Microsoft Silverlight

Crapaud
Crapaud Posts: 2,483
edited September 2010 in The bottom bracket
What is Silverlight?

I'm coming across more and more websites that require it. So far I've resisted installing it 'cos I don't know what it is or does (or if it's compatible with XP).
A fanatic is one who can’t change his mind and won’t change the subject - Churchill

Comments

  • antfly
    antfly Posts: 3,276
    Google is your friend.
    http://www.microsoft.com/silverlight/wh ... lverlight/
    Smarter than the average bear.
  • dmch2
    dmch2 Posts: 731
    Perfectly safe, goahead and install.

    It's microsoft's equivalent to flash so you'll need it to see videos or other fancy stuff on websites that choose to use it.
    2010 Trek 1.5 Road - swissstop green, conti GP4000S
    2004 Marin Muirwoods Hybrid
  • Crapaud
    Crapaud Posts: 2,483
    Antfly, I'd seen that page you linked to,, but not the FAQs. It makes more sense now.

    dmch2, it's safe ... just. I've just got the minimum system requirements - XP service pack 2.

    I think it's finally time to admit to myself that my pc's a decrepit old has-been and it's time to upgrade. :(
    A fanatic is one who can’t change his mind and won’t change the subject - Churchill
  • brucebanner
    brucebanner Posts: 256
    it's good technology wise, but i'd stay clear of it. use flash instead, at least it's officially supported by adobe on linux.
  • dmch2
    dmch2 Posts: 731
    brucebanner wrote:
    it's good technology wise, but i'd stay clear of it. use flash instead, at least it's officially supported by adobe on linux.

    That doesn't help if you're visiting a site that uses Silverlight...
    2010 Trek 1.5 Road - swissstop green, conti GP4000S
    2004 Marin Muirwoods Hybrid
  • Crapaud
    Crapaud Posts: 2,483
    Since installing it, I've only had a brief look at silverlight sites, but it doesn't look anything like as sophisticated as Flash. I'm guessing that it's to give more of a graphical interface to databases etc rather than a design tool. No?
    A fanatic is one who can’t change his mind and won’t change the subject - Churchill
  • dmch2
    dmch2 Posts: 731
    Crapaud wrote:
    Since installing it, I've only had a brief look at silverlight sites, but it doesn't look anything like as sophisticated as Flash. I'm guessing that it's to give more of a graphical interface to databases etc rather than a design tool. No?

    It's a much newer thing so it has less features. When I last looked at it as a developer (2 years ago) the only advantage it had over flash was that it could do reflections of videos with pretty effects like it was the surface of the sea. I think it's less of a chasm now but flash is still better for most things.

    The advantage it has is that if you do want to do proper stuff like databases etc then you can use all the proper development tools whereas flash can't. I think... :?
    2010 Trek 1.5 Road - swissstop green, conti GP4000S
    2004 Marin Muirwoods Hybrid
  • giant_man
    giant_man Posts: 6,878
    Rubbish microsoft software that you don't need.
  • keef66
    keef66 Posts: 13,123
    @ Crapaud

    you should bump your Win XP up to SP3 so you continue to get the security updates. Support for SP2 is no more.
  • Xiphon
    Xiphon Posts: 47
    Sliverlight is aiming to be cross platform - so the same app/game can play on your desktop, xbox 360, and Win7 mobile phone.

    Similar to flash, but it has the power of integrating with microsoft's .NET technology.
  • Crapaud
    Crapaud Posts: 2,483
    keef66 wrote:
    @ Crapaud

    you should bump your Win XP up to SP3 so you continue to get the security updates. Support for SP2 is no more.
    I have done, my PC's fully up to date (forXP).
    A fanatic is one who can’t change his mind and won’t change the subject - Churchill
  • cee
    cee Posts: 4,553
    brucebanner wrote:
    it's good technology wise, but i'd stay clear of it. use flash instead, at least it's officially supported by adobe on linux.

    ahemahem....

    http://www.mono-project.com/Moonlight
    Whenever I see an adult on a bicycle, I believe in the future of the human race.

    H.G. Wells.

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