WPF/E is Now Silverlight

Posted by Jonathan Allen on Apr 17, 2007

Sections

Architecture & Design,

Development,

Enterprise Architecture

Topics

Silverlight ,

.NET ,

Rich Internet Apps ,

Web 2.0

Tags

XAML ,

WPF ,

WPF/E

With much fanfare, Microsoft has announced Silverlight, a new cross-platform, browser independent runtime designed based on XAML and JavaScript with the potential to go head to head with Adobe Flash.

If this all sounds a bit familiar, that is because it is. Silverlight is simply the new name for Windows Presentation Foundation/Everywhere (WPF/E). According to the Silverlight FAQ, even the CTP is unchanged in everything but name. The only thing newsworthy at this time is the new Silverlight wallpaper.

Microsoft claims to be on schedule to deliver Silverlight in the first half of this year. But without even a beta available yet, let alone a release candidate, the timeline seems rather optimistic.

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   Typo

   by bart simpson

   Abode ?

   Reply

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   Re: Typo

   by Martin Gilday

   Huh? Adobe bought out Macromedia last year, unless you mean something else.

   Reply

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   Re: Typo

   by Kit Davies

   I think it's the typo he's referring to.

   Reply

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   Re: Typo

   by Jonathan Allen

   Thank you for pointing that out.

   Reply

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   Interesting counter-post

   by Torreborre Eric

   The reaction from one Adobe evangelist is an interesting read to complete this piece of news: www.onflex.org/ted/2007/04/m-silverlight-vs-ado...
   
   He's questioning:
   
   -market penetration
   -future plugin size because of upcoming features (and lack of these features as-of right now)
   -javascript use and inconsistencies
   -lack of streaming
   -cross-platform commitment
   
   Eric.

   Reply

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   Re: Interesting counter-post

   by Jonathan Allen

   I think his counter-post is a bit premature.
   
   Market Penetration usually isn't an issue for plug-ins, as they can be easily downloaded. Also, MS can always push it through Windows Update to get instant market share. (Do I hear anti-trust lawyers in the distance?)
   
   The "Security and Trust" is pure FUD. I would rather see read complaints about a technology that hasn't been seriously looked at since Windows 3.1.
   
   The feature count/download size complaint is really premature as they are not even in Beta yet. (Though honestly, I am expecting a hefty download size.)
   
   Having to use JavaScript instead of the CLR hurts, but then again it hasn't stopped the AJAX community from becoming a significant force.
   
   I think the lack of streaming is the biggest hit, but again this is tech isn't even in beta yet so the performance problems may not be real.
   
   In short, trying to make specific complaints about vaporware seems rather silly to me.

   Reply

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   Re: Interesting counter-post

   by Jonathan Allen

   The "Security and Trust" is pure FUD. I would rather see read complaints about a technology that hasn't been seriously looked at since Windows 3.1.

   
   
   That should have read "The "Security and Trust" is pure FUD. I would rather see real concerns than read complaints about a technology that hasn't been seriously looked at since Windows 3.1."

   Reply

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