Will Silverlight live or die?

What is the future of Microsoft Silverlight? Will HTML5 break Silverlight6?

The latest version of Silverlight is 5, it was released on December 2011. And since those date there are no news about the future of Silverlight. The company saying that’s too early to comment the future. Can Silverlight survive in a world of HTML5?

“Silverlight is a powerful development tool for creating engaging, interactive user experiences for Web and mobile applications. Silverlight is a free plug-in, powered by the .NET Framework and compatible with multiple browsers, devices and operating systems, bringing a new level of interactivity wherever the Web works” says official MS website. So can it live together with HTML5?

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Microsoft plans to add Hadoop to SQL Server

Microsoft plans to bring ‘big data’ analysis by integrating Hadoop into Windows and SQL Server

This week Microsoft announced collaboration with Yahoo Hortonworks to develop a Apache Hadoop implementation for Windows Server, SQL Server 12, and Windows Azure platforms.

Hadoop is an open source platform for big data analysis and working with unstructured data. It also works on clusters of computers or servers. The preview of Hadoop-based service for Windows Azure will be available by the end of 2011, and the Server’s Hadoop implementation will work with the existing BI tools.

Hadoop and SQL Server logo

“Microsoft’s strategy is to groom Linux-friendlier Hadoop to fit snugly into Windows environments, thus giving organizations on-tap, seamless, and simultaneous access to both structured and unstructured data via familiar desktop apps, such as Excel, as well as BI tools such as Microsoft PowerPivot”, said Ted Samson, InfoWorld’s senior analyst.

Forrester Research: SharePoint custom-development strategy is more crucial now than ever

Custom-development with SharePoint is a popular strategy for IT departments.

SharePoint Server 2010 adoption is very strong, and this version of the product has the strongest features yet for custom development. Application backlogs growing, many organizations will find themselves taking on SharePoint “customization” projects to meet business demands.

The survey on customer experiences with Microsoft SharePoint shows a successful product moving crisply through a major upgrade, from Microsoft Office SharePoint Server 2007 (MOSS 2007) to SharePoint Server 2010. SharePoint usage is strong in organizations of all sizes and in most industry sectors. The product’s continued success has two conflicting facets for application development and delivery pros.

Forrester logo

John R. Rymer and Rob Koplowitz has prepared the great research SharePoint Custom-Development Strategy Is More Crucial Now Than Ever. “The stage is set for a big upswing in custom application development on Microsoft SharePoint“.

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The first look to Windows Server 8. Server Manager

Server Manager — new GUI for Windows Server 8

Windows 8 Server will have the radical different user interface from all previous versions of Windows. Windows Server administration center will be PowerShell driven and Windows GUI will be available if desired.

Here, at SoftElegance we are always in-touch with the latest technology’s news and innovations, we are up-to-date with new Microsoft releases and features.

windows server 8

Representing the first look (with the screens) to Server Manager shell, pre-beta release of Windows 8 Server developer edition.

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Windows Phone 7.5 Mango update. What’s new for developers

Microsoft has released update to it’s Windows Phone 7.5 Mango OS

The first reason to write this post is the news that “many people still don’t know Windows Phone 7 exists“. Meantime Microsoft has released the update to Windows Phone 7.5. We’ve been waiting this till May, and the reasons that MS main focus was on “communications, apps, and internet”.

windows phone 7.5 mango

Here is the first look into Windows Phone 7.5 Mango with the video and great description…

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Metro style applications for Windows 8. What does it means for developers

The Windows 8 blog said: “The most used tool in Windows 8 will be the IE10 browser. IE 10 is available as a Metro style app and as a desktop app. Metro style IE provides all the main navigation keyboard shortcuts and mouse support you’ve come to expect — creating tabs, moving between tabs, entering addresses, searching, and more.”

This will happen for sure, no matter in 2013 or in 2012. Windows 8 will came and we will develop the applications as well as for desktop and for the web. BTW, the desktop app continues to fully support all plug-ins and extensions. And Metro style for the web.

Metro Style apps in Windows 8

For the web to move forward and for consumers to get the most out of touch-first browsing, the Metro style browser in Windows 8 is as HTML5-only as possible, and plug-in free. The experience that plug-ins provide today is not a good match with Metro style browsing and the modern HTML5 web.

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Steve Ballmer keynote speach at BUILD conference …with screenshots

Part 2. Steve Ballmer’s appearance at BUILD Windows Conference

It was surprising appearance and … sometimes funny…

Steve Ballmer boring at BUILD

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Windows 8: new opportunites for developers. Or how it was at BUILD …with screenshots

Part 1. Steven Sinofsky introducing new opportunities for developers in Windows 8.

steven sinofsky at build 2011

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Windows Azure Toolkit for Android, Windows Phone, and iOS

There is tremendous market opportunity in building mobile applications, targeting numerous mobile platforms can be complex, costly and frustrating for enterprise. These new Windows Azure Toolkits make it easier, and less expensive, for developers to extend their applications across major computing platforms. Now “Microsoft Releases the Windows Azure Toolkit for Android“.

SoftElegance is fully agree with the idea: “Using the toolkits, developers can use the cloud to accelerate the creation of applications on the major mobile platforms. Companies are taking advantage to create a unified approach to cloud-to-mobile user experience.”

windows azure for the phone

The best “get started” guide is posted by Wade Wegner on his blogpost “Windows Azure Toolkits for Devices – Now With Android!“. Cloud computing provides a significant opportunity for mobile device developers, as it gives you the ability to write applications that target the same services and capabilities regardless of the device platform, he said.

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.NET Micro Framework review. Waiting for NETMF 4.2

The .NET Micro Framework is .NET for small and resource constrained devices. It offers a complete and innovative development and execution environment that brings the productivity of modern computing tools to this class of devices.

SoftElegance as a company with specialization in custom software development for industrial automation attended in new releases which should be 4.2. As Colin Miller said on his blogpost “NETMF 4.2 Contributor and a Cool Product” release 4.2 will have new contributor. Today we would like to look deeply to the current state of the NETMF and what we’ll have in the future in .NET Micro Framework

.net micro framework

For current .NET developers, this means that they can now create applications that run on a range of devices from targeted devices like remote controls to PCs and Servers and on to the cloud – all with the same programming model and tools.

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