Microsoft to announce Silverlight 2.0 on Monday
Microsoft has scheduled a conference call on Monday to announce, among other things, that it has completed version 2.0 of Silverlight, its rival to Adobe's Flash.
The software maker has scheduled a conference call for 9 a.m. PDT with developer division executive Scott Guthrie.
A Microsoft representative declined to comment on the impending announcement, but a source told CNET News that the completion of Silverlight 2.0 is among the topics of discussion. Microsoft released Beta 2 of the software in June, while a "release candidate" version was offered up last month.
The software maker apparently has more to say than just the completion of version 2.0. (I'm all ears, folks).
Otherwise, I'll tune in Monday and let you know the rest of the Silverlight story.
During her years at CNET News, Ina Fried has changed beats several times, changed genders once, and covered both of the Pirates of Silicon Valley. These days, most of her attention is focused on Microsoft. E-mail Ina. 
Silverlight 3.0, Windows 7, Office 14, PDC 2008, Windows Strata, Web 2.0 Applications?
Silverlight = proprietary poison for the web that leads back to the padlock that is Windows!
Stop embarrassing yourself. Learn to read up a bit before opening your mouth.
It does wonders.
Its so obvious. Its exactly how the "PC Guy" in the Apple Ads would act. Haha
Your comments fall flat.
Well, there's a difference between a software update and a hardware refresh. Rumor has it that those new macbooks may come out with new processors, video cards, etc. Much bigger news than a next version of a program... at least in my opinion.
What about professionals from PR companies infesting comments whenever they approach Silverlight keyword? Don't make me talk.
Also CNET: Do you see anyone actually being exciting about it? Multi billion media giant CBS bought you, you don't need MS anymore. Do you think your hits sinking because the old design was bad? Start to read content of your site. Front page is worse than MS presspass. At least MS presspass doesn't claim to be a tech news site.
GPU acceleration, ok. Multi-proc support? To show advertisements and small games?
Flash should never need the power required to play a game like Quake, etc.
Silverlight: Runs fully on Windows, and some features run on Intel Macs.
Any web designer/developer who decides to write their brand-new web application with Silverlight should be sent back to university to take the "Web Development 101" course. Specifically, to see the big letters in the textbook that say "Design your web project so it can be viewed by the maximum number of people!".
How about MS create something that doesn't lock in its customers?
Never.
Silverlight is merely an attempt to keep people locked into users. Although there are two serious problems with that:
1. The world is increasingly moving to other platforms
2. Developers would be insane to lock themselves into the single platform Silverlight(Moonlight doesn't count because they will always be behind the curve). Even with MS pushing it across Windows Update, the number of machines that have it installed will be relatively low.
What MS still doesn't get after all these years of failure online is that the internet and web is platform agnostic. That is by design and the main reason it is so great.
What building in Redmond are you typing from? If you're not looking to expand your development abilities beyond .NET, you're going to be for a world of hurt within 3 years.
Microsoft just announced at their SharePoint conference Software and Service integration where you can build Silverlight web parts inside SharePoint 2007 and leverage lists/workflows and other SharePoint features. Silverlight also integrates with Microsoft's WCF and WF enterprise SOA and workflow APIs and designer tools. At the PDC 2008 in a couple weeks they will be announcing their cloud computing initiative with search/semantic web features. There is also a private beta for Silverlight 2 on Windows Mobile and other things that are NDA'd
Can anyone of the Adobe fanboys tell me where exactly Adobe will be taking their product next? Past their integration with Illustrator/PhotoShop?
The products are GOING IN SEPERATE DIRECTIONS. Does anyone get that? Adobe has the market share, experience with RIA (Flash/Flex/SVG/AIR), has the first class tools and Flash 10 biggest thing is graphics/3D/hardware acceleration. There is NO DOUBT in my mind that you wil be able to create very immersive and beautiful applications with Flash/Flex.
Microsoft doesn't aim to compete in that space. Silverlight is going to be the RIA for data/business applications/search/enterprise. If MIcrosoft continues to integrate Silverlight with SharePoint, SQL Server Reporting Services, Live Search, WCF/WF, .NET, ASP.NET and Visual Studio. Flash/Flex DOESN'T HAVE TRUE MULTITHREADING...google Flash and mulithreading and MY silverlight blog comes up in the first page LOL (I have talked to several Flash experts and you can simulate mulithreading now but its complete hacks). Oh by the way just like Apple...Microsoft also owns a mobile technology. This and many more reasons is why Silverlight is completely going in a different direction.
Are you seriously going to tell me with a straight face that Adobe can compete with Microsoft on the business/enterprise end??? Oh by the way Microsoft also has a large investment in Facebook. What do you think the preferred RIA technology on Facebook will be in the coming months? :)
There are massive differences between the two technologies. Adobe will have its spot and SIlverlight will have theirs. If I am creating an application targeting a wide audience and it is not heavily based on data...I would use Flash. If I am creating any business application or app that requires MS integration or is moving data arond...Silverlight is a no brainer here.
Bart Czernicki
I only get mad when MS's products suck. I hope Silverlight 2.0 really is the best thing since sliced bread. Why? Because if it's a Flash killer then that means Adobe will have to compete or die. Which means either Flash gets better or gets replaced by something better. That means Microsoft has to compete back and so Silverlight has to get better and back and forth.
It's sort of like Opera/Firefox was the best thing that ever happened to IE. Before there was no compeition and stagnation. Then there was compeitiion and very shortly came security and the standards war and tabs and pop-up blockers and anti-phsing features and now the big thing is privacy mode. FF, IE, Opera, and Chrome all competeing for the best privacy mode right now. Who knows what's next? Without compeition nothing changes. So, I hope SL 2.0 kicks the crap out of Flash.
After 12 months they will come up with new name for 3.0...whatever..
Adobe Flex 3 was release this year and next year it will be Flex 4 should they hold press conference..man other platforms are much better for RIA and yes they work on most of the platform not ONLY WINDOWS.
BTW: I develop everything on windows but final product works on all platform.
- by magicmaster October 13, 2008 8:14 AM PDT
- The reason behind my opposition to silverlight is dued to its intrusive pop-up on MS website asking me to install it. I don't mind a banner or small graphic ads about silverlight, but pop-up disgusted me. Stay away from my sight!
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