Click here if you want to quickly grab the latest version of the BidNow sample.  Click here if you want to see a live demo of the application.

What’s in the BidNow Sample?

BidNow has been significantly updated to leverage many pieces of the Windows Azure Platform, including many of the new features and capabilities announced at PDC and that are a part of the Windows Azure SDK 1.3.  This list includes:

• Windows Azure (updated)

• Updated for the Windows Azure SDK 1.3
• Separated the Web and Services tier into two web roles
• Leverages Startup Tasks to register certificates in the web roles
• Updated the worker role for asynchronous processing

• Moved data out of Windows Azure storage and into SQL Azure (e.g. categories, auctions, buds, and users)
• Updated the DAL to leverage Entity Framework 4.0 with appropriate data entities and sources
• Included a number of scripts to refresh and update the underlying data

• Blob storage only used for auction images and thumbnails
• Queues allow for asynchronous processing of auction data

• Leveraging the Caching service to cache reference and activity data stored in SQL Azure
• Using local cache for extremely low latency

• BidNow.Web leverages WS-Federation and Windows Identity Foundation to interact with Access Control
• Configured BidNow to leverage Live ID, Yahoo!, and Facebook by default
• Claims from ACs are processed by the ClaimsAuthenticationManager such that they are enriched by additional profile data stored in SQL Azure

• A set of OData services (i.e. WCF Data Services) provide an independent services layer to expose data to difference clients
• The OData services are secured using Access Control

• A Windows Phone 7 client exists that consumes the OData services
• The Windows Phone 7 client leverages Access Control to access the OData services

Source: http://www.wadewegner.com/2010/11/significant-updates-released-in-the-bidnow-sample-for-windows-azure/#

Some of the new Windows Azure enhancements announced at PDC include:  Virtual Machine Role, Elevated Privileges, Full IIS, Remote Desktop, Windows Azure Connect (formerly Project “Sydney”), Extra Small instances, a new Windows Azure Platform management portal, and more.  

These new enhancements and the new Windows Azure Tools for Visual Studio November release (version 1.3) are now available.  

Some of these features are generally available today to everyone, while others are staring to be rolled out as a beta or CTP.  You can find more details about these new features in the announcement on the Windows Azure team blog.

Windows Azure Platform Training Kit – November Update

The November release of the training kit includes several new hands-on labs for the new Windows Azure features and the new/updated services. All of them have been updated to use the new Windows Azure Tools for Visual Studio version 1.3 (November release). The updates in this training kit include:

·         [New lab] Advanced Web and Worker Role – shows how to use admin mode and startup tasks

·         [New lab] Connecting Apps With Windows Azure Connect – shows how to use Project Sydney

·         [New lab] Virtual Machine Role – shows how to get started with VM Role by creating and deploying a VHD

·         [New lab] Windows Azure CDN – simple introduction to the CDN

·         [New lab] Introduction to the Windows Azure AppFabric Service Bus Futures – shows how to use the new Service Bus features in the AppFabric labs environment

·         [New lab] Building Windows Azure Apps with Caching Service – shows how to use the new Windows Azure AppFabric Caching service

·         [New lab] Introduction to the AppFabric Access Control Service V2 – shows how to build a simple web application that supports multiple identity providers

·         [Updated] Introduction to Windows Azure - updated to use the new Windows Azure platform Portal

·         [Updated] Introduction to SQL Azure - updated to use the new Windows Azure platform Portal

You can download the November update of the Windows Azure Platform Training kit from here:  http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkID=130354

The HOLs are also directly published to MSDN to make it easier for developers to review and use the content without having to download an entire training kit package.  You can now browse to all of the HOLs online in MSDN here:  http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=207018

(thanks to James Conard)

You find it under: https://windows.azure.com/

There are plenty of documents listing all the APIs and features that Silverlight Windows Phone 7 applications can implement. Here, I would like to reference a few of them that are exclusive of Windows Phone 7 and not (yet?) available on other phones in the same form.

The Pivot and Panorama controls.

An easy one. Not very much to say except, just use them.¨

IIS Smooth Streaming, Smooth Streaming Media Element, Silverlight Media Framework

If you want a great video streaming experience on your mobile device, Windows Phone 7 is your device – And IIS Smooth Streaming the technology to use to achieve this great user experience.
On Sept 24, the IIS Smooth Streaming Client 1.1 was Release To the Web – You can download it here, from which you can read the following:

The IIS Smooth Streaming Client allows you to build rich IIS Smooth Streaming experiences for both on-demand and live IIS Smooth Streaming. This release of the IIS Smooth Streaming Client 1.1 allows you to build Silverlight® players for on-demand and live Smooth Streaming, with full DVR, live ad insertion, multiple camera angles, trickplay, and other rich functionalities. This kit is intended to aid your development of rich Smooth Streaming players and experiences.

The IIS Smooth Streaming Client APIs provide an easy interface for developers and designers to create rich Smooth Streaming experiences using the Silverlight platform. These APIs provide support for simple operations such as Play, Pause, and Stop and also more complex operations such as scheduling advertisements, selecting and tracking bit rates for Smooth Streaming playback, and many more.

The IIS Smooth Streaming Client 1.1 release now includes support for Windows Phone 7.

NB: IIS Smooth Streaming Client is used in the Microsoft Silverlight Media Framework (SMF). This partnership facilitates faster player development.

Great Example: Swisscom TV Air application, available to Swisscom clients through the Windows Phone 7 Marketplace

Hub Extension

Considering that we were just discussing the video experience, another nice feature is the possibility to integrate the videos just played into the “Music and Videos” Hub, the place where all your music and videos are.
With a few lines of code, you will have access to the video material that you have watched or started watching within your application also in the “Music and Videos” Hub, which can even remember how much of the video you have already seen.

More Information, here.

Deep Zoom

Do you want your users to “navigate” high resolution pictures? Windows Phone 7 allows you this thanks to Deep zoom technology.
If you have already seen Schweiz Tourismus Deepzoom Zermatt on the web, you can now enjoy the same application on Windows Phone 7 (Use this Deep link, if you have the Zune Software installed).

More information under http://www.mobiletechworld.com/tag/deepzoom/ which also includes another application developed by Ronnie Saurenmann (Microsoft Switzerland).

Recently, a WP7 Deep Zoom Reader was also posted on msdn.

Thursday December 2^nd, Microsoft will held in Redmond a full day event about Silverlight named The Future of Silverlight Starts Now.

 The event will be streamed world-wide and accessible on every PC, however, if you would like to enjoy some good company and free Pizza & Beers, we would be very happy to welcome you in Wallisellen in the name of the new founded Silverlight Usergroup Switzerland.

We, the “Swiss Evangelists”, will also be at the event and at your disposal. Join the conversation. Spread the world. And don’t forget,

SILVERLIGHT ROCKS, ALWAYS!

More information and registration under: http://www.slugs.ch/Home/Event

Swiss DPE Team / Stefano.