Microsoft have released both the end-user runtime version and Software Developer’s Kit of Silverlight 3 earlier than expected; ahead of today’s official launch product in San Francisco at the Microsoft Worldwide Partner Conference.
Microsoft’s Silverlight 3 media player is seen as their answer to Adobe’s Flash.
However, just as important is that Silverlight 3 will enable the web-based version of Microsoft Office which will be released next week for testing by Microsoft Partners.
The online version of Microsoft Office is called Microsoft Web Office and will be part of Microsoft Office’s 2010 version.
Given this week’s news that Google are releasing a PC OS, Silverlight 3 is even more important as Web Office is effectively Microsoft’s challenge to Google’s online applications suite, Google Apps.
Silverlight 3 is available for Mac and Windows.
Download Microsoft Silverlight 3 player
