Come to the May 13 Boston Microsoft Developer Group to hear about the future of Windows Mobile Devices & Apps

If you live in New England, then you may want to pencil in Tuesday, May 13, 2014 to attend the Boston Microsoft Windows 8.1 & Phone App Developers Group, sponsored by Microsoft. It looks to be an exciting night where the future of Windows Mobile, including RT and Phone, will be discussed by numerous experts.

In addition, there will be hands-on with the latest devices, food and prizes. Plus, I’ll be there giving a talk on ‘The challenge to catch up: Windows Phone, features and market share'. Best part? It’s free.

So how to sign up? It’s easy!

  1. Go to this website: www.meetup.com/WindowsAppsBoston/events/176444092/
  2. Hit the RSVP button in the upper right corner that says ‘Join and RSVP’
  3. Be there at 6 PM at the Microsoft offices (One Cambridge Center) to join in the fun
  4. The event will be three hours with food and prizes

RSVPing is not required, but it makes it easier to get into the building.

Not only can you play with the Nokia Lumia 1020, 1520 and Icon, but there will be some must-see experts on hand to discuss various topics, including:

  • Michael Cummings, Senior Technical Evangelist for Microsoft, will take a deeper look at how the new Universal Apps work, comparing that to other existing solutions like Portable Class Libraries and the File Linker extension. Then he will tour how the app submission process changes for a Universal App, and the changes to the store for existing apps. Finally, he will cover how Xamarin has kept pace and utilizes the Universal App for Android and iOS apps. 
  • Barrie Mirman, Devices Solution Specialist, US Windows Devices, Microsoft 
  • Lance McCarthy, Nokia Developer Ambassador
  • Bob Familiar, Microsoft Evangelism Director
  • Jason Belsito, Microsoft Store

So sign up and let’s hang out in two weeks. Let me know in comments if you're going!

Daniel Rubino
Editor-in-chief

Daniel Rubino is the Editor-in-chief of Windows Central, head reviewer, podcast co-host, and analyst. He has been covering Microsoft since 2007 when this site was called WMExperts (and later Windows Phone Central). His interests include Windows, laptops, next-gen computing, and for some reason, watches. Before all this tech stuff, he worked on a Ph.D. in linguistics, watched people sleep (for medical purposes!), and ran the projectors at movie theaters because it was fun.

42 Comments
  • Mobile..?
  • Yes, Mobile. Mobile includes Phones, RT tablets. Plus you know, Microsoft Mobile (former Nokia).
  • Odds of a Surface mini announcement?
  • zero
  • What are you guys not telling us Daniel? :)   http://store.wpcentral.com/microsoft-surface-8-pro-accessories.htm   Surface 8 Pro?
  • Former Nokia? Do you mean what was formerly Nokia's Devices and Services business because Nokia is still Nokia.
  • Who cares? You get the point.
  • Jazmac, what about people who don't get the point?
  • He did mean that, but he also assumed that anyone reading that sentence would be able to put 2 and 2 together and realize what he meant. I guess some people didn't (;
  • Yes, assumptions. We can't assume everyone knows that Daniel isn't saying that Nokia has been renamed Microsoft Mobile. Jazmac doesn't care if people know our not know the truth. Just because we know, doesn't mean everyone knows and some people only care about what they know and don't even consider that people may only know what they read and understand.
  • Is this where they'll announce the Surface Mini? Its supposed to launch in may right?
  • Nice
  • When are they coming to the DC area?
  • Each group is its own local chapter, basically. http://www.meetup.com/DC-Windows-App-Developers/
  • Implicit way of saying that you're a must-see expert too... #rubino
    Hahaha, just kidding, i know you're much more than that ! ;-) love this site ! :)
  • Yeah, that's too far away for me. Will Mark be there to record you, Daniel? I kinda want to to see it.
  • Hadn't thought about that but I suppose we can arrange that. Will look into it.
  • I am in CT but will be traveling in the opposite direction that day. Have to pick up my mom from JFK. Maybe I can convince my wife to do that. Kidding ;)
    Who knows, if mom's plans changed I might see some of you guys in Boston.
  • If you're near Hartford, I'll be presenting at the Microsoft Store tomorrow night http://www.meetup.com/Hartford-Windows-App-Developers/events/168033772/
  • We've been gearing about the future of MS for years now. :p
  • damn i'm in the NYC area, would love to go if it was around here.  a little too far of a drive to Boston
  • There are tons of similar meetups in your area, ping @activenick on twitter and ask. He will be more than happy to show you the best ones.
  • Damn if only I lived in USA instead of boring old south Africa. Oh well. I'm going to have to move there :p
  • I live in Boston but I'm lazy to go to conferences
  • More of a meetup than anything formal. They're quite fun, actually.
  • Sounds fun, really ! Wish i wasn't halfway around the globe from Boston.. :(
  • Mumbai is it?
  • Can't wait to attend my local dev event (in Malaysia). Do I really need to bring a laptop with me? Mine went dead just a few days ago. :(
  • I would have to see my schedule in order to go.. Its a work day and I live in Worcester, Ma.. It will take me 45 min to an hour drive. I may take the day off depending on my situation. If it works out, I will be able to make it..
  • Come down to New Jersey sometime. @ActiveNick started a NJ Windows & Windows Phone user group recently. http://www.meetup.com/NJWinDevs/
  • I plan on being there.
  • My anniversary :-(
  • One of the things that hasn't really been discussed much by the media regarding Windows Phone 8.1 is the underpinnings. If you look at the Universal App APIs or Windows Phone Store app APIs it becomes clear that 8.1 sits on top of something very close to if not identical to WinRT (windows runtime) Its a big deal. For the first time I really understand the WinRT vision.  
  • You're correct. Universal Apps use Windows XAML, it is literally the same shared code with some platform specific code. The actual number is 90% code reusability.
  • Is Microsoft planning to add an eBook store to the Windows phone store any time soon?
  • Buy me a ticket
  • Going
  • Damm when I saw that is said Boston in the title I though that it was in BOSTON! :/
  • Boston-ish ;) aka the People's Republic of Cambridge
  • LMAO...hahaha...now THAT is funny, and sooo true.  Trying to clear my calendar to be there.
  • Any possibility of announcement of new official apps and games??
  • Can anyone link me to a clear version of the screenshot of the start screen listed in this article? I'd like to see what apps are being used in that setup. An alternate solution would be if someone could list all the apps on this start screen from left to right top to bottom. Thanks much for the info!