The varying features of Silverlight - A look

What is SilverLight? There is a huge demand for the media playback in a web page to provide reach user experience. We usually find many videos, audios and graphics content in a web page for different purposes. Moreover, many websites are totally dedicated for on demand videos like youtube.com, vimeo.com and many more. As a web developer, we must possess a sound knowledge on different plugins available in the market which can be used to run different multimedia files on the web like flash player, active X plugin etc. SilverLight is such a piece of plugin which can be used to play various types of media on the web browser when being installed as a plugin. It is a product from Microsoft and hence we can expect best quality, efficiency and reliability from this.

SilverLight for video decoding: Silverlight is an application framework for writing and running reach internet applications (RIA) for different multimedia files like MP3 or Video files. It has an IIS7 media services 3.0 extensions which is extremely reliable for streaming of on demand video and live videos using HTTP protocols. Moreover it provides an extra ordinary user experience while watching high quality videos. It doesn’t require any extra external peripherals for this purpose.

Cross Platform Compatibility: Though silverlight is a product from Microsoft we can expect its compatibility with windows operating system and internet explorer browser. But it also supports Apple’s MAC operating system, Linux operating system etc as well. Moreover, it also supports browsers like Google chrome, Apple’s safari, Firefox etc. So this is really a cross platform plugin for the web developers.

Skin of the player: Silverlight provides much flexibility to the web developers and web designers to modify the graphics and controls of the player. A web designer can create his own graphics for different controls of the media player and can implement those changes to the player without much effort. The best part is it doesn’t require lots of effort or expertise in coding for these kinds of customization. A web developer can change the shape, look and feel of different components like buttons, scroll bars, draggable thumbs etc to provide better and unique user experience to the end user. The web designer can also customise the colours, shapes and sizes of these components as well.

3D Graphics: Silverlight 5 provides a unique platform to apply content to a 3D plain. The web developers can now scale or rotate a live content in space without much effort paying for the coding. Moreover we can create attractive 3D graphics which can be rendered in our web application pages. This really improves the user experience to a higher level.

Playback speed control: The SilverLight framework has a nice feature to control the playback speed i.e. now the web application developer can control the speed of the playback like slowing down the speed or increasing the playback speed. This can be done using the new TrickPlay feature.

Remote control: With XBOX, now the web developers can make the media player to be controlled by the user. This really gives an awesome experience to the user. Finally, with the latest Sileverlight framework, we can access a wide range of third party codecs for different audio and video formats including previous H.264 and MP3 formats. You can get in touch with a Silverlight software development company who can help you develop web apps that are stable, scalable and secure.

We provide RIA development services. If you would like hire Silverlight software developers for your development needs, please contact us at Mindfire Solutions.

What makes Silverlight an ideal option for RIA?

Silverlight is developed by Microsoft along with the features and the abilities necessary for building RIA. Number of web developers using Silverlight in a way much like Adobe Flash. Latest version in the application framework additional supports graphics, multimedia and also animation, in addition to CLI language including a number of development. Generally, the web application developers could use Silverlight to develop and deploy RIA with no extra time and effort. If you're going to move to Silverlight, this can be a good idea to be familiar with a few of its essential features and also the benefits. When opting for a web application development framework, developers choose features which increase the acceptance and adopting of the application. Additionally, the programmers discover alternatives in order to make the changeover from the rich desktop application into browser based application smooth. The creative display of content and interactive features probably will make the Silverlight applications prominent among the users in a short time span.

