Silverlight 3 released, Blend 3 + SketchFlow available as release candidates
Silverlight 3 has been just released by Microsoft. This release brings in bunch of new features and support for out of browser experience. Also, Expression Blend 3 with SketchFlow is now available for download as a release candidate. In this article I am sharing resources and news about these releases as well as some background info for you.
Silverlight 3 and Expression Studio 3 features and resources
Interested in new Silverlight 3 features? Read all about new Silverlight 3 features here.
Looking for Expression Blend 3 + SketchFlow features? You can read all about them here.
Looking for Expression Blend 3 features explained in video?
Download Silverlight 3 RTW (3.0.40624.0) from here.
Download Expression Blend 3 with SketchFlow RC here.
You can also find Expression Web 3, Expression Design 3 and other Expression products there and download them.
Background story
The launch of Silverlight 3 and Expression 3 demonstrate Microsoft is innovating in core areas critical to the changing design and development landscape.
For too long, software has begun as simple drawings on napkins or worse as static compositions built in a digital darkroom. Now, SketchFlow revolutionizes the speed and efficiency you can demonstrate a vision for an application, providing a quick way to evolve your concepts from a series of rough ideas into a living breathing prototype. This rapid, iterative and cost effective approach allows you to concentrate on what matters most, being creative and building the best solution for your client, on time and within budget.
Online media is now mainstream, and consumers have high expectations for quality. Today, MS provides unparalleled online video experiences all at the lowest costs through IIS Smooth Streaming technology.
End users live both online and offline, and so should their software. Today, Microsoft is releasing out-of-browser support for the Silverlight platform, so developers can simply and immediately deploy applications offline without having to target a separate platform.
The Web is software, and software development is core to Microsoft’s DNA. More than 6 million .NET developers continue to bet on Microsoft because of a deep, decades-long legacy of developer commitment and focus, and a dedication to maintaining the most robust network of partners in the industry.
The Silverlight platform continues to experience meteoric growth since hitting the market in 2007. Today we’re announcing many new amazing partnerships and customers who are betting on our technology and trusting in this commitment.Looking for some cool and interestimg facts about Silverlight market share and penetration?
When you consider this rapid adoption, thriving ecosystem and innovative customer media and RIA solutions, it’s a matter of when, not if, Silverlight will reach ubiquity in the market. Microsoft’s strong commitment to Silverlight will only accelerate this already rapid progress.
Expression 3 rounds out the most comprehensive, productive Design & Development Toolkit on the market.
Because Microsoft design and development tools are purpose built for application development, Microsoft can offer more innovation with less packaging to maximize developer productivity. This means more bang for your buck, shorter learning curves, less time switching between products, and ultimately keeping developers focused simply creating amazing software.
Microsoft provides the most robust solutions for building and deploying the best user experiences possible, at the lowest costs available in the industry today.
Using Microsoft’s developer and design tools and platforms, delivering media solutions costs nearly three times less than using Flash.
What to expect from UXPassion.com on Silverlight 3 and Expression 3 release
I will cover Silverlight 3 and Expression Studio 3 (especially Blend 3 and SketchFlow) thoroughly. As you might have noticed, UXPassion.com is undergoing deep reorganization and redesign in order to answer to growing number of visitors and their demand. My main mission here is to provide you with tutorials, educational materials and latest news regarding Silverlight and Expression technologies. Thank you for your continuing support and valuable feedback – it is much appreciated.
And yes, happy birthday to my fellow countryman Nikola Tesla, man who has changed the world!