Expressions : Expression Blend

WPF/E SDK CTP with AJAX and XAML now available

William Lefkovics — Tue, 26 Dec 2006 12:15:00 GMT

What was that in English? The Windows Presentation Foundation / Everywhere (WPF/E) Software Development Kit (SDK) Community Technology Preview (CTP) with Asynchronous Javascript and XML (AJAX) and Extensible Application Markup Language (XAML) is now available for download. It was actually released earlier in the month, but it appears to have been updated just before Christmas.

"The “WPF/E” (codename) Software Development Kit, enables you to build web pages and web applications that include rich content such as vector-based graphics, 2D animation, high fidelity text, audio and video and use JavaScript (AJAX) to interact with the page content and your server. The SDK contains documentation, sample code and tools that can be used by designers and developers. In order to view the application, the user’s browser need to be enhanced with the appropriate “WPF/E” (codename) package as linked below. To assist with the development process we recommend using Visual Studio 2005 in addition to this SDK. To help with design, we recommend using Microsoft Expression Design and Microsoft Expression Blend. In order to integrate the end result with web pages we recommend using Microsoft Expression Web."

This will help get you started with Expression Blend (and to a lesser extent, Expression Design).

Windows Presentation Foundation / Everywhere (codename "WPF/E") Community Technology Preview (CTP) released today

William Lefkovics — Tue, 05 Dec 2006 00:15:00 GMT

In the same press release as the Expression Web announcement, Microsoft also announced a new CTP for the Windows Presentation Foundation/Everywhere, codenamed 'WPF/E', overlapping the WPF codenamed 'Avalon'.

This interview between Expression PM Arturo Toldeo and Brazilian Interactive media designer Celso Gomez, gives a breakdown on what WPF/E really is and how it relates to XAML, AJAX and the future.

There is a separate CTP for Windows and Mac, as well as a Sample Pack and SDK:

“WPF/E” (codename) Community Technology Preview for Windows (Dec 2006)

“WPF/E” (codename) Community Technology Preview for Mac (Dec 2006)

“WPF/E” (codename) Software Development Kit (SDK) Community Technology Preview (Dec 2006)

“WPF/E” (codename) Community Technology Preview Sample Pack (Dec 2006)

Microsoft Expression Suite Rebranded

William Lefkovics — Mon, 04 Dec 2006 08:38:00 GMT

In beta, products go through lots of changes, including names. It would seem that Microsoft Expression Interactive Designer will now become Expression Blend. The name is going through the trademark process. An additional product appears to be forthcoming by the name Expression Media.

Update (Dec 4): Hours later, the Microsoft Expression site is updated to show the new offerings.