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MSDN Subscriber Evening - Building UX with Silverlight 2

2008-04-15T00:26:55Z

I did a session last Wednesday (9 Apr) -- introducing our Rich Internet Application technology Silverlight to our MSDN subscribers.

In the session, we re-acquainted with Silverlight 1.0 and its AJAX-like programming model, but dedicated most of the time to introduce Silverlight and the new .NET development paradigm.

I've put the slides from the presentation, as well as the comics-book viewer sample project used for the code walk-through on my SkyDrive and you can find them here.

The sample code demonstrates Silverlight 2 controls (particularly Layout), control data-binding, asynchronous data fetching and LINQ. Much of the work was based off samples by Joe Stegman and Scott Guthrie.

Channel 9 Interview: Miguel de Icaza and Dragos Manolescu

2008-03-07T19:45:18Z

This is one of my favorite video interviews coming out from Channel 9 this year. In this post, Channel 9's intrepid reporter Charles Torre interviews Miguel de Icaza and Dragos Manlescu.

Miguel de Icaza is, of course, the famed free-software developer who started the open-sourced Mono project which implements C# and other .NET tools on non-Microsoft platforms such as Linux, BSD, Solaris, etc. Miguel is also leading the Moonlight project that puts Silverlight on Linux.

Dragos Manolescu is a computer scientist on the Microsoft team. Formerly an architect with the Patterns and Practices group, and is now part of the Live Labs team who released innovative technologies such as Volta, etc.

Together in the video, the three gentlemen had a enlightening conversation about open source, the Mono and Moonlight projects, the tensions between business and free software ideals, and perceptions about Microsoft as a company.

Great video worth watching!

Sample Code: Silverlight 1.0-enabled Quiz

2008-02-29T18:43:28Z

A Customer who asked if a quiz-type application can be enabled by Silverlight.

The answer is yes (obviously ) and I had to put my rusty coding skills to work over a good part of a Saturday afternoon.

The result is a Silverlight 1.0 proof-of-concept application, which meant adopting an "AJAX-styled" coding model with JavaScript. In fact, just for the heck of it, I wanted to go the full client-only approach which meant no ASP.NET AJAX server-side controls, etc.

The code demos a couple of simple features:

Quiz questions are easily configurable with a XML data file. The Silverlight application accesses the quiz as JSON data with a simple web service. This was simply achieved by first converting the XML data to JSON format at the server-side with XmltoJSON C# code (made available at http://www.phdcc.com/xml2json.htm). To allow the web service to be accessible (invoke-able) by the client JavaScript, I also marking the web service with the System.Web.Script.Services.ScriptService attribute.
An auto timeout (set to 10 seconds) is set for each quiz, this is done with a XAML animation storyboard to mimic a timer. Jesse Liberty details this useful technique in his blog here.
At the client end, I dabbled a little with the JavaScript Prototype library to demonstrate interaction between the Silverlight application and the host browser's DOM.

The application can definitely do with polishing (e.g., with some creative design work, one can imagine fireworks animation when the user gets a correct answer,) but this should serve as a nice simple base for extensions, tearing apart, etc.

Links:

The source code is available for download at my SkyDrive here.
The application can also be viewed online here.

A Silverlight Shines On Hellgate

2008-02-25T17:07:56Z

Hellgate: London is, of course, the new action role-playing game for the PC platform. Playworks Online, who distributes the game, will partner SingTel to launch the MMORG system.

Early this year, we worked with the Playworks team to deliver a micro-site that shows video previews of the various character classes, hosted and delivered with Windows Live Silverlight Streaming Service. Check out the Silverlight-enabled site at http://www.playhgl.com.sg/silverlight.

It was a quick and fun project, working with the cool design folks from Playworks - and we got the site up and running slightly over the span of a week.

The presentation and demo I showed for the 30th January technology briefing session on Rich Internet Applications was based on this project, and a modified version of the source will be made available soon.

Microsoft Singapore .NET Briefing - Web UX Technologies

2008-02-12T23:19:51Z

On 30th January, we did the first of a planned series of web-related technology talk events -- this time focusing on Web User Experience (UX). I'd like to thank everyone who attended and stayed back late (we overran by 45 minutes!) I think we had a lively time.

We covered the following in the 3 hour presentation session:

An overview of the spectrum of Microsoft's user experience technologies. This spans from the ubiquitous web-based (such as ASP.NET AJAX) to rich user interfaces leveraging platform capabilities (such as Windows Presentation Foundation, Windows Mobile), and finally to the new class of Rich Internet Applications (enabled by Silverlight.) We also showed (or, in a specific instance, attempted to show ) real-life applications deployed by customers / partners using these technologies.
Jocelyn (our ISV Developer Evangelist) then did a code-talk / demo session on ASP.NET AJAX. Be sure to check out the ASP.NET AJAX Control Toolkit -- you saw how easy it was to add interactivity to ASP.NET web applications!
We had Yong Hwee from patroids creative works who shared first-hand experience on developing their first project on Silverlight.
I then did a code demo on how we actually developed a real-world Silverlight 1.0 application using Visual Studio and JavaScript. Of course, you can also build video-rich application in 7 steps, and no code with Expression Media Encoder.

