Silverlight is a powerful development platform for creating engaging, interactive user experiences for Web, desktop, and mobile applications when online or offline.

Here are a few top features of Silverlight :

IIS Smooth Streaming

IIS Smooth Streaming, an IIS7 Media Services 3.0 extension, enables adaptive streaming of live and on-demand media via standard HTTP protocols, and provides a high-quality viewing experience that scales on massive content-distribution networks, bringing a fantastic visual experience to any viewer regardless of their connection and computer capabilities.

• More About IIS Smooth Streaming
• See IIS Smooth Streaming Case Studies

Out of Browser

Silverlight offers a new set of features for building light-weight, sandboxed companion experiences for the Web that run on the desktop. Silverlight out of browser allows websites to build even closer, persistent relationships with customers. It enables the application to be placed in a restricted store on the user’s machine; and then provide a link directly to it from the user’s desktop or start menu. This is all enabled within Silverlight without any additional download of runtime or the need to write applications in a different way. An application can now be easily found on the user’s desktop or start menu, and launched with a single click. In addition, it can test if the network is connected, it can update itself, and can also have access to Isolated Storage. Taken together, these features represent a radical upgrade to the web experience.

• Launch Out of Browser Demo
• More About Out of Browser

SketchFlow

SketchFlow, part of Expression Studio, revolutionizes the speed and efficiency with which you can demonstrate a vision for an application. SketchFlow provides an informal and quick way to explore, iterate and prototype user interface scenarios allowing you to evolve your concepts from a series of rough ideas into a living breathing prototype that can be made as real as a particular client or project demands.

• More About SketchFlow

Deep Zoom

Silverlight Deep Zoom is the fastest, smoothest, zooming technology on the Web, bringing the highest resolution images and frame rates with the lowest load times to users. Deep Zoom also enables the display of thousands of items simultaneously, giving designers and developers new opportunities to create innovative navigation paradigms for both applications and the Web.

By optimizing the way images are stored and intelligently downloading only the pieces of information needed to fill the screen, Deep Zoom removes technical barriers and enables the delivery of engaging customer and content-centric experiences.

• More About Deep Zoom
• See Deep Zoom Case Studies

Pivot

Pivot makes it easier to interact with massive amounts of data on the web in ways that are powerful, informative, and fun. By visualizing thousands of related items at once, users can see trends and patterns that would be hidden when looking at one item at a time.

Because Pivot leverages Deep Zoom, it displays full, high-resolution content without long load times, while the animations and natural transitions provide context and prevent users from feeling overwhelmed by large quantities of information. This simple, inviting interaction model encourages exploration and longer audience engagement times, and applies broadly to a variety of content types.

• More About Pivot

New Controls

Silverlight is packed with over 60 high-quality, fully skinnable and customizable out-of-the-box controls such as charting and media, new layout containers such as dock and viewbox, and controls such as autocomplete, treeview and datagrid. The controls come with nine professional designed themes and the source code can be modified/recompiled or utilized as-is. Other additions include multiple selection in listbox controls, file save dialog making it easier to write files, and support for multiple page applications with navigation.

• More About New Controls
• See New Control Case Studies

Media Format Extensibility

With the new Raw AV pipeline, Silverlight can easily support a wide variety of third-party codecs. Audio and video can be decoded outside the runtime and rendered in Silverlight, extending format support beyond the native codecs.

• More About Media Format Extensibility

Media Format Extensibility

With the new Raw AV pipeline, Silverlight can easily support a wide variety of third-party codecs. Audio and video can be decoded outside the runtime and rendered in Silverlight, extending format support beyond the native codecs.

• More About Media Format Extensibility

Skinning and Styling

Silverlight makes it easy to create graphics and then use them to customize controls, such as the look of a scrollbar. Silverlight provides XAML based templates for each control that allow designers to reach inside the control and change the layout or look of each part of the control without rewriting any code. For example, a scrollbar is made up of a layout container and a set of parts such as the up and down button and draggable thumb. Parts can be rearranged and their appearance changed to fully customize the control. In addition, controls can be themed by applying a style. For instance you can offer a range of different colors or font sizes.

• More About Skinning and Styling

                          

Microsoft has released Silverlight 4 and is available for free download. Silverlight is a powerful development platform for creating engaging, interactive user experiences for Web, desktop, and mobile applications when online or offline.

Version : Silverlight 4 (4.0.50401.0)

For Windows Internet Explorer users:

The browser will prompt you to either run or save the installation file (Silverlight.exe). Click Run to start the download. When the download is finished, the browser prompts you again to run the installer. Click Run to start the installation. Note that you must have sufficient administrative privileges to install Silverlight.

