Silverlight

Nov 19 2008   3:52AM GMT

When Apple’s iPhone Becomes Rich: The Road to Flash or Silverlight on iPhone

Posted by: William Peterson
iPhone, Mobile, IT professional, RIA, Rich Media, Technology, Silverlight, Flash, Review, Business

Yesterday I read Brian Chen’s “Why Apple Won’t Allow Adobe Flash on iPhone“, and found that the “Flash on iPhone” topic is really everyone’s talking-about in the town. And most users would be disappointed with clause 3.3.2 of the iPhone SDK agreement.

“An Application may not itself install or launch other executable code by any means, including without limitation through the use of a plug-in architecture, calling other frameworks, other APIs or otherwise … No interpreted code may be downloaded and used in an Application except for code that is interpreted and run by Apple’s Published APIs and built-in interpreter(s).”

I guess everyone is thinking, it’s not a jeopardous thing to allow Flash on iPhone platform, and Apple might be too arrogant. However, we have to wait Apple’s agreement - it would be in 9 months I think. Besides, we don’t refuse any tricks, such as the belgian interactive designer Thomas Joos made his tricks to port Flash Lite to the iPhone (http://vilebody.wordpress.com/2008/07/02/porting-flash-lite-to-the-iphone-btween/),

Other Riches: Can Microsoft Silverlight Catch It At First?

Jobs says Flash just doesn’t cut the mustard and won’t show up on the iPhone. Does that mean we can expect Silverlight running on the iPhone first? The 2.0 version of Silverlight features enhanced video support, and initial mobile support for Nokia S60 or Windows Mobile (http://silverlight.net/learn/mobile.aspx). According to Scott Guthrie, VP of Microsoft’s .Net developer division, the company has been working on Silverlight for the iPhone. But, like with Flash, Apple is reluctant to allow third-party Web plug-ins on its handset. If I’m Microsoft, I’ll try my best to persuade Apple, to capture the leading role in the mobile rich market.

William Peterson
Presentation Veteran

Nov 9 2008   12:15PM GMT

Live, Not Survive: Microsoft Will Take Online Office on the Best Road

Posted by: William Peterson
RIA, Rich Media, Office, Web 2.0, Technology, PowerPoint, Google Docs, Silverlight, Microsoft, Review, Business, PowerPoint 2007, Google Apps, Online Apps, Office 14, Office Live, Google Presentation

According to Anita Hamilton’s “Late to the Game: Microsoft Office Online” on TIME, the rivalry of paperless office technologies like word processor, spreadsheets or presentations, etc. has been not the old style ”Microsoft Office or IBM Lotus” for more and more companies. Giving Google Docs or Zoho a try is the recent popular choice for us.

Although Microsoft Office is still the dominant in the area of business applications for office, it can’t ignore what’s going in the current markets. It has been quite a few months after I introduced Microsoft’s project “Office Live Workspace Beta” (refer to Live Workshop Rivalry: Build Your Presentation Mind On the Road), and I cited that we really need better Web capabilities on the coming office suite (refer to On The Road: Microsoft Office Has To Bet Its Future On The Web). But why Microsoft decide not catch up the way until 2010?

Microsoft Wants to Make the Best Web Office

I have to thank for all the efforts on those gorgeous ribbons and SmartArts in Office 2007, which really help me a lot on presentations. However, online compatibility is the biggest weakness in the Internet times. The coming Office 14 would be really late for the online office market, but I guess Microsoft won’t make that launch another miss. Heard from Workspace Team Blog, the Sliverlight technology has been added into the new Office Live Workspace. Based on the great rich media technologies from Microsoft Silverlight, maybe the expected Office 14 could move all rich features in Office 2007 to the Web. Isn’t that the best idea to conquer the online land for Microsoft? We’re waiting.

William Peterson
Presentation Veteran

Nov 2 2008   10:14AM GMT

Over Microsoft Silverlight 2, Adobe Flash Player 10 Goes Upper

Posted by: William Peterson
Rich Media, Technology, Adobe, Silverlight, Microsoft, Flash, Flash Player

Just a few days later the clickjacking issue of Flash Player 9, Adobe quietly attracts the mass with that fresh flagship product Flash Player 10, with new 3-D technologies, and better rich media engine inside. So what Microsoft Silverlight should do on this?

Frankly, I appreciate the great development of Microsoft Silverlight, which already has the most right technologies for Web applications. Here the problem is, why should we give up Flash technologies for Silverlight? I talked about kinda this topic for many times, and i thought that the turning point for Silverlight could be an another advantage for more Web developers. If our developers get that real value, it’s no doubt for the coming boom.