The web application development frameworks and the technologies that are introduced by Microsoft are highly preferred among developers all over the world. Silverlight allows developer to develop RIA through obtaining the features of many of the popular Microsoft technologies such as .NET and XML application markup language. For those who have worked using these technologies in the past, it's going to be easy to begin creating Silverlight applications. One can even think about using Silverlight for the internet application development in order to reap the benefits of its effective data visualization features. The features could make the internet application much interesting, involved and also animated compared to other typical browser-based applications. The advanced visualization tools offered by the framework can make that simpler for anyone to quickly make graphics, audio, videos and animations, with integrating 3rd party codec. Most often web developers need to spend extra time and efforts in order to make an internet application suitable for leading web browsers. They even notice it as a difficult challenge to obtain cross browser compatibility. However Silverlight makes it simpler for one to get cross browser compatibility with no need of adding any additional efforts. One even doesn't require to write and to test code by looking for specified web browsers. The developing model offered by Silverlight improves the compatibility of the web application throughout various operating systems as well as web browsers.

Generally clients look for the data sent through the internet application to get formatted and shown in a certain way. Silverlight allows programmers for formatting and presenting the data in many different ways without making use of keys described in styles or templates. They can easily make use of the data templates offered by the framework implicitly in order to format and display data in a number of ways without determining the data template keys clearly. Usually programmers choose various sets of design and development tools to produce rich user experience. However the attempts out of the both design and developers needs to be coordinated effortlessly to maintain the users involved. Silverlight lets both the developers and the designers to work with the one powerful platform for total project. As a result applications works well for decreasing the efforts necessary for designing, developing, implementing and taking care of an internet application. Since the Silverlight applications respond continuously around various web browsers, it gets simpler to test the application completely in a reduced time span.

One will also have choice to create and debug Silverlight applications with Visual Studio. Then again, you need to install Silverlight Tools for the Visual Studio to develop the application with Visual Studio. Additionally, you may build RIA with the development tools included in the .NET developent languages. This feature enables you to quickly develop rich web applications without the need of writing extended code. You could get in contact with a Rich Internet Applications Development company who could assist you to develop web applications which are steady, scalable and safe.You can get in touch with a Silverlight application development company who can help you develop web apps that are stable, scalable and secure.

We provide RIA development services. If you would like hire a Silverlight web developer for your development needs, please contact us at Mindfire Solutions.

The Influence of SL 4 & RIA Services over YouTube Jukebox

After quite a while hearing from Katka's husband suggesting her to, write one article, she eventually decided to give it a try. Katka Vaughan, Software Developer Outcoder, has many years of experience doing work in software development associated with researching the market and e-commerce. She's got wide and extending experience with ASP.Net MVC, developing Java, Silverlight, ASP.Net, WPF, and Windows Phone apps. Katka is actually an Aussie/Czech, presently based in Zurich, Switzerland.She began investigating Silverlight, she gone through few books, read lots of articles, and checked out plenty of videos, and eventually got quite interested in Silverlight, mainly the capabilities it has to create line of business apps. Hence, she chosen to understand Silverlight through building an actual project additionally she believed that the other people may benefit when she shared her experience. As it ended up, the project turned into pretty cool application featuring a couple of new Silverlight 4 features like RIA services, Right-click event handling, along with embedding and also playing videos on YouTube in a Silverlight application.

Silverlight is actually an interesting technology which considerably progressing and simply improving. The demonstration is made in a Silverlight 4 Beta, and that's the newest on the market developer release. The current official launch of Silverlight known as version 3, released in the month of July 2009. Silverlight 3 included numerous additional features and a few significant modifications like out of browser support or even improved data support including element to element binding. Silverlight 4 Beta provides additional enhancements and several interesting additional features like printing, right click handling and microphone support. An appropriate place to begin studying Silverlight would be the silvelright.net site where one can look for videos, tutorials, and more.

The demo program is the Silverlight YouTube Jukebox which enables users to choose artists, check out their albums, choose one album, and look at the album's tracks. Users may right click over any track name and then choose to see the track details. On choosing a track (left click), users begin searching to get a YouTube video. At least 4 potential matches will be given to the user as thumb images; video title shows up while the user moves the curser on the image. The user may then click upon any of those images to watch the selected YouTube video. The demo is designed on Silverlight Business Application template and that is a new template which we get once we install .NET RIA Services, which includes styled views, page navigation, along with localization, authentication, and sign up support. As per Brad Abrams, Design Guidelines, Managed code and the .NET Framework describes, the template solution setup follows the "RIA App" structure wherein the 2 tiers (projects), the Silverlight client, while the server tiers which are linked in a manner that whatever changes within are shown into the other. With regards to the demo, he changed certain areas of the template, including styles, additionally he also unhooked all the unwanted views.

