Saturday, April 28, 2007 - Posts

Virtual Earth API V5

Virtual Earth API V5 is released

Just in time for your weekend coding pleasure, version 5 of the Virtual Earth Software Development Kit is live today. There's a boatload of new features and enhancements, among my favorites are mouse events for polygons and polylines and great layering support.

Welcome to version 5.0 of the Virtual Earth API.

  • import polylines and polygons using GeoRSS feeds.
  • bird’s eye panning experience from Live Search Maps that you know and love.
  • programmatic control of the mini map: show it, hide it, and move it around.
  • center a bird’s eye scene on a latlong more accurately.
  • a map control code base that is approximately 25% of its original size (from around 500kb to around 130kb).
  • we stopped fetching an extra ring of invisible tiles around the map view.  Want to turn it back on to improve initial panning?  No worries, we give you the choice.
  • two smaller navigation dashboards.
  • remove any or all of the Find method side effects, like the automatic map view change and the automatic display of pushpins.
  • The tile layer API is now more straightforward and easier to use.

    • A big pre-MIX07 surprise, like opening up a Christmas present a few days early....

    Now the best mapping API is better for the developer to find new ways to make mash-ups all over the world.
    posted Saturday, April 28, 2007 9:17 PM by paul with 0 Comments

    .NET Framework 3.5 Beta 1

    Microsoft .NET Framework 3.5 – Beta 1

    The Microsoft .NET Framework 3.5 Beta 1 is a preview release of the latest version of the .NET Framework.

    Many ISV’s, enterprises and Microsoft product teams are successfully building on the new features Windows Workflow Foundation (WF), Windows Communication Foundation (WCF), Windows Presentation Foundation (WPF) and Windows CardSpace in the .NET Framework 3.0. Microsoft plans to continue to invest in the .NET Framework developer platform and in support of existing users the .NET Framework 3.5 has a minimal number of breaking changes. So that existing applications built for .NET Framework 2.0 or .NET Framework 3.0 should continue to run without requiring changes.

  • Deep integration of Language Integrated Query (LINQ) and data awareness
  • ASP.NET AJAX for quickly creating more efficient, more interactive and highly-personalized Web experiences that work across all the most popular browsers
  • New web protocol support for building WCF services including AJAX, JSON, REST, POX, RSS, ATOM and several new WS-* standards
  • Full tooling support for WF, WCF and WPF including the new workflow-enabled services technology

    DOWNLOAD NOW

    • posted Saturday, April 28, 2007 9:22 AM by paul with 1 Comments

    Community Server Themes Contest

    Announcing Community Server 2007 Theming Extravaganza

    Community Server 2007 has made it easier than ever to design, modify, and manage custom themes. If that wasn’t enough incentive, we are going to hold the first ever Community Server Theming contest with some killer prizes.

    1. Best Theme Export  – Use the new dynamic theming functionality in Community Server 2007 to build a new theme. Most important part of this track is that you must be able to import/export the theme using the control panel. All files, CSS, and changes much be embedded in the single xml file generated by Community Server. The second rule of this contest is the theme must be based on one of the two default site themes Community Server 2007 ships out of the box.

    2. Best Damn Theme You Can Create – Track 2 removes all the rules from Track 1. This theme can be based on one of the two we ship, it can be a custom theme from the ground up and anything in between. You are free to add/edit any inline code as well as include any kind of custom code you like. The only restriction is you can NOT change any of the core Community Server code. These themes must work with the out of the box Community Server 2007 download.  You do NOT have to theme the control panel.

    For prizes and the rules check here, good luck!
    posted Saturday, April 28, 2007 9:16 AM by paul with 0 Comments