My presentation decks for the session can be found on my SkyDrive. You can find Jocelyn's presentation deck (Overview of ASP.NET AJAX) here.

I have also uploaded my two slide decks, which can be accessed from the links below:

(I will be sharing the Silverlight demo code as I clean it up for public consumption, so do check back this blog again in a week or so...)

Prelude:

Do keep a look out for the next event entitled "Building Web 2.0 Mash-ups" -- where we will talk and demo building Facebook applications with Visual Studio, creating mash-ups with Windows Live Services, and introduce cool technologies like PopFly, etc.

This scheduled for the evening of 12 March 2008 -- keep it free!

Microsoft + Yahoo!

2008-02-01T17:36:36Z

This is definitely news - Microsoft Proposes Acquisition of Yahoo! for $31 per Share.

New Year Countdown (with Silverlight) [Updated]

2007-12-29T08:10:12Z

~~Counting down with Silverlight -~~ ~~http://www.office2007quiz.com.sg/greetings/. Check back again in a couple of days~~ .

Check out the super upbeat New Year eCard at http://www.office2007quiz.com.sg/greetings. It's available online right now -- feel free to send to friends.

This card is the first Silverlight project done by Microsoft Singapore partner -- patroids creative works -- who completed this assignment within a week (time includes learning about technology and the Expression tools). A shout-out to Yong Hwee, Ben and a talented team at patroids! These bunch of folks are doing some pretty interesting "web 2.0" work including Facebook applications development, etc. More importantly, they are a pleasure to work with. (Now, i've gotta convince them about adding more Silverlight content on their own site )

We'll be working with patroids to share their first experience with Silverlight, and may even make the source available for download, so look out for that.

Meanwhile, have a great 2008 ahead!

Technorati tags: silverlight

CodeProject Article: Silverlight Controls - The Path to Reusable XAML

2007-12-25T04:13:03Z

Came across this very nice article by Justin-Josef Angel on the Code Project web site -- Silverlight Controls - The Path to Reusable XAML.

I've been working on a few Silverlight 1.0 projects recently, and a consistent struggle on these has been to maintain data-presentation separation, as well as to adhere to object-oriented principles when dealing with JavaScript and XAML.

This article provides the clearest, most prescriptive guidance I've seen to-date on the use of the JavaScript Prototype pattern to support as "code-behind" for XAML-defined user-interface elements.

Justin-Angel does a code walk-through that refactors Richard Z's JellyBar sample (which emits XAML dynamically in code with JavaScript) into a "One JavaScript class - One XAML file" model. The result, as the author says, is "it's extensible, it's maintainable, it's object oriented."

Also check out the cool trick with with Visual Studio 2008 JavaScript comments syntax in building the "class constructor" function!

To all who celebrate, Merry Christmas!

Technorati Tags: silverlight,javascript

Silverlight Powers Singapore's "Emmy Awards" Event

2007-12-16T05:56:43Z

MediaCorp TV will be activating their Silverlight-powered Star Awards 2007 "LIVE" Update site later today (Sunday, 16 Dec) at 7pm.

The Star Awards is, of course, MediaCorp TV's annual gala event celebrating and recognizing Singapore's own TV celebrities.

This year, for the first time in the show's history, the live TV broadcast will be complemented by an online experience. The Star Awards "LIVE" Update site will provide supplementary event experience with simultaneous updates of on-scene and backstage media content (blogs, photos and videos.)

Microsoft Silverlight is used to deliver an interactive photo and video viewing experience over the web, integrating with MediaCorp's content management back-end.

The MediaCorp IT team did a great job -- learning about Silverlight and delivering a great looking site in about two months. Thanks also to my erstwhile colleague John Eldridge who worked closely with the MediaCorp team .

Some behind the scene facts:

The site runs on Microsoft Windows Server and IIS
Microsoft Silverlight provides rich media interaction experience with photos and video content pulled from their content management system
Blogging capability provided by the Telligent Community Server (the same partner blogging product / engine used in Microsoft for MSDN blogs)
Video is streamed with Windows Media Services (WMS) on Windows Server 2003

Technorati tags: silverlight, mediacorp

Silverlight 1.0 RC1 & Windows Presentation Foundation 3.5 News

2007-07-28T00:21:34Z

Tim Sneath has two exciting posts up on his blog:

Linda and I have been looking forward to the Silverlight 1.0 RC1 release in particular as we are working with several enterprise customers to implement Silverlight here in Singapore.

Tim's blog entry reveals significant improvements in performance, robustness and stability over the beta release.

While Tim also notes to that existing Silverlight beta deployments need to be checked for compatibility, he stresses that this will be the final breaking change.

I learnt from our recent MGX (Microsoft Global Exchange) conference, the product team is hardcore about delivering a "instant-on" experience with Silverlight -- which means fast, seamless in-place installation. RC1 and subsequent versions also incorporates an auto-update capability to simplify the installation process when new releases become available. There are also a lot more exciting features that should appear with Silverlight 1.1.

