Silverlight - What, Where and How? - 3 Part Screencast

Channel 9 has posted a three part silverlight screencast. What is covered in this series?

- Why Silverlight? What is Microsoft up to?
- Web Development today - the need for User Experience
- What is this XAML stuff? WPF?
- Good Overview and hands on with Expression Blend
- What you need to get started today and where you can get it. Does it cost anything?
- Demos sprinkled throughout to help reinforce concepts
- I take you step by step in creating your first Silverlight application (yes I used 2.0 this time).
- Storyboards, Images, setting properties, firing/capturing events, using the VS2008 Tools, even adding Ink support.
- Just for giggles I also show how easy it is to put the new control inside a Vista Gadget.
- Lots of links to additional resources and where you can get more help.

Part 1: Watch the screencast(WMV)
Part 2: Watch the screencast(WMV)
Part 3: Watch the screencast(WMV)

Screen Cast: SQL Server 2008 – FILESTREAM, WPF and HTTP

This screencast shows how videos stored in SQL Server 2008 varbinary(max) using the FILESTREAM attribute can be server to a WPF Windows client application via an ASPX.NET web application over HTTP.
You can download the sample code from the SQL Server End to End Community Samples here.

Watch the screencast(WMV)

Pro C# 2008 and the .NET 3.5 Platform, Fourth Edition by Andrew Troelsen

Apress has published their latest C# book: Pro C# 2008 and the .NET 3.5 Platform, Fourth Edition
By Andrew Troelsen
ISBN10: 1-59059-884-9
ISBN13: 978-1-59059-884-9
1370 pp.
Published on Nov 2007

Download a sample chapter here: Ch. 01 - The Philosophy of .NET
Download bonus chapters here

Table of contents:

Part 1 Introducing C# and the .NET Platform

CHAPTER 1 The Philosophy of .NET
Understanding the Previous State of Affairs
The .NET Solution
Introducing the Building Blocks of the .NET Platform (the CLR, CTS,
and CLS)
Additional .NET-Aware Programming Languages
An Overview of .NET Assemblies
Understanding the Common Type System
Understanding the Common Language Specification
Understanding the Common Language Runtime
The Assembly/Namespace/Type Distinction
Exploring an Assembly Using ildasm.exe
Exploring an Assembly Using Lutz Roeder’s Reflector
Deploying the .NET Runtime
The Platform-Independent Nature of .NET
Summary

CHAPTER 2 Building C# Applications
The Role of the .NET Framework 3.5 SDK.
Building C# Applications Using csc.exe
Building .NET Applications Using TextPad.
Building .NET Applications Using Notepad++.
Building .NET Applications Using SharpDevelop
Building .NET Applications Using Visual C# 2008 Express..
Building .NET Applications Using Visual Studio 2008.
A Partial Catalog of Additional .NET Development Tools
Summary.

Part 2 Core C# Programming Constructs

CHAPTER 3 Core C# Programming Constructs, Part I
The Anatomy of a Simple C# Program.
An Interesting Aside: Some Additional Members of the System.Environment Class
The System.Console Class.
System Data Types and C# Shorthand Notation
Understanding the System.String Type
Narrowing and Widening Data Type Conversions
C# Iteration Constructs..
Decision Constructs and the Relational/Equality Operators..
Summary

CHAPTER 4 Core C# Programming Constructs, Part II
Methods and Parameter Modifiers..
Understanding Member Overloading
Array Manipulation in C#..
Understanding the Enum Type
Understanding the Structure Type.
Understanding Value Types and Reference Types..
Value and Reference Types: Final Details.
Understanding C# Nullable Types.
Summary

CHAPTER 5 Defining Encapsulated Class Types.
Introducing the C# Class Type
Understanding Class Constructors.
The Role of the this Keyword
Understanding the static Keyword.
Defining the Pillars of OOP
C# Access Modifiers
The First Pillar: C#’s Encapsulation Services
Understanding Constant Data
Understanding Read-Only Fields..
Understanding Partial Types
Documenting C# Source Code via XML..
Visualizing the Fruits of Our Labor.
Summary

CHAPTER 6 Understanding Inheritance and Polymorphism.
The Basic Mechanics of Inheritance
Revising Visual Studio Class Diagrams
The Second Pillar: The Details of Inheritance
Programming for Containment/Delegation
The Third Pillar: C#’s Polymorphic Support
Understanding Base Class/Derived Class Casting Rules
The Master Parent Class: System.Object.
Summary

CHAPTER 7 Understanding Structured Exception Handling
Ode to Errors, Bugs, and Exceptions
The Role of .NET Exception Handling.
The Simplest Possible Example..
Configuring the State of an Exception
System-Level Exceptions (System.SystemException)
Application-Level Exceptions (System.ApplicationException)
Processing Multiple Exceptions..
The Finally Block.
Who Is Throwing What?.
The Result of Unhandled Exceptions
Debugging Unhandled Exceptions Using Visual Studio
Summary

CHAPTER 8 Understanding Object Lifetime
Classes, Objects, and References.
The Basics of Object Lifetime
The Role of Application Roots
Understanding Object Generations..
The System.GC Type
Building Finalizable Objects
Building Disposable Objects
Building Finalizable and Disposable Types.
Summary

