Microsoft Silverlight and Smooth Streaming Join Forces
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Microsoft generated a lot of excitement with Silverlight, a free runtime whose features just keep getting better. Now that the software giant is adding Smooth Streaming to the mix -- but wait, what is Smooth Streaming and why should you care? Keep reading to find out how it can make your experience of Silverlight even better.
In October of 2008, Microsoft releasedSilverlight, a free runtime that powers rich application experiences and delivers high quality, interactive video across multiple platforms and browsers using the .NET framework. Some of the features it enables include animation, vector graphics, and audio-video playback.
It could be said that Microsoft Silverlight's crowning moment came at the Beijing Olympics in August of 2008 when Silverlight 2.0 was used for Internet video streaming of the Olympics. Silverlight's capabilities were applauded and well received by anyone who tuned into NBC in the U.S., China Central Television in China, or broadcasts in 10 other major national markets.
Shortly after the Olympics, Silverlight 2 also enabled Blockbuster to offer high-quality streaming video to PC and Mac users for its MovieLink service.
A lot has happened since then, including the development and release of Silverlight 3.0, which is still in its beta phase. It looks like history will soon repeat itself, though, becauseNBC Olympicsjust announced that they have once again chosen Microsoft's Silverlight to stream the Olympics in high definition.
Perkins Miller, senior vice president of Digital Media, NBC Sports & Olympics, is excited by the prospect that Silverlight 3.0 will deliver viewers "continuous high-quality online experience that mirrors the quality of the home viewing experience that our customers have come to expect," he said. The 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver will be a live and on-demand "Smooth Streaming" event with full 720p. So wait, what is Smooth Streaming exactly? Let's find out.
Next: Windows Server 2008 and Smooth Streaming >>
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