This week we released the Windows 7 RC Training Kit for Developers as part of our ongoing effort to give you, all the Windows developers out there, and valuable content to work with while making your application shine on Windows 7. This version of the training kit includes 10 presentations and 8 Hands-On-Labs (HOL), covering most of the Windows 7 light-up features as well as application compatibility topics. Note that the HOL gives you the opportunity to get firsthand experience in programming key Windows 7 Light-Up features, such as the Taskbar, Libraries, Multi-Touch, Sensors and Location, Graphics, Ribbon, Trigger Start Services, Instrumentation and Event Tracing for Windows (ETW). We also provide a brief Application Compatibility overview.

This is an “early preview” to the full set of Windows 7 Training for Developers that will be released shortly after RTM. You can download the training kit and get started, but make sure you have a Windows 7 RC machine to work with, and install Visual Studio 2008 SP 1 and Windows 7 RC SDK as some of the native applications requires libraries from the SDK.

Modules:

Taskbar

The Windows 7 Taskbar is a differentiating opportunity that allows applications to shine on the Windows 7 platform. The new Taskbar streamlines many end-user scenarios including launching applications, switching between running applications and windows within a single application, managing recent/frequent user destinations, accessing common application tasks, reporting progress and status notifications through the taskbar button, and controlling the application without leaving the taskbar thumbnail. The Taskbar is the end user’s primary point-of-contact for initiating and managing activities; as such, the integration of the new taskbar features into modern Windows 7 applications is a critically important goal. This module talks about the different aspects and APIs associated with programming the Windows 7 Taskbar.

Libraries

Libraries are the new entry points to user data. Libraries are a natural evolution of the 'My Documents' folder concept that blends into the Windows Explorer user experience. A library is a common store of user defined locations that applications can leverage to manage user content as their part of the user experience. Because libraries are not file system locations, you will need to update some applications to work with them like folders. This module explains the basic concepts underlying Windows 7 Libraries, including how to make your application library-aware, how to work with libraries as though they were file system folders, and how to leverage the library system.

Multi-Touch

Windows 7 features improved touch and gesture support that empowers developers to quickly and easily create unique application experiences that go beyond simple mouse pointing, clicking, and dragging. The new multi-touch APIs support rich gestures, such as pan, zoom, and rotate. The Windows 7 Multi-Touch Platform also provides raw touch data inputs and advance manipulation and interties. This module explains the basics of Windows 7 multi-touch and its APIs.

Sensor and Location Platform

Windows 7 has changed how developers use sensors. The Sensor and Location Platform includes native support for sensors, expanded by a new development platform for working with sensors, including location sensors such as GPS devices. Built on the Sensor platform, the new Windows Location APIs enable application developers to access the user’s physical location information. This module explains what the Sensor and Location Platform is and how to work with its APIs.

Ribbon

Windows 7 incorporates the Ribbon interface introduced in Office 2007 throughout the operating system, enabling improved user interface development on the platform. This means that developers can eliminate much of the drudgery of Win32 UI development and deliver a rich, graphical, animated, and highly familiar user interfaces by using a markup-based UI and a small, high-performance, native code runtime. The Ribbon control helps developers improve usability by exposing your application's most frequently accessed features directly to end users. The Ribbon makes it easier for end users to find and use application features because functionality is more visible, resulting in greater productivity. This module shows the different aspects of the Windows 7 Ribbon and provides a guide on how to incorporate the Windows 7 Ribbon into existing applications.

Background Processes, Services, and Tasks

Services and background processes have tremendous influence on the overall performance of the system, and therefore the applications. If we could cut down on the total number of services, we could reduce the total power consumption and increase the overall stability of the system. The Windows 7 Service Control Manager has been extended so that a service can be automatically started and stopped when a specific system event, or trigger, occurs on the system. Trigger-start capabilities remove the need for services to start up automatically at computer startup and then poll or wait for an event to occur. This module explains the different options available to developers for configuring and using trigger-start services.

Windows 7 Instrumentation and Performance

Windows 7 includes new Event Tracing for Windows (ETW) capabilities that developers can take advantage of during the development process to optimize application performance. Instrumentation has always been part of Windows, but Windows 7 includes new ETW underlying technology that makes the task of including instrumentation in your application a whole lot easier. This module describes the different options for using instrumentation in Windows, including the new ETW.

Windows 7 Application Compatibility

Windows 7 is built on top of Windows Vista, which means if your application does not work or if it has some issues when running on Windows Vista, most probably it will have similar issues running on Windows 7. This module is a short overview of the top major issues regarding Windows 7 compatibility, including Data Redirection, Service Isolation, Version Checking, and High DPI.

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Posted By: z3r010
12 Jun 2009