Besides nice footage from the scene at Zurich Main Station and an interview lead by Team Manager Christof Zogg, Ronnie presents his code and UI. Watch how Ronnie developed a Windows 8 game for a 5 by 8 meters display, 10 kg arrow keys (emulating the keyboard) and an oversized finger (scanned by a laser and emulating touch). He explains how his compact framework reads the sensor values and sends them via a socket stream to a connected Windows Store App, which computes the received data for the WinPong game.

CTO Ross Elliott and Software Architect Sean Elliott talk with Microsoft Technical Evangelist Bruce Kyle about the new applications that are part of AccellosOne Mobile.

They explain why they chose Windows 8 as their platform, how they created two mobile applications that leverage their existing ASP.NET applications. They describe customer concerns and why Windows 8 applications are important to supply chain customers.

Sean and Ross describe how they leverage their skills with Silverlight in building the Windows Store applications.

Sean demos how AccellosOne Mobile take advantage of the Windows 8 features like Snap, Search, Semantic Zoom, Share, multi-touch and personalization.   

The first release of AccellosOne Mobile consists of AccellosOne Inspection and AccellosOne Pulse. 

• AccellosOne Inspection is designed for supply chain managers to easily implement inspection surveys which are administered using Windows 8 tablets by employees in manufacturing, warehousing or transportation operations.  Typical uses for such inspection surveys include product inspection, trailer inspection and vehicle inspections. 
• AccellosOne Pulse is the supply chain intelligence component of the AccellosOne suite and provides real time supply chain metrics and key performance indicators.  AccellosOne Pulse is now available to users on Windows 8 tablets as part of AccellosOne Mobile.

Both applications will be available directly from Accellos as side-loaded Windows Store apps.

Getting Started with Windows 8

See Learn to build Windows Store apps for videos and training for Windows 8 applications in both XAML and HTML5.

About Accellos

Accellos is a global provider of software solutions specifically designed for the unique needs of logistics service providers and midsized businesses. Over 3,000 companies trust Accellos to be the technology backbone of their global supply chains. Accellos provides solutions for warehouse management systems (WMS), third party logistics (3PL), fleet management, transportation management systems (TMS), trading partner integration (EDI), automated barcode data collection, parcel shipping, transportation optimization and supply chain business intelligence. Accellos solutions are built on the AccellosOne platform, a modern technology platform featuring a user-friendly interface and simplified technical administration. For more information, email info@accellos.com or visit www.accellos.com.

ZDNet's All About Microsoft blog editor and frequent commentator on all things Microsoft, Mary Jo Foley, gives an industry take on the Developer Opportunity made possible with the recent announcements for Windows, Windows Phone, Windows Azure, and Visual Studio 2012. Plus: Mary Jo answers questions from the live chat and discussion on the Canadian Developer Connection LinkedIn group.

Watch the start of this conversation with Richard Campbell >>

Mary Jo Foley
Mary Jo Foley has been a tech journalist for more than 25 years. She has worked for a variety of tech publications and Web sites, including PCWeek/eWeek, CRN and ZDNet. She is the editor of the "All About Microsoft" blog on ZDNet, and the author of the book "Microsoft 2.0: How Microsoft Plans to Stay Relevant in the Post-Gates Era" (John Wiley & Sons). She also is the co-host of the Windows Weekly show on the TWiT network and a frequent commentator and speaker on all things Microsoft-related on TV, radio, podcasts and at industry events.

D³: LIVE & INTERACTiVE    
Developers, Developers, Developers: LIVE & INTERACTIVE (D³) is a monthly show hosted by Jonathan Rozenblit. The show airs live every first Wednesday of the month at 12:00 PM ET and features the latest updates on what's new and exciting in the world of development; featured presentations; and guests. LIVE and INTERACTIVE means that you'll be part of the show – You're invited to interact with us; ask questions and get them answered; and share your thoughts and opinions.

