Silverlight gets sleeker, more co-operative
Microsoft has unveiled the third edition of its Silverlight technology for interactive web components. It’s packed extra features into a smaller download in a continuing attempt to rival Adobe’s Flash system.
Perhaps the biggest surprise from the firm that brought you Vista is that Silverlight 3 is actually a smaller filesize than its predecessor: just 4.4Mb, which takes eight seconds to download in the magical world of Microsoft publicity where everyone has the same Internet connection speed.
The system now supports H.264 video, a popular format for high definition content, as well as the AAC audio format best known for its use in iTunes content. Other tweaks include more options for providing links in content and better compatibility with search engines.
The system now gives developers the ability to create some applications which work outside of an internet browser. These are limited in scope, but do make it possible to use Silverlight to produce applications which work offline in the same way as tools which run under Adobe’s AIR system. Developer can also set up their applications to download and install files only as and when they are needed, removing the need to include all possible files which makes for much larger downloads.
Whether it’s genuine interest in the software or simply people installing it thanks to exclusive content deals, Silverlight is certainly growing. Microsoft says there have now been 350 million installations of the package since its 2007 debut. It’s still got some way to go to catch up with Flash, which among Windows users in major markets is within a statistical margin of error of being ubiquitous.
Following on from Silverlight being used for NBC’s coverage of last year’s Beijing Olympics, the network has announced it will be using the system for high definition streaming coverage of next year’s Winter Games in Vancouver.
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