MIX 08 - IE8 & Silverlight

MIX 08

Key announcements:

First public beta of Internet Explorer 8.
To download Internet Explorer 8 beta 1, developers can visit https://www.microsoft.com/windows/products/winfamily/ie/ie8/default.mspx.

Silverlight 2 beta available for download; support for mobile devices.
Microsoft Silverlight answers customer desire for rich, cross-platform media and “zero-click” applications that match the rich interactive application experience while bringing the robustness and power of Microsoft .NET to the browser. Silverlight 2 beta includes innovative new features like Deep Zoom, more than 40 new controls and a rich .NET base class library of functionality. In addition to the beta release, Microsoft announced plans to deliver Silverlight for Windows Mobile and to work with Nokia on support for S60 on Symbian OS, the world’s leading smartphone software, as well as for Series 40 devices and Nokia Internet tablets. To download Silverlight 2 beta and learn about Silverlight for devices, developers can visit https://www.microsoft.com/silverlight.

Expression Studio 2 beta.  
To download Expression Studio developers can visit https://www.microsoft.com/expression.

Silverlight Shines
With an average of 1.5 million daily downloads of the Silverlight plug-in, thousands of existing Silverlight applications and more than 85 members in the Silverlight Partner Initiative, Silverlight is attracting industry-leading content providers, content delivery networks, design agencies, ISVs and solution providers.

As demonstrated on stage, AOL, Aston Martin, Cirque du Soleil, Hard Rock and NBCOlympics.com on MSN have selected Silverlight for their Web applications due to its high performance capabilities, integration with the .NET Framework and customizable advertising opportunities.

The Hard Rock cafe stuff looks amazing! Hard Rock's mission is to bring their memorabilia pieces of rock ‘n’ roll history to the public in an interactive Web experience based on Microsoft Silverlight 2. Dubbed “Hard Rock Memorabilia 2.0”

Hard Rock Memorabilia 2.0, an interactive Web experience based on Microsoft Silverlight 2, allows users to browse through thousands of rock ‘n’ roll artifacts online. Hard Rock launched the new online experience at MIX08. Las Vegas, March 5, 2008.

Microsoft Announces Strategic Relationship With Move Networks
Microsoft announced plans for a strategic alliance with Move Networks, a leading provider of live and on-demand long-form video content such as television episodes, news and sports programming. Silverlight would enable Move Networks to deliver an interactive, rich media navigation and integrated advertising on top of its hallmark high-quality online television experience that reaches all the way to HD. Move Networks’ current customers include some of the largest media companies in the world such as ABC, FOX Broadcasting Company, ESPN, the CW, Televisa and others. These customers use Move Networks to stream their most popular shows including “Grey’s Anatomy,” “Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles” and “Lost.”

Microsoft SQL Server Data Services Preview
Microsoft also announced a new building-block software service, Microsoft SQL Server Data Services. The service is designed for developers building Web-based applications that need a scalable, easily programmable and highly available utility-based data store. MIX08 attendees will be able to register for a preview of SQL Server Data Services.

On-Demand Webcast: Ray Ozzie Keynote
Microsoft Chief Software Architect Ray Ozzie will be joined by Scott Guthrie, Corporate Vice President, .NET Developer Division, and Dean Hachamovitch, General Manager of the Internet Explorer Team, to demonstrate the latest technologies built for Microsoft's Web platform.
Watch the on-demand Webcast: 100 kbps | 300 kbps | 750 kbps

Webcast: Steve Ballmer Keynote, March 6 at 1 p.m. PST
Microsoft CEO, Steve Ballmer will be joined by industry luminary and venture capitalist, Guy Kawasaki at Microsoft's MIX08 conference in Las Vegas for a wide-ranging discussion and open-mic Q&A session.
Watch the live Webcast: 100 kbps | 300 kbps | 750 kbps