While having my usual "poke" around Microsoft, I happens to come across these rather interesting articles, hope you enjoy!
This article develops an augmented AltTab application, TaskSwitcher, as a framework for demonstrating how the new visual styles of Windows XP, and PrintWindow, can be used in Windows applications. Also discussed is the .manifest file to make old applications use the comctl32.dll v6 one! Also download the sample application, TaskSwitcher.
Microsoft® Background Intelligent Transfer Service (BITS) provides the documentation and samples necessary to write client applications that transfer files between a client and server, and monitors jobs within the transfer queue.
The Windows XP shell introduces many new features that both users and developers are sure to welcome. There are more shell registry settings available to the user and developer, a facility for customizing infotips, and infotip shell extensions. In addition, folder views can be customized. This article covers these shell changes and includes a discussion of a number of other Windows XP additions. These include fast user switching, which lets users log on and off quickly, and AutoPlay support for a variety of devices and file types not previously supported.
This is intended for both internal and external codec developers. It describes the criteria that the Microsoft Windows Media Player for Windows XP requires for codecs to be hosted by the Player on the Copy Music tab of the Options dialog accessible from the Tools menu. Issues include conformance to Windows Driver Development Kit guidelines, installation issues such as privacy considerations and required registry keys, and requirements for quality, compatibility, and security.
This is intended for independent software vendors (ISVs) that would like to enable label printing for Microsoft Windows Media Player for Microsoft Windows XP.