Our customers are doing some interesting stuffs with Silverlight, and we'll share more when we can...

Dopod / HTC Upgrade to Windows Mobile 6

2007-07-15T07:49:11Z

Dopod 838Pro, 810, P800W users should be happy to note that the long awaited upgrade to Windows Mobile 6 is finally here. See the HTC press release, "HTC Offers Windows Mobile 6 Upgrade" for more information.

The shortcut to the download page is at Windows Mobile 6 Upgrade Program login page. A login password is required.

Technorati tags: dopod, htc, wm6, 838Pro

Windows Live Quick Apps

2007-07-12T21:46:50Z

Lots of exciting stuffs are being announced at the Microsoft World Partner Conference (WPC.)

Windows Live Quick Apps (Beta) are showcase online sites that demonstrate the applications that can be built using the Windows Live Services. Two Quick Apps were unveiled today:

For example, the Bicycle Club demo site shows a mashup using Windows Live's Virtual Earth with Silverlight Streaming services to synchronize a simulated bike ride on the map with a video -- very cool!

For many months now we have been talking up our "Software + Services" strategy.

A key concept in this new world is the notion of "Web 2.0"-type mashups, where web applications are created by composing & aggregating services available over the Internet, rather than building them ground-up.

Given a rich set of services and well-designed programming model, web sites can be built and deployed quickly, fully leveraging on the services and the network as a platform for content storage.

Windows Live provide just such a platform for developers, offering core service-based capabilities such as Live Spaces, Silverlight Streaming, Live ID, etc. while ensuring availability, reliability, and security.

More Quick Apps should be forthcoming. Meanwhile, get the source code for the two released applications on CodePlex.

One Stop Office Business Applications Portal

2007-07-11T17:57:21Z

Just got wind from folks in the Microsoft Office System product team about the launch of the new OBA Central portal site at http://www.obacentral.com.

Quick glance at the page source reveals that the site is hosted on Office SharePoint Server too.

Good job, guys! Book-marked...

Technorati tags: OBA, office business applications

Automating Public Sector Forms Processing and Workflow with Office Business Application

2007-07-09T17:45:58Z

Certain days, mana just seem to drop from the heavens -- and the release of the new OBA RAP for E-Forms processing a week back was one such timely moment.

We are working with a number of customers (both public sector and commercial) to explore automating forms handling. These forms are accessed from the customers' respective public portal web-sites, and is typically processed wither manually or with difficult-to-maintain custom code. Suffice to say, agility, faster turnarounds, and better accuracy are often cited as basic automation goals. Customers also look forward to end-user maintained forms business logic, better business insights, better integration with existing or external systems.

The E-Forms Processing RAP (or Reference Application Pack) describes just such a system enabled by Microsoft Office Systems (hence the OBA or Office Business Application moniker) -- specifically with Microsoft Office SharePoint Server (providing the Portal front-end, Forms, Workflow and Business Data Catalog service features), Microsoft Office InfoPath (for forms design), Microsoft SQL Server (for records management, content, document, metadata storage) and Microsoft Windows Server (leveraging on the .NET Framework, and core infrastructure services.)

Although this reference application illustrates an application for hunting and fishing license (not exactly applicable in Singapore's context,) the underlying architecture framework can be adapted to many of the common forms scenarios we see.

Go download the PowerPoint slides from http://msdn2.microsoft.com/en-us/architecture/bb643796.aspx. Keep a watch out as the accompanying source code will be made available soon.

More OBA RAPs for various vertical industries such as (Banking, Healthcare) and scenarios (Supply Chain Management, Price Management) are available at the 2007 Microsoft Office System for Architects site.

Live Earth, the Concert for a Climate in Crisis

2007-07-07T11:57:51Z

Live Earth, the Concert for a Climate in Crisis, a series of concerts around the world this weekend to raise climate change awareness, kicked off today (Saturday, 7 July 2007) in various parts of the world. As I type this entry, Australia and Japan crowds are jamming along nicely right now, China, Brazil, South Africa, U.S., U.K. and Germany will follow suit.

The Live Earth web site describes the event best -- "Live Earth is a 24-hour, 7-continent concert series of 7/7/07 that will bring together more than 150 music artists and 2 billion people to inspire a global movement to 'Answer the Call' and combat the climate crisis."

View the concert live or post-event on demand at http://liveearth.msn.com. Many artists (including several personal favorites: Crowded House, Smashing Pumpkins, Linkin Park, Alicia Keys, Corinne Bailey Rae, Keane, etc.) are taking part in this concert.

Microsoft's online services group MSN is contributing to Live Earth as the exclusive online media partner, and enriching the interactive experience for our participation in the concerts virtually with blogging, video and other online infrastructure and technologies.

Look out for the following:

Learn more about the climate crisis hotspots and concert venues with this Windows Live Virtual Earth-powered interactive map.
Download cool Live Earth desktop images Live Earth desktop wallpapers.

Great way to have fun, reflect and begin playing our individual part to heal the planet. Answer the Call.

Technorati tags: Live Earth, MSN