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Microsoft brings Silverlight video to the iPhone, without a plugin
The ongoing on saga of Flash on the iPhone (or, more to the point, the lack thereof) has been frustrating to users and developers alike. Adobe's even gone as far as creating Flash-to-iPhone app technology to bridge the gap. Meanwhile, Microsoft just scored a big coup by announcing that Silverlight video will work on the iPhone. In fact, you can already view a demonstration.It's not as if Microsoft brokered some secret deal with Apple that Adobe couldn't. Instead, they made their own software stream Quicktime-compatible video to the iPhone using the HTML5 video tag. That means you don't need a plugin to view Silverlight video, you can just watch the same H.264 stream that sites like YouTube use on the iPhone. It also doesn't mean all Silverlight content providers will automatically stream H.264, but at least they have the option. Nice one, Microsoft!
[via Betanews]
Comments
18
Subscribe to commentsCjNov 28th 2009 10:07AM
So they bring this to iphone but not Zune? Jerks.
KeegdnaBNov 28th 2009 5:37PM
I'm sure it's in the cards. They probably put it in the iphone first because of the "nyeh nyeh nyeh nyeh nyeh" factor....they can gloat about how they did what apple/adobe won't stop fighting about to do.
Justin ColtonNov 28th 2009 10:32AM
any comment will do!
r3loadedNov 28th 2009 10:51AM
I hope Silverlight gains more traction - it's a lot less of a CPU hog than Flash.
GenericNov 28th 2009 12:04PM
Hey, then why does Silverlight have to be installed on Windows. Is Microsoft messing with all of us just because they can!
ArnieNov 28th 2009 1:20PM
Because not everyone has a HTML5 compatible browser. Also, the plugin better utilizes the underlying hardware until HTML5 browsers come out. I love Silverlight, its so much better than Flash video.
Jason DashNov 28th 2009 1:35PM
Because Silverlight does far more than play video? It's a "Rich Internet Application" framework, for developing actual programs that run in your browser (and now out as of 3.0). The video player is just one implementation of their technology, and Microsoft have got this to work on the iPhone by bypassing Silverlight altogether :P
Zachary WaldowskiNov 28th 2009 12:23PM
Am I the only one who finds it ironic that Microsoft not only used open-source Blender movie "Big Buck Bunny".... but also gave a copyright citation at the bottom?
dcNov 28th 2009 3:08PM
Why is that ironic?
MattNov 28th 2009 3:59PM
Umm... what does this have to do with Silverlight? They brought IIS Smooth Streaming to the iPhone, without Silverlight.
cwiseNov 30th 2009 11:07AM
Matt is right, this is not silverlight, this is streaming h.264 from silverlight media servers. If you are calling this 'silverlight on the iphone', guess what- 'flash on the iphone' has already happened. Youtube's player is flash based, but will instead serve up h.264 streams for iphones whenever a h.264 stream is available for the particular video.
LuddyNov 28th 2009 9:13PM
Yay! Maybe I'll be able to stream Netflix to my iphone :D here's hoping to being able to watch my instant queque without having to be at my desk or in the living room :D
laserboyjcNov 28th 2009 10:31PM
Netflix streaming on the iPhone/iPod Touch is exactly what I look forward to. This little demo from Microsoft looks pretty sharp, much better than how some YouTube videos appear all grainy. Some might think the screen is too small for movies, but it works for me; how big does your tv look anyway when sitting several feet away? Anyway, I say bring on the innovation and updates.
laserboyjcNov 28th 2009 10:32PM
Also, is it just me or does anyone find the creatures in that video disturbing...like evil little children? Anyhow, signing off...
GaryNov 28th 2009 11:31PM
Matt's right, this is misinformation. This is NOT Silverlight on the iPhone, just video streaming through IIS. They have a tab just for iPhone and everything, which I'm sure they just loved showing everyone at PDC.
sdra_brmanNov 29th 2009 3:29AM
I'm not an expert but Microsoft offers a couple of development kits that might be what you're looking for:
MikeNov 29th 2009 6:30AM
Just as I don't use a hammer to crack an egg, I don't use my iPhone for something that works better or I can enjoy more on my desktop or laptop. I hope Adobe never puts Flash on the iPhone.
Brian!Nov 29th 2009 4:07PM
This is sooooo marginally useful. On the off occasion that you are only using Silverlight to host a video clip and nothing else. Part of the appeal of Silverlight (as well as Flash) is to have the ability to create rich user experiences.
Also, I never get the Flash haters. These days I never find my computer slowing down because of Flash (granted, it is a fast computer) and there are so many cool sites that I find myself visiting that utilize flash really well. Just take a gander at what can be done:
http://thefwa.com/
Personally, I wish that a true motion graphics engine like Flash became part of every OS, controllable by Javascript. But since HTML5 isn't going to create the awesome sites I am thinking of, Flash and Silverlight are here to stay.
I hope that they do come to the iPhone. There are so many cool user experiences people could create without having to go through the Apple store approval crap.