Silverlight 1.0

Features

• Cover Type: Paperback with 288 pages
• Published by: Wrox October 29, 2007
• Written in: English
• ISBN 10 Number: 0470228407
• ISBN 13 Number: 978-0470228401
• Book Dimensions: 9.1 x 7.4 x 0.7 inches
• Weighs: 1.6 pounds

Product Description
Silverlight--the hot new web technology based on the powerful WPF graphics platform that ships with Windows Vista--is the web developer's choice for creating cross-platform interactive applications that work in multiple browsers. This one-of-a-kindreference shows you, with full-color illustrations, how to create rich interactive apps with Silverlight.

In these color-filled pages, a crack team of Wrox experts gives you a comprehensive introduction to Silverlight. You'll see the vivid graphics and video images you can achieve. You will learn to use the component languages, tools, and techniques of Silverlight to create applications that enhance the user experience. You'll also discover how to leverage existing technologies, such as JavaScript(r), XAML, ASP.NET, and AJAX, and incorporate them with development tools like Visual Studio(r), Expression(r) Encoder, and Expression Blend. Soon you'll be building everything from basic static pages to Internet applications that integrate rich media and animation.

What you will learn from this book

* Easy ways to incorporate graphics, animation, audio, and video into Internet applications
*

Methods for creating rich media apps that run on Windows(r) and Mac(r), as well as in Internet Explorer, Firefox(r), and Safari
*

How to write standard JavaScript within an HTML page to manipulate and program against any XAML DOM element, storyline animation, or video
*

Ways to integrate Silverlight within existing HTML pages, web sites, and ASP.NET applications
*

How to handle data access in Silverlight applications using AJAX

Who this book is for

This book is for professional web developers who want to take advantage of Silverlight's capabilities to create rich interactive applications.

"[This book] makes a great companion for anyone who wants to learn the basics of Silverlight without wading through the reference material in the SDK. If you're looking for a trustworthy guide to show you how Silverlight can light up your web applications, you'll find this book a great starting point."
--Tim Sneath, Group Manager for Client Platform Evangelism, Microsoft Corporation

Back Cover Copy
Silverlight—the hot new web technology based on the powerful WPF graphics platform that ships with Windows Vista—is the web developer's choice for creating cross-platform interactive applications that work in multiple browsers. This one-of-a-kindreference shows you, with full-color illustrations, how to create rich interactive apps with Silverlight.

In these color-filled pages, a crack team of Wrox experts gives you a comprehensive introduction to Silverlight. You'll see the vivid graphics and video images you can achieve. You will learn to use the component languages, tools, and techniques of Silverlight to create applications that enhance the user experience. You'll also discover how to leverage existing technologies, such as JavaScript®, XAML, ASP.NET, and AJAX, and incorporate them with development tools like Visual Studio®, Expression® Encoder, and Expression Blend. Soon you'll be building everything from basic static pages to Internet applications that integrate rich media and animation.

What you will learn from this book

• Easy ways to incorporate graphics, animation, audio, and video into Internet applications
• 
  
  Methods for creating rich media apps that run on Windows® and Mac®, as well as in Internet Explorer, Firefox®, and Safari
• 
  
  How to write standard JavaScript within an HTML page to manipulate and program against any XAML DOM element, storyline animation, or video
• 
  
  Ways to integrate Silverlight within existing HTML pages, web sites, and ASP.NET applications
• 
  
  How to handle data access in Silverlight applications using AJAX

Who this book is for

This book is for professional web developers who want to take advantage of Silverlight's capabilities to create rich interactive applications.

"[This book] makes a great companion for anyone who wants to learn the basics of Silverlight without wading through the reference material in the SDK. If you're looking for a trustworthy guide to show you how Silverlight can light up your web applications, you'll find this book a great starting point."
—Tim Sneath, Group Manager for Client Platform Evangelism, Microsoft Corporation

Reader Reviews
There is nothing [reference-wise] in this book that is not in the Silverlight 1.0 SDK. However, it does provide more useful code samples and explanations, making it easier to get up to speed on Silverlight quickly. Three points I liked: 1. The authors did a good job of explaining the relationship among the various developer tools you can use to implement Silverlight apps (Visual Studio 2005 & 2008, Expression Blend, and plain 'ole Notepad). 2. Very little time is spent on JavaScript basics...they instead jump right into scripting to manipulate the Silverlight objects. 3. I initially dismissed the full-color code/screen shots as gimmicky--especially in the first chapter when someone got trigger-happy with almost five pages screen shots showing you nothing more than how to download Silverlight and the SDK--but beyond that, it was actually quite helpful. The color source code makes it exactly like Visual Studio, so you can immediately grab the key points. What would have made this book perfect is to show more best practices and lessons learned. A book that DOES have those extras--despite Silverlight's state of infancy--is Silverlight 1.0 Unleashed. I recommend that book over this Wrox counterpart if you are a developer. If you are in a non-developer role (account manager, sales, etc.), this Wrox book does a better job of conceptually explaining Silverlight, how to sell others on it, etc. Comment | | (Report this)