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After four months in beta, Microsoft today released its Silverlight 3 web application framework. A direct rival of Adobe Flash, the newest version of Silverlight supports Internet Explorer 6/7/8 and Firefox 2/3 in Windows, and Safari 3/4 on the Mac platform (Opera and Chrome users are left out in the cold).
Silverlight 3 sports a bevy of new features and APIs, not the least of which is support for GPU hardware acceleration. It also includes new codec support (H.264, AAC, MPEG-4), improved logging for media analytics, deep linking, improved text quality, multi-touch support, and a bunch more.
According to Microsoft, "Silverlight 3 also ushers in a new generation of high-quality and high-definition video experiences with true high-definition video in full-screen mode, with stutter-free live and on-demand video." In addition, Silverlight's Smooth Streaming technology allows users to start playing HD content at any point in time, instantly.
Smooth Streaming Demo
Silver 3 Download
Links:
[1] http://www.maximumpc.com/user/paul_lilly
[2] http://arstechnica.com/microsoft/news/2009/07/silverlight-3-arrives-early.ars
[3] http://silverlight.net/getstarted/silverlight3/default.aspx
[4] http://www.techtree.com/India/News/Microsoft_Releases_Silverlight_3/551-104227-580.html
[5] http://www.iis.net/media/experiencesmoothstreaming
[6] http://silverlight.net/GetStarted/
[7] http://www.maximumpc.com/article/news/adobe_releases_flash_player_10_overshadow_silverlight_2
[8] http://www.maximumpc.com/article/news/microsoft_tries_energize_silverlight_game_development_with_new_contest
[9] http://www.maximumpc.com/article/news/nbc_dumps_silverlight_after_olympics_runs_back_flash
[10] http://www.maximumpc.com/tags/gpu
[11] http://www.maximumpc.com/tags/microsoft
[12] http://www.maximumpc.com/tags/software
[13] http://www.maximumpc.com/tags/software_news
[14] http://www.maximumpc.com/articles/news
[15] http://www.maximumpc.com/user/login?&commentfragment=comments_top_anchor