Microsoft has released “‘WPF/E’ (codename) Community Technology Preview for Mac (Dec 2006).” WPF/E stands for “Windows Presentation Foundation Everywhere.”
According to Microsoft, “WPF/E” (codename) is a “browser enhancement” module that enables browsers to render rich content in addition to HTML. ‘WPF/E” is compatible with both the Safari browser and Firefox 1.5.0.8 on MacOSX 10.4.8. The Dec 2006 CTP will expire on February 18, 2007 at which point when a web page that uses it is rendered, it will prompt the user to update to the latest version. “WPF/E” (codename) will periodically ping Microsoft.com to verify its integrity (at which point the only information that will be communicated will be your IP address and the module version).
System Requirements:
• PowerPC G3 500MHz or faster processor
• Intel Core™ Duo 1.83GHz or faster processor
• 128MB of RAM
“WPF/E” is supported on Firefox 1.5.0.8 and Safari 2.0 on Mac OS X 10.4.8. After you install “WPF/E” you must exit and restart your browser.
“Apple’s Mac OS will be one of the operating systems supported with WPF/E, as well as older versions of Windows and Microsoft Smartphone, according to Microsoft executives. And other operating systems are planned, said Forrest Key, group product manager in Microsoft’s developer tools division, without confirming plans for Linux support,” Martin LaMonica reported for CNET News back in September 2005.
More info and download link (3.1MB) here.
MacDailyNews Take: The words “Microsoft” and “Beta” don’t mix well (come to think of it, neither do “Microsoft” and “final version”), which is probably why they called it a “Community Technology Preview.” Be careful out there. We are posting this because it is Apple Mac-related news. We are not installing it. Why, besides the fact that we avoid Microsoft software like the plague? Just imagine that this “technology” gets widespread use on websites some years down the road and then Microsoft conveniently stops supporting the Mac version.
[Attribution: MacNN via setteB.IT]
I am a Web Developer, and as such, reading this scares me.
Is there something wrong with HTML that Microsoft feels they are capable of correcting? Is this just another way of adding complexity to a system to ensure Microsoft won’t go anywhere?
I feel that this is much like Microsoft’s “Zune Point” system replacing a perfectly capable monetary system we call “The US Dollar”.
This is Microsoft branded malware.
Why is MDN providing a url to a malware download? So that they can use it for even more hideous advertising?
Sorry me, I should have changed my name before I posted to avoid any confusion.
3 ways to do things
1. the right way
2. the wrong way
3. the worst way alias “The Microsoft Way”
No, thank you.
I am also a web developer, and this stikres me as nothing more than a new version of ActiveX for the web. It’s their way of adding their trademark insecurity to the Mac platform so that we can all “just get along”. I think they should concentrate on just making IE suck less, or better yet, just discontinue it.
This is one way Microsoft can see just how many Mac users think they need something from Microsoft
(at which point the only information that will be communicated will be your IP address and the module version).
Don’t do it.
I agree with the first “me” (and the second one too, for that matter). MS originally tried to hijack HTML and make their own markup code which would only work with MSIE (remember, you can’t spell miserable without MSIE). They did that for a long time, and that was one of the reasons that people used IE – they’d say “sites just don’t render well in other browsers”. Uh yeah, because MS did that on purpose.
So now they are coming out with a new “layer” of crap to put on top of HTML? How about NOT???
Beta or not, I’d avoid this like the plague.
Yeah…..why would I want any microsoft software/plugin etc on my browser connected to the internet? That’s like IE all over again….ish…..with microsoft(lower case on purpose) you can’t really trust anything that has to do with the internet for security reasons….among others.
Microsoft says what???
“According to Microsoft, “WPF/E” (codename) is a “browser enhancement” module that enables browsers to render rich content in addition to HTML.”
So, Microsoft wants to give us a free — thingie — to let us upgrade and improve our web brousing?????
Right! ????
Service pack 1 due out shortly.
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They must be joking, right?
