We just reported on Microsoft’s early previews of IE10, where the core concepts centralize around improving the browser’s”new web standards” approach and compatibility. This means that CSS 3 and HTML 5 are both going to be smoother, faster, and simply better as Internet Explorer continues development. However, pushing for these new web standards also has a peculiar drawback for Microsoft: it threatens other company products, such as Silverlight.
As HTML 5 becomes far more capable, Silverlight becomes far less necessary; while the unique advantages (such as smooth streaming and digital rights management) of the Microsoft alternative to flash were once crucial, they are now being made redundant. Microsoft’s awareness of this fact became painfully clear and Mix2011 when Giorgio Sardo gave a presentation on HTML 5 designed for current users of Silverlight.
It wasn’t simply the nature of the presentation, however; it was that Sardo himself was unable to give Silverlight his full support. He tip-toed around the subject for some time, making statements such as, “I’m sure you know your customers better than anyone else,” and, “I’m not going to judge which [Silverlight or HTML 5] works better.” However, Sardo did continue to state that HTML 5’s maturation over the past couple of years have made it a more versatile and capable development platform. “I believe HTML5 is ready,” said Sardo. “I think Microsoft is ready for HTML5.”
That pushes Silverlight into a more confined development world: that of offline development. While this does mean thatSilverlight will still have numerous uses (such as in tablet, smartphone, and desktop applications, or in enterprise programs such as Microsoft SharePoint), it will also be second best when contrasted with modern web standards. While Microsoft is defending the current but more limited uses of Silverlight, it’s clear that this once “on the cusp” technology is taking its back-seat position without too much complaint.
[via The Register]
