Microsoft announces new rich Internet applications development and streaming media features; company outlines plans for supporting Windows, Mac and Linux tools for developing Silverlight applications. Microsoft also announced further support of open source communities by funding advanced Silverlight development capabilities with the Eclipse Foundation's integrated development environment (IDE) and by providing new controls to developers with the Silverlight Control Pack (SCP) under the Microsoft Permissive License.
To view parent comment, click here.
To read all comments associated with this story, please click here.
Member since:2006-09-19
Member since:2005-07-06
Member since:2005-07-06
Member since:2007-02-17
Yup, independent thinkers will all act as one and follow the dogmatic line, as opposed to deciding for themselves whether or not a product fulfills their need. "
It has precisely nothing to do with "whether or not a product fulfills a need".
It has everything to do with "independence".
If Microsoft gains control over who may and who may not produce some important piece of software ... then Microsoft invariably use that control to eliminate competition.
Therefore, Microsoft must not be allowed to be in a position of control ... especially over something as pervasive as delivery of web content.
Giving Microsoft such control would be roughly akin to the FCC awarding the entire electromagnetic spectrum to just one company to profit from. It is absolutely outrageous to think that any party could be so corrupt as that when it comes to the electromagnetic spectrum ... so why should we even contemplate the rough equivalent when it comes to delivery of digital content via the web?
Member since:2005-07-06
Member since:2005-07-06
Can't add anything more to that. That's about the size of it. Open source and non-Windows platform support will continue only as long as Microsoft wants, and you can bet that if Silverlight reaches what they feel is a critical mass of usage you will see non-Microsoft platform support dropped faster than a diarretic camel.
Like a Microsoft manager let slip once, as developers you're being wooed as a one-night stand until they get their wicked way with you ;-).
At this juncture, you will usually get some smart Alec talking about Flash and Adobe. Yep, the situation with Flash is certainly not ideal, but it's a case of who your worst enemy is. At least with Adobe they don't have their own OS and platform to protect, so they're at least going to be committed to keeping Mac and Linux ports of Flash going because they need to keep maximum usage.
Member since:
2007-02-17
This is part of the very problem. It is actually at the heart of the issue.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moonlight_(runtime)#Microsoft_support
* Microsoft's Test suites for Silverlight,
* Silverlight specification details, beyond those available on the web,
* Binary codecs for Windows Media video and audio, only licensed for use with Moonlight when running in a web browser."
The words "exclusive access" are the heart of the problem. Those words mean "no open source coders beyond Novell". No downstream participants. No open standard, no open development ... indeed, binary codecs, supplied by Microsoft.
Hence, Microsoft control.
Hence, Microsoft can withdraw support, and their permission, on a whim.
Hence, Silverlight is a way for Microsoft to make it a "Microsoft Web", and for Microsoft to put any other party out of competition ... at their whim, whenver they want to.
Hence ... no Silverlight.
Independent thinkers wouldn't touch Silverlight with a ten-foot pole.
It really is pretty simple.
Edited 2008-10-14 08:40 UTC