By the way, Adobe Flex is another good example, I think.

William Peterson
Presentation Veteran

Sep 14 2008   11:26AM GMT

Look upon the Never Rivalry: Pushing Silverlight to Flash Presentation

Posted by: William Peterson
Web, YouTube, IT professional, RIA, Rich Media, Enterprise, Web 2.0, Technology, Learning, Adobe, Silverlight, Microsoft, Flash, Review, Business, community, Corporate, Online Apps, Flash Video, Webcam, Web Presentation, Business presentations

The NBC’s Olympic Games in Silverlight boomed Microsoft’s rich media technologies a lot, but it still stands outside the stage where Adobe Flash dances. Microsoft is not the god, neither is Adobe. Actually Silverlight did well in many specifications as newly developed kit for the Web, while Flash seemed old and out of some emerging developments. To fight the mainstream, let’s look around what Silverlight.

In the developer Niraj Swaminarayan’s Silverligh vs. Flash - An Analysis Report, we can see that some parts are not that crucial for most Web developers. So I take my hands to the opinion that, the so-called rivalry is really not that important like lots of observers said. YouTube can be a Silverlight based video sharing community as well as Flash offers.

I’m concerning about the impact on my favorite Webcasting industry where the Silverlight platform could not step in currently. If Silverlight lives better and better as expected, what’s the critical issues we’ll face when replacing with Silverlight? The IT infrastractures for a business do not require the value of emerging technologies. That’s why Windows Vista could not become the mainstream with its 2 years’ experiences. Certainly it’s not a bad idea to take Silverlight presentation in the future.

William Peterson
Presentation Veteran

Jul 13 2008   4:56AM GMT

Flash, Silverlight Go Searchable - A Little Thinking of Search Engine Optimized Rich Media

Posted by: William Peterson
Development, Web, Google, CIO, IT professional, RIA, AJAX, Technology, Learning, Adobe, Silverlight, Flash, Review, Business, Online Apps, Solutions, Google Search, Business presentations

No needs to mention that the proudly announcement of Adobe’s that “Rich Media Search on the Web” on July; as we guess, Microsoft also teams its Silverlight technology up with the rich media content searchable trend. It’s really long long waiting to make this available after years of Flash technology booming. Like Neil Armstrong’s first words on the moon, “that’s one small step for man; one giant leap for mankind”.

Coming with Google’s “Flash indexing algorithm“, we know the SEOs (Search Engine Optimization) can not live standalone without the requirements from the market. The little thinking from me on search engine optimized rich media: business presentations over the Web now essentially catch up with the help of SEOed.

There’s much to admire about Adobe’s web technology initiatives over the past year or so, such as recent Adobe AIR, Acrobat.com. But this one, advanced RIA technology with SEO compliance inspires me indeed. As most developed Web apps take SEO as better user experience advantage over Rich Internet Apps, now for searchable Flash, I really recommend businesses to do in this way.

The last words to notify on this thinking, most traditional manufacturers of Flash authoring tools should rearrange the producing of Flash, to satisfy the SEOed Flash content better.

William Peterson
Presentation Veteran

May 27 2008   2:56PM GMT

Silverlight Technology on the Future Business Presentation

Posted by: William Peterson
Web, IT professional, Technology, Adobe, Silverlight, Microsoft, Flash, Review, Business, Online Apps, Flash Video, Business presentations

I caught some funny Silverlight applications from those passionate guys who work in Microsoft’s Silverlight Business Development Team, such as Silverlight Games, Silverlight Instant Messaging Client, Silverlight Clock.

I like those trial Web applications to improve our satisfaction of Internet lifestyle. Moreover, as its called “Flash Killer”, it’s really not a bad idea to advance the ease of future business presentation. Whatever, at least we get a nice alternative in current Flash-Flash world. I guess, Microsoft will embed Silverlight technology support in his next generation Internet Explorer in near future, and that is, no more compatibility hassles. We’ll do our businesses over Silverlight technology platform then, as we with Adobe Flash today. The focal point is, we may not know the advantages of Silverlight over Flash, so we stay here.

William Peterson
Presentation Veteran

May 1 2008   3:49PM GMT

Rich Internet Applications: The Open Future is On

Posted by: William Peterson
RIA, AJAX, Silverlight, Flash, Review, Business, Online Apps, Solutions, AIR

When I heard the news that, the research from Forrest said the popular AJAX is too old for rich Internet applications, and it will be replaced by Adobe AIR or Microsoft Silverlight in the future, I really don’t agree with that idea. Although the new technologies AIR or Silverlight are hot and appreciated by developers, we cannot deny the further improvement on AJAX, which is just built on the simplest platform over rich Internet.

