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Microsoft's SkyDrive Drops Silverlight
mikejuk writes "Microsoft's SkyDrive, a web service that provides cloud storage for end user files, has just acquired a revamped user interface — and it is HTML5 based. Yes, another Microsoft website has dropped Silverlight. How can Microsoft expect independent developers to base their future on Silverlight when Microsoft itself is abandoning it like a sinking ship? Whatever happened to 'eating your own dog food'? It seems that now Microsoft would rather eat dog food made elsewhere..."
So Microsoft starts using standards compliant HTML5 instead of Silverlight on their sites and you bash them for it? Seriously?
And regardless, HTML5 was nowhere to be seen when Silverlight came out. It was needed back then, if only as a competitor for Flash. Have you noticed Silverlight hasn't even had the same security concerns and exploits as Flash?
This is a good thing from Microsoft, not bad. Stop bashing them for everything they do, even if its a good thing.
Sure, it's stabbing their "Developers! Developers! Developers!" in the back, but isn't it a positive that they moving to more widespread technologies?
Whatever happened to posting stories that aren't filled with FUD and hate? Maybe HTML5 is more standards compliant and more widely available on other things... like say... Mobile devices... Which are probably one of the places many people would want to access the 'cloud' from. Or perhaps silverlight is too heavy for the task of being a portal UI... Whatever happened to using the right tool for the right job?
I don't care what you say, all I need is my Wumpabet soup.
"How can Microsoft expect independent developers to base their future on Silverlight when Microsoft itself is abandoning it like a sinking ship?"
They don't expect people to base their future on Silverlight. Why would anyone think that at this point?
Except for ending slavery, the Nazis, communism, & securing American independence, war has never solved anything.
Now all we need is Netflix to abandon Silverlight...
How many Netflix subscribers actually use the PC version? Given how few PCs are connected to TV-sized monitors, I'd guess that most Netflix streaming happens on Wii, Xbox 360, PS3, or BD players.
Microsoft is embracing a STANDARD that isn't tied to a closed language they invented. Oh, the horror. I know, it's terrible for coders that learned Silverlight. Once upon a time, I learned Pascal. I used it. It did stuff for me. And the industry moved on, and Pascal is useless to me now. It's not even on my resume, because it's pointless. We're sorry that the world's progress risks making the time you spent learning that language/tool obsolete. Please move on.
I do develop in silverlight and like it quite a bit. I think it is much easier to develop in than a web app any day. Sometimes the better technology does not always win the fight. We have to embrace was does win and go with it. Welcome back to the days of this app only works in browser X version Y.
Sounds like doomed either way?
Most corporations don't need Silverlight anyways even with HTML 4 and ASP.NET you were able to make apps that needs to get done on a corporate level.
AJAX killed ActiveX, To bad those Old guys at IT in those corporations don't know that.
If something is so important that you feel the need to post it on the internet... It probably isn't that important.
Most of the blog posts that I read about this mention how SkyDrive still uses Silverlight, and the posts are torn on how good/bad this is. I've been using SkyDrive for a few years now with a browser that doesn't have Silverlight, and besides uploading through the webclient, I can't much of a difference. Just because SkyDrive starting using one tool (HTML5) doesn't mean they completly stopped using another tool (Silverlight). Sure there's overlap, but SkyDrive will most likely be using both for the foreseable future.
I've used SkyDrive infrequently but I have only ever noticed Silverlight being used for 3 things. 1) Video playback 2) Picture albums/slide show 3) File uploading It looks like they only removed it for the first 2. SilverLight still comes up for the advanced file uploading. Also can someone show me where HTML 5 is used on the site other than CSS 3 opacity (which isn't technically HTML5 but comes along for the ride in every browser that supports HTML5) and the DOCTYPE? Please don't jump all over me if you find some HTML5, it's just not really obvious that any HTML that didn't exist in HTML 4 is there from a quick look at the page source on many of the pages:) This is a nice redesign, but it doesn't seem like anyone should be using this as a HTML 5 showcase.
Microsoft did not realize the significance of TCP/IP when they released windows 95 .net fat client platform still thinking fat clients is where it is at.
Microsoft rolled out their
Virtual Earth failed to compete with Google Earth
Failed mobile phones
Failed MP3 players
Feel free to add to the long list.
Siverlight is just a small blip because it did not get the uptake MS had hoped for. They do this all the time. They try to compete on all fronts and never excel anywhere. MS product path is littered with abandoned poorly executed ideas some of which might have made it if they only committed to it. I feel sorry for those software companies that put all their eggs in the MS basket because their .net codebase will in the not too distant future be obsolete too.
It should be clear to everyone that operating systems are no longer significant. Running fat clients locally is no longer where it is at. PC's and Laptops are no longer the core device on which applications run. So the MS tax (Windows) on every PC will come to an end. MS is already far too late to change their direction with Windows and if MS doesn't get onto the web based bandwagon with MS Office quickly they will lose that profitable market as well.
It is a pity but unavoidable that successful companies get too big and too slow to respond to changes. Although it is thanks to MS that computing has become so accessible to the masses. They failed to pay attention over the last decade and foolishly thought they could direct their market. Developers trusting anything that MS put out over the last 5 years will wish they had not, no matter the promised potential.
Google was the new kid on the block with some amazing innovation but look closely at Google today and you can see the same warning signals. It is only a matter of time before the next company will take over from them.
I vote for a flying chair icon.