Surface Decals Arrived

The skins that I ordered from Decal Girl arrived earlier this week. Each one has on it a link to a download for a background that exactly matches the “hole” in the screen border. This means you can get effects like the one above. I really like this, although if I use the same background for my desktop it makes things confusing, as I try to drag things into side of the device.

If you want to make your devices nicely unique and protect their surface a little (note the play on words there) then I reckon they are well worth a look. The picture, since you asked, is of a rock pool at the seaside on the Isle of Man. I liked the shape of the cracks and the blue sky above.

Second App Studio Screencast

The second screencast is now available. It is all about data sources and RSS feeds. You can find it here.

You can find both screencasts (and any new ones that I add) here:

http://www.robmiles.com/windows-phone-app-studio/

Update on Friday, August 9, 2013 at 09:09AM by Rob

If you are having bother getting your invitation code for App Studio I've got one here that might work for you:

MSFTMVP020

Windows Phone App Studio Screencasts

I’ve done a little screencast about getting started with Windows Phone App Studio. It covers making and deploying your first application, and actually shows you to build something that is useful. I’ll record a few more over the next week or so. You can find the screencast here.

Update on Thursday, August 8, 2013 at 09:39AM by Rob

I've set up a new part of the site for these screencasts. They will all be at:

http://www.robmiles.com/windows-phone-app-studio/

Windows Phone App Studio

If you fancy making a Windows Phone application but you’ve not done much programming then you might find the Windows Phone App Studio worth a look. It starts from a web based interface you can use to create applications that bring together your favourite web sites, RSS feeds and lumps of data. You can turn out very professional looking applications with menus,  custom lock screens and tiles. What’s more, you can distribute them to any Windows Phone owner who scans the QR code that is produced when your app is built. And the apps that you build can be the basis of Marketplace your Products because you can download the entire solution and add your own behaviours alongside the pre-built ones.

If you are planning a party, want to tell the world about your amazing pizza collection, need to keep track of places you have visited or just want a quick way of finding all your favourite web sites and blogs, then you can create an application of your own to do just that. In around ten minutes or so.

Office Tidying

Just had a visit from a Fire Safety person (#nogoodwillcomeofthis)

He didn’t really have to say much. Just look around my office at the collection of daisy chained mains cables, piles of paper and other inflammable detritus lying around the place. So, time for a tidy up methinks. My bin is now full and I can see part of the surface of my desk. And two mains extensions have gone back to the systems team. I also found this rather nice button while I was clearing up. Ongoing.

Update on Monday, August 5, 2013 at 12:04PM by Rob

Ha. Found the other button. Knew I had two.