However, Adobe’s Open Screen Project is really favorable. The project is is working to enable a consistent runtime environment – taking advantage of Adobe® Flash® Player and, in the future, Adobe AIR™ — that will remove barriers for developers and designers as they publish content and applications across desktops and consumer devices, including phones, mobile internet devices (MIDs), and set top boxes. Also, it is supported by technology leaders. I think, most IT guys will be interested in the details, just visit http://www.adobe.com/openscreenproject/

William Peterson
Presentation Veteran

Apr 27 2008   5:56AM GMT

AOL’s Rich Internet Mail in Microsoft’s Silverlight Experience

Posted by: William Peterson
AOL, Web, Google, RIA, AJAX, Silverlight, Microsoft, Flash, Review, Online Apps, Live

Beyond the common sense of popular AJAX Web mail, AOL plans on new gadget for old Web mail service, which offers industry-leading performance, unique skinning options and rich media content capabilities. Generally, the spotlight upon those boring slogans is the Microsoft Silverlight 2.0 technology in called convenience of the Web and the performance of a desktop application together.

AOL demonstrated the new RIA Mail at Microsoft’s MIX08 conference. The demo highlighted a version of RIA created specifically for fans of the video game Halo, featuring a Halo mail “skin” as well as Halo-specific content and advertising to create a dynamic online experience.

According to my ever experiences on Flash-based or AJAX-based Web mail services, Google’s Gmail’s still my favorite as its really Internet-friendly technology. However, AOL’s RIA Mail seems shinning and nice. If the high-appreciated future mail service can be launched to beat up Yahoo or Earthlink’s Web mail, I think Microsoft’s Silverlight should be the best weapon to arm to tooth. Also, I guess the new AOL mail may promote Silverlight as its engaging case study.

William Peterson
Presentation Veteran

Apr 12 2008   6:56AM GMT

Recommend Some Silverlight Demos from Microsoft Development Community

Posted by: William Peterson
Microsoft Windows, Development, Web, IT professional, Enterprise, Silverlight, Microsoft, Online Apps, Live

As Silverlight is really hot other than just Microsoft, I’m digging on it recent days, and now recommend some demos for everyone to know the further technology better, and plan it in your own business. The resources are just from Microsoft develper Nigel Parker’s presentation in his blog. Thanks for the effort.

Silverlight 1.1 Alpha Surface Demonstration (Video Support)
http://weblogs.asp.net/mschwarz/archive/2007/06/04/silverlight-surface-demonstration-video-support.aspx

French Silverlight 1.0 Application (Script#)
http://galilee.microsoft.fr/TechDays2008/SL/techdays-2008-silverlight.aspx
Script#

Silverlight 1.0 Inking Search Sample
http://www.tabletpcpost.com/search/

Silverlight 1.1 Alpha Invaders
http://www.andybeaulieu.com/silverlight/DestroyAll/Default.html
Code

Glenn Conner Interview
http://gobeyond.net.nz/glennria.html
Amazon Demo Silverlight 1.1 Alpha

Building a Video Player in 8 mins with Silverlight 1.0
http://gobeyond.net.nz/wotp/ReflectJam.html

William Peterson
Presentation Veteran

Apr 6 2008   3:52PM GMT

Silverlight 2 On the Go: Microsoft’s YouTube With No Flash Video

Posted by: William Peterson
Web, YouTube, Silverlight, Microsoft, Flash, Review, Flash Video

Microsoft developer Ashish Thapliyal has published a roadmap for the Silverlight 2 Web platform, confirming a final launch scheduled for the summer, and noting that Silverlight won’t be able to play back .flv Flash video files.

Besides, Microsoft also beta lauched its Microsoft Video in Silverlight, which was considered as Silverlight’s YouTube community experiment. Definitely Microsoft Silverlight shouldn’t support Flash video files as Adobe Flash’s hot competitor, and the video streaming in Silverlight is really clearer and smoother than common Flash videos. But, Silvelight videos cannot load video in cumulative progress like Flash does, and the incompatibility with existing Flash video may scare away the best opportunity to promote with current popularity.

What Silverlight 2 will bring to us, new technology or just a dream? Don’t forget that, even Jobs won’t make Flash Player supported in iPhone officially, most users are still really need it. Therefore, Silverlight can generally support some Flash technologies, her tomorrow will be better, I think.

William Peterson
Presentation Verteran