Beginning Windows 8 Application Development

Introduction

During its 27 years of life, Windows has undergone several big changes. Without a doubt, both users and developers perceive a big leap from Windows 7 to Windows 8! When Microsoft began development of the newest Windows version, it totally re-imagined the operating system. Instead of patching the previous versions and just adding new or mandatory features, Microsoft started developing Windows 8 from the ground up by defining the user experience as one of the top priorities.

The new operating system was previewed at the beginning of summer in 2011. At the Build developer’s conference held in Anaheim, California, in September 2011, Microsoft publicly released the Developer Preview version of Windows 8. Moreover, conference attendees were given an Intel-based quad-core Samsung tablet with Windows 8 Developer Preview installed. This event provided big momentum and built anticipation for the release of Microsoft’s newest operating system. Windows 8 was no longer just a concept. It was actually touchable — figuratively and physically.

Windows 8 introduces a new kind of application, referred to as Windows 8 style apps. These apps provide a novel approach for the users by means of a new user interface (UI)—such as the authentically digital user experience of the design, the fluent and responsive application screens, and the experience of browsing and installing apps from the Windows Store. These new apps not only provide a unique and pleasurable user experience, but developers ...