Ben Dewey - Getting Started with Windows 8 Apps: A Guide to the Windows Runtime

Beijing Cambridge Farnham Kln Sebastopol Tokyo

The personal computer (PC), which first hit the market over 30 years ago, has undergone tectonic changes that, in turn, launched the PC era. PCs were primarily used in the workplace where software was simple and optimized for use with the keyboard; touching a screen was unheard of until recently. Slowly computers began creeping into the home and many users didnt know what to do with them; they were glorified typewriters.

When PCs started connecting to the Internet, possibilities reached a new level, which had a snowball effect. It allowed academia to share research; it spawned new means of communication from email and online chat to social networking, captivating the minds of people young and old. Soon consumers started using laptops and unplugging from the conventional desktop setting.

This shift had little impact on applications, but helped define a new wave of form factors in phones, tablets, and slates. Eventually, users started demanding more and we ushered in a new era, the modern consumer era. We are all modern consumers, not only consumers of goods, but consumers of information. We are constantly connected through the use of mobile devices as well as more traditional computers. Whatever type of device, be it static or mobile, content is synchronized and up-to-date. These new devices are used as gaming machines and personal entertainment centers, and they are replacing books and magazines for many avid readers.

Today, consumers expect developers to create apps where touch, mobility, and good battery life are a must. Tablets and slates leverage touch as a primary form of interaction while playing a critical role in the adoption of sensors and cameras in everyday computing. They are small and lightweight, making them extremely portable. Devices boot almost instantly so users can get to their content and put them right back in their bag without missing a step. Despite their youth, these devices are being embraced by work forces and consumers worldwide and they appear to be on a relentless progression.

With all this excitement, its hard to believe weve only begun to scratch the surface. We need a platform built from the ground up with these objectives in mind. This next version of Windows, code-named Windows 8, ships with a new application model for building user experiences tailored to the next generation of devices.