Microsoft Silverlight 3 is a cross-browser, cross-platform, and cross-device plug-in for delivering the next generation of .NET based media experiences and rich interactive applications for the Web. It extends the web development experience far beyond the limitations of plain HTML and JavaScript. Silverlight with its short hist ory of three versions now also includes many new features and functionality.

Silverlight has definitely raised the bar for browser plug-ins and development environments. Unlike Flash, Silverlight offers us a real IDE, true separation between design and development (the best designer isn’t necessarily the best programmer, and vice versa), real programming languages, and an efficient, high-performance, almost infinitely versatile browser plug-in.

Interesting features of Silverlight 3

· Fully supported by Visual Studio and Expression Blend

This massively changes the way a programmer looks at the code. There is negligible learning required with regard to programming language. A C# programmer can certainly write a code behind and easily create a XAML. Visual Studio 2008 incorporates designing a Silverlight application up to a certain limit, but designers looking for profound ‘looks’ can definitely seize help of an advanced IDE like ‘Expression Blend 3’ to create a attractive looking Plug-in.

· Out of Browser support allowing web applications to work on desktop

The Out of Browser support in Silverlight 3 enables developers to create Silverlight applications which can run both inside and outside of the browser.  By making some minor level changes to APPMANIFEST.XML, an application can be successfully run out of browser.

· Significant graphics improvements including 3D graphic support

Perspective 3D support in Silverlight will now allow developers to use 2D elements to create a 3D experience.  Perspective 3D is also a great way to better utilize screen real estate making the application user interface immensely attractive.

· Smooth video Streaming

Silverlight Streaming are services that allows users and developers to host their Silverlight content and apps with Microsoft, taking advantage of their extensive global network of datacenters and their content delivery network. Best of all, this service is free, and while currently it is only in alpha it allows users to upload up to 4GB of content, and to stream up to 1 million minutes of online video delivery at 700kbps of around DVD quality.

· Improvement in RIA development productivity

Silverlight 3 has over 60 high-quality, fully skinnable and customizable out-of-the-box controls such as charting and media, new layout containers such as dock and viewbox, and controls such as autocomplete, treeview and datagrid. Attention-grabbing element being that these controls come with nine professional designed themes and the source code can be modified/recompiled or utilized as-is. This means less development time and better looking app.

Silverlight has certainly made RIA simpler & as Microsoft puts it, it can surely “Light up the Web”

— Pranav Deo

xoriant