For Mozilla Firefox users:

Save Silverlight.exe to your hard disk. Once the download is finished, click Open. The installation starts.

Download Silverlight 4  (6 MB)

                          

The Microsoft .NET Framework 4 is comprehensive and consistent programming model for building applications that have visually stunning user experiences, seamless and secure communication, and the ability to model a range of business processes. The .NET Framework 4 works side by side with older Framework versions. Applications that are based on earlier versions of the Framework will continue to run on the version targeted by default.

Microsoft has released .Net Framework 4 RTM and its redistributable package installs the .NET Framework runtime and associated files that are required to run and develop applications to target the .NET Framework 4.

• Supported OS: Windows XP SP3, Windows Server 2003 SP2, Windows Vista SP1 or later, Windows Server 2008, Windows 7
• Supported Architectures: x86, x64,

Download .NET Framework 4 Installer  [Download Size: 48.1 MB]

More Info  .Net Framework 4

                          

Microsoft has released the Visual Studio 2010 final built around the globe at Tech Ed Days. Tech Ed India too launched VS2010. You can have a test Drive by downloading its Full Trial.

Microsoft Visual Studio 2010 is an integrated environment that simplifies the basic tasks of creating, debugging and deploying applications. Unleash your creativity with powerful design surfaces and the ability to bring your designers and developer together to bring your vision to life. Work within a personalized environment, targeting a growing number of platforms, including Silverlight, SharePoint and Cloud applications and accelerate the coding process by using your existing skills. Integrated support for Test First Development and new debugging tools let you find and fix bugs quickly and easily to ensure high quality solutions.

Professional. Premium. Ultimate. Test Professional. Each edition of Microsoft Visual Studio 2010 was built with the specific needs of individual developers and development teams in mind. Learn which edition is right for you.

The Full Trial Download is available in 5 Different Edition

Visual Studio 2010 Professional Trial : The essential tool for individuals performing basic development tasks. It simplifies the creation, debugging, and deployment of applications on a variety of platforms including SharePoint and the Cloud. Visual Studio 2010 Professional comes with integrated support for test-driven development, as well as debugging tools that help ensure high-quality solutions.

Download : Visual Studio 2010 Professional Trial 

Visual Studio 2010 Premium Trial : complete toolset that simplifies application development for individuals or teams, allowing the delivery of scalable, high-quality applications. Whether writing code, building databases, testing, or debugging, you can increase your productivity using powerful tools that work the way you work.

Download : Visual Studio 2010 Premium Trial 

Visual Studio 2010 Ultimate Trial comprehensive suite of application lifecycle management tools for teams to ensure quality results, from design to deployment. Whether you’re creating new solutions or enhancing existing applications, Visual Studio 2010 Ultimate lets you bring your vision to life targeting an increasing number of platforms and technologies—including cloud and parallel computing.

Download : Visual Studio 2010 Ultimate Trial

Visual Studio 2010 Test Professional Trial

A  specialized toolset for quality assurance teams that simplifies test planning and manual test execution. Test Professional works in conjunction with Visual Studio software for developers, enabling effective collaboration between developers and testers throughout the application development lifecycle.

Download : Visual Studio 2010 Test Professional Trial

Visual Studio Team Foundation Server 2010 Trial

The collaboration platform at the core of Microsoft’s application lifecycle management solution that helps enable teams to reduce risk, streamline interactions and eliminate waste throughout the software delivery process.

Download : Visual Studio Team Foundation Server 2010 Trial

Visual Studio 2010 Express

A set of free tools which offers you an exciting experience with the new integrated development environment, a new editor built in Windows Presentation Foundation (WPF) and support for the new .NET Framework 4

Download :  Visual Studio 2010 Express

All Visual Studio 2010 TRIAL editions free for 90 days. After 30 days, You may extends the trial an additional 60 days by registering the product to obtain a free key.

                          

Visual studio 2010 Express is now available for windows phone for free from Microsoft. Now you can create Windows mobile applications as well 3D games for the phone with XNA Game Studios, Optimize your existing Silver light application for the phone and  enjoy Windows Azure services from within your phone .

Windows Phone Developer Tools includes:

• Visual Studio 2010 Express for Windows Phone
• Windows Phone Emulator
• Silverlight for Windows Phone
• XNA Game Studio 4.0 CTP

Visual Studio integrated developer environment (IDE) handles from design to testing of Windows Phone 7 Series phone applications. You can test these phone applications using the Windows Phone Emulator.

