J2i.Net

I wanted to take a moment to announce a meetup group for Windows Phone 7 developers based out of Atlanta. I'm one of the cofounders and organizers for this group. We've had several meetings but I wanted to wait until we got into a routine before making an announcement. I've been pretty comfortable with how things are going so I'm sharing with you now. 

The information for our meetings is posted on Meetup.com ( http://www.meetup.com/Win-Phone-7-Developers-Atlanta/ ). We meet one Tuesday per month (except for December, for which we've decided to have no meetings because of end-of-the year demands and holidays). Our next meeting will be Tuesday 24 January 2012. This month I'll be presenting on Windows Azure for Windows Phone developers and we may have one other person presenting on Localization. After the meeting I'll share the notes (and possibly a recording of the presentation).  

Tags: Community, Windows Phone, Developers

If you live in the Atlanta area and wanted to get started with Windows Phone 7 development now is a pretty good time. On the 24th of August there will be two back-to-back events just for you. The first is a Windows Phone 7 Firestarter event. It will start off with an introduction to the Windows Phone 7 platform, Silverlight, and XNA and then cover what you need to know about the Windows Marketplace for mobile, using Windows Phone Services, and creating compelling user experiences with Windows Phone 7.

The second event that evening is more interactive and hands on. For the second event you'll need to bring your computer with the Windows Phone 7 tools preloaded and you go through interactive labs to get you into Windows Phone 7 development. The seating for these events is limited and expected to sell out fast, so if you are interested register promptly.

Click here to register for the Windows Phone 7 Firestarter.

Click here to register for the hands on labs.

Tags: Windows Phone, Community, Presentation

It's been about a year since the last time there was a Mobile Code Camp here in the Atlanta area. I was looking forward to getting together with some developers to talk about the recent news that Microsoft has had with Windows Phone 7 Series and didn't want to wait until the next code camp to talk with others (BTW: I have been communicating with developers online about WP7S but sometimes face-to-face contact is preferred.

I initially had no success in finding a group but I finally found the Atlanta Mobile Developer's Group on Meetup.com. My original plans were for this blogposting to be about my experience. Sadly the meeting this week had to be cancelled.

All the same I'm glad I found a group. Had I not found one I was prepared to start my own (I still might do so!).

If you are looking for a group in your area I encourage you to at the least open a meetup.com account and put something on your profile mentioning your interest in mobile development. Even if you don't start up a group when some one near you does they'll be able to find you based on common interest and invite you to join.

Tags: Community