14 DAY TRIAL // The Windows Presentation Foundation Everywhere is a codename. A codename describing a cross platform presentation technology for rich web applications. Microsoft has made a public CTP of WPF/E available, based on the Windows Media platform and using a subset of the eXtensible Application Markup Language.
"WPF/E is the middle ground of user experience. It's integrating Web standards with the flexibility, power and richness of XAML-based design and development that you get from the .NET Framework and takes it cross-platform over the Web and eventually to devices and beyond. WPF/E also addresses the need for a rich, robust and malleable video platform on the Web. The WPF/E December CTP takes us closer to meeting that need by providing support for playback of Windows Media, which enables the delivery of rich audio and video integrated with animated graphics and text overlays, dynamic resizing, and marker support for interactivity," revealed Expression General Manager Eric Zocher.
In the end, WPF/E is a browser pug-in that delivers additional content to HTML such as rich media, animation, video content and vector-based graphics. The browser enhancement module supports Internet Explorer 6.0 and 7.0 and also with Mozilla Firefox 1.5.0.8 and 2.0. and is compatible with both XP and Vista. The Community Technology Preview of WPF/E is scheduled to expire on February 18, 2007.
"Web and Windows is a delineating mark that doesn't really exist anymore," said Forest Key, Director of Web and Client UX Platform Marketing for Microsoft's developer division.
"WPF/E delivers a small client runtime that enables AJAX developers and designers to deliver richer, cross-platform, interactive web experiences. It will allow applications to go beyond what can be done with pure HTML today, and will enable sites to significantly improve the client user experience by blending HTML UI, Dynamic Vector Graphics, Animation and Media into a seamless cross-platform browser experience," commented Microsoft developer Scott Guthrie.
In addition to HTML integration and vector graphics and animations, the rich graphics engine also supports declarative XAML UI markup for interactive content SEO and additionally delivers audio codec support for WMV, WMA and MP3 content independently of the WMP platform.
The Windows Presentation Foundation Everywhere is available for download here.