14 DAY TRIAL // The final release of Silverlight 1.0 is available for download from Microsoft and it debuts hungry for market share and gunning after Adobe's Flash. Silverlight is essentially nothing more than Microsoft's vision of a cross-browser, cross-platform plug-in designed to be the source of rich online user experiences and to dislodge Flash from its current dominant position on the market. And when the Redmond company said cross-platform they indeed meant it. Silverlight will not stop at offering support for the Windows, Mac OS X and Linux operating systems, but will also be transitioned to mobile phones and additional devices. Microsoft also informed that the final release of Silverlight 1.0 is accompanied by the launch of Expression Encoder 1.0 (formerly Expression Media Encoder) and the Silverlight 1.0 SDK.
"Our expectations for compelling, immersive experiences on the Web are increasing daily," said Ray Ozzie, Microsoft's chief software architect. "With today's release of Silverlight 1.0, we're making it possible for developers and designers to deliver to individuals the kind of high-def experiences they crave by integrating data and services in rich and unique ways. Silverlight will further accelerate the growth in rich interactive applications by giving developers and designers new options for delivering great experiences that span the Web, PC, phone and other devices."
Microsoft revealed that it does not plan to leverage the existing Windows Update infrastructure in order to make available Silverlight to all users of the Windows operating system. Such a move would give Silverlight immediate and total access to an install base close to 1 billion users and will make it just as ubiquitous as Adobe's Flash. Instead the Redmond company has debuted a number of in-house projects to push the technology, as well as tap its partners for support. And in this context, Microsoft announced that "Entertainment Tonight," HSN and World Wrestling Entertainment will all deliver Silverlight content to viewers. In fact, a total of 35 Microsoft partners worldwide have announced their support for Silverlight.
"When 'Entertainment Tonight' was launched 27 years ago, we changed the way the world saw celebrity news. I'm thrilled to be partnering with Microsoft Silverlight to put 'Entertainment Tonight' on the leading edge again and give our viewers a virtual front-row seat at Hollywood's biggest events," said Linda Bell Blue, executive producer of Entertainment Tonight. "'ET' is the first stop for the stars at the 59th annual Emmy Awards, and with Microsoft's revolutionary new technology we will create a truly unique interactive experience - from the red carpet for all the fashions and backstage with Mary Hart and the winners to going inside our exclusive after-party that all of Hollywood is talking about. This is going to be fun."