As I’ve been talking in the past already, it is sometimes valuable, to create applications for the .NET CF, which are running unter the .NET Framework as well.

This can cause some issues on the .NET Framework, as you don’t have direct access to Environment variables and all enumerations from Environment.SpecialFolder when you probably need them.

But you can achieve access to this information through reflection.

For environment variables this is easy:

public static string ReadEnvironmentVariable(string variableName)
{
        return (string)typeof(Environment).InvokeMember("GetEnvironmentVariable", BindingFlags.Default | BindingFlags.InvokeMethod, null, "", new object[] { variableName });
}

The same applies to the SpecialFolder-Enumeration:

public static string ReadSpecialFolder(string variableName)
{
        return Environment.GetFolderPath((Environment.SpecialFolder)Enum.Parse(typeof(Environment.SpecialFolder), variableName, true));
}

Accessing both types of information is also easy. Please be aware of to do this only on the desktop system, via requesting the platform underneath:

if (Environment.OSVersion.Platform == PlatformID.Win32NT)
{
    string tempPath = ReadEnvironmentVariable("TEMP"));
    string localApplicationDataFolder = ReadSpecialFolder("LocalApplicationData");

}

Maarten Struys, a former DAD MVP, has published a whitepaper on Creating Location Aware Applications for Windows Mobile Devices.

This whitepaper doesn’t only cover GPS, but Cell Tower Lookup as well. Cell Tower Lookup is based on GSM, where a position can be retrieved by the according CellID. The pros and cons of each method are covered by the whitepaper as well. A sample application is also included.

As the sample application is using the Yahoo web service for retrieving the location based on the CellID, I’d suggest to take a look at Providers like CellDB and OpenCellID. Those providers don’t only enable (after registration) to request CellID locations, but also to upload new ones.

If you are especially interested in posting new CellIDs, than you probably shall take a look at the Open Cell Client.

I’ve been quite astonished to find out, that the Dev Toolkit for WM 6.5 doesn’t have any documentation on how to create Widgets for WM 6.5 included.

Instead of finding it within the Dev Toolkit, an article can be found under Getting started with widgets on Windows Mobile 6.5 on MSDN. This article is supposed to be a starting point of an article series, as the information provided isn’t fully covered. Topics around the included Widget API are missing.

A small remark on the article: If you have already installed the Dev Toolkit instead of the WM 6.5 Emulator package, the description on how to use the emulator isn’t correct.

Instead of using this entry:

you have to use one of the Windows Mobile 6.5 Emulators, listed under the Windows Mobile 6 Professional / Standard SDK entry.

Yep – it is available now: The Windows Mobile 6.5 Developer Toolkit.

Developer Toolkit means that it isn’t a full blown SDK and therefore needs the Windows Mobile 6.0 SDK as a base installed.

The Toolkit includes the Windows Mobile 6.5 Emulator and is available in 7 languages (yes, already german!!!!).

You can find a brief description on the Toolkit here, or just go ahead and download it from here.

As a few people already realized, the VS 2010 Beta documentation states:

“Support for smart device development has been removed from Visual Studio 2010.”

Short answer: VS 2010 won’t support WM 6.5 / CE 6.0 and earlier, but will support the following versions.

Long answer: Read this official statement from Microsofts Technical Evangelist Frank Prengel.

Ever wanted to write your blog posts from your Windows Mobile device? As there are a lot of mobile twitter apps the applications for mobile blogging are rare.

Therefore you shall take a look at Windows Live Writer for Windows Mobile, which I now take as a working name.

The name itself states that it is an application from Microsofts Windows Live Team, which ISN’T true. It isn’t associated with Microsoft in ANY way, so expect the application name to change soon. :-)

The application itself, as published on Codeplex here, looks very promising for the moment as it has started a few days ago.

The UI isn’t anything extraordinary at the moment: Plain Windows Forms controls. In my eyes this isn’t anything bad as it goes down to the basics and just serves the needs.

Looks promising – let’s see what happens in the future with this tool!

Have you ever experienced the problem, that your .NET CF application throws the following exception using a SSL Connection?

