Musings about Microsoft Expression
Thought I’d post a quick Happy Halloween message on my blog as it’s the one day of the year when my theme actually seems relevant!
We just got word of a very cool Silverlight 3 app running entirely in the cloud under Windows Azure. Check out Archetype Pumpkin Carver
Have fun on the streets, and as Sgt Esterhaus would say, “Let’s be careful out there…”
Labels: Fun, Silverlight, Windows Azure
posted by Wayne Smith @ 11:09 AM
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We’re just days away from releasing the trial versions of Expression Studio 3 and the new Web pages are live. My particular part of the overall launch effort was to be the producer of a “TV show” called The Visual Kitchen which is now featured on our launch site at seethelight.com
The show is a lighthearted attempt at providing a glimpse into the new Expression products, together with the power of the new version of Silverlight. It features Expression Blend and SketchFlow of course, along with Expression Web and Encoder.
We’d love you to join us “in the kitchen”…
Labels: Expression Studio 3, Silverlight, Sketchflow
posted by Wayne Smith @ 2:30 PM
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I strongly encourage you to take a look at the recording of the Scott Guthrie keynote and take a look at the amazing stuff we have in the works. From SuperPreview in Expression Web 3 to Sketchflow and behaviors in Expression Blend 3, we will be delivering some amazing, game changing features later this year. And the Silverlight 3 features that lit up the Twitter feeds are available to use in the Blend 3 Preview announced. Please feel free to grab them today!
Labels: Microsoft Expression, MIX09, Silverlight, Sketchflow
posted by Wayne Smith @ 11:35 AM
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I haven't really been blogging all the intermediate releases of the Expression products, but today I had to call out the new preview of Blend 2. This version really starts to roll out some of our new features and there are some great ones that I've been excited about. My favorite has to be the new animation capabilities, in particular the vertex animation. But there's plenty in there to keep you playing for hours. A breadcrumb trail for control elements, the split Design/XAML view.
All it all, excellent work from the dev crew! Give it a spin and let us have your feedback!
Labels: Expression Blend, Microsoft Expression, Silverlight, WPF
posted by Wayne Smith @ 11:43 AM
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Very cool to see Silverlight already appearing in the nominations for award polls like these despite it not having shipped yet! Over the course of the next few months, I'll be blogging more and more about the specifics of designing for Silverlight using the Expression tools, in conjunction of course with the release of previews of various Expression products that support it.
Just as a reminder at the moment, you can work with Silverlight with Expression Design, the preview of Expression Blend 2 and the preview of Expression Media Encoder. Watch out for refreshes in the months ahead.Labels: Microsoft Expression, Silverlight
posted by Wayne Smith @ 4:12 PM
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I have been working in and around the world of digital media since its inception in the early eighties, now as a Group Product Manager for Microsoft responsible for Microsoft Expression. I was one of the early pioneers of Desktop Publishing and thanks to a background in telecomms and photography, I quickly saw the potential of the Internet and have been involved with some fascinating web projects throughout the years. I have spoken at lots of conferences and exhibitions throughout these years - a part of my job that I particularly enjoy. I’m a musician too with a love of most music, but especially Irish/Celtic. I guess my biggest hobby as such, is running the internet life of musician Rick Wakeman! Family wise, my wife is Jo and I have five children, Stephanie (18) and Maegan (16) and with Jo, Alana (7) and Liam (5) and Jake (2).
