“Microsoft this week will reveal new technology to deliver rich media applications on the web, a new strand in its battle with Adobe,” Elizabeth Montalbano reports for Macworld UK.
“As described by Forest Key, a director of product management for Microsoft’s Server and Tools Division, Silverlight is a browser plug-in that allows web content providers to offer a rich video and interactive media experience from directly within websites. The technology, which leverages Vista’s new graphics framework, Windows Presentation Foundation (WPF), will debut at the National Association of Broadcasters (NAB) conference,” Montalbano reports.
“Microsoft will also unveil web content providers who have signed up to use the technology once it is available, including Akamai, Brightcove, Eyeblaster, Major League Baseball and Netflix,” Montalbano reports. “Key said Microsoft is targeting three core audiences with Silverlight, formerly code-named WPF/E: content providers that want to distribute video and rich media over the web; designers and developers building rich interactive applications; and end users that want the best possible experience when viewing Web-based media.”
Montalbano reports, “The cross-platform Silverlight is compatible with a range of browsers, including Internet Explorer (IE), Safari and Firefox.”
Full article here.
U can count on Micro$hit to do it right… oh and don’t forget how they will make everyone use their “new” standard:
By calling on the millions of morons that use anything Micro$hit…
…and the rest will be persuaded the Mafia business tactics…
Thank’s Billy a$$…
“Who in their right minds is going to move away from the open and mature Flash development environment to a M$ product that doesn’t even exist yet?”
Never underestimate the stupidity of man. It has proven to gain the upper hand over and over in history.
@macuser
“what is wrong with flash? why do they need to get to everything…”
The problem with flash is that it is not linked to windows. Anything that can be used on linux or mac is a threat and has to be subdued. How can MS have a windows monopoly if you don’t need windows to get the good stuff with your computer.
This is the exact same reason why microsoft is spending and spending on such failed products as the Xbox and WMA. If you use a playstation you don’t need windows. If you don’t use WMA you don’t need windows. If you don’t need IE you don’t need windows. And if you don’t use SilverLight, you don’t need windows. Ect, ad infinitum.
This is condemned to die, as ActiveX and the original MSN did.
Of course, it will be repacked and renamed, so people forget about the failure.
ActiveX was build to compete with Java. It failed miserably. They repacked it and today nobody remembers ActiveX for what it was.
The same with MSN. It was a whole parallel network, trying to compete with the Internet. In the end, it failed too and it became one more ISP.
Microsoft can’t win it all. In fact, they have their own failure history.
I can’t wait to read Daniel Eran’s take on this. I bet it will be amusing.
Not Windows only for now. Just wait, if this technology somehow catches on, they’ll kill the Mac version later.
Who the hell names this stuff over there? “Silverlight”?! What does that mean? It doesn’t even sound cool! Just call it “AssBacon” and be done with it already.
Except that Project AssBacon in on Ballmer’s secret innovations list.
He’s been gluing wings on thousands of pigs. Once he gets them airborne, the pigs will circle the planet dropping leaflets from above on the virtues of the innovative Aero interface.
Jimmy Dean will be a co-sponsor.
Danger Frog hit the nail right on the head. Any new “standard” Microsoft develops should ALWAYS be avoided like the plague. Is there anyone out there who doesn’t think Microsoft will cripple or kill Mac/Linux support if their format ends up getting adopted widely or taking over the market?
It was called MS Silverfish until one small voice in MS PR pointed out it might be implying that they would be infesting the public with millions of bugs. Been there . . .
More information on Silverlight:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Microsoft_Silverlight
http://msdn2.microsoft.com/en-us/asp.net/bb187358.aspx
http://forums.microsoft.com/MSDN/default.aspx?ForumGroupID=318&SiteID=1
Samples:
http://channel9.msdn.com/playground/wpfe/
(Keep your fiends close and your enemas closer.)
The technology, which leverages Vista’s new graphics framework…
…will work on a mac? Everybody I know is a windows user and none of them have any plans to ever go to vista. Their next computers will be Macintosh.
From a CNet article back in March 06: http://news.com.com/More+than+meets+the+eye+in+Microsoft+plan/2100-1012_3-6053893.html
“It’s interesting to hear that they’ll be ‘subsetting’ or ‘de-featuring’ on other platforms–that’s a little bit of a red flag,” Temkin said. “One thing that’s been critical to Flash’s success is that all the features work everywhere.”
Just Say No.
“Rich” in Microsoft language usually means “ripe with the possibility for viruses and exploits”
My gut feeling is that Flash, in Adobe’s very capable hands, can and will more than hold its own against any half-baked bullshit technology Microsoft can come up with. Microsoft is like those flesh-eating plants that ooze a sweet, sticky sap to attract victims who get stuck in the gooey mess. The integration of Flash with Photoshop is a big step forward for the creative sector, and increasing broadband speeds are finally making Flash-based websites a practical reality. Microsoft is pissing into the wind on this one.
Just watch…it will work well with IE on windows but poor with Safari on the Mac. Wann bet…anyone? helloooooooo?
I’m not “plugging in” anything from MICROSH*T in my precious and well functioning Mac
Content providers just have to support the superior Quicktime format.
Danger! Danger! Will Robinson! Security alert!
Now why in the world would anyone want to use Silverfish? They’re a blight to society, second only to cockroaches and, like cockroaches, leave their droppings everywhere.
Microsoft can keep their Silverfish.
Thank you very much.
From the Silverlight FAQs:
Q – Will Silverlight support digital rights management?
A – For content providers, Silverlight will support digital rights management (DRM) built on the recently announced Microsoft PlayReady content access technology on Windows-based computers and Macintosh computers.
PlayReady DRM for Macs? Haven’t heard of that one.
In the story about Silverlight over on Macworld, Microsoft touts it not just as a competitor to Flash, but also as a competitor to Quicktime itself.
Yay. Another copyvation from Microsoft.
I’m sure Dan Eran of RDM will have a field day with Silverlight. Gotta love their totally unimaginative codenames.
ANYONE who even THINKS of adopting this should come down to Alabama and meet my brother Dirk out in the barn…
Microsoft isn’t dead after all. They’re just giving up the OS business, but they will live on inside your browser!
PlayReady DRM for Macs? Haven’t heard of that one.
This is hilarious! Microsoft had to ditch “plays for sure” because it didn’t. Now they want to pawn off “play ready”—meaning it plays if other nondisclosed conditions (controlled by Microsoft, no doubt) are met. Microsoft is like a party crasher who has already been discovered and kicked out of the party, but keeps trying to sneak back in wearing the same disguise.