Windows Phone adds multitasking, deep phone integration, and sensor access to dev platform

We knew it was coming, and today at MIX 11, Microsoft showed off its developer platform for the next version of Windows Phone, which developers will be able to get their hands on for free in May. The new application platform adds:

Multitasking for background processing, audio and file transfer, and fast app switching
Deep phone integration, allowing apps to leverage Live Tiles
Access to the camera and sensors via the Motion Sensor Library, letting apps to control device hardware

Microsoft hopes this will allow developers to make even more creative and engaging apps. To get our juices flowing, it's showing off demos of new app concepts from Skype, Spotify, Layar, Qantas, Amazon Shopping, and Kik Messenger.

Other links today:
http://wiki.the-big-bang-theory.com/index.php/User_talk:Rturiacc
http://wiki.twit.tv/wiki/User:Twittythebird
http://wiki.typo3.org/User_talk:GuttonMildred
http://wiki.wegotserved.com/index.php?title=User:Servesmeright
http://wiki.wxpython.org/MIldredGutton
http://wiki.wxwidgets.org/User:Batesdeep
http://wiki.xentax.com/index.php/User:Mildredg
http://wiki.yoyogames.com/index.php/User_talk:Operantis
http://cleancomputers.wikispaces.com/Mac_Freezes
http://www.perfspot.com/blogs/blog.asp?blogid=238337
http://pctips.blog.friendster.com/2011/04/first/

EyeSight brings its gesture controls to Android tablets, Windows-based devices

EyeSight has been bringing its hand-waving UI to all sorts of mobile devices for some time now, and it's now expanded things yet again. Following up its launch on Android last summer, the company has announced that its gesture recognition software has now also been tailored specifically for Android tablets and other "computer-based" Android platforms, and it's announced that it's now available for Windows-based devices as well. As before, the software is able to work with just about any built-in camera, and the company says that it has been "highly optimized" for mobile platforms, with low CPU and memory requirements. It's not something available directly to users, though -- it's up to developers to license it and include the functionality in their applications. Head on past the break for an idea of how it works -- just try to ignore that conspicuously out of place iPad at the beginning of the video.