Microsoft Unveils Silverlight to Power the Next Generation of Media
`Experiences on the Web; Leading media companies and solution providers
`announce support for new solution for video and interactivity on Mac- and
`Windows-based Web browsers.
`
`PR Newswire US
`
`April 16, 2007 Monday 4:01 AM GMT
`
`Copyright 2007 PR Newswire Association LLC. All Rights Reserved.
`
`Length: 2043 words
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`Dateline: LAS VEGAS April 16
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`Body
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`LAS VEGAS, April 16 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Today at the 2007 National Association of Broadcasters
`conference (NAB2007), Microsoft Corp. unveiled Microsoft(R) Silverlight(TM), a new cross-browser, cross-platform
`plug-in for delivering the next generation of media experiences and rich interactive applications (RIAs) for the Web.
`Early supporters of the new platform include Akamai Technologies Inc., Brightcove Inc., Eyeblaster Inc., Limelight
`Networks, Major League Baseball and Netflix Inc.
`
`(Logo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20000822/MSFTLOGO )
`
`Microsoft Silverlight, previously called Windows(R) Presentation Foundation Everywhere (WPF/E), integrates with
`existing Web technologies and assets to provide higher-quality experiences with lower costs for media delivery.
`Delivered to end users through a seamless, fast installation, Silverlight offers consistent experiences to both
`Macintosh and Windows users on a variety of browsers including Internet Explorer(R), Firefox and Safari.
`
`"Content providers are seeking a way to deliver rich interactive applications using the tools and skills they already
`have. They want an end- to-end solution that enables them to rapidly reach multiple platforms with reasonable
`deployment costs," said Bob Muglia, senior vice president of the Server and Tools Business at Microsoft. "Microsoft
`Silverlight delivers on this need and marks a real step forward for the industry. Silverlight is the only solution in the
`market today that enables content creators to tap into the broad ecosystem for Windows Media(R) technologies
`while taking the Web's rich interactive application experience to new levels."
`
`Leading media companies and solution providers have announced support for Silverlight including Akamai
`Technologies, Brightcove, Eyeblaster, Limelight Networks, Major League Baseball, NaviSite Inc., Netflix, Pinnacle
`Systems Inc., Rhozet Corp., Skinkers, Sonic Solutions, Tarari Inc., Telestream Inc. and Winnov. All have indicated
`plans to deliver Silverlight-based experiences for their viewers and customers.
`
`"We've consistently heard from the media companies that they want the ability to easily implement key technologies
`for Internet video and rich broadband experiences," said Bob Mason, chief technology officer at Brightcove. "With
`the release of Silverlight, Microsoft is bringing rich interactive experiences coupled with the VC-1 video standard
`into the browser, and we're excited to announce plans to support this technology and continue to give our
`customers access to the cutting-edge technologies that will drive the growth of Internet TV."
`
` Silverlight Scales From HD to Mobile, With Peace of Mind for Content
` Owners
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`Charter Ex. 1148
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`Page 2 of 5
`Microsoft Unveils Silverlight to Power the Next Generation of Media Experiences on the Web; Leading media
`companies and solution providers announce support for ....
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`Silverlight uses Windows Media Video (WMV), Microsoft's implementation of the Society of Motion Picture and
`Television Engineers (SMPTE) VC-1 video standard, enabling immediate compatibility with the millions of hours of
`content already available on the Web, and adds support for interactive video experiences that scale from full-screen
`high-definition (HD) to mobile scenarios.
`
`"Netflix is leading the way for people to rent movies for instant viewing over the Internet," said Netflix Chief Product
`Officer Neil Hunt. "With 6.3 million members now and millions more in the next few years, Netflix needs rapid and
`reliable scalability so all members can enjoy DVD-quality movies immediately on our instant-viewing feature. We
`depend on Microsoft Windows Media technologies, and we're excited about Microsoft Silverlight as a platform to
`enable instant watching of great content for all our members, on multiple platforms."
`
`Silverlight customers will also enjoy compatibility with the broad ecosystem of Windows Media-enabled tools and
`solutions, and the proven scalability and reliability of the Emmy Award-winning Windows Media technologies. At the
`discretion of content providers, Silverlight will also deliver digital rights management support built on the recently
`announced Microsoft PlayReady(TM) content access technology - with feature parity on Windows and Mac.
