Free Microsoft DreamSpark Software Offering Evolves

Microsoft DreamSpark, a collection of free software products from the Redmond company, has evolved to the next level with the addition of new components. The software giant introduced DreamSpark at the start of 2008, in a move designed to literally spark the IT dreams/imagination/potential of students worldwide. Ever since, DreamSpark has been available for download at no charge, with the company making sure that the software suite is kept up to date with the latest product releases.

In this regard, students accessing DreamSpark at this point in time will be able to leverage products just finalized by Microsoft such as Expression Studio 3, XNA Games Studio 3.1, and Robotics Studio 2008 R2. In addition, the DreamSpark suite also offers Visual Studio 2008 Professional Edition, SQL Server 2008 Developer edition, CCR and DSS Toolkit 2008 R2, Windows Server 2008 Standard, Windows Server 2003, Visual Studio 2005 Professional Edition, Visual Studio 2005 Express Edition, SQL Server Express and Virtual PC.

Microsoft finalized Expression Studio 3 in the second half of July 2009. With the advent of Expression Studio 3, the company is offering developers and designers a suite of professional design tools set up to allow them to create Rich Internet Applications, including RIAs embracing Silverlight. A free, 60-day trial version of Expression Studio 3 is currently available for download.

In the first half of the past month, game developers were offered the final version of XNA Game Studio 3.1. The solution, available at no charge, can be used in order to build gaming content for Windows, but also for Xbox and Zune.

In mid-June 2009 the R2 upgrade for Microsoft Robotics Developer Studio 2008 became available for download. Customers looking to take advantage of the update will have to deploy Microsoft Robotics Developer Studio 2008 R2 on top of an existing installation of Microsoft Robotics Developer Studio 2008.


Microsoft Robotics Developer Studio 2008 R2 Standard Edition and Microsoft Robotics Developer Studio 2008 R2 Express Edition are available for download here.

XNA Game Studio 3.1 is available for download here.

Microsoft Expression Studio 3 Trial is available for download here.
Microsoft Expression Web 3 Trial is available for download here.
Microsoft Expression Blend 3 + SketchFlow Trial is available for download here.
Microsoft Expression Design 3 Trial is available for download here.
Microsoft Expression Encoder 3 is available for download here.