March 18, 2009 8:33 AM PDT
Silverlight 3 rears its head at Mix
LAS VEGAS--Silverlight 3 just couldn't wait to make its appearance here in Vegas.
Microsoft is expected to demonstrate the software later on Wednesday, but pieces of the beta code have already started to make their way on to Microsoft's developer site. As noted by Ars Technica and others, the documentation for Silverlight 3 beta and other supporting bits of code are available on MSDN.
The new version of Microsoft's would-be rival to Adobe's Flash is expected to be a focal point of the first-day keynote here at Microsoft's Mix conference.
I'll be covering the morning keynote speeches from Scott Guthrie and Bill Buxton, and will likely have more to say on Silverlight 3 in just a little bit.
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. 
Microsoft only supports 1 1/2 platforms as they only support Intel Macs, leaving their PowerPC kin behind. It doesn't matter anyways since Silverlight won't beat Flash because it's too entrenched!
Silverlight is about developers first, then users. It may not beat Flash in the streaming video market but who really cares what tech is streaming their video on Hulu if it plays well. Microsoft is after the rich internet application market, they have been all along. They want to make the .NET development houses that have not embraced Adobe Flex be able to compete and exceed, and be able to sell their suite of products and services in this arena. These products are a direct challenge to Adobe Flex Builder, not the Flash IDE.