer to Programmer) [Paperback]

Nick Randolph (Author), Christopher Fairbairn (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0470891661 | ISBN-13: 978-0470891667 | Publication Date: November 9, 2010 | Edition: 1

A one-of-a-kind book on Windows Phone 7 development

While numerous books cover both Silverlight and XNA, there lacks a resource that covers the specifics of Windows Phone 7 development. This book fills that void and shares the specifics of building phone applications and games. You’ll learn how to get started with designing, building, testing, and deploying mobile applications for Windows Phone 7. Working examples used throughout the book cover how to design and layout a Windows Phone 7 application, interact with the device, and even sell your applications.

• Fills the void in the market for an instructional book on developing applications for Windows Phone 7
• Offers an overview of Windows Phone and discusses the necessary tools
• Explains how to work with multiview applications
• Addresses tool bars, pickers, table views, navigation controllers, application setting, and user defaults
• Reviews drawing with XNA, using the camera, and understanding basic data persistence

Explore the exciting possibilties of Windows Phone 7 development with this invaluable reference.

Editorial Reviews

From the Back Cover

Test and deploy rich mobile applications for Windows Phone 7

The inclusion of Silverlight and XNA on Microsoft's Windows Phone 7 offers you the opportunity to create unique applications for this smart phone. Using tools such as Visual Studio, Expression Blend, and the device emulator, this book shows you how to take your Windows Phone 7 applications from the drawing board to the marketplace. Helpful examples throughout the book and on the website demonstrate how to design and lay out a Windows Phone 7 application, interact with the device, and even sell your applications.

Professional Windows Phone 7 Application Development:

• Provides an overview of Windows Phone 7 tools and user interface basics

• Explains how to use the panorama, pivot and map controls, navigate between pages, and work with application settings

• Shares techniques for working with multiview applications, autorotating, and autosizing

• Offers advice for understanding application lifecycle management and XNA game development

• Uncovers tips for utilizing taps, touches, and gestures, and working the camera

• Includes downloadable examples from the website and discusses best practices for building mobile applications

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About the Author

Nick Randolph is a Microsoft MVP in Device Application Development, and a solutions architect at Built To Roam, where he builds rich mobile applications. He is also the author of Professional Visual Studio 2008 and Professional Visual Studio 2010.

Christopher Fairbairn is a Microsoft MVP in Device Application Development and has developed custom solutions and commercial products for platforms including Palm OS, Windows Mobile, iPhone, and J2ME.

Product Details

• Paperback: 624 pages
• Publisher: Wrox; 1 edition (November 9, 2010)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0470891661
• ISBN-13: 978-0470891667
• Product Dimensions: 9.2 x 7.4 x 1.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.3 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (11 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #226,245 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Nick currently runs Built to Roam which focuses on building rich mobile applications. Previously Nick was co-founder and Development Manager for nsquared solutions where he lead a team of developers to build inspirational software using next wave technology. Prior to nsquared, Nick was the lead developer at Intilecta Corporation where he was integrally involved in designing and building their application framework.

After graduating from a combined Engineering (Information Technology)/Commerce degree, Nick went on to be nominated as a Microsoft MVP in recognition of his work with the Perth .NET user group and his focus on mobile devices. He is still an active contributor in the device application development space via his blog at http://nicksnettravels.builttoroam.com/ and via the Professional Visual Studio website, http://www.professionalvisualstudio.com/.

Nick has been invited to present at a variety of events including Tech Ed Australia, MEDC and Code camp. He has also authored articles for MSDN Magazine (ANZ edition), three editions of the Professional Visual Studio title for Wrox as well as the Professional Windows Phone 7 title, and helped judge the 2004, 05, 07, 08, 2010 and 2011 world finals for the Imagine Cup.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars WP7 Dev made easy!!!, April 9, 2011

By 

vbguru613 "Mike" (New York, NY) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Professional Windows Phone 7 Application Development: Building Applications and Games Using Visual Studio, Silverlight, and XNA (Wrox Programmer to Programmer) (Paperback)

Well written and easy to understand. Learned many things even though I have previous wp dev knowledge. I recommend this book to all people who want to learn wp7 dev.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Good info on how to do it right, March 30, 2011

By 

Chris Gilbert (Milton, Queensland, AU) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Professional Windows Phone 7 Application Development: Building Applications and Games Using Visual Studio, Silverlight, and XNA (Wrox Programmer to Programmer) (Paperback)

This book has been an invaluable reference as I've worked on my own WP7 applications, particularly when I want to make sure that I'm doing something the best and most appropriate way. In particular this includes the explanation of the patterns that should be used when using Silverlight's databinding model, and how you can take advantage of that with Expression Blends design time views. A lot of things through this book has taken a lot of the pain out of WP7 development for me by explaining why things should be done certain ways to avoid particular issues further down the track. High recommended for anyone who wants to do things properly.

12 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Good but not great, November 18, 2010

By 

Kasper Jeppe Jeppesen (Brooklyn, New York) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Professional Windows Phone 7 Application Development: Building Applications and Games Using Visual Studio, Silverlight, and XNA (Wrox Programmer to Programmer) (Paperback)

Overall I'm satisfied with this book. It does give a good, although somewhat superficial, look at the key areas you need to know to develop windows phone 7 applications. However, having XNA as part of the title seems rather misleading for something that only gets one short 25 page chapter in a book that's really about silverlight development.