During the second day of Microsoft Corp.’s Professional Developers Conference 2009, Microsoft outlined new opportunities and resources for developers to create applications that take advantage of the power of Windows and the reach of the Web. Microsoft also invited developers to test new beta versions of Microsoft Silverlight 4, Microsoft Office 2010 and Microsoft SharePoint Server 2010.
Steven Sinofsky, president of the Windows and Windows Live Division, showcased how developers can take advantage of the unique software and hardware innovations fueled by Windows 7 and Internet Explorer 8 to build compelling computing experiences for customers.
“The tremendous support behind Windows 7 equates to tangible opportunity for developers on the Windows platform,” Sinofsky said. “We’re looking forward to the new ways that they will bring Windows and the Web to life for all of our customers.”
Looking ahead, Sinofsky also shared an early look at some of the work under way on Internet Explorer 9, highlighting advancements in performance and interoperable standards, as well as advancements such as using DirectX to bring the full power of the PC to the Web experience.
Developing Rich User Experiences
Scott Guthrie, corporate vice president of the .NET Developer Platform, showed how Silverlight provides rich cross-platform experiences that power three screens. He announced the public beta of Silverlight 4, only four months after delivering Silverlight 3, continuing Microsoft’s rapid pace of innovation to help companies design and develop experiences on the Web for both consumers and enterprises. The beta can be downloaded at http://www.silverlight.net/getstarted/silverlight-4-beta. Guthrie noted that the newest version of Silverlight includes features such as these:
• Extended out-of-browser capabilities to enable deeper desktop experiences without additional code or runtimes
• Powerful enhancements for enterprise application developers, including full support for Microsoft Visual Studio 2010, providing access to Microsoft Office and Microsoft SharePoint Server, and improved printing, networking, reporting and charting capabilities
• Richer Web experiences, including new webcam and microphone capabilities, native multicast support for wide-scale media content delivery, and more than 60 customizable controls to build compelling, interactive applications
Silverlight is currently installed on more than 45 percent of Internet-connected devices worldwide and is powering high-profile customers such as NBC’s online broadcast of the Vancouver 2010 Winter Olympic Games, Wimbledon and “NFL Sunday Night Football Extra,” as well as Continental Airlines Inc., the Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show, and eBay Inc. Guthrie also announced new customers such as SnapFlow and Bloomberg L.P. that are making significant investments in Silverlight for their businesses.
“Silverlight 4 beta marks another significant step forward as Microsoft continues to rapidly innovate and enable developers to deliver rich applications across three screens,” Guthrie said. “Silverlight 4 provides developers with a full suite of capabilities to rapidly build high-quality, highly secure and engaging applications, on the Web or beyond the browser, affirming Silverlight’s position as a great choice for building business applications.”
