Microsoft Silverlight 2今天终于向用户发布使用。
Microsoft Silverlight是一个跨浏览器的、跨平台的插件，为网络带来下一代基于.NET的媒体体验和丰富的交互式应用程序。Silverlight提供灵活的编程模型，并可以很方便地集成到现有的网络应用程序中。Silverlight可以对运行在Mac或Windows上的主流浏览器提供高质量视频信息的快速、低成本的传递。
另外，据 Mary Jo Foley 称 Silverlight 将会支持 Google Chrome 浏览器，但不支持 iPhone（Flash 播放器也不支持 iPhone，看起来是苹果不允许第三方开发）；微软计划在 PDC 上公开目前 Silverlight for Windows Mobile 的情况；微软目前在和 Nokia 合作开发 Symbian 手机上的 Silverlight；有传言称微软和 RIM 共同开发黑莓上的 Silverlight。
北京时间10月14日消息，据国外媒体报道，周一，微软在媒体和分析师电话会议中宣布，跨浏览器、跨平台的浏览器插件Silverlight 2将于本周二正式发布。Silverlight 2将适用于众多平台，包括Windows、Mac OS X操作系统，IE、火狐和Safari浏览器。
不过由于苹果的限制，Silverlight 2并不支持iPhone，但支持Google的Chrome浏览器。
不过由于苹果的限制，Silverlight 2并不支持iPhone，但支持Google的Chrome浏览器。
微软副总裁Scott Guthrie表示，Silverlight 2是跨浏览器和跨平台的，下载包大小4.5MB，安装时间不到10秒。在Silverlight 1支持高清晰视频流的基础上，Silverlight 2增加了自适应流技术。
另外一个重要的改进是包含了跨平台的微软.Net框架编程模式子集，该子集可以支持多种编程语言包括Visual Basic、C#、JavaScript和Ruby。Guthrie表示，在这个框架下，JavaScript的运行速度将提高1000倍。
Guthrie指出，Silverlight 2在正式发布前就进行了大范围的Beta测试和部署，因此可以说是次"独特的发布"。Guthrie表示，在2008北京奥运会期间，NBC网站就使用Silverlight 2 Beta版进行网上视频直播和点播，通过Silverlight 2发布的视频超过7000万次。另外一个主要用户是最近的民主党代表大会。
此外，微软将在两周后的专业开发者大会上讨论Silverlight 2在Windows Mobile上的状态。已知的是，微软正和诺基亚合作，准备将把Silverlight技术应用到诺基亚和Symbian平台上。还有传言说微软和RIM可能进行合作，在不久的将来将在RIM的手机上看到Silverlight的身影。
在电话会议中，Guthrie表示，如果苹果在其浏览器上允许第三方插件的话，微软将有兴趣提供Silverlight对iPhone的支持。Guthrie指出，Google浏览器Chrome最初发布版不支持Silverlight 2，但最新版已经可以支持。
更新内容：
•.NET Framework support with a rich base class library. This is a compatible subset of the full .NET Framework.
• Powerful built-in controls. These include DataGrid, ListBox, Slider, ScrollViewer, Calendar controls and more.
• Advanced skinning and templating support. This makes it easy to customize the look and feel of an application.
• Deep zoom. This enables unparalleled interactivity and navigation of ultrahigh resolution p_w_picpathry.
• Comprehensive networking support. Out-of-the-box support allows calling REST, WS*/SOAP, POX, RSS and standard HTTP services, enabling users to create applications that easily integrate with existing back-end systems. • Expanded .NET Framework language support. Unlike other runtimes, Silverlight 2 supports a variety of programming languages, including Visual Basic, C#, JavaScript, IronPython and IronRuby, making it easier for developers already familiar with one of these languages to repurpose their existing skill sets.
• Advanced content protection. This now includes Silverlight DRM, powered by PlayReady, offering robust content protection for connected Silverlight experiences.
• Improved server scalability and expanded advertiser support. This includes new streaming and progressive download capabilities, superior search engine optimization techniques, and next-generation in-stream advertising support.
• Vibrant partner ecosystem. Visual Studio Industry Partners such as ComponentOne LLC, Infragistics Inc. and Telerik Inc. are providing products that further enhance developer capabilities when creating Silverlight applications using Visual Studio.
• Cross-platform and cross-browser support. This includes support for Mac, Windows and Linux in Firefox, Safari and Windows Internet Explorer.
•.NET Framework support with a rich base class library. This is a compatible subset of the full .NET Framework.
• Powerful built-in controls. These include DataGrid, ListBox, Slider, ScrollViewer, Calendar controls and more.
• Advanced skinning and templating support. This makes it easy to customize the look and feel of an application.
• Deep zoom. This enables unparalleled interactivity and navigation of ultrahigh resolution p_w_picpathry.
• Comprehensive networking support. Out-of-the-box support allows calling REST, WS*/SOAP, POX, RSS and standard HTTP services, enabling users to create applications that easily integrate with existing back-end systems. • Expanded .NET Framework language support. Unlike other runtimes, Silverlight 2 supports a variety of programming languages, including Visual Basic, C#, JavaScript, IronPython and IronRuby, making it easier for developers already familiar with one of these languages to repurpose their existing skill sets.
• Advanced content protection. This now includes Silverlight DRM, powered by PlayReady, offering robust content protection for connected Silverlight experiences.
• Improved server scalability and expanded advertiser support. This includes new streaming and progressive download capabilities, superior search engine optimization techniques, and next-generation in-stream advertising support.
• Vibrant partner ecosystem. Visual Studio Industry Partners such as ComponentOne LLC, Infragistics Inc. and Telerik Inc. are providing products that further enhance developer capabilities when creating Silverlight applications using Visual Studio.
• Cross-platform and cross-browser support. This includes support for Mac, Windows and Linux in Firefox, Safari and Windows Internet Explorer.