Join the Canadian Developer Connection LinkedIn group  
Follow @devsdevdevs
Like D³ on Facebook
Subscribe to podcasts via iTunes, Zune, or RSS
Download the Canadian Developer Connection Windows Phone app

More D³: LIVE & INTERACTIVE >>

In this video, Software Development Manager Alex Hatzopoulos and Architect Greg Cannon speak with Microsoft Principal Architect Evangelist Brian Loesgen. In this wide ranging conversation, they cover their experiences in ramping up their team, setting up their environments, and share other first-hand application migration experience gained while moving their flagship Wireless Service Advisor™ (WSA™) product to Windows Azure.

WSA uses wireless and mobile technologies to streamline and standardize the Repair Order (RO) write-up process. WSA enables a service advisor to greet customers at their vehicle when they arrive at the dealership service department. Using a tablet PC, the service advisor scans or hand-writes the Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) or license plate number and transmits the information to multiple databases to retrieve critical customer and vehicle data related to that particular vehicle identifier – the critical data includes repair history, recommended services, warranty and recall information, and customer contact information.

Additionally, the WSA allows the service advisor to complete a full inspection process, handle customer's questions, and provide maintenance recommendations in a timely and interactive fashion, all while standing at the customer's vehicle. The customer can provide service authorization by signing the RO on the tablet PC so they can avoid having to wait for a printed copy. The WSA also allows for the preparation of a printed repair order as well as the update of the DMS database. The WSA presents a user-friendly front-end application that both effectively represents the entire Repair Order write up process and efficiently standardizes the Repair Order write-up procedure. The WSA™ accomplishes all this via an Azure-based backend.

About MOC1 Solutions

Based in in Glendora, CA MOC1 Solutions is a traditional ISV that was founded in 2005 and was incubated in MOC Products until June 2006 when the company was spun out as an independent private entity. MOC1 offers software applications used by automotive dealership service departments and vehicle service facilities.

Randy explains how developers can enable a simple touch-screen interface by simply designing for the device. He demonstrates how his designers take advantage of larger buttons to enable users in the field.

The application provides an innovative interface that supports ‘thumb-driven workflow’, enabling a field worker to quickly and easily navigate through the application using a natural two handed grip of a touch-screen device.  As with all Advanced Mobile LOB applications, Work Management & Inspections Slate Edition supports both on-line and off-line functionality and wired or wireless network connectivity, and interaction with Advanced Mobile’s on-premise or cloud-based communications and integration services.

About Blue Dot Solutions

Blue Dot Solutions is a leading provider of Packaged Mobile Line of Business Applications for ISVs specializing in enterprise solutions for asset intensive industries.  Blue Dot mobile LOB solutions are developed using the Advanced Mobile Platform, a Microsoft .NET-based enterprise mobility platform that provides on-premise or cloud-based data communications services and data transformation and integration services for a variety of industry leading EAM, ERP, and T&L systems.

For another video about Blue Dot Solutions, see the award winning Blue Dot’s Advanced Mobile 311 solution    Crowd-Sourcing Public Sector App for Windows Phone, Azure.

Free Assistance 

Join Microsoft Platform Ready for free assistance in developing and marketing your Windows Phone 7 applications.

Other ISV Videos

For videos on developing for Windows Phone 7, see:

• Talking  with Karmak.com about business applications on Windows Phone 7
• BinaryDads talk about building applications for Windows Phone 7
• Game Design and Development in Silverlight for Windows Phone 7
• Credit Card Processing for Windows Phone 7 on Windows Azure

For videos on Windows Azure Platform, see:

• Accumulus Makes Subscription Billing Easy for Windows Azure
• Azure Email-Enables Lists, Low-Cost Storage for SharePoint

For other videos about independent software vendors (ISVs):

• Quark Extends SharePoint for Dynamic Publishing
• ProModel Adds Simulation, Visualization to Microsoft Project
• Slingbox Maker Sling Media Describes Cross-Platform Commitment to Silverlight

Up to Date News for ISVs and Software Developers

See US ISV Community blog.