First they screwed HTML, now they want to overthrow it…
Don’t be a lemming, don’t install that nonsense on your Mac.
enough is enough
microsoft — get away from my browser, you loser!
don’t let the scum invade our platform!
MW: trouble
Ok follow me here: What’s going on is that MS is trying get out of the ether they’ve created around themselves with some new-sounding whiz-bang technology, in an area where they can try and trap everybody, users, and more importantly in this case, developers. They will try and get everybody hooked on this thing, then when they believe they’ve reached some sort of crtitical mass they are going to stop supporting anything that isn’t based on Windows, or at the very least IE. Just watch. The end result will be a renewed (and oh so tired) push toward getting the public to believe that the Mac (or anyyhing else for that matter) is not compatible with anything – unless its running Windows of course.
For starters, the very arrogance of “Windows Presentation Foundation Everywhere”, should be the public’s first clue. Even the Windows loyal should cringe at the words “Foundation” and “Everywhere” in this context. Windows does NOT have to be everywhere, and, the sooner the world stops letting Windows be the Be-all-end-all foundation for everything that happens on the planet Earth, the better off we’ll all be, including Windows users.
All I can say to developers is please oh please don’t do it don’t do it. If MS wants to force Windows users to use this thing then I guess that’s their option, but almost everytime MS technology is pushed on developers, that technology becomes a trap, trapping both developer and users into virtually no other option.
Let it go. Do not plug this think into your Firefox or Safari browser.
What Poor Fsckers / Enjoy
Any other suggestions for what the code name stands for?
Why does Microsoft even bother?
Amen, everybody!
Spread the word to friends (and, what the heck, to foes, also) NOT to install this crap. It’s obviously a way to make inroads into an area that they don’t currently control.
Tell everybody you know. Seriously. Remember, windows users don’t understand a whole lot to begin with, and will think they need to install this. Spread the word, M$ and this software are both evil and junk!
Ok, I must admit I am completely clueless of what this is… why would I want to install and use this – what does it actually do? I don’t want any tirades about how bad MS software is or that they want to take over the world (not that I am arguing either of those points), I just want to know… what the heck IS this stuff?
I’m a drunk mentally handicapped person, direct me to the download please.
Not very HTML literate, but isn’t the problem Microsoft’s? They are not followoing HTML standards with their products and this CTP is trying to ‘ BREAK ‘ the other browsers to work with Microsofts’ rules?
Why not just ” FIX ” their own products to follow the rules that everyone else agreeded to?
They can’t provide adequate Windows Media Player playback, but they can do this? No way. It’s just another embrace and extinguish tactic. In 5 years, if this takes hold, we’ll be using 3-year-old technology while the PC users have the latest.
Great news! This is precisely the attention to detail and customer-needs that Microsoft specializes in. Who isn’t tired of the open nature of the web with industry-standard, independently-approved file formats such as HTML, JPG, Java, etc. It’s high time we introduce more proprietary technology. I, for one, am tired of Apple’s use of AAC, PDF, PNG, etc. in their products. Losers.
It takes confidence and vision implement proprietary technology in the marketplace. Long live .DOC, .WMA and now, WPF/E! The web was just starting to get stale, and then Microsoft came and saved it.Thank you Microsoft!
Your potential. Our passion.
First they will feed us, and then they abandon us to death !!
Okay, I read TFA. WTF do they mean by “rich” content?
Rich as in: I didn’t have any viruses on my Mac until I installed this rich new improved virus vector (aka Active X for Mac).
I don’t think so.
I see a “big brother” aspect to this as well as another way to let those schmucks server up a
a billion more pop ups and other crap I don’t want from anyone else.
Stupid M$.
MDN Word “picture” as in “this picture will now render your browser useless. “
Ok, I had to give it a try. It’s luck putting a sign next to a big red button that says “Do not press”. Anyway, I checked out the samples, and I am unclear as to what exactly this offers that doesn’t already exist in flash?
The samples they provide were nice, but not any more functional than things that already exist.