System.Net.WebException: Unable to read data from the transport connection (System.Net.Sockets.SocketException: Unknown error (0x0))

If this is the case, than you probably want to get the HotFix for Web Services over SSL for .NET CF 3.5.

Unfortunatelly this error exists with the .NET CF 2.0, where no fix is available and I’m not commenting this any further. ;-)

MyPhone

If you have been interested in testing MyPhone on your Mobile Device, you now have the possibility as the beta has been opened to all users.

More Info can be found on the teams blog post.

Windows Mobile Marketplace

1.) As a lot of you have been asking, when the registration will be available to NON US citizens: It’s going to be mid july.
2.) The Windows Mobile Marketplace Forum on MSDN has opened it's doors. You can find it here.

New to Windows Mobile Development? Want to speed up fast?

In this case you shall have a look at the rampup modules at MSDN.

In 7 courses you will learn:

• Level 1: Mobile Development Introduction
• Level 2: Device Emulators
• Level 3: Mobile Windows Forms Development
• Level 4: Advanced Mobile Windows Forms Development
• Level 5: SQL Server CE Introduction
• Level 6: Security and Deployment
• Level 7: Mobile Web Development

The rampup modules can be found here.

Thanks Maarten for pointing out!

Are you attending TechEd US and interested in the Windows Mobile Track? Than you shall take a look a this post from the Windows Mobile Blog post for a summary.

I wish everyone a pleasent time over there.

I actually can’t attend the TechEd US but I’m actually looking forward to attend TechEd EMEA, which will take place this year in Berlin from Nov 9th to Nov 13th.

Ever wondered when you will get an optimized Facebook application for Windows Mobile? The time is now.

Some key features are:

• Send messages to any of the people in your Friends list.

• Take pictures and videos on your phone, then upload them right to Facebook.

• Send messages or call people in your Friends list.

• Manage your profile and post anytime, anywhere.

A more detailed description can be found here.

Or download it directly from your mobile browser here.

 
(Source: Microsoft)

Very often I get asked via Mail or Messenger “Can you help me”, “How do I…”, “Can you tell me how…” or similar questions.

My general reply is (especially for german based persons) to use the Windows Mobile Forum on MSDN. There is even a localized forum for those who aren’t that familiar with the english language… (Okay, in that case they aren’t able to read that post, but this is another story ;-) ).

The reason I tell people to use this forum has several reasons:

• Probably there is someone out on the Net, who has the same problem. Documenting it that way makes it easy for others to find THAT solution.
• Searching the forum minimizes the questions.
• I don’t know all the answers. On the forums are several other people around, who can answer questions even better than I do.
• You can ask in native german language. ;-)

Even those of you who tried it earlier and haven’t been satisfied with it shall give it another try: The Forums have been reworked at the beginning of this year.

This doesn’t only mean a facelift but new functionality as well. If you are interested in a breif german overview I suggest reading Kai’s blogpost on this.

As I’m a Moderator on this Forum as well seeing forward to see you there.

Link: German Windows Mobile Forum on MSDN

Yes, I know. I’m old school regarding Web 2.0.

However – haven’t had the chance to resist Twitter any more instead of using the Facebook Status all the time.

So, if you want to follow, you can follow me at: http://twitter.com/PeNoWiMo

Do you want to know, which requirements have to be met for creating Apps for the Windows Mobile Marketplace? Then you should have a look at the Submission Guidelines. This document is actually a 32 pages long Draft in PDF Format.

For a quick overview I’d suggest to head over to pocketnow.com and take a look at the short summary, which gives you a quick overview of which requiremnts have to be met.

This is, how you shall be greeted by VS each morning. ;-)

Nearly every mobile business application uses a database, whether on client side, or on server side.

How you can use a local database, sync with a server database and incorporate in other ways shows this special last edition from the Lost Files series.

Again, this document is kept in german. If anyone is willing to translate it into english, feel free to contact me.

In contrast to the other Lost Files episodes, this time this document is a full featured chapter.

As this german native document has been written at the end of 2006 a few new hot topics are missing, but still it is worth the read.

