In this talk, we will share 18 tips based on what we learned when building Hilo, a world-ready Windows Store app built using modern C++ and Windows XAML. Topics include C++ 11, asynchronous programming, live tiles, pages, touch, navigation, file system queries, suspend/resume, and localization. If you’re a C++ developer, then come learn about building Windows Store apps in C++ from other C++ developers with several tips to share.

TouchDevelop is a novel, touch-first IDE originally written as a Windows Phone 7 app using C# and XAML. TouchDevelop lets you create WP7, Win8 and Web-apps directly on your phone, tablet, or desktop. Trying to build the JavaScript version, both for Win8 and the Web, we were frustrated by the complete lack of compile-time checking. We thus got very excited to be one of the very early adopters of TypeScript, a typed superset of JavaScript that compiles to idiomatic JavaScript.

Learn all about the new component extensions to C++, that help target the Windows Runtime Library. Learn when to use WRL directly and when to use the components extension. This talk is for you if you want to understand all the nitty-gritties of the language, semantics and best practices when creating your own WinRT component for reuse in your Windows Store Apps.

Extensible Application Markup Language (XAML) offers a wealth of features that enable developers and designers to build more and more amazing and complex apps. But with great power comes great responsibility. Come learn the tricks to keeping your XAML-based Windows Store apps smooth and responsive, and find out about tools to light your way if you should find yourself in the dark!

In this talk we'll cover the basics of creating a Windows Store app experience using HTML and JavaScript, including the Windows Library for JavaScript (WinJS). Topics will include how to leverage your existing HTML and JavaScript skills, how to integrate Windows 8 personality and contracts into your app, and how Microsoft Visual Studio 2012 provides tools to make this easy and fast.

Windows 8 is Windows reimagined. To that end, Microsoft developed five principles that drove the experience design decisions for Windows 8. This talk will describe each of these principles and how they relate to each other. It will also give you concrete guidance on how to apply these principles in your own apps.

This talk will cover how to use C++ to target the new Windows Runtime surface. Beyond just learning how to write apps in C++, you will see how to create new libraries or reuse existing components that you can seamlessly combine with Windows Store apps using JavaScript, C#, and other C++ apps.

Windows 8 provides a rich set of core technologies that are vital to creating top-selling games. You will hear about the three programming languages for games (JavaScript, C#, C++), and the game genres most easily created in each. For JavaScript developers we will cover interpreted performance of the runtime. For C# developers we will cover the differences between the .NET Runtime and the Windows Runtime. For C++ developers we will cover the new models for high-performance graphics,...

Windows Store apps provide new opportunities for enterprises to make line-of-business (LOB) apps that are complex yet user friendly, touch centric, fast, and fluid. Learn about LOB scenarios that are a great fit for Windows Store apps. Also, learn about the management, design, and development platform capabilities for building these apps.

n this session, you learn more about the new standard features available in Internet Explorer 10, including grid layout, IndexedDB, and AppCache. We'll use simple code examples to see these features in action in real-world websites and apps!

Windows Phone 8 dramatically expands the ways in which developers can build applications and games, by adding several new programming models, and also expanding the application model to support a broader set of developer scenarios. Andrew will explore these in depth and give you the information you need to get started building applications that leverage these features today.

Pre-keynote entertainment with Jordan Rudess

The Windows Phone platform has always been about giving developers the ability to expose their apps to users in compelling contextually relevant ways. In WP8, we're adding the Wallet, a new centralized hub for applications that provide users quick and easy access to financial services and loyalty programs. Come to this session to learn all about the Wallet, how it works, and how you as a developer can leverage all of its power.

A fantastic new feature for developers in Windows Phone, is the ability to register your application to handle specific protocol schemes; this process will enable other applications to launch your application with parameters that denote specific behavior, much like our own launchers and choosers. Sean will go in depth on how the feature works, and how you can best leverage it in your applications.

Most people would agree that speech can be the ultimate input mechanism. Windows Phone demonstrated this: many of the first party experiences could be driven by speech in our first two releases. In WP8, we've made speech extensible, and given you the ability to leverage it a number of compelling ways within the context of your app. In this session, we'll show you everything you need to know.

C++ isn't only for games! There are a large number of scenarios where you may want to leverage it in developing for Windows Phone, particularly wherever you want to leverage code you've developed for other platforms. In this session, Peter Torr will walk you through these scenarios, and how to best execute on them.

C++ isn't only for games! There are a large number of scenarios where you may want to leverage it in developing for Windows Phone, particularly wherever you want to leverage code you've developed for other platforms. In this session, Peter Torr will walk you through these scenarios, and how to best execute on them.

Windows Phone 8 creates a new extensibility point in the form of the 'lens'; an application that plugs directly into the 1st party viewfinder experience. Eric will show you how lenses work, and how to build your own lens apps.

Performance continues to be the holy grail that all developers seek to attain, no matter what platform you're on. Windows Phone performance expert Oren Nachman will spend this hour walking you through some of the architectural underpinnings of Windows Phone, and how they provide you guidance in building a high performing application

Some of the most compelling applications on the phone are those that leverage maps and location, and in Windows Phone 8, we've added the capability for developers to write applications that perform turn-by-turn navigation operations in the background. This session will demonstrate how to use these features, and will also talk about the new Maps control.

Microsoft has a long history of building ecosystems in which many partners can build thriving businesses; in this session Todd will talk in depth on what you can do to maximize the money earning potential of your applications on Windows Phone 8

In-App purchase is _the_ critical monetization mechanism for developers today on mobile devices, and in Windows Phone 8, we've added comprehensive support that open a new world of opportunity to developers. We'll discuss this feature in depth in this session, and also talk about our new developer portal all up.

Windows Phone has always been about building outstanding apps and games using XAML to design and execute on an outstanding UI layer that integrates tightly with the Windows Phone Design system. In this session, Shawn Oster will walk you through what's new for XAML programmers in Windows Phone 8.

For decades, Microsoft has endeavored to create development platforms that meet the needs of the enterprise world. In Windows Phone 8, Windows Phone adds several new features that mean its more ready to deliver on these scenarios than ever before. Andrew will explore these in depth.