Bring data and apps to life for users through Windows Apportals–new partner technical training modules now available

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Built on top of Windows 8.1, Apportals organize and reveal data and apps needed for a specific role or task. This breakthrough functionality enables users to search less and solve more. A Windows Apportal can be shaped to fit nearly any task or role within an organization.

The experience an Apportal offers users is simple. A modern, touch-based user interface, available from the user’s Start Screen, allows a user to drill down to connected data sources, connected backend systems, Windows 7 desktop applications, and communication applications, all based on their Active Directory or Azure Active Directory profile.

With the launch of Windows 10 just around the corner, we have found Windows Apportals built on Windows 8.1 work with Windows 10 with only slight user experience differences when using the browser. When Windows 10 is fully deployed, we can update the Partner Community.

Windows Apportal Partner Training 101 modules

We have published seven technical training modules for partner IT pros and developers to learn how to build and implement Windows Apportals for customers. These training modules are on the Partner Learning Center. To access them, you must be a member of the Microsoft Partner Network. To associate yourself to your company’s MPN profile, follow the steps here.

Module 1: Introduction to Apportals

Get an introduction to what Apportals are, how they benefit customers, and why you should add them as an offering in your partner business.

Module 2: Model View ViewModel (MVVM)

Learn how to create a Model, View Model, and link those into Views for a sample application. Get tips for developing stable, cost-effective MVVM patterns.

Module 3: Async/Await

Learn how to use new Async/Await technologies within C# to create user experiences that never lock up, and how to apply synchronous programming techniques to asynchronous programming problems.

Module 4: Windows Communication Foundation (WCF) Data Services

See a demonstration of the steps to build a database model, migrations, and data services. You’ll then learn how to deploy these services in a local environment and consume them from within a client application.

Module 5: LINQ – Expression Trees

Learn what expression trees are, and how they can be used to create code that is dynamic by nature, yet just as fast as optimized code.

Module 6: Custom Controls

Learn about the key factors that differentiate custom controls from user controls, and the patterns that are standard for custom control development.

Module 7: Offline Mode

Learn about when to use and when not to use offline mode, and the reasons behind each decision.

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