Pete Brown's Blog (POKE 53280,0)
Pete Brown writes on a variety of topics from XAML with the Windows Runtime (WinRT), .NET programming using C#, WPF, Microcontroller programming with .NET Microframework, .NET Gadgeteer, Windows on Devices, and even plain old C, to raising two children in the suburbs of Maryland, woodworking, CNC and generally "making physical stuff". Oh, and Pete loves retro technology, especially Commodore (C64 and C128). If the content interests you, please subscribe using the subscription link to the right of every page.
Archive for tag:
MIX11
-
When looking at features in our favorite platforms, we often
forget that the tooling gets updated too. For Silverlight 5, one of
the most interesting tooling enhancements is the ability to set
breakpoints and debug bindings in XAML.
Please note that this article and the attached sample code was
written using the Silverlight 5 Beta, available at MIX11 in April
2011, and updated for t...
-
One great feature that has, until now, been exclusive to WPF is
the ability to use implicit data templates. You may be familiar
with data templates, probably having used them with content
controls or, more likely, list boxes. Data Templates make it
possible to template (typically) a non-UI item and reuse that
template in one or more places. Without templates, list boxes would
be pretty ...
-
In some applications, particularly touch-screen kiosk apps and
casual games, it is desirable to be able to play a sound
immediately upon a user action. For example, you may want to play a
"click" sound when they press a key on an on-screen keyboard, or
play a series of laser sounds when their on-screen spaceship fires
its weapons.
Please note that this article and the attached sampl...
-
In previous versions of Silverlight, we didn't have the ability
to create new operating system windows. If we wanted to pop up
content over our other application, we had to use the Popup
element, or the derived ChildWindow control. Those were great, but
didn't act as operating system windows. Specifically, they couldn't
escape the bounds of your main application.
Please note that th...
-
Double-click isn't as popular a mouse action as it once was. For
many, especially the elderly, clicking twice in the same spot
without moving the mouse in between, is actually quite challenging.
Nevertheless, double-click (and even triple click in some
specialized programs in 3d and music) is a necessary
capability.
Please note that this article and the attached sample code was
wri...
-
Silverlight 5 has made some real improvements to the text stack,
including control over character spacing, and linked and
multi-column text. In this post, we'll look at a few of those
advancements.
Please note that this article and the attached sample code was
written using the Silverlight 5 Beta, available at MIX11 in April
2011, and updated for the Silverlight 5 RC.
Character...
-
Four months ago, in December 2010, we held the Silverlight
Firestarter in Redmond - an entire event dedicated just to
Silverlight, with great speakers from inside Microsoft and from the
Silverlight community. In that event's keynote, Scott Guthrie
showed off some of the plans we have for Silverlight 5 (as well as
the secret location of his tattoo).
For information on the newer Septe...
