Microsoft Virtual Labs is free and offers 17 different online classes that can be completed in 90 minutes or so with topics ranging from application bars and media capture to the Windows Store. Individual sessions are tailored for the programming language the developer wants to use.

TEST YOURSELF:

HELP:

This is in addition to the live workshops Microsoft is running around the country in an effort to get developers proficient at building Metro apps and build up an apps inventory at the Windows Store.

The sheer volume of apps may be a concern for Microsoft. The store has about 400, which is probably more than any individual would want to use but pales compared to the 225,000-plus apps available for iPads, and the half million or so available for devices.