Microsoft Silverlight is a technology that allows you to create an RIA (Rich Internet Applications);that run in a web page.
When the silverlight plug has been installed into a web browser, browsing to any site that has Silverlight application in it will cause the browser to download and execute the application in the Silverlight plugin. This could be used to display anything from a menu system, advertising banners, games or video. It is really up to the author to decide how creative they want to be.
Another way to look at Silverlight is that it is akin to Adobe Flash. The most compelling thing about it is; if you are already writing applications using the Microsoft .net platform, you are going to be able to pick Silverlight up and run with it very quickly. Silverlight seperates logic from presentation by using XAML for the layout and display, and code behind files such as .cs and vb, to implement the logic and drive what the application needs to do. Silverlight is based on the Microsoft.NET Common Language Runtime.
Now that I have finished the look and feel of my website, I'm going to create a few simple Silverlight applications to enhance it and give it a bit more eye candy, and share with you how each application has been put together.
See you for part one in the next post.
Having downloaded and installed Windows 7 on my Toshiba Laptop, I can say without reservation that Windows 7, is the best operating system I have ever used. It’s fast, easy to use and un-cluttered. Windows 7 feels like a tuned sports car that you want to get in a drive. It’s faster than Vista, better looking, and more grown up.
All of my applications from Vista work perfectly with Windows 7, and you can customise it till your heart’s content. You can even set your desktop wallpaper to automatically change every x number of minutes. Small feature, but it’s cool. It feels like Microsoft has had a good think about what I want as a user and delivered. Want to change the colours of the taskbar and the glass? No problem, you can create your own themes and even package them up and send to your friends.
Want an operating system that starts and shuts down, fast? Windows 7 does all this and more. Every single bit of hardware was in my laptop is set up and working perfectly, there wasn’t a single thing Windows 7 couldn’t find drivers for. Don’t forget, the version I am using is a release candidate.
The Taskbar in Windows 7 has been vastly improved, and though it may seem a bit strange not having labels for each of the taskbar icons at first, leave it that way and get used it. It's a much better way of working especially if you use a lot of open application windows on a daily basis. Another neat feature with Windows 7 is Window docking. You can dock and window to the left or right simply buy dragging it to the left or right edge of the screen. Want to maximize a Window? Simply drag the Window to the top of the screen and it will maximize. Want to minimize all other windows apart from the one you are working on? Simply shake the Window you are working on with your mouse and all the others will minimize. There are tons of features in Windows 7 for you to discover, but there is one feature in Windows 7 that we will all appreciate. This version has been written for us.
Well done Microsoft. Ten out of ten from me.
Progwizz is a software developer who has been writing code for the internet and the desktop for the last ten years. He is also pretty good at server configuration and IT, and has a weakness for gadgets.