Please be aware the Visual Studio 2010 Beta 2 may misbehave on Silverlight 4. She encountered lots of crashes during the period of developing the application. Visual Studio 2010 & .NET 4 release candidates now are available; then again, when writing, Silverlight 4 projects weren't supported, due to this fact she did not upgrad to the release candidate. The aim of the project were to study certain latest Silverlight 4 features through creating an application.You can get in touch with a Silverlight Web development company who can help you develop web apps that are stable, scalable and secure.

We provide RIA development services. If you would like to hire Silverlight app Programmer for your development needs, please contact us Mindire Solutions.

Why is Silverlight the Best Choice for Rich Internet Applications?

Silverlight is designed by Microsoft with the features and capabilities required for developing rich internet applications. Many web developers use Microsoft Silverlight in a manner similar to Adobe Flash. The latest version of the application framework further supports graphics, multimedia and animation, along with CLI language and a variety of development. On the whole, the web application developers can use Silverlight to build and deploy rich internet application without putting additional time and effort. If you are planning to migrate to Silverlight, it is a great idea to understand some of its key features and advantages.

Prominent Benefits of Silverlight for Building Reach Internet Applications

Greater User Acceptance and Adoption

While choosing a web application development framework, developers look for features that boost the acceptance and adoption of the application. Also, the programmers explore options to make the transition from rich desktop application to browser based application smooth. The innovative presentation of content and interactive features will make the Silverlight applications popular among users within a short span of time.

Advantages of Other Widely Used Technologies

The web application development frameworks and technologies launched by Microsoft are hugely popular among developers across the world. Silverlight enables you to build rich internet application by availing the features of some of the widely used Microsoft technologies like .NET and XML application markup language. If you have already worked with these technologies, it will be easier to start developing Silverlight applications.

Enhanced Data Visualization Capabilities

You can even consider using Silverlight for internet application development to take advantage of its powerful data visualization features. The features will make your internet application more engaging, interactive and animated in comparison to conventional browser-based applications. The innovative visualization tools provided by the framework will make it easier for you to rapidly create graphics, audio, video and animations, along with integrating third party codec.

Same Development Model for Different Web Browsers

Often web developers have to invest additional time and efforts to make an internet application compatible with major web browsers. They also find it a daunting challenge to achieve cross browser compatibility. But Silverlight makes it easier for you to achieve cross browser compatibility without putting any extra effort. You are also not required to write and test code by targeting individual web browsers. The development model provided by Silverlight optimizes the compatibility of your web application across different operating systems and web browsers.

Implicit Data Templates

Often end users expect the data delivered by the internet application to be formatted and displayed in a specific way. Silverlight enables programmers to format and display the data in a number of ways without using the keys defined in styles or templates. They can simply use the data templates provided by the framework implicitly to format and display data in a variety of ways without defining the data template keys explicitly.

Reduction in Development Time and Cost

Often programmers use different sets of designing and development tools to deliver rich user experience. But the efforts of both designed and developers must be coordinated seamlessly to keep the users engaged. Silverlight enables both developers and designers to use one solid platform for the complete project. So the applications helps in reducing the efforts required for designing, developing, deploying and maintaining an internet application. As the Silverlight applications behave consistently across different web browsers, it becomes easier to test the application thoroughly within a shorter pan of time.

You also have option to develop and debug Silverlight applications using Visual Studio. However, you have to install Silverlight Tools for Visual Studio to build the application using Visual Studio. Further, you can develop rich internet application by using the development tools used with the .NET programming languages. The option helps you to rapidly develop rich web applications without writing lengthy code. You can get in touch with a RIA Development company who can help you develop web apps that are stable, scalable and secure.

