This step-by-step guide demystifies the next generation of Microsoft web programming—Windows Live. An exciting new set of tools and features, Windows Live can change the way you design, build, and market web sites. Experienced author Jon Arking presents you with a comprehensive road map to understanding the many hats of Windows Live: business model, online marketplace, development platform, and suite of consumer-oriented web sites.

After addressing the overall Live initiative, Arking breaks down the book into distinct sections: He first introduces you to a service or tool, then explains the mechanics of that service or tool, and finally relates it to the grander scheme of the Windows Live initiative. Plus, an array of real-world examples and code samples contributes to a clear understanding of exactly what Windows Live is, what it offers, who it will help, and the many different ways this powerful set of services can effectively work for you. The included showcase web site demonstrates how to integrate many of the major Live APIs.

What you will learn from this book

• The generic platforms and languages prevalent among the Live services APIs

• The purpose and potential of the major developer APIs

• The advantages of combining multiple Live services

• Ways to create Mashups with LiveExpo

• Techniques for building mapping applications with the Virtual Earth APIs

• Suggestions for integrating Live services into existing sites with Live Custom Domains

Who this book is for

This book is for web developers and programmers looking to incorporate Windows Live into their software. A working knowledge of HTML, DHTML, JavaScript, and Web Services is necessary.

Wrox Professional guides are planned and written by working programmers to meet the real-world needs of programmers, developers, and IT professionals. Focused and relevant, they address the issues technology professionals face every day. They provide examples, practical solutions, and expert education in new technologies, all designed to help programmers do a better job.

About the Author

Jon Arking is a Java certified and Microsoft certified software architect working in the greater Philadelphia region. He has been designing and developing multi - tiered enterprise systems for 10 years, specializing in system migrations and online web applications. Jon has spent much of his career designing systems, teaching classes, giving lectures, providing on - air interviews, and writing articles on various technical topics.