More Info here : http://www.microsoft.com/express/Phone/

Download : Download

                          

Visual Studio, World’s most popular development environment is about to go RTM in 2nd Week of April for it latest version Visual Studio 2010. It was initiated as early as 35 years ago when Bill Gates and Paul Allen wrote a version of Basic for Altair 8080. And since then it has been released as Basic, QuickBasic, Visual Basic and finally Visual Basic. Net. Here is a timeline of this product covering measure releases in development of this Platform.

TIMELINE

Products and Milestones

1975 – Bill Gates and Paul Allen write a version of Basic for Altair 8080

1982 – IBM releases BASCOM 1.0 (developed by Microsoft)

1983 – Microsoft Basic Compiler System v5.35 for MS-DOS release

1984 – Microsoft Basic Compiler System v5.36 release

1985 – Microsoft QuickBASIC 1.0

1986 – Microsoft QuickBASIC 1.01, 1.02, 2.00

1987 – Microsoft QuickBASIC 2.01, 3.00, 4.00

1987 – Microsoft BASIC 6.0

1988 – Microsoft QuickBASIC 4.00, 4.00b, 4.50

1989 – Microsoft BASIC Professional Development System 7.0

1990 – Microsoft BASIC Professional Development System 7.1

1991 – Microsoft Visual Basic released May 20-Windows World Convention –Atlanta

1992 – Microsoft Visual Basic 2.0

1993 – Microsoft Visual Basic 3.0 in Standard and Professional versions

1995 – Microsoft Visual Basic 4.0 released, supported the new Windows 95

1997 – Microsoft Visual Basic 5.0 – introduction of IntelliSense

1998 – Microsoft Visual Studio 6.0 that included Visual Basic 6.0 released (first VS)

2002 – Microsoft Visual Basic .NET 7.0

2002 – Visual Studio .NET

2003 – Microsoft Visual Basic .NET 7.1

2003 – Microsoft Visual Studio w/Intellisense

2003 – Visual Studio .NET

2004 – Announce Visual Studios 2005 – Code name Whidbey

2005 – Visual Studio 2005 release w/Extensibility

2005 – Visual Studio Express released

2006 – Expression Tool Set released – devs and designers work together

2006 – Visual Studio Team release – November 30th

2007 – Visual Studio 2008 (code name Orcas) ships November = Video Studio Shell

2010 – Visual Studios (code name Rosario)

Found this on Channel9.

To know more about Visual Studio 2010 check here : Visual-studio-2010

                          

Visual Studio 2010 Reviewer’s Guide is a detail document highlighting the new features and capabilities of the Visual Studio 2010 product. 

This reviewer’s guide is designed to give you an overview of the features available in Microsoft Visual Studio 2010. It’s intended to give you an understanding of how professional developers can be more creative and more productive while building high-quality applications.
The guide begins with an example scenario to showcase the new product features in action, complete with screenshots of the solutions being built. It then covers each of the new features in greater detail. Throughout the document, we’ve included links to Web sites that offer deeper information about the technology.

This guide will be updated as information becomes available, and is subject to change. For the latest information about Visual Studio 2010, you may visit http://www.microsoft.com/visualstudio/.

Download Size: 32 MB

Download : VS2010 Reviewer’s Guide

                          

Microsoft announced the availability of Visual Studio 2010 Release Candidate version for MSDN subscribers since 8th Feb 2010. However, general availability will be staring 10th Feb 2010.
Visual Studio 2010 is an integrated development environment that simplifies the entire software development lifecycle, from design to deployment.

Previously Microsoft has released two beta of the same and now its RC. Expected to release in 2nd Week of April 2010 (RTM release), this RC release has no more new features included in the  from beta 2 but the main focus is on speed improvements. According to a Microsoft spokesperson, The RC release delivers enhanced performance and is an added milestone to garner even more customer feedback before the final build is released. Specifically, customers will see performance improvements in loading solutions, typing, building and debugging.

Homepage: Visual Studio 2010 Release Candidate

                          

A lot of Applications & features on Windows requires .Net Framework to be installed over it. Since Service Pack versions of Windows XP, Microsoft has started including .Net framework on Windows. This Chart shows which version of .NET Framework is included in which version of Windows.

However, you may check it in Programs and Features (or Add/Remove Programs) control panel as well.

Chart Via MSIGeek.

                          

The .NET Compact Framework is a collection of runtime libraries which allow you to run .NET Compact 3.5 applications and services on your Windows Mobile device. If you have been getting error messages “Newer version of Dotnet framework required” while executing newly installed applications on your Windows Mobile device you may need to get a compact version of .Net framework for your device.

However it is not a mandatory install for Windows Mobile device owners, vut .NET Compact Framework is strongly recommended for all users looking to get extra from their device by trying out the full range of software available.