In case you missed it, Microsoft just released some great new downloads, specifically new versions of VS 2008, Silverlight, and Expression Blend.
As someone who started writing what are now called AJAX apps since 2000, I *really* appreciate how Silverlight and Blend make RIAs much easier to develop.
Links to all the bits-
No, not the DaVinci Code, but his Codices. Leonardo DaVinci's two notebooks, the Codex Arundel and the Codex Leicester, are being brought together digitally. This is the first time that the two parts have been together since DaVinci's death in 1519.
The British Library owned the former, Bill Gates owned the latter, and they've brought them together in an WPF Browser AP.
You can experience “Turning the Pages” 2.0 here www.bl.uk , following the link with take you to http://ttpdownload.bl.uk/browserapp.xbap
Between some exciting day job work, updating WCF content for the WCF Unleashed book, and writing 15 chapters for the CardSpace book (this time as a sole author) things have been pretty hectic. Mix in the storm that flooded the first floor of the house, and it got even crazier.
The blog has been fairly dark for awhile, but that's about to change. In a few weeks, the CardSpace book will be handed in, and I can start focusing on other activities. In addition to weekly updates here, I'm also going to be starting a sister blog to this one, more details on that in the weeks to come.
So what's coming? Lots of stuff.
Like what?
I talked with the good folks at APress (my publisher for the CardSpace book), and I'm going to be able to release some of my code from the CardSpace book early, and put it into CodePlex. This will include ASP.NET controls that integrate with membership. This will also include Windows Workflow Foundation activities and some utilities for creating managed cards. These will hopefully be in CodePlex, which will include source, so you'll be able to get source and enhance them as you need to. I need to stress that these are from my book written as my 'night job', these are not official controls from Microsoft and should not be viewed as such.
I've actually been pretty busy on some other stuff during the day, and we're looking at what we can release of that (unrelated to CardSpace) to CodePlex as well.
Plus.. I've written about 6 labs in the past couple of days for an internal event. I'm looking to release those as well, likely with the launch of the sister blog to this one.
Oh, and some InfoCenter Controls may just find there way into CodePlex as well (and if not, I'll release them as binaries from my blog). And I might just include a reference app that shows how to snag podcasts for your Zune 
Looking for another one stop shop for your WCF, WF, WPF, and CardSpace (formerly InfoCard) needs?
http://netfx3.com/ was launched with the rebranding of winfx to netfx3, and now you can find info, demos, and forums on CardSpace and all your favorite foundation technologies there. This site consolidates what was windowsworkflow.net and windowscommunication.net.
Definately worth checking out, particularly as there were a number of new samples and demos uploaded that weren't on the old sites.
One of the things that was announced at TechEd was that was has been known as WinFX is being re-branded as .NET Framework 3.0.
Some folks have some questions about what this means, so I wanted to provide some clarifying info on this.
The .NET Framework 3.0 will still be comprised of the existing .NET Framework 2.0 components, including ASP.NET, WinForms, ADO.NET, base class libraries, and the CLR, as well as new technologies Windows Presentation Foundation (WPF), Windows Communication Foundation (WCF), and Windows Workflow (WF). In addition, we have made a decision to name the technology formerly codenamed “InfoCard” as Windows CardSpace (WCS). Windows CardSpace will also be a component of the .NET Framework 3.0:
We announced this over the weekend through Soma's blog, and the two questions that I'm hearing are -
Is this new code?
No. This is not a code change, this is a marketing/name change.
So I can just install .NET Framework 3.0 binaries?
No. This is an additive release, ,NET Framework 3.0 will require .NET Framework 2.0 be installed.
As you know, I work with a number of companies who are adopting WCF, WF, and Infocard. Up until this past week, the names of the customers has been a well guarded secret.
With WinHec just passed, TechEd coming up in a few weeks, and launch not too far off on the horizon, the names of these customers and their projects are now starting to be revealed.
Last week at WinHEC, Ami Vora spoke to PressPass about a project at one of my customers, Tyco.
Yesterday, I blogged that one of my other customers, Leslie Muller from Credit Suisse will be doing a must-see chalk talk at TechEd 06 in Boston.
Today, we launch a new site, http://www.seewindowsvista.com, to highlight some companies that are using WCF, WF, and WPF on the client. Check it out to hear about one of my other customers, Dollar Thrifty Auto Group. They're listed under “Managing the Big Picture.” They're using both WCF and WF in a number of areas, and we'll be following up soon with a whitepaper on the use of WF in the UI, with specific references to their project.
You can now get Windows Vista Beta 2 and a new drop of WinFx (Beta 2/RC0).
This version of WinFX has a new Go Live license attached (the first since January). There's enough new since January that you'll want to make the jump to the May bits.
If you want to use Infocard, this is also the drop for you. This is the first broadly available build that has Infocard bits that work with IE7.
Find both Vista and WinFX here.
http://msdn.microsoft.com/windowsvista/downloads/products/getthebeta/default.aspx#developWinFXApps
Did you get a chance to check out the MIX conference this year? I know I'd hoped to attend but was working with one of our customers in London that week.
If you're like me and wanted to go but missed it - good news. The sessions have just been posted online for free view/download.
Sessions here: http://sessions.mix06.com/
Definately check out the sessions on identity -
NGW034 - From "Username and Password" to InfoCard
DIS003 - Today's Identity Crisis, and the Identity Metasystem
For those unfamiliar with MIX, here's the pitch -
“If you do business on the Web today, it's likely that more than 90% of your customers reach you via Microsoft® Internet Explorer and/or Microsoft Windows®. Come to MIX and learn how the next versions of these products, due later this year, are going to dramatically improve your customers' experience. Explore a wide range of new Web technologies that Microsoft is delivering to help you unlock new revenue opportunities and lower development costs. Learn about the future of Internet Explorer and join us in a discussion about how we can build the ideal Web surfing platform to meet your needs and those of your customers.
- Be the first to get the latest preview build of IE7
- Work with the members of the Internet Explorer team in the Compatibility Lab to get your site ready for IE7
- Test drive "Atlas," Microsoft's powerful new framework for building cross–browser, cross–platform AJAX applications
- Explore Windows Live!, Microsoft's new consumer services strategy
- Learn how to deliver revolutionary, media–rich Web content with the new Windows Presentation Foundation
- Find out how to extend your content, media and services into the living room with Windows Media Center and Xbox 360™
- More than 50 separate sessions and discussions for Web developers, designers and business professionals
“
I know I focus on WCF, WF, and Infocard, but for demos I also use Windows Presentation Foundation (WPF).
I'm guessing some of you may do this as well (WPF rocks!), and maybe had some challenges migrating older XAML files to the FebCTP build.
If this is you, you're going to like this. I just ran across a utility that Rob Relyea built to help with the migration to FebCTP.
You can be find it here:
http://www.longhornblogs.com/rrelyea/archive/2006/02/14/XamlMigrator.aspx
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