Real World Windows 8 App Development with javascript Create Great Windows Store Apps

433 Pages·2013·8.88 MB·English

by  Edward Moemeka

Real World Windows 8 App
Development with JavaScript
Create Great Windows Store Apps
Edward Moemeka
Elizabeth Moemeka
Real World Windows 8 App Development with JavaScript: Create Great Windows Store Apps
Copyright © 2013 by Edward Moemeka, Elizabeth Moemeka This work is subject to copyright. All
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ISBN-13 (pbk): 978-1-43025080-7
ISBN-13 (electronic): 978-1-4302-5081-4
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I dedicate this book to the four women without whose love and
kindness I would be lost and altogether useless. In order of
appearance: my mother, my sister, my wife, and my mother-in-law.
Thank you for helping guide me into manhood and fatherhood. To
my darling, beautiful boys Alex and Azuka, thank you for
introducing me to the full capacity of life in all its crying, laughing,
fighting, and hugging mystery. Finally, a special word to my
darling wife, who has suffered through nine years with me and
shows no signs of wavering (or, more than likely, hides it deftly). If
words could match the feeling of gratitude and love I take with me
every day that I leave your side and bring back when I return . . .
—Edward Moemeka I dedicate this book to all my original partners
in creative endeavors: Louis, Linda, and Alex. It was a joy
exploring the world with you. Without that legacy, I would not
have been led to my current partner in creation, exploration, and
life.
—Elizabeth Moemeka
Contents at a Glance
About the Authors
About the Technical Reviewer
Acknowledgments
Introduction
Chapter 1: The Windows 8 Ethos and Environment
Chapter 2: Getting the Basics Right
Chapter 3: Incorporating Layout and Controls
Chapter 4: Navigating the Media Maze
Chapter 5: Making the Most Out of Charms and Contracts
Chapter 6: Solving the Printing Problem
Chapter 7: Providing Clear Notifications
Chapter 8: Keeping Apps Running in the Background
Chapter 9: Monetizing Your App: The Lowdown
Chapter 10: Getting Your App on the Windows Store
Index
Contents
About the Authors
About the Technical Reviewer
Acknowledgments
Introduction
Chapter 1: The Windows 8 Ethos and Environment
A Not-So-Brief Introduction
Building Windows 8 Apps
Windows 8 vs. Win32
Developing for Windows 8 Apps
Setting Up Your Environment
Getting Started with HTML
Getting Started with CSS
Extending HTML5 for Windows 8
Page/Navigation Model
Promises and the New Asynchronous Programming Model
Summary
Chapter 2: Getting the Basics Right
File I/O
Storage Folders
The Isolated Storage Area
The Package-Install Location
More on Storage: the ApplicationData Class
The User’s Known Folders
External Known Folders
The Downloads Folder
Final Thoughts on Storage via the ApplicationData Class
Files
The Window 8 Lock Screen
App Bars
Dialogs
Consuming Components
Summary
Chapter 3: Incorporating Layout and Controls
Setting Up a Project
Incorporating HTML Controls
Understanding Controls
Applying Controls
Incorporating WinJS Controls
Incorporating winControl
Diving In to the WinJS controls
Pages
AppBar
DatePicker
Flyout Control
HtmlControl
Menu
RatingsControl, SettingsFlyout, TimePicker, and ToggleSwitch
Advanced Controls
Working with Advanced Controls
FlipView
ListView
SemanticZoom
Creating Your Own Controls
Summary
Chapter 4: Navigating the Media Maze
Media Playback
Setting Up the Project
Media Playback
Video/Audio Effects
Background Audio
Streaming Media to Other Devices
Media Capture
Summary
Chapter 5: Making the Most Out of Charms and Contracts
Charms
Search Charm
Share Charm
Start Charm
Devices Charm
Settings Charm
Implicit Contracts
Summary
Chapter 6: Solving the Printing Problem
Pre–Windows 8 Printing
The Windows 8 Printing Story
Creating a Print Task
Printing with WinJS
Elements of Printing
Summary
Chapter 7: Providing Clear Notifications
The Notification Process
Toast Notifications
Generating Toast Notifications
Adding Images to Toasts
Adding Sound to Toasts
Scheduling Toasts
Responding to Toast Notification Events
Tile Notifications
Generating Tile Notifications
Presenting Text Content with a Heading
Text-Only Content
Templates for Summaries
Creating a Cleaner Template
Adding Images to Tile Notifications
Scheduling Tile Notifications
Summary
Chapter 8: Keeping Apps Running in the Background
Running in the Background
Background Tasks
Conditions
Triggers
Host Process
Reporting Progress
Declaring Background Tasks
Resource Constraints
Background Transfers
Summary
Chapter 9: Monetizing Your App: The Lowdown
Selling Your App
Example of a Trial Application
App Trial Mode
Licensing Your App
Adding the Code to the App