We provide Silverlight Website Development services. If you would like to hire Silverlight app Programmer for your development needs, please contact us Mindire Solutions.

3 Tips to Successfully Load Test Microsoft Silverlight Applications

Silverlight Development

Most companies, nowadays, use the latest technologies to deploy their mission critical applications on the web. So the performance of each application must be tested under different loads and environments. Often the applications are load tested by simulating the users of many users at a time. Many developers use Microsoft Silverlight to develop robust application to complement the need and objectives of their organization.

But the technology is completely different from other conventional applications as the content is delivered without reloading the page. Also, a Silverlight application has to be constantly updated by the server in an asynchronous manner. So application testers often find it a daunting challenge to emulate the test loads realistically. If you are planning to use the new technology to develop or deploy web applications, it becomes essential to explore innovative load testing techniques to address the new challenges.

Silverlight Development Tip#1: Optimize Your Application to Support Multiple Communication Protocols

For load testing an application it is essential to simulate all types of end-users in an exact and accurate way. So the load testing tool must support the different protocols supported used by Silverlight to process user requests. The support will result in smooth extraction of data based on the parameters submitted by individual users, and validating the response.

As a Silverlight application can communicate with the server using multiple protocols, you need to ensure that it supports the Windows Communication Foundation based protocols including REST, and SOAP with classic XML or binary XML. You can design Web services using a set of architectural principles defined by REST. These protocols decide how to use important HTTP verbs like GET, POST, PUT and DELETE. As a XML-based protocol, SOAP allows you application to receive and send information over HTTP.

At the same time, you have options to choose from two approaches to handle applications using SOAP protocol. Along with using an XML manipulation method, you can further load test your application using a specialized tool with dedicated SOAP support capability. Unless your application supports these key communication protocols, the tool will fail to generate realistic test design for individual virtual users, and thus make the test results insignificant and worthless.

Silverlight Development Tip#2: Allow Automatic Processing of Application Identifiers

The Silverlight applications use a variety of identifiers for internal processing. Along with the identifiers common to each Silverlight application, you can also use identifiers specific to your application. Normally, these identifiers are uses as parameters to customize requests and respond. However, you can use multiple identifiers at a time to process the requests sequentially. Generally, the identifiers keep changing whenever a new communication takes place between the client and server.

If you do not assign correct values to the identifiers, these will generate error when you playback a recorded session. So you must extract each parameter at the runtime, and assign appropriate value to simulate the users in an accurate way. However, you must avoid handling the identifiers manually to save your time and efforts. While load testing Silverlight testing, you must use the right tool that automatically detects and processes identifiers related to specific application. Also, you must allow the load testing tool to process custom identifiers automatically by declaring custom correlation rules.

Silverlight Development Tip#3 : Identify and Fix the Cause of Performance Problems

While load testing the application, it may throw errors or has longer response time. So you must identify the root cause of such problems, and fix these as early as possible. Often such problems are caused due to issues in your server infrastructure. You can monitor you server, while running the test to easily identify the root cause. However, it is also important to decide the required components and appropriate values based on your application.

If you are not a system expert, it is advisable to use a specialized tool that can select the right counters automatically, and set the threshold values to generate alerts. While selecting the tool, you need to ensure that it is effective in setting threshold values and counters according to latest industry standards. At the same time, you must customize the setting to meet specific objectives and requirements.

You can also use results correlation as an effective tool to analyze the test results, and identify the root cause of these performance problems. These details can also be used to fix the problems in the application and server infrastructure immediately to make the Silverlight application more powerful.

In addition to following these important tips, it is also a good idea to customize the load testing strategy by keeping in mind the needs and objectives of your organization. Also, you must change your approach to load testing from time to time to launch a powerful Silverlight application while saving your time and efforts.

We provide Silverlight application development services. If you would like to discuss with our top Silverlight programmers, please contact us at Mindfire Solutions.