Growing concerns about the direction of Xaml-based applications
Microsoft, what the hell do you think you are doing by diverging WPF, Silverlight and Silverlight for WP7?? None of those 3 destination platforms have any solid foothold as of yet. By making different options of XAML available in different destination platforms, you’re only doing one thing: pissing off developers. Stop doing that, this is really simple:
WPF
WPF should be the mother of all xaml based apps and have every available technology to it – including webcam support as in silverlight, MEF, etc. WPF needs to be that “unlimited†target platform from which both silverlight and WP7 pick their features from.
Silverlight
Why oh why can I not use data triggers in SL? What is the reasoning for it? I know MS has “shifted focus†for Silverlight. This, in my ears, is bull. Silverlight on iOS and Android will give developers reason to use it. WPF alone cannot succeed as the only xaml-based platform, and SL makes sense for servicing the current craze of tablets and smart phones. Very few people will disagree when I say that MS powered devices (tablets and phones) are lagging far, far behind. For SL to be a success, it needs to penetrate iOS and Android. End of story. rest is just bull.
Silverlight for WP7
I accept that SilverLight for windows Phone 7 will offer different capabilities from Silverlight as a xap, but what I don’t get is why this version of Silverlight has to be a framework behind the current release of Silverlight web?? It makes no sense, whatsoever to keep developers in confusion station by not holding back releases until the technology is ready on all platforms!
Converge now!
What Microsoft needs to do, is to hold back releases, so they can do a unified XAML platform upgrade targetting windows, SL and WP7 with the same developer options and syntax. No data trigger support for WP7 means dont release it for Windows or SL either! This is FAR better for developers than the mess you’re giving us now! XAML as a developer platform, needs a unified version number, we dont want to have WPF for .Net 4.0, Silverlight 5.0 for web and SL 3.5 gutted for WP7.Â
So, where was I?
You may have notice that digitaldias was down for a week or two.
I’ve been using an SHDSL line (Single-Pair High-speed Digital Subscriber Line) for the last 6 years, giving me a whopping 2Mbit in both directions!
Recently, though, I’ve been on the lookout for higher download speeds, as iPads, laptops, and even the PS3 consume more and more information from the web. When I was offered the option of 20Mbit down, and 1Mbit up for much less moolah, I took it.
My blogs will load at half speed (as if you care!), but then again, I dont connect back to my office over VPN anymore, so I dodn’t have any good excuse to pay that much for a decent speed out anymore.
I still want higher output speed, for using skype in HD, but that’ll have to come when the prices (and availability) fits.
My ISP, Nextgentel delivered fast and reasonably priced this time. For that, they get a nice, well deserved kudos from me 
