Welcome to Microsoft Smart Devices Developer Community!

[Andy Sjostrom]

<a href="http://smartdevices.microsoftdev.com/">http://smartdevices.microsoftdev.com/</a><br /><br />Microsoft just launched a new developer oriented site aimed at smart device development. "Smart device development with Microsoft technologies consists of a set of operating systems, tools and frameworks that allow you to build applications for smart devices with a rich set of technologies. This site provides you the developer with essential information to help you create first class solutions for smart devices, which include Pocket PC 2000, Pocket PC 2002, Pocket PC Phone Edition, Smartphone, and Handheld PC as well as devices running the Windows CE .NET real-time embedded operating system."<br /><br />So far, we find product documentation, getting started information, technical articles, code samples, case studies, and so on. I am not sure I understand the break out from MSDN and GotDotNet, but I must admit that I like the exclusive focus on mobile application development that this site has. Add it to your favorites! I just did.

[William Yeung]

The way I look at .NET Compact Framework seems like an extension to the web era, while ignoring important facts on users who want to development applications primary on Pocket PC for individuals, e.g. the very important POOM is not ported, not even make available for ppl to download (I have drilled quite much in MS website and find nowhere to get it)

Hope someone, either MS or 3rdparty, is going to provide this important migration soon.

[Andy Sjostrom]

The way I look at .NET Compact Framework seems like an extension to the web era, while ignoring important facts on users who want to development applications primary on Pocket PC for individuals, e.g. the very important POOM is not ported, not even make available for ppl to download (I have drilled quite much in MS website and find nowhere to get it)

Hope someone, either MS or 3rdparty, is going to provide this important migration soon.

Managed POOM wrappers are available from at least two third parties. InTheHand and Odyssey Software.

[William Yeung]

Great info thanks.
By the way, which website u would suggest to get latest development info?

[Peter Foot]

Great info thanks.
By the way, which website u would suggest to get latest development info?

For smart devices this portal definately has Microsofts focus, they've moved content from gotdotnet and MSDN to this site which was launched back during MDC in March. There is a page with links to other websites which cover various aspects of smart device development here:-
http://smartdevices.microsoftdev.com/Resources/Communities/default.aspx

To point out some of the key ones :-

www.devbuzz.com - originally focussed on eVB there is a lot of Compact Framework content too

www.innovativedss.com/forums/ - Chris Tacke maintains an unofficial FAQ for the compact framework here and there are loads of code snippets and class libraries which have been donated to the developer community

[Pony99CA]

How many Microsoft mobile development sites do we need? There's also the Microsoft Mobile Devices Development (http://www.microsoft.com/mobile/developer) site.

Steve

[Peter Foot]

How many Microsoft mobile development sites do we need? There's also the Microsoft Mobile Devices Development (http://www.microsoft.com/mobile/developer) site.

Steve

Yes it is a little confusing, each time they create THE developer site they leave behind numerous other sites. Its interesting that there is no link to this new site on the http://www.microsoft.com/mobile/ or Pocket PC and Smartphone MSDN pages.

[Scott R]

Managed POOM wrappers are available from at least two third parties. InTheHand and Odyssey Software.
Please elaborate. Are you saying that I now need to purchase a 3rd party wrapper in order to access the PIM data on a Pocket PC using the .NET tools?

Scott

[Peter Foot]

Managed POOM wrappers are available from at least two third parties. InTheHand and Odyssey Software.
Please elaborate. Are you saying that I now need to purchase a 3rd party wrapper in order to access the PIM data on a Pocket PC using the .NET tools?

Scott

Thats right, there is no PIM functionality in the Compact Framework a very strange ommision. I have worked closely with Microsoft to develop a managed library which was released back in early February. The functionality has been expanded somewhat from the base POOM functionality to now include Pocket Streets integration. Its available for £25 for an unlimited license with free updates and support by email and online forums - full details at:-
http://www.inthehand.com/dotnet/poom/

Peter