At its MIX09 interactive design conference in Las Vegas, Microsoft has released a beta version of its Silverlight 3 rich Internet application (RIA) technology and a Preview version of its Expression Blend 3 interactive design software.
Microsoft says that Silverlight 3 helps designers and developers build RIAs that work faster with a new set of over 60 controls that boost its graphics, animation and 3D capabilities. Silverlight 3 also offers true high-definition video in full-screen mode, with stutter-free live and on-demand video, according to the company. Silverlight 3 gives users more video format choices than ever before, including H.264, along with enhancements such as deep linking, to improve navigation in Silverlight content and automate search engine optimization (SEO) tasks.
Silverlight 3 also enables interactive teams to create lightweight Web application experiences that can exist outside the browser.