`
`Microsoft Expands Reach of .NET Framework
`
`Based on the Microsoft .NET Framework, Silverlight enables developers and designers to easily use existing skills
`and tools to deliver media experiences and RIAs for the Web with role-specific tools: for designers, Microsoft
`Expression(R) Studio, and for developers, Visual Studio(R). New tool and server investments for media
`professionals include the following:
`
` -- Expression Media Encoder. Microsoft Expression Media Encoder, which
`
` will be a feature of Microsoft Expression Media, enables rapid import,
`
` compression and Web publishing of digital video imported from a variety
` of popular formats, including AVI and QuickTime, into WMV. Capable of
`
` running on the desktop or Windows Server(R), Expression Media Encoder
` is a template-driven system that integrates seamlessly into existing
`
` Web publishing workflows for both live and on-demand content delivery.
`
` Expression Media Encoder will be a free download for customers of
`
` Expression Media when it is shipped later this year.
`
` -- Hardware-accelerated video publishing. When paired with a Tarari
`
` Encoder Accelerator, Expression Media Encoder reduces encode times by
` up to 15 times over software alone, a significant capabilities and cost
`
` advantage for publishing Web video today.
` -- Even greater scalability with Windows Server, code-named "Longhorn."
`
` Building on the industry-leading streaming and Web server platform,
`
` Windows Server "Longhorn" will enable customers to experience up to
` twice the scalability on the same hardware when compared with Windows
`
` Server 2003. Also being announced today is the Internet Information
`
` Services 7 (IIS7) Media Pack, which adds new cost-saving features such
` as bit-rate throttling and other advanced features designed to help
`
` further reduce the cost of media distribution. The IIS7 Media Pack will
` be a free download for customers of Windows Server "Longhorn" when it
` ships.
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`Page 3 of 5
`Microsoft Unveils Silverlight to Power the Next Generation of Media Experiences on the Web; Leading media
`companies and solution providers announce support for ....
`
`Microsoft Silverlight, Expression Media Encoder and Tarari Encoder Accelerator will be shown in Microsoft Booth
`SL3213, in the South Hall of the Las Vegas Convention Center. Microsoft's broader development platform and
`additional details about Silverlight will be shared in the keynote presentation at Microsoft's upcoming Mix07
`conference, April 30 in Las Vegas. Microsoft will also release the beta for Silverlight during the Mix07 conference.
`More information about the Mix07 event can be found at http://www.mix07.com/ .
`
`Founded in 1975, Microsoft (Nasdaq "MSFT") is the worldwide leader in software, services and solutions that help
`people and businesses realize their full potential.
`
`Microsoft, Silverlight, Windows, Internet Explorer, Windows Media, PlayReady, Expression, Visual Studio and
`Windows Server are trademarks of the Microsoft group of companies.
`
`The names of actual companies and products mentioned herein may be the trademarks of their respective owners.
`
`Partner Support for Silverlight
`
`"Both Microsoft and Akamai believe in enabling lower-cost, highly available media delivery solutions that push rich
`user experiences to new heights. Silverlight represents a significant leap forward for customers looking for cost-
`effective rich media solutions with assured application delivery using Windows Media technologies. We agree that
`facilitating a standard way to distribute rich media is in the industry's best interest, and will be releasing tools in
`support of the Silverlight initiative to work hand in hand with our new Stream OS media management solution."
`
` - Paul Sagan
` President & CEO
` Akamai
`
`"Eyeblaster customers depend on us to simplify and translate technologies to deliver effective brand messages,
`regardless of how ads are distributed. Faced with increasing complexities associated with varying formats and
`development platforms, Silverlight provides an environment that is both familiar and flexible, enabling us to increase
`creative options for advertisers and develop truly immersive online campaigns."
`
` - Gal Trifon
` President and CEO
` Eyeblaster
`
`"High performance is integral to our success and ongoing leadership as a content delivery network. With Microsoft
`Silverlight, we're supporting a platform that will revolutionize the capabilities and experiences we can provide, using
`scalable and recognized technologies already deployed by our customers."
