Silverlight 2 final release is officially here!

Highlights of new Silverlight 2 features include the following:

• .NET Framework support with a rich base class library. This is a compatible subset of the full .NET Framework.
• Powerful built-in controls. These include DataGrid, ListBox, Slider, ScrollViewer, Calendar controls and more.
• Advanced skinning and templating support. This makes it easy to customize the look and feel of an application.
• Deep zoom. This enables unparalleled interactivity and navigation of ultrahigh resolution imagery.
• Comprehensive networking support. Out-of-the-box support allows calling REST, WS*/SOAP, POX, RSS and standard HTTP services, enabling users to create applications that easily integrate with existing back-end systems.
• Expanded .NET Framework language support. Unlike other runtimes, Silverlight 2 supports a variety of programming languages, including Visual Basic, C#, JavaScript, IronPython and IronRuby, making it easier for developers already familiar with one of these languages to repurpose their existing skill sets.
• Advanced content protection. This now includes Silverlight DRM, powered by PlayReady, offering robust content protection for connected Silverlight experiences.
• Improved server scalability and expanded advertiser support. This includes new streaming and progressive download capabilities, superior search engine optimization techniques, and next-generation in-stream advertising support.
• Vibrant partner ecosystem. Visual Studio Industry Partners such as ComponentOne LLC, Infragistics Inc. and Telerik Inc. are providing products that further enhance developer capabilities when creating Silverlight applications using Visual Studio.
• Cross-platform and cross-browser support. This includes support for Mac, Windows and Linux in Firefox, Safari and Windows Internet Explorer.

Check out the following blog posts for further details of the final release of Silverlight 2:

• Scott Guthrie
• Jesse Liberty
• Tim Heuer
• Official press release

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Media Release

Mike Murach & Associates has just published a 3.5 edition of their best-selling ASP.NET book, now entitled Murach’s ASP.NET 3.5 Web Programming with C# 2008.

As its title implies, this book presents all of the best new ASP.NET 3.5 features as it teaches web programming. That includes the ListView and DataPager controls that allow for complex data handling; LINQ data sources for accessing data using C# constructs; new tools for working with cascading style sheets (CSS); and an introduction to ASP.NET AJAX that shows how it can improve the performance of web applications.

But beyond that, this book has several features that make it different from other ASP.NET 3.5 books.

#1: There’s a 7-chapter section on database programming

That’s two more chapters than in the previous edition because .NET continues to deliver powerful new tools for this critical component of business applications.

So this section still teaches the basics of database programming using SQL data sources and controls like GridView. But it also shows how to use the versatile new ListView control in conjunction with the new DataPager control. It shows how to use LINQ data sources, also new in 3.5, to access SQL Server data using the Object Relational Designer and the LinqDataSource control. And it has expanded material on how to use object data sources to create 3-layer applications with custom business and data access classes.

#2: It teaches development the way it should be done today, using Visual Studio

The 1.x edition of this book was one of the first to teach web development using Visual Studio instead of tools like Notepad. Today, no developer should miss out on the productivity features that Visual Studio offers. So they’re integrated throughout this book, rather than being relegated to just a chapter or two at the beginning.

#3: Complete applications show how all the pieces interact

The key to mastering web development is to have plenty of applications that show how the features you’re learning interact and what problems you might run into as you build a website. So this book shows complete applications, including the web forms, the aspx code, and the C# code. These can be downloaded for free from the Murach website, so developers can experiment with them on their own.

#4: The paired-pages format lets developers set their own pace

Murach books have a distinctive format. Each two-page spread presents a single topic: the lefthand page explains the topic, while the righthand page shows the critical details, using syntax, code, screen shots, and how-to notes.

Beginners find that this format breaks the material down into manageable bites. Experienced developers find that they can pick up on information that’s new or interesting just by paging through. And developers at any level find that they can easily pinpoint the details they need when they’re using the book as a reference.

Murach’s ASP.NET 3.5 Web Programming with C# 2008 is available directly from the publisher at www.murach.com and from all major retail outlets.

###

Buy the book

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Media Release

Mike Murach and Associates has just published a 3.5 edition of their best-selling ASP.NET book, now entitled Murach's ASP.NET 3.5 Web Programming with VB 2008.

As its title implies, this book presents all of the best new .NET 3.5 features for web applications.  That includes the ListView and DataPager controls that allow for complex data handling. LINQ data sources for accessing data using VB constructs; new tools for working with cascading style sheets (CSS); and an introduction to ASP.NET AJAX that shows how it can improve the performance of web applications.

But beyond that, this book has several features that make it different from other ASP.NET 3.5 books.

#1: There's a 7-chapter section on database programming

That's two more chapters than in the previous edition because .NET continues to deliver new, powerful tools for this critical component of business applications.