Happy reading. :)

Please be aware of, that this article and samples are AS IS. No support, no update is being given.

I get questioned a lot of times, where to find new or different mobile controls from third partys.

First of all I’d like to point you to Resco.net. With the MobileForms Toolkit you get new forms, which are enhanced in touch functionality.

A list of all included controls including screenshots can be seen here. The toolkit itself is compatible with VS 2008 as well.

A smaller set of interesting UI components can be found at http://www.beemobile4.net/.

As it looks like this company is just starting, the included elements look promising. Especially the offer of suggesting new elements looks promising.

But what do you do, if you want to create your own alphablended or transparent controls?

In this case you shall have a look at Alex Yakhnins post to see, how the basics work.

If you aren’t interested in creating evereything from scratch, you are probably interested in taking a look at the AlphaMobileControls on CodePlex.

These available base elements can be used for developing more compelling controls, if needed.

The AlphaMobileControls have been shortly covered in our WebCast Series as well (unfortunatly in german only):

Windows Mobile für Profis (Teil 3 von 6) - Wege zu ansprechenden Benutzeroberflächen unter Windows Mobile: Alphablending, gradiente Farbverläufe und Transparenz

You know, that a “Hello World” is always the first starting point on how to develop your first application.

Maarten Struys, a Netherlands Device Apllication Development MVP, has assembled some videos in english, to give you a staring point in creating your first mobile application in managed Code. The 20 minutes videos cover as well, which tools are needed to start your mobile development.

Just take a look over here, if you are interested. Good job Maarten!

As you are aware of, that you have already a Cellular emulator for your Windows Mobile Emulator, how would you like the idea of emulating Bluetooth as well?

In that case you shall have a look at the Bluetooth for Microsoft Device Emulator.

It shows how to install and configure the necessary components. This includes the FreeBT Bluetooth stack, which has to be installed on your hosting machine. As FreeBT is still in alpha stage you shall have a look at the troubleshooting section for more information…

Ever wanted to know how you can save memory for your mobile managed applications?

In that case you shall read the article MemMamker for the .NET CF by Rob Tiffany. It shows how to optimize applications and how the “trick” works.

As you know, a lot of mobile devices, especially in Germany, don’t have Windows Live for Windows Mobile included.

Therefore there has been a free package around, which delivered Live Hotmail, Messenger, Spaces and Contacs to your device.

This package has been updated.

You can download the CAB-File directly from your mobile browser by clicking this link.

The recording of the Webcast Series on Mobile Development has been finished, yet the last part is about to being published soon.

Simon, Patrick and I are actually thinking about setting up a new series. We have actually assembled some ideas for new topics but give you the opportunity to have some influence on this. Share your ideas as comments on this page and we will think about, if we will have the chance to include this topics.

Unfortunatelly it is going to be in native (german) again….

One year passed, one to go – I’m glad to announce that I’ve been reawarded this year by Microsoft as “Device Application Development MVP”.

Before starting now to thank  everyone, who supported me and an article in this blog shouldn't exceed it's boundaries, my first “Thank You” is going to Microsoft, especially the MVP-Leads Katrin Letzel & Matthias Schäfers. In short: Thanks everyone, who supported me to be reawarded.

Microsoft recently updated it’s portals on Windows Mobile and the according Developer Portal in Germany.

The general portal has now a mesh on different consumer information like devices, latest news, information on consumer software and diffenent guidelines.

Sure that it actually uses Silverlight like a lot of actual updates MS Sites, which is okay for me.

The portal can be found here.

The Windows Mobile Developer Network looks more like a new starting page to the MSDN Network. Nevertheless it meshes important developer information to be seen directly. Beside of actual news and events useful mobile applications are listed as well as links to different interesting blogs on mobile development as well as on additional “extras”.

In this very moment the page looks a bit empty, but I’m sure that this will change very soon.

Chris Tacke shows in his blogpost, how to create a Screen Capture with less than 10 lines of code. The interesting about this is, that it just uses managed code without any P/Invoke and it includes cleaning up code. Can’t be easier. Thanks Chris!