`
` - Nathan Raciborski
` Co-founder and Chief Technology Officer
` Limelight Networks
`
`"In an effort to continue providing the best content-delivery solutions available, our support for Silverlight will ensure
`that our customers have the next-generation capabilities to grow their business. Silverlight provides significant
`efficiencies by using familiar tools and technologies, all while enhancing the end-user experience by adding
`engaging graphics and interactivity."
`
` - Denis Martin
` Chief Technology Officer
` NaviSite
`
`"As a leading consumer video editing application, Pinnacle is constantly looking to provide our customers with new
`and creative ways to share their Pinnacle Studio projects with friends and family. We are very excited that our
`Studio customers can begin publishing Silverlight media today to enhance their Web-based social network
`experience - sharing media has never been so easy."
`
` - Jan Piros
`
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`Page 4 of 5
`Microsoft Unveils Silverlight to Power the Next Generation of Media Experiences on the Web; Leading media
`companies and solution providers announce support for ....
`
` Director of Product Management, Video Editing
` Pinnacle Systems
`
`"Microsoft Silverlight provides a comprehensive environment for delivering rich media experiences online and
`beyond. With the support of Rhozet's suite of transcoding solutions, content providers will gain tremendous
`versatility and efficiencies for rich video distribution to Silverlight-based experiences."
`
` - David Trescot
` CEO
` Rhozet
`
`"Skinkers collaborated with Microsoft to introduce the co-developed peer- to-peer technology behind LiveStation,
`and now we're advancing this solution with support for Silverlight. The peer-to-peer approach in LiveStation enables
`Web experiences on par with live TV with limited infrastructure investments. Add the next-generation interactive and
`media playback capabilities in Silverlight, and LiveStation experiences become even more powerful."
`
` - Matteo Berlucchi
` Co-Founder and CEO
` Skinkers
`
`"Through our PC-based, Roxio-branded consumer software applications, Sonic has helped millions create, manage
`and consume personal digital media content and entertainment. Silverlight provides a unique opportunity for Sonic
`to not only enhance these applications, but also develop fresh Web- and mobile device-based products that will
`power a new generation of richly interactive digital media experiences."
`
` - Dave Habiger
` President and CEO
`
` Sonic Solutions
`
`"Our strong relationship with Microsoft over the years has produced industry-leading video acceleration products
`that significantly accelerate encoding capabilities for content distribution using the Windows Media platform. We're
`continuing this successful collaboration by optimizing our Encoder Accelerator platform for the Expression Media
`Encoder to achieve unprecedented video-publishing efficiencies for Silverlight-based environments."
`
` - Jim Wilson
` CTO
`
` Microsoft Technologies
` Tarari
`
`"As a leader in encoding-based media workflow solutions, Telestream is pushing the boundaries of this evolving
`industry. Silverlight has the potential to reset the bar for online media experiences, and through our support for it
`Telestream will be at the forefront of solutions that enhance and drive adoption of this next-generation media
`delivery platform."
`
` - David Heppe
` President
` Telestream
`
`"Winnov's CBOX3 presentation appliances are specifically designed to provide effective knowledge dissemination
`through rich-media capture and distribution. With Silverlight, Winnov is enabling its customers to deliver richer, truly
`compelling playback experiences to an even broader on-demand and live broadcast viewership."
`
` - Olivier Garbe
` Founder and CEO
` Winnov
`
`CONTACT: Lauren Mayer, +1-425-452-5400, lmayer@webershandwick.com , Jason
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`Page 5 of 5
`Microsoft Unveils Silverlight to Power the Next Generation of Media Experiences on the Web; Leading media
`companies and solution providers announce support for ....
`
`Wellcome, +1-425-452-5400, jwellcome@webershandwick.com , both of Weber
`Shandwick
`
`Web site: http://www.microsoft.com/
`
`SOURCE Microsoft Corp.
`
`http://www.prnewswire.com
`
`Notes
`
`Note to editors: If you are interested in viewing additional information on Microsoft, please visit the Microsoft Web
`page at http://www.microsoft.com/presspass on Microsoft's corporate information pages. Web links, telephone
`numbers and titles were correct at time of publication, but may since have changed. For additional assistance,
`journalists and analysts may contact Microsoft's Rapid Response Team or other appropriate contacts listed at
`http://www.microsoft.com/presspass/contactpr.mspx.
`
`Load-Date: April 17, 2007
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`End of Document
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