In The Hand Ltd

Blog

  • Smart Device Framework v1.1 Release Notes

    I thought it would be a good idea to compile a set of release notes for v1.1! You can view the resulting document here:-


    http://www.opennetcf.org/PermaLink.aspx?guid=a8b2c046-b9fd-4b0b-bd21-f0d03f6bec55


    The document lists the new items in this release. I haven’t compiled the more subtle changes to existing classes (new methods, bug fixes etc). These are available by looking through the ChangeLogs for the individual assemblies via the installed Source Code shipped with the package or via the online SourceBrowse interface.


    Importantly also I’ve documented a number of known issues with this release. For many there is a workaround which is described, for other issues you can be assured they have been logged and will receive attention for the next release. If you encounter an issue which is not listed here please submit it either to the Forums or via our Submissions email address.

  • .NET Compact Framework drum machine…

    Spotted this on Seth Demsey’s blog:-


    The article by Ianier Munoz shows how a desktop drum-machine sample was converted to the .NET Compact Framework. Calls to managed Direct Sound were replaced with P/Invokes to the WaveOut APIs. Check it out!


    http://www.microsoft.com/belux/nl/msdn/community/columns/munoz/cfrhythm.mspx

  • Upcoming .NET Compact Framework Chat: 13th May 2004

    Coming up tomorrow, the latest MSDN web chat with the .NETCF and Visual Studio for Devices team. Below are the details from MSDN:-


     


    Smart Device Programming with Visual Studio .NET 2003
    So what’s that ‘Smart Device Application’ project type is all about? Please join the members of the .NET Compact Framework and Visual Studio product groups in this live chat regarding the .NET Compact Framework and the Smart Device Programming features of VS.NET. Please come prepared to ask the tough questions!

    May 13, 2004
    10:00 – 11:00 A.M. Pacific time
    1:00 – 2:00 P.M. Eastern time
    17:00 – 18:00 GMT



    Event Reminders


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  • Three ways to deploy the OpenNETCF.org Smart Device Framework

    1. The simplest method is to deploy the entire Smart Device Framework using the CAB files provided. When you deploy a project including a reference to an OpenNETCF dll this will occur automatically. The device gets the whole framework installed into the Global Assembly Cache (GAC) and an entry in the remove programs applet in control panel.


    2. An alternative is to deploy only those dlls which you use in your project within your own custom CAB file. Be aware that there are dependencies between the libraries so if you use OpenNETCF.Windows.Forms, then you need OpenNETCF.Drawing.dll and OpenNETCF.dll also. I think some kind of dependency diagram would be useful to illustrate all the dlls in the SDF, I’ll follow up with this in a later thread.


    3. The third method (which is the most flexible and more complex) is to cherry-pick the classes you use from our source code and either build your own dll, or place it directly in your exe. If you are a VB.NET developer you’ll need to use a dll project since most of our code is in C#. As with method 2 you need to take care to include any dependencies of the class(es) you use, if they are not present in your project (or referenced) then you’ll get build errors. We don’t have a definitive reference of dependencies for each class, however I’m sure it’s something we can eventually phase into our documentation. In many cases related classes are contained in the sale code file – e.g. Registry and RegistryKey.

  • P/Invoke Add-in for Visual Studio

    The site at www.pinvoke.net is a rapidly expanding Wiki solely devoted to P/Invoke definitions for .NET. This now includes Compact Framework P/Invokes for coredll, aygshell, rapi etc.


    To accompany this resource there is a Visual Studio plugin which gives you a right click option while editing code to insert a ready-made P/Invoke definition. If the one you want isn’t available then you are encouraged to add the definition to the library.


    You can download the add-in from GotDotNet:-


    http://www.gotdotnet.com/Community/UserSamples/Download.aspx?SampleGuid=75122F62-5459-4364-B9BA-7B5E6A4754FE


    The downside to the www.pinvoke.net site is that it only displays correctly in Internet Explorer.


    For the Compact Framework specific wiki check out http://wiki.opennetcf.org


     

  • P/Invoke Wiki Update

    Chris has setup a Wiki for OpenNETCF, I’ve added a few topics to sample how P/Invokes may be presented. There will be a lot more work to do to get the template just right but I wanted to ensure the following was included for each entry by default:-



    • C# definition
    • VB definition
    • Equivalent managed functionality. This will point to the .NETCF class you can use to avoid P/Invoking in the first place or the OpenNETCF class which implements the P/Invoke.
    • Link to full description in SDK. Microsoft have placed online in the MSDN library the CE.NET 4.2, Pocket PC and Smartphone SDKs which describe the functions and their arguments and usage.

    Because of the nature of a Wiki there is an opportunity to easy tag additional information on, for example Samples or articles which directly apply to the function.

  • Understanding AcceptChanges and DataAdapter.Update

    Bill Ryan from KnowDotNet and Devbuzz has posted an article clearly describing the issues around DataSets which arise commonly on the newsgroups and discussion forums.


    http://msmvps.com/williamryan/posts/5679.aspx


    These include “Why does calling AcceptChanges followed by DataAdaptor.Update do nothing to the database” and “why doesn’t calling Remove on a row doesn’t remove the row from the database”.


     

  • Small but useful update in MSN Messenger 6.2

    Recently released with little fanfare is a minor update to MSN Messenger. One of the first changes I noticed which I find useful is if you sort your contacts by Online/Offline status there are now three states.



    • Green – Online
    • Amber – Available in on a mobile device
    • Red – Offline

    It makes it easier to distinguish between those who are completely offline and those who can be “pinged” on a mobile device.

  • Mobile phones replace cars as youth status symbol

    This article on the Economist provides the opinion of how mobile phone handsets are replacing souped up cars as the young poser’s object of choice.


    http://www.economist.com/opinion/displayStory.cfm?story_id=2628969


    It cites car style poster adverts for the XDAII as proof, however I think this is a little of a red herring as the XDAII is definately not aimed at the “yoof” market.


    It’s a well known fact that young people account for a large number of “lifestyle” phones which are sold, and they tend to change handsets regularly to keep up with peer pressure and have the latest features. Does this mean that young people will spend their time running around town with loud annoying ringtones rather than driving round and round in old Vauxhall Nova’s with a spoiler gaffer-taped on? We’ll I’m prepared to wait and see… 🙂

  • Strongly-typed DataSets

    Chris Craft has written how to get around the lack of support for Strongly-typed DataSet’s in the IDE for Smart Device projects.


    http://www.cjcraft.com/Blog/PermaLink.aspx?guid=23fc2044-c854-4358-a0b8-8460f2c56d49


    It requires some tweaking of code but is an interesting proposal. Chris plans a full article on the topic, to be released as and when he has time to complete it.