Microsoft has finally released a cross browser, cross platform (Internet Explorer, Safari, FireFox, Windows, Mac & Linux) plugin that has been under development for a few months. Microsoft Silverlight 1.0, formerly codename WPF/E, (Windows Presentation Foundation Everywhere) is Microsoft's answer to Adobe's Flash Player and promises seamless viewing of Silverlight enabled pages on the web.

Microsoft Silverlight is a very lightweight program which installs quietly after the 2MB download. Microsoft has been using a ''light up the web'' campaign to promote the use of this software while browsing - and with good reason. Very soon, Silverlight will be implemented in many pages around the web, effectively introducing a whole new level of next generation browsing (before the almighty shift to Web 2.0).

View information about Microsoft Silverlight at the Silverlight Website

Use this link to download Microsoft Silverlight 1.0

Try it for yourself! Download and install Silverlight 1.0 and view the Home Page of the website to see the difference!

Microsoft Silverlight 1.1 Alpha Refresh has also been released for developers to practice utilising the C# managed code to create their own Silverlight enabled pages. Obtain it here.

Alex Kara, head of Kara Media Corporation, rates this software 4/5 at this early stage, not because he has found any flaws, but because he has yet to see any intuitive application and implementation of this software.

Alex Kara