We’re running a couple of *free* training events in Redmond (May 18-19) and Santa Clara, CA (May 25-26) to help developers get a jump-start on building applications for Windows Phone 7.

Ben Riga has all the details

This class is rated as 300-400 level so you should expect some hardcore learning here. The agenda topics include:

• Windows Phone 7 introduction & design philosophy
• Lap Around Windows Phone 7 platform
• Lap Around the Developer and Designer tools
• Introduction to Silverlight
• Building Silverlight Applications for Windows Phone 7
• Hardware Access (camera, accelerometer, touch, etc.)
• Push notifications
• Marketplace
• Introduction to XNA
• XNA and Windows Phone 7
• Performance tips

I will be at the event in Santa Clara. I’m really looking forward to this training and working with my colleagues on how we can extend this to other cities. If you’re coming out or in the area, let me know. We can meet up and discuss that Windows Phone app idea that will make you millions! :)

On Monday, May 10th, in partnership with the Madison .NET Users Group, we will be hosting a Windows Phone 7 Hands-On Lab. This is all about getting your hands dirty with the Windows Phone 7 Tools. I will be leading the group through a series of labs for building Windows Phone 7 apps. We’ll start with a brief overview of the application platform followed by labs on building Windows Phone apps with Silverlight and than games with XNA.

What: MADdotNET Hands-On-Lab Series: Windows Phone 7
When: Monday, May 10, 2010, 1:00PM – 6:00PM
Where: Herzing College (5218 East Terrace Drive, Madison)

This is a BYOM Lab. Bring-Your-Own-Machine. You’ll get more out of this if you can follow along with the labs.

You should come prepared with the Windows Phone 7 Developer Tools loaded and ready to go. We’ll use the Windows Phone 7 Training Kit as the basis of our content for the labs.

Here is a  list of links to everything you need…

Windows Phone Developer Tools CTP – April Refresh

Windows Phone 7 Training Kit

(Optional)

Microsoft Expression Blend® 4 Release Candidate (RC)

Expression Blend Add-in Preview 2 for Windows Phone

Expression Blend Software Development Kit (SDK) Preview 2 for Windows Phone

You can read Rob Cameron’s blog post for help on getting the latest tools (April Refresh) installed.  Specifically if you’ve installed prior versions of the Phone Developer Tools.

Please note, as dictated in the Release Notes – No, you can’t install the environment in VPC. However, with Windows 7, I have set up a Boot-to-VHD environment that works very well. Scott Hanselman has a great post on getting a Boot-to-VHD environment up and running.

Yesterday, we posted an update to the Windows Phone 7 Training Kit and updated all the bits to work with the April Refresh of the Windows Phone 7 Tools and Visual Studio 2010 (RTM). This kit includes some great content to get a jump-start on building apps targeted for Windows Phone 7.

The kit includes the videos from all the Windows Phone breakout sessions at MIX’10, as well as hands-on labs covering Windows Phone Fundamentals, Silverlight for Windows Phone and XNA Framework 4.0 for Windows Phone.

There is a new lab in this rev of the kit on Using Push Notifications. This particular lab walks through a scenario of a Weather application that receives updates through the Push Notification service even in times when the app isn’t running. Push Notifications is an important piece in the Windows Phone development paradigm as it gives applications the ability to receive process notifications in the background. I’d highly recommend going through this lab as Push Notifications is an area that most Windows Phone developers will need to get a good handle on.

Enjoy!

This Saturday we will be hosting the first Windows Phone 7 DevCamp in Chicago. I wanted to provide some details for people attending the DevCamp that will help them prepare for this weekend’s festivities.

First… this is a DevCamp. What does that mean exactly? A DevCamp is similar to a Hackathon (some would say they’re the same thing). Pek Pongpaet, a Chicago developer explains why he thinks Hackathons (or DevCamps) are Awesome.

Although there may be different interpretations of what a DevCamp is, this DevCamp will consist of the following agenda:

8:30 – Check-In (yeah…I’m not a morning person either, but we have a lot to cover in one day)

9:30 – 12:00 – Overview and (some) Training (we may not go this long)

12:00 – 5:00 – Application Competition (break off into teams and build AMAZING Windows Phone 7 Apps)

5:00 – 6:00 – Team presentations and Judging

6:00 – 6:30 – Awards

That’s right… I said AWARDS! Awards will be handed out to the top teams based on creativity, design, completeness, and sure brilliance! Depending on what teams decide to build (apps vs. games) we may split the awards into Best App and Best Game. We will determine this on the day of the event.

Second… you should come prepared and that means getting your hands on the tools before Saturday. Read the following blog post for a list of links to the tools and learning resources to help you prepare for Saturday:

• Getting Started with Windows Phone 7 Series Development and Design

Here are some additional resources I’d like to throw your way to help you before the DevCamp…

• Designing for Win Phone 7 [Clarity Consulting]
• Building the Elusive Windows Phone Panorama Control [Clarity Consulting]
• WP7 Silverlight Tutorials [AfricanGeek.com]
• Building a Windows Phone 7 Puzzle Game [CodeProject.com]
• Labyrinth Sample for Windows Phone [Peter Blois]
• Looping Panorama for Windows Phone 7 [AimeeGurl.com]
• Using the Bing Maps Silverlight control on Windows Phone 7 [Bart Czernicki]
• Silverlight for Windows Phone Forum [Silverlight.net]
• Windows Phone Forums [Microsoft.com]
• Sgt. Conker (Games on WP7)
• Windows Phone 7 Platformer Starter Kit for XNA Studio 4.0 [David Rousset]

That should keep you plenty busy come Saturday!

The most important thing about the DevCamp is showing up. Bring your ideas. Bring your passion. Bring your skills! We hope this event will kick off a series of similar events that will lead you to making MILLIONS with the Windows Phone Marketplace. ;)

See you on Saturday!

With the excitement over the Windows Phone 7 Series, developers are chomping at the bit to start building apps. Although were a few months away from releasing Windows Phone 7 Series to the world, now is a good time as any to start ramping up our developer muscle to build amazing applications targeting the new Windows Phone.

I’m happy to announce the first (which I’m sure there will be many) Windows Phone DevCamp coming to Chicago on April 10th.

This DevCamp will start the day off by providing a walk through of the the development tools including Visual Studio and Expression Blend. From there, attendees will break off into groups to hash out their phone applications. At the end of the day, each team will be given an opportunity to showcase their ideas.

Who: Developers, Designers, Mobile Enthusiasts and Entrepreneurs

What: Windows Phone 7 DevCamp

When: Saturday, April 10, 2010 @ 8:30am – ? (map)

Where: ITA, 200 S. Wacker, Chicago, IL.

Register Here