Thanks for reading Part 1 of this multi-part blog post. If you’ve missed, in Part 1, we talked about what has been added (or converged with Windows) in Windows Phone 8.1 SDK. This part will mainly cover the changes that are included in this SDK. These are important changes and you must make a note of it to build stunning apps. Perhaps, later, there will be part 3, in which I’ll cover some 3rd party components, which can be used in Universal apps. Do let me know if you want to cover anything specific.

Panorama Is Now Hub

With Windows and Windows Phone convergence, Panorama control from Windows Phone is changed to Hub control. It is similar to Hub control available on Windows and gives effects like Panorama. It also, share the same XAML in both the platforms

StatusBar (SystemTray) Changes

StatusBar or SystemTray is top-most component on page, which shows various details:

In Windows Phone 8 apps, you could show/hide system tray from XAML. For example:

Now, in 8.1 (WinRT) apps you’ll need to use code behind to do it. For example:

Flyouts, Flyouts Everywhere

Flyout is a new control in WP8.1 SDK. As MSDN says, use it to display lightweight UI. Also, unlike a dialog, a flyout can be lightly dismissed by clicking or tapping outside it. You can create a flyout by using following code. And actually add a flyout to any control which is a FrameworkElement.

Command From Your Bar

With WP8.1, you do get your old AppBar.. but also get CommandBar. This command bar shares code with Windows. It also have Primary Commands and Secondary Commands. Which represents main buttons and menu on bottom app-bar in WP app. Whereas, on Windows, they have positions on app-bar as left and right.

Zoom – SemanticZoom

With WP8.1, LongListSelector is gone. However, it is replaced with SemanticZoom – in convergence with Windows. This control actually has two views which are shown in different way according to Zoom In/Out mode. It will be another topic for blog. But to put it into simple words: you’ll see a large list of photos in Grid. But when you *squeeze* it, you’ll see a list. OR vice a versa as you design your view.

With these controls, there are some more changes in controls are added. Like RichTextBLOCK (not Box), WebView (not Browser). But I would love to keep this post short.

In next series (rather, I’m planning to change the name ), I’m going to talk about API changes in Windows Phone 8.1 SDK. Meanwhile, do let me know your feedback and if you want anything more covered here.

Happy Coding

Mayur Tendulkar