Downloading Windows Phone 7 SDK


	Downloading Windows Phone 7 SDK

Jared Wiltshire

22nd September 2011

Intro

This article will explain what you need to know about downloading and installing the latest SDK for Windows Phone 7.

Downloading the SDK

When arriving at the Windows Phone 7 development website (http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/windowsmobile/bb264318), it probably isn't very clear to most people where to get the latest SDK from (it is not under the Downloads link at the top of the page).
However, clicking on the advert banner "Create powerful Applications and Games" takes you through to the "App Hub".

Clicking on the "Download the free tools" link on the left of the page takes you through to a final page where you can select the version of the Windows Phone SDK you want to download.

Click on the "Download the Windows Phone SDK ..." link and you’ll be taken on the download details page.

System Requirements

Before you download the Windows Phone 7 SDK, be sure that your machine meets the system requirements.

The system requirements are as follows:

Supported Operating Systems: Windows 7, Windows Vista

Windows Vista (x86 and x64) with Service Pack 2 – all editions except Starter Edition
Windows 7 (x86 and x64) – all editions except Starter Edition
Installation requires 3 GB of free disk space on the system drive.
2 GB RAM
Windows Phone Emulator requires a DirectX 10 capable graphics card with a WDDM 1.1 driver

These system requirements are not initially apparent when downloading the SDK, scroll down the page on the download details to find them. If your machine does not meet these requirements, don’t waste your time downloading the SDK.

Regarding the minimum system requirements; there are ways around making the Visual Studio 2010 with the Windows 7 Pho+ne SDK work with earlier versions of Windows OS (e.g. Windows XP) but the Windows Phone Emulator will NOT work because neither DirectX 10 or WDDM 1.1 are not available on Windows XP.

Conclusion

All mobile platforms rely on the work of developers building new apps for the device, which expand the mobile platform's exposure in the market.

Windows Vista and 7 make up less than 50% of the Windows OS market, with Windows XP making up around nearly 50% of the rest of the Windows OS market. This means Microsoft are excluding 50% of the users developing for Windows Phone 7.

I don't believe Microsoft have done themselves any favours by limiting the Windows Phone 7 developer base.

Download the latest Windows Phone 7 SDK

Downloading Windows Phone 7 SDK

Intro

Downloading the SDK

System Requirements

Conclusion

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