So this section still teaches the basics of database programming using SQL data sources and controls like GridView.  But it also shows how to use the versatile new ListView control in conjunction with the new DataPager control.  It shows how to use LINQ data sources, also new in 3.5, to access SQL Server data using the Object Relational Designer and the LinqDataSource control.  And it has expanded material on how to use object data sources to create 3-layer applications with custom business and data access classes.

#2: It teaches development the way it should be done today, using Visual Studio

The 1.x edition of this book was one of the first to teach web development using Visual Studio instead of tools like Notepad. Today, no developer should miss out on the productivity features of Visual Studio. So they're integrated throughout this book, rather than being relegated to just a chapter or two at the beginning.

#3: Complete applications show how all the pieces interact

The key to mastering web development is to have plenty of applications that show how the features you're learning interact and what problems you might run into as you build a web site. So this book shows complete applications, including the web forms, the aspx code, and the VB code.  These can be downloaded for free from the Murach web site, so developers can experiment with them on their own.

#4: The paired-pages format lets developers set their own pace

Murach books have a distinctive format. Each two-page spread presents a single topic: the lefthand page explains the topic, while the righthand page shows the critical details, using syntax, code, screen shots, and how-to notes. Beginners find that this format breaks the material down into manageable bites.  Experienced developers find that they can pick up information that's new or interesting just by paging through. And developers at any level can easily pinpoint the details they need when they're using the book as a reference.

Murach's ASP.NET 3.5 Web Programming with VB 2008 is available directly from the publisher at www.murach.com and from all major retail outlets.

###

Editor's Note:

• See also: ASPNETWorld.com editorial review of the book
• Buy the book

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SQL Server 2008 Express is now live. Only the core database engine is available for download at this time.

The other two editions of SQL Server 2008 Express (i.e. SQL Server 2008 Express with Tools and SQL Server 2008 Express with Advanced Services) will be released about a month later.

For more info, visit the following links at the SQL Server Express blog:

• SQL Server 2008 Express is now live!

• What's up with SQL Server 2008 Express editions

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Service Pack 1 for both Visual Studio 2008 and .NET Framework 3.5 have been released.

VS 2008 SP1 Highlights:

• Improved performance and reliability
• Improved designers for building WPF applications
• Improved tools for building AJAX applications
• ADO.NET Entity Framework designer
• Richer JavaScript development environment
• Streamlined website deployment experience
• SQL Server 2008 support

.NET Framework 3.5 SP1 Highlights:

• Bug fixes
• Increased WPF performance
• .NET Framework Client Profile
• Enhanced support for database application development (ADO.NET Entity Framework, ADO.NET Data Services and integration with SQL Server 2008
• Multiple enhancements to ASP.NET (such as ASP.NET Dynamic Data)

For a more detailed description of the improvements brought about by Service Pack 1, check out Somasegar's blog post and the MSDN page on the release.

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The public beta of Visual Studio 2008 and .NET Framework 3.5 SP1 are now available here.

SP1 comes with a slew of enhancements and fixes covering various aspects of the VS 2008 IDE as well as the .NET Framework.

Among the highlights relevant to ASP.NET and web development in the upcoming SP1 release include:

• ASP.NET Data Scaffolding Support (ASP.NET Dynamic Data)
• ASP.NET Routing Engine (System.Web.Routing)
• ASP.NET AJAX Back/Forward Button History Support
• ASP.NET AJAX Script Combining Support
• VS 2008 Performance Improvements in HTML Designer and HTML Source Editor
• VS 2008 JavaScript Script Formatting and Code Preferences
• Better VS Javascript Intellisense for Multiple Javascript/AJAX Frameworks
• VS Refactoring Support for WCF Services in ASP.NET Projects
• VS Support for Classic ASP Intellisense and Debugging
• Visual Web Developer Express Edition support for Class Library and Web Application Projects
• ASP.NET Application Request Throughput Improvements of Up to 10%
• SQL 2008 Support in VS 2008
• ADO.NET Entity Framework and LINQ to Entities
• ADO.NET Data Services
• WCF Development Improvements
• VB and C# Improvements

Other enhancements not mentioned above cover primarily client development (Windows Forms, WPF, and Setup Package).  The SP1 releases are expected to be shipped this summer as free updates.

For a more detailed description of the new features in the release, check out Scott Guthrie's blog post or Somasegar's blog post.

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A refresh of the ASP.NET MVC source code in CodePlex has been published.  This source refresh is just an interim drop pending the release of the official "ASP.NET MVC Preview 3" in a few weeks time.

Check out Scott Guthrie's blog post for screenshot guides and more juicy information on the source refresh.

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An updated ASP.NET Dynamic Data Preview is now available. You can download it from:

http://code.msdn.microsoft.com/dynamicdata

Highlights in this preview:

• Works with the standard built-in ASP.NET data controls (GridView, ListView, FormView, DetailsView, etc)
• Automatic UI validation support (both client-side and server-side)
• Dynamic data project wizard

Check out Scott Guthrie's blog post for more information on the preview.

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