Part 3 Advanced C# Programming Constructs
CHAPTER 9 Working with Interfaces
Understanding Interface Types
Defining Custom Interfaces.
Implementing an Interface
Invoking Interface Members at the Object Level..
Interfaces As Parameters.
Interfaces As Return Values
Arrays of Interface Types.
Implementing Interfaces Using Visual Studio 2008.
Resolving Name Clashes via Explicit Interface Implementation
Designing Interface Hierarchies..
Building Enumerable Types (IEnumerable and IEnumerator)
Building Cloneable Objects (ICloneable)..
Building Comparable Objects (IComparable).
Understanding Callback Interfaces..
Summary308

CHAPTER 10 Collections and Generics
The Interfaces of the System.Collections Namespace
The Class Types of System.Collections..
System.Collections.Specialized Namespace.
The Boxing, Unboxing, and System.Object Relationship..
The Issue of Type Safety and Strongly Typed Collections..
The System.Collections.Generic Namespace
Creating Custom Generic Methods..
Creating Generic Structures and Classes.
Creating a Custom Generic Collection
Creating Generic Base Classes
Creating Generic Interfaces.
Summary

CHAPTER 11 Delegates, Events, and Lambdas
Understanding the .NET Delegate Type..
Defining a Delegate in C#.
The System.MulticastDelegate and System.Delegate Base Classes.
The Simplest Possible Delegate Example.
Retrofitting the Car Type with Delegates..
A More Elaborate Delegate Example
Understanding Delegate Covariance
Creating Generic Delegates
Understanding C# Events.
The Generic EventHandler Delegate..
Understanding C# Anonymous Methods..
Understanding Method Group Conversions.
The C# 2008 Lambda Operator..
Summary

CHAPTER 12 Indexers, Operators, and Pointers
Understanding Indexer Methods
Understanding Operator Overloading.
Understanding Custom Type Conversions..
Working with Pointer Types
C# Preprocessor Directives.
Summary414

CHAPTER 13 C# 2008 Language Features
Understanding Implicitly Typed Local Variables
Understanding Automatic Properties
Understanding Extension Methods..
Understanding Partial Methods..
Understanding Object Initializer Syntax..
Understanding Anonymous Types.
Summary

CHAPTER 14 An Introduction to LINQ
Understanding the Role of LINQ..
A First Look at LINQ Query Expressions..
LINQ and Generic Collections
LINQ and Nongeneric Collections..
The Internal Representation of LINQ Query Operators
Investigating the C# LINQ Query Operators.
LINQ Queries: An Island unto Themselves?.
Summary

PART 4 Programming with .NET Assemblies
CHAPTER 15 Introducing .NET Assemblies
Defining Custom Namespaces
The Role of .NET Assemblies
Understanding the Format of a .NET Assembly
Building and Consuming a Single-File Assembly..
Building and Consuming a Multifile Assembly
Understanding Private Assemblies..
Understanding Shared Assemblies.
Consuming a Shared Assembly..
Configuring Shared Assemblies..
Investigating the Internal Composition of the GAC
Understanding Publisher Policy Assemblies
Understanding the Element.
The System.Configuration Namespace
The Machine Configuration File
Summary

CHAPTER 16 Type Reflection, Late Binding, and Attribute-Based Programming
The Necessity of Type Metadata..
Understanding Reflection.
Building a Custom Metadata Viewer
Dynamically Loading Assemblies..
Reflecting on Shared Assemblies..
Understanding Late Binding
Understanding Attributed Programming
Building Custom Attributes
Assembly-Level (and Module-Level) Attributes
Reflecting on Attributes Using Early Binding.
Reflecting on Attributes Using Late Binding
Putting Reflection, Late Binding, and Custom Attributes in Perspective
Building an Extendable Application.
Summary

CHAPTER 17 Processes, AppDomains, and Object Contexts
Reviewing Traditional Win32 Processes..
Interacting with Processes Under the .NET Platform.
Understanding .NET Application Domains.
Understanding Object Context Boundaries.
Summarizing Processes, AppDomains, and Context.
Summary

CHAPTER 18 Building Multithreaded Applications
The Process/AppDomain/Context/Thread Relationship
A Brief Review of the .NET Delegate
The Asynchronous Nature of Delegates
Invoking a Method Asynchronously.
The System.Threading Namespace.
The System.Threading.Thread Class
Programmatically Creating Secondary Threads
The Issue of Concurrency.
Programming with Timer Callbacks.
Understanding the CLR ThreadPool.
The Role of the BackgroundWorker Component
Summary

CHAPTER 19 Understanding CIL and the Role of Dynamic Assemblies
Reflecting on the Nature of CIL Programming
Examining CIL Directives, Attributes, and Opcodes.
Pushing and Popping: The Stack-Based Nature of CIL
Understanding Round-Trip Engineering
Understanding CIL Directives and Attributes.
.NET Base Class Library, C#, and CIL Data Type Mappings.
Defining Type Members in CIL
Examining CIL Opcodes..
Building a .NET Assembly with CIL.
Understanding Dynamic Assemblies
Summary

Part 5 Introducing the .NET Base Class Libