Mix07 – One million minutes a month free streaming media

I blogged about the new streaming capabilities of Silverlight this morning.  I’ve found out a bit more of the story this afternoon.

Microsoft is setting up a global streaming  server network.  Is it competion for Amazon S3 or Akamai?  Microsoft say no, but I’m not sure I believe that story. 

Here is what I found on the Silverlight.live.com site.

While the product is in pre-release, storage and delivery is free up to 4 GB, with outbound streaming up to DVD quality (700 Kbps). As we move out of Beta, developers/designers will have continued use of the service with up to 1 million minutes of free video streaming at 700 Kpbs per site per month. Unlimited streaming will also be available for free with advertising, or with payment of a nominal fee for the service for use without advertising.

Robert Scoble says that the service isn’t a good fit for PodTech because of the 4GB cap.   Currently his show output streams would surpass this limit in a a few minutes.

No details of real costs until later in the beta cycle.

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Mix07 – New ASP.NET controls add support for Silverlight

ASP.NET has a new control that emits the necessary JavaScript to embed your Silverlight control on the web page.

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Mix07 – LINQ to be part of Silverlight runtime

Just announced.  Since C# and other managed languages are now part of the Silverlight coding universe you WILL be able to use LINQ code in your web apps

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Mix07 – Streaming media added to Silverlight

Apparently the latest builds of Silverlight will allow streaming of media to your application.  Normally this means you have to setup your own media server.  Then there is the latency issues, your European or Asian customers need a local sever or the video might be too slow to watch. 

I’m still a bit confused about the pieces.  This is what I think Microsoft is saying today.

 

1.  The Silverlight runtime will automatically stream content to the Silverlight video player.
2. Microsoft will provide a global streaming framework that you can host your videos

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Silverlight adds support for C# – first Microsoft managed code engine for Macs

Last year, when Silverlight was known as WPFe (Windows Presentation Foundation – Everywhere) Microsoft told us that it would be cross platform and programmable in C# and other .NET languages.   During all the CTP releases up until today  however the only programming language available was JavaScript and XAML.  During the last 4 months Microsoft has been strangely silent about C# support.  That all changed today.

Microsoft has been promising for weeks to reveal their future plans for Silverlight and other web technologies at Mix07 Las Vegas.  This morning Microsoft revealed that C# is finally available for programing Silverlight applications.  Hoorah.

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Blogging live from the Mix07 Blog Zone

Only in Vegas, only in Vegas.

I’m sitting in the Mix07 Blog Zone, and in walks Elvis.  Robert Scoble is live video blogging the event at http://ustream.tv/watch/channel/sl9Q3uQL8LZKUqO.4nJmiQ

See for yourself.  Elvis lives!

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Mix07 – Non Microsoft speakers (Dave Winer, Miguel de Icaza and whurley) on stage

There are so many good sessions at Mix this year.  I hope Microsoft posts videos of all the sessions as there is only one of me and a multitude of great sessions scheduled. I checked the Mix07 website and sure enough, Microsoft will be sharing the content

Starting on Monday morning, we’re going to be updating this page continually – people at home will be able to see all of the news, fun, live keynotes, sessions and partner demos coming out of the show. So, if you’re not able to be at the event, you can still experience MIX07. Subscribe to the feed and get ready for 72 hours of cool

This year there are a number of non Microsoft speakers taking part in the conversation.  Here are few highlights.

 

PANEL DISCUSSION: Designing the Perfect Podcast Player

Monday, April 30 3:00 PM – 4:15 PM, Delfino 4101A 

Speaker(s): Dave Winer

Audience(s): Business Decision Maker

No one makes it now but podcast listeners know what they want. Join Dave in a solidly spirited and productive discussion.

 

PANEL DISCUSSION: Open Source, the Web, Interoperability and Microsoft

Speaker(s): whurley – BMC Software, Rob Conery – SubSonic, Miguel de Icaza, Andi Gutmans – Zend Technologies, Sam Ramji – Microsoft, Mike Schroepfer – Mozilla

Audience(s): Developer

Participate in this “Open Letter to Microsoft” by talking to platform veterans and communicating your needs on MS/OSS interoperability. What does this community need to successfully co-mingling x-platforms and browsers?

 

Lessons Learned: Designer/Developer Productivity in Windows Presentation Foundation

Speaker(s): Jonathan Russ – IdentityMine, Josh Wagoner – IdentityMine

Audience(s): Business Decision Maker, Designer, Developer

Join the IdentityMine team for an in-depth discussion around lessons learned on Windows Presentation Foundation (WPF) designer/developer workflow and productivity. They look at several real world WPF applications they have built and show you how to help maximize productivity across the entire team from Graphic Designer to Interactive Designer to Developer. Also, get a sneak peek at several of IdentityMine’s forthcoming Blendables™ Brand WPF Control products and take the opportunity to participate in an open Q&A session with the team.

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Wintellect at Mix07

I don’t talk alot about my work here.  Mostly I like to prattle on about the interesting changes happening in the UI/Rich Client world.

Indulge me for a few minutes while I talk about one of my jobs.  I work as a trainer/consultant for Wintellect.   Last fall Jeffrey Richter convinced me to join the Wintellect family.  It’s been a great year so far and I’m enjoying the travel and intrigue. I teach a number of the Wintellect classes but I’m most excited about the WPF course.  It’s my baby, I’m responsible for creating and teaching the Mastering Windows Presentation Foundation course.  

What’s Wintellect doing at Mix07?

Jeff Prosise, one of the founders of Wintellect, and I will be at Mix07 Las Vegas.  Jeff has one session during the conference.

Go Deep with AJAX

Tuesday, May 1 2:15 PM – 3:30 PM, Lando 4301A 

Speakers: Matt Gibbs – Microsoft, Jeff Prosise – Wintellect LLC

Audience: Developer

Go below the surface of ASP.NET AJAX and see how the Microsoft AJAX Library and the ASP.NET AJAX server controls come together to create a rich platform for developing more immersive, responsive and interactive Web applications. Learn about how ASP.NET AJAX uses JSON serialization and the JavaScript proxies that are created for accessing Web services. The Microsoft AJAX Library provides an asynchronous request lifecycle; learn tips for working with the UpdatePanel control and ways to deploy scripts for greater performance.

Wintellect Mix-It-Up Party

We’re  (Wintellect) having a big pre-event dinner party on Sunday.  It’s an invitation-only event otherwise I’d ask all my WPF buddies to come by for drinks.  Wintellect, Burton Snowboards and Microsoft are all sponsoring the event and it looks like a fun evening.   

WPF/Silverlight believers

I love WPF and Silverlight.  You probably know that already if you’ve been reading my WpfWonderland blog for more than a couple days.  I’m not the only Wintellectual to hop on the RIA train though.

Last week I was at the Devscovery Denver conference.  Jeff Prosise had a number of sessions during the week covering ASP.NET, AJAX and Silverlight.   I don’t have the exact quote, so I’ll have to paraphrase. During one of Jeff’s Silverlight sessions he said that he thought Silverlight is likely to be the  “most significant web programming” tool to emerge from Microsoft this decade. and will have a major impact on anyone doing web development with Microsoft technologies.

 

-Walt Ritscher

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Who’s who at Mix07

Microsoft is creating an enormous set of tools for UI design and development.  Mix07 has become “the” conference for Microsoft to explain their tools and plans to the web-world. It’s not just Microsoft employees on the stage.  They’ve invited speakers from every corner of the web world. 

• Jesse James Garrett
• Jeff Prosise
• Nathan Dunlap
• Jeff Barr
• Dave Winer
• Don Box
• Filipe Fortes
• Marc Cantor
• whurley
• Miguel de Icaza
• Andi Gutmans
• Mike Schroepfer
• Dave Morin
• Evan Williams
• Jim Benedetto
• Allen Hurff
• Anders Hejlsberg
• Lee Brimelow
• Jesse Liberty

Companies

Microsoft is working hard to round up partners that believe in the .NET/WPF/ASP.NET/Silverlight vision.  Not every company on this list endorses the Microsoft plan, but they’re coming to Mix to participate in the conversation.

• Yahoo
• Mozilla
• Frog Design
• Wintellect
• Verio
• Match.com
• AOL
• MySpace
• New York Times
• LiveTech
• Electric Rain
• Six Apart
• Facebook
• SmugMug
• Amazon
• SPI Dynamics
• Subsonic
• BMC Software
• Zend Technologies
• ABC
• Coca Cola
• Scripting News
• Technorati
• IdentityMine
• FutureLab
• Adaptive Path
• Novell
• Redfin
• AKQA
• The Economist

The future

I wonder who’ll join these lists after Mix07?

 

-Walt Ritscher

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Mix07 – Lunch with Scott Guthrie – Questions about Silverlight, WPF

You never know what’s going to happen at a good conference.  If you’re lucky a speaker or session lights a fire in your brain.  You walk out of the room with a wicked glow in your eye and you can’t wait to talk to someone about all the ideas sizzling inside your head.

At a bad conference you leave a session shaking your head saying “what a waste of my time and money.”

There is the schmoozing and mingling with the attendees and speakers. You might make a new friend at a late night bull session or have a fascinating conversation with someone while standing in line to get a coffee and pastry.   

Then there are the unexpected invitations to side events.   A product demo held during lunch, a  last minute invite to a startup cocktail party or a chance encounter with an old friend .

Last minute Lunch

What I’m saying, I guess, is that my plans are never stable until the event is over and I’m on the plane home*.

That brings me to the topic of this post.  I’m having lunch with Scott Guthrie next week.  It’s a last minute surprise, I added it to my calendar today.

Scott’s a smart guy and I’d say he’s the one of the primary forces behind Microsoft’s new web-think.  Among his many duties he manages the WPF and Silverlight teams so he’s the guy that knows what’s happening in the WPF world.   I’ve got a few questions for Scott.  I’ll bet I have a lot more after the Mix keynotes.

My questions for you is… what would you ask Scott if you had 10 minutes of his time?

 

*Unless I’m on the speaker roster at the conference.  Obviously I know when my sessions are and what room to to look for.

 

-Walt Ritscher

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Bloggers welcomed with open arms at Mix07 Las Vegas

More and more conferences are embracing the blogger community.   Several recent Microsoft conferences have tried making it easier for attendees, conference staff and reporters to blog the event. Jeff Sandquist (Microsoft, Channel 9) just emailed me some information the Mix07 Blogzone.

The Mix07 BlogZone (aka Blogger Lounge)

If you’re planning on live blogging a conference you probably have a list of essential services that you’d like to see at the event site.   I’ll bet the first item on your  list is access to a fast, free and reliable Internet connection.  I thought so.

 

The Mix crew has some good news for bloggers.  The Mix Blogzone will be on the 3rd floor of the Venetion tower.  Follow the the signs that lead to a room outfitted to make any blogger happy.

• Live streaming of all Mix content to jumbo widescreen plasma TVs
• Free food
• Free drinks (Jeff didn’t specify if that include alcohol)
• Free wireless — fast enough to upload video streams.  That’s what I heard
• Gamezone — area dedicated to XBox 360s to relieve the stress of the 24 hour a day conference lifestyle
• Video interviews
• Opens at 8:00 AM.  Closes at ?? 

I know I’ll be in the lounge as much as my schedule permits.  See you there.

 

-Walt Ritscher

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Mix07, Silverlight and WPF

I’m going to the Mix07 conference next week.  This is my first time, couldn’t make it last year, and I’m really looking forward to the conference.   For the last week I’m been deluged with email describing some of the new events or invitations to dinner, lunch and coffee.  I’m going to be busy, how about you?

Microsoft is unveiling a lot of secrets at Mix07.  Should be fun… to see what our reaction will be to the latest web plans from Redmond. Naturally there will be a lot of talk about Silverlight.  The latest buzz acronym (RIA – Rich Internet Applications) will be part of every conversation.

-Walt Ritscher

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WPFe is now officially named Silverlight

This week is the National Association of Broadcasters conference.  Microsoft used the conference as an opportunity to announce the new name for WPFe.   After waiting months for this announcement I’m happy to to say that Microsoft picked a good name — Silverlight.

I thought the plan was to reveal the name at Mix07.  I was wrong about that.    I hear there are plenty of other secrets to be uncovered at Mix though.  Here’s a teaser from Tim Sneath.

I can’t reveal this yet – there’s a big surprise up our collective corporate sleeve that will be announced at MIX. I hate to hold back on you, but anticipation is part of the pleasure, as my mother used to tell me as a child when I was waiting impatiently for Christmas to come!

Guess I’ll have to go back and recategorize all my WPFe posts!

Read more at:

• Tim Sneath announcement
• Microsoft press release
• UX blog

 

-Walt Ritscher

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XBAP published for my AutoCenter Slider post

I managed to get the the webserver working correctly and the XBAP is deployed for the AutoCenter slider article.

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The complexity behind WPF 3D

The WPF API’s work hard to abstract away the grungy details of rendering pixels to the computer screen.   It’s still work to build nice looking user interfaces but it’s getting easier to think about the design instead of worrying about video buffers and framerates.  The complexity is still there, but someone at Microsoft is dealing with it so that we don’t have to.

Talking about the details

I was reminded of this today when I read this forum thread today.   David Teitlebaum (Microsoft) explains why a 3D animation is running so slowly on a particular video card.

From David:

WPF3D will use 4x multisampling on vista by default, so your 1280 x 1024 viewport3d is being rendered into 2560x 2048 mltisample color and depth buffers. Color will be be 4 bytes per pixel (RGBA), depth will be 4 (3 byte depth, 1 byte stencil). Each multisample texture write requires a texel (4 bytes) of readback (since alpha is enabled) and a depth readback for ztest (4 bytes) Moreover, image brushes use mip mapping, so each texel read is actually 8 reads (4 for bilinear from each of the two relevant mip map levels). Actually I think we’re using anisotropic filtering but I’ll ignore that. We use multisampling instead of supersampling, so the number of texel reads isn’t again multiplied by 4.
The contents from the multisample buffer have to be downsampled/copied into the window’s shared surface each frame, and that surface’s content has to be copied to the back buffer each frame.
The dirty regions of the viewport3d’s multisample buffers (color + depth) have to be cleared each frame.
So you’re
  writing (2560x 2048) * (4+ 4) [clear dirty multisample buffers]
  writing (2560x 2048) * (4 + 4) [multisample color + depth write]
  reading (2560x 2048) * (4 + 4) [alpha and z read]
  reading (1280 x 1024) * 8 [using 2 mip levels with 4 reads each for bilinear]
  reading (2560x 2048) * 4 [read finished multisample buffer]
  writing (1280 x 1024) * 4 [write it into shared surface]
  reading (1280 x 1024)* 4 [copy dirty shared surface to back buffer]
  writing (1280 x 1024) * 4

Ok, so I did the math and get that the video memory bandwidth is 173 megabytes (173,015,040 bytes) per frame. At 60 fps, that translates to 10 gigabytes (10380902400 bytes) per second.
According to this page, the go 7400 has 7.2 GB/s of memory bandwidth. So you are probably video memory bandwidth-limited and this is causing your crappy frame rate.
Disable multisampling, disable clip to bounds, and make your viewport3d smaller if possible.

 

-Walt Ritscher

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