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Also if currently you are probably running Windows 8 on a virtual machine or luckily on a computer, there is not any doubt that this new operating system and especially the metro-style interface is dedicated to touch enabled devices like tablets. The plans of Microsoft infact include the new WOA keywork where the acronym stands for Windows On ARM that is the aim of making available this interface on a wide set of mobile devices that currently embrace this successful processor architecture.

Running on a tablet does not only imply a different input interface like the touch screen, but also it requires a careful use of system resources that are not always large on this kind of device.

When you create an app like the SilverlightShow app, that accesses remote data frequently, thinking about a suitable strategy for local storage and caching is vital to provide a great user experience. In the previous parts of this series, we have already seen how several optimizations are used to improve the networking performance of the app. Overall, the costs to pull data from the portal could be reduced to far less than 1/10th of the original traffic by applying some relatively simple changes.

In this interview we talk to Gill Cleeren and Kevin Dockx about their just-released book ‘Microsoft Silverlight 5 Data and Services Cookbook’ by Packt Publishing. An overview of this book and sample chapter 8 ‘Talking to WCF and ASMX Services’ may be downloaded from Packt website.

SilverlightShow: Hi Gill and Kevin! Your new book ‘Microsoft Silverlight 5 Data and Services Cookbook’ has just been released. This is an updated version of Microsoft Silverlight 4 Data and Services Cookbook, published two years ago. What’s new in this version, and why should someone who already got your Silverlight 4 ebook upgrade to this one?

Gill: It’s correct to say that it’s an updated version for the fifth release of Silverlight.

The target devices where it is expected Windows 8 to runs are something of really amazing, since it should run from tablet devices of the most various sizes to the the widest monitor. Dealing with various display sizes and with mobile devices requires new capabilities that go beyond the ones required to run on a simple smartphone. First of all you need to adapt the size of your app to the screen, probably reducing or increasing the amount of content you show to the user. Connected with the use of fingers instead of mouse, it is required you are able to use all available space on the screen, expecially with low resolutions.

It has been months since Windows 8 is available for developers and the need for new applications is growing in a fast pace. And nothing is more exacting than a computer user in 21^st century. It’s quite difficult to build the right application, moreover – it’s even more difficult to stay on top and not to be, metaphorically, stepped over by the big players. They always know what exactly the user wants and have the resources to provide it to him. But that’s not always what has to happen after all.

Welcome to part 6 already in this Windows 8 series. Since the goal of this articles is bringing you in touch with all the important aspects of Windows 8 development, we need to dive into tiles. Tiles are therefore the main topic of this very article. If you’re coming from a Windows Phone 7 background, the concept of tiles is probably already familiar to you. However, Windows 8 brings quite a few new things to the table, including the concept of badges. Toasts are also covered here; conceptually, these already existed in Windows Phone 7 development as well but have been adapted for use in a Windows 8 environment.

In this SilverlightShow interview, we talk with Ido Flatow –presenter of 3 WCF sessions at Visual Stuido Live!New York conference (May 14-17, 2012). The topics of the sessions are: Monitoring and Troubleshooting WCF Services, What's New in WCF 4 and What's New in WCF 4.5.
As we have announced, SilverlightShow is the Social Media Premiere Partner for this conference and we are sending one SilverlightShow member to this conference for free.

About Ido: Ido Flatow is a Microsoft MVP for Connected Systems Development, Microsoft Certified Trainer, senior architect, and trainer at SELA Group International.

In this SilverlightShow interview, we talk with Brian Noyes –presenter at a total of 4 sessions at Visual Stuido Live!New York conference (May 14-17, 2012). The topics of the sessions are: Building Portable XAML Client App Logic and Resources, Building Extensible XAML Client Apps, Learn to Behave - Extend Your XAML with Behaviors and Securing and Personalizing Silverlight 5 Client Apps.
As we have announced, SilverlightShow is the Social Media Premiere Partner for this conference and we are sending one SilverlightShow member to this conference for free.

After the first article in this series, where I briefly discussed about design aspects of the new Metro interface, involving simplicity, flatness, emptiness and the pillars of this new beautiful paradigm, as promised, it is now time to start exploring the tools available to start create your applications. At the date of this article, you have to be aware that I'm discussing about the "Windows 8 Consumer Preview" bits so, when then next releases will be available, something I've written might become obsolete due to changes made by the team.