14 DAY TRIAL // Devices designed to play nice with the next major iteration of Windows can deliver rich user experiences tailored to Windows 8.
The integration into the operating system’s Devices and Printers and Device Stage is an aspect of a great Windows 8 device UX, with developers being required to write metadata for their products.
Free resources from Microsoft are available to streamline the process of producing device metadata. Devs can turn to the Device Metadata Authoring Wizard on the Windows Dev Center.
“The Device Metadata Authoring Wizard is a tool that device manufacturers and service operators can use to develop a metadata package for their devices and services. This metadata package provides information that appears to Windows users, including the photorealistic icon and name for the device or service,” the software giant revealed.
The Redmond company provides comprehensive guidance on how developers install the Device Metadata Authoring Wizard and on the resource’s use.
Of course, additional guidance is available on a range of topics from troubleshooting issues that developers can come across to submitting the metadata to Microsoft.
According to the Redmond company, the wizard is designed for independent hardware vendors, original equipment manufacturers and mobile broadband carriers.
“The tool also allows device manufacturers and service operators to associate a Metro style device app to their device or service. Metro style device apps launch automatically when a user first connects a device. The look, feel, and functionality of the app is entirely up to the device manufacturer,” the company explained.
“After using the tool to define these elements for your device or service, you can submit the final package to Microsoft, who validates the package.”
The Device Metadata Authoring Wizard is not available as a standalone resource, as Microsoft packed it into the Windows Driver Kit (WDK).
Visual Studio 11 Developer Preview is available for download here. Windows 8 Developer Preview Build 8102 Milestone 3 (M3) is available for download here.