Silverlight 4 beta adds support for webcams, Chrome
updated 04:45 pm EST, Wed November 18, 2009
Software to run HTML and protected H.264 video
Microsoft on Wednesday released an early beta version of the upcoming Silverlight software. Version 4 adds a variety of new features including the ability to integrate HTML content within applications, while Google's Chrome browser will also be supported. The company claims performance optimizations allow apps to start quicker and run up to twice as fast as they would with Silverlight 3.
Developers will be able to incorporate video and audio recording tools, potentially enabling services such as video conferencing using webcams. Highlighted changes to the interface include multi-touch gesture support, drag-and-drop, right-click menus and mouse-wheel scrolling.
The app framework now supports protected H.264 videos through PlayReady DRM. Video output can also be protected to prevent unauthorized viewing of streaming media.
Silverlight 4 is still in the early beta stage, available only as a preview for developers.
No PPC
11/18, 06:01pm reply
No PPC in v2.0 and that was in 2008. they can rot
Mike Richardson
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Joined: Jun 2009
Torn
11/18, 08:02pm reply
Man, I'm torn on Silverlight. On one hand, I despise MS and everything they produce on principle, regardless of whether it's any good or no--they've willfully done enough to personally make my life more miserable as a web developer that I will never support anything they do.
On the other, Flash on the Mac is a steaming pile of horse dookie, and Adobe seems to be trying its darnedest to become the new Microsoft in terms of customer-hostile DRM, forced upgrade paths, and each new version of their overpriced flagship products being worse than the last.
So now I'm stuck with picking one insulting pile over another. I suppose HTML5 is the good guy in this horse race, but it's not there yet.
Makosuke
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Joined: Aug 2001
re: Torn
11/19, 02:49am reply
Or, as a seasoned web developer, you can break your shell and drop BOTH of them in the dumpster. They're both garbage. I would never support Silverlight; you know how it's gonna play out. They will eventually do what they've always done; drop support for platforms they don't care about.
Just use open standards. As a developer, you should always use the most reachable common denominator. You should also be prudent to keep your eye on the upcoming platforms and browsers like iPhone/iTouch and Android. Most of them will not have Flash or Silverlight.
Use AJAX, HTML5, CSS, PHP, Ruby, Perl, Java, etc. Stay away from .NET, ColdFusion, AIR, Flex, Flash, Silverlight, and all this nonsense.
shawnde
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Joined: Apr 2008
AJAX and CSS
11/19, 08:53am reply
AJAX and CSS are nice but are a nightmare when it comes to compatibility with Safari, Firefox, IE 6, IE 7, and IE 8. Compatibility fix = more money to burn. The beauty of Flash is one design fits all. It costs less to produce with astonishing result.
coffeetime
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Joined: Nov 2006
Re: No PPC
11/19, 12:03pm reply
Oh, so it's OK for Apple to stop supporting the PPC, but if MS does it, oh, wait, they can burn in h***....
testudo
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Joined: Aug 2001