The Smart Device Extensions v1.2 (SDE) is an open-source-community contribution to the .NET Compact Framework comprising several new and extended components for use within your Pocket PC applications. The SDE has a bunch of extra functionality to offer, and to use it you'll need to deploy the additional SDE assemblies down to your Pocket PC along with the application install.
The SDE includes special Web Service security features such as XML Digital Signatures, encryption, plus the ability to send SMS/TXT messages from a phone-enabled Pocket PC. Be sure to check out the list and source for what's offered.
Golf Scorer sample app
I'll use a simple application, Golf Scorer, to demonstrate some of the features that the SDE has to offer. Golf Scorer lets you record up to four players' scores through 9 or 18 holes; I didn't include scoring for the 19th hole! There is also a LeaderBoard function, showing your progress in relation to your buddies.
This application is purely for illustration purposes and doesn't contain production-ready code; however, it could serve as the basis for your further development, especially if you want to carry around your own golf scorer out on the course.
What you'll need to get cracking
- Visual Studio.NET 2003—the source for Golf Scorer will open up inside VS.NET 2003 automatically.
- The .NET Compact Framework v1.0 SP2 addresses performance issues, so it's well worth your while to grab this and install it in your VS.NET 2003 environment.
- To support the newer devices, you'll need to upgrade your Pocket PC emulator so you can target development for SmartPhones and devices running Windows Mobile 2003. You can also change the target device any time during project development. The SDK Upgrade includes a Radio Add On Pack for the emulator that enables you to send and receive SMS messages via the emulator. The PocketPC 2003 SDK with new emulator images can be found at http://www.microsoft.com/mobile/developer.
- Smart Device Extensions (SDE). You can download both the source and binaries (compiled source) from http://www.opennetcf.org. The components are found under the namespace OpenNETCF.
- Golf Scorer Source Code—downloadable under Articles from http://www.breezetraining.com.au.
