Final Content Update Before First Draft

Here’s a third and final update to the chapter “The Windows Phone User Experience” in Paul Thurrott’s Guide to Windows Phone 8. This update includes a few new sections and represents the final major bit of new content for the first draft version of this free e-book.

This version of the chapter adds major new sections about the Start experience and Apps and hubs, and a few other changes. Nothing unexpected.

More important: With this release, every chapter in the former Windows Phone Book is complete in first draft form. Next, I will write a short introduction and package that as a first draft for the book. Then I will go through the book as a single document and make any changes as needed, and Windows Phone Book will be “complete.”

I write that in quotes, of course, because the book will never be truly complete. I will continue updating the 1.x version of the book to address both coming changes to the platform and to add more content, including a major revision of the Maps + Location chapter that will cover Nokia’s HERE apps. My plan is to keep providing free updates to this book as Microsoft updates Windows Phone 8. When Microsoft moves forward with a new version of the software (Windows Phone 8.1, 9, whatever), I’ll switch new editions of the book to a (minimally) paid model.

But let’s not get ahead of ourselves. A rough short-term schedule...

First draft of Paul Thurrott’s Guide to Windows Phone 8. This weekend.

Initial release of Paul Thurrott’s Guide to Windows Phone 8. This week.

Paul Thurrott’s Guide to Windows Phone 8 updated for Nokia HERE apps. By the end of August.

Other changes. As required.

I also need to begin preparing the document for other forms of publication, including Kindle and other e-book formats. That work will start in August as well. And then there’s the next book. More on that soon.

Feedback is always appreciated.

Download The Windows Phone User Experience 0.3 (43 page PDF, 3.72 MB)

Download Windows Phone Book 0.067 (624 page PDF, 39.1 MB)