At first glance, the Duo looks like a standard 10.1” notebook, but give that screen a little tap, and it’ll flip right around to switch into a touch-screen tablet.

Armed with Windows 7 Home Premium, Intel’s Atom N550 processor and 2GB RAM, the Inspiron Duo also packs a suite of touch apps to convert the PC into a picture frame, alarm clock and touch screen music player. Drop it into the optional JBL Audio Station speaker dock and you can really get the party started.

It’s dinky, so you’ll only get a couple of USB 2.0 ports, but there’s 320GB hard drive on board, Bluetooth and 802.11n Wi-Fi connectivity and a SIM Card socket for web on the road. As ever in life, not all is perfect – note that the Duo lacks Ethernet and video out ports, so it’s very much designed to be a mobile device.

Remember, “Fliptop”, you heard it here first. Rats, just checked the web. Everyone’s calling it a fliptop. Bah.

A 10.1” slate will be available in February, and those who prefer the solid feel of a keyboard will love the dock that ships with the tablet – it houses a full sized keyboard. That means not only will the tablet be great as a mobile web and email device, but if you need to get your head down for some work, dock the device and tap away.

The tablet will be powered by an AMD processor and comes with dual 1.3MP webcams, front and rear. Wi-Fi and 3G models are expected, and Acer have promised to show off the device at CES in January.

Perhaps the latest Windows 7 based tablet to hit the streets?

LG’s all-new E-Note H1000B has just been released in Korea. It's a10.1” slate with a capacitive touchscreen, 1GB RAM, a 16GB SSD and your choice of an Intel Atom Z510 or Z530 at its heart. Connect up via 802.11n Wi-Fi or Bluetooth and expand courtesy of an included SD Card slot and two USB ports. Now choose between Windows 7 Starter or Professional and get that flight booked!

So are my printer and I best buddies? Well, we’re more acquaintances. It does its job, gives me know trouble, but you’ll agree with me, after losing it so many times in frustration, it’s tough to love your printer. You may drone on to friends and colleagues about your new phone, tablet or notebook, but you’re not likely to give them an impromptu demo of your printer any time soon.

That may well change with HP’s latest range of printers, and the HP PhotoSmart eStation in particular caught my eye.

Take a decent, All in One printer (with 802.11n Wi-Fi, scanner and fax) and whack a 7” detachable touchscreen tablet on the front, which serves as control panel and web browser, including news, weather, email , ebook reader and more. That in itself is cool convergence, but then add a dash of HP’s new ePrint feature, which lets you print Microsoft Office documents, PDFs, Images and web pages whilst on the road by email, and we’re starting to get into “bore your friends” territory. Add a library of web apps from social networks like Facebook and other providers and now we’re talking about a printer you can friend.

With all of these features, I’m not sure whether this printer is still a “printer”, or whether a new “More Than All In One” category needs to be invented – but I’m ready to forget the crimes of the past, and get to know this printer a little better.

Both EliteBooks come with the following:

• reinforced glass 12.1 inch 1280x800 LED screen – you can choose to opt for a less reflective screen for easier outdoor use, too
• a range of Intel Core i5 and i7 processor options
• a 6-cell lithium ion battery which provides 5 hours of use and you can optionally add a supplemental battery for 11 hours of use
• stainless steel finish and magnesium casing
• an optional easily portable expansion bay which functions like a laptop dock where additional ports, hard drive bays and an optical drive are available
• military-grade resistance to high temperatures, dust, vibration, and altitude
• HP’s DriveGuard technology

The 2740p tablet starts at $1599 and the EliteBook 2540p starts at $1099. Both will be available next month.

In addition, the version of Windows on the ExoPC is Windows 7 Professional which means it also offers support for native inking.

With its user-replaceable battery and $599 price point, this new tablet computer available in March will be an attractive choice for those who are looking for the convenience of a thin slate without having to give up on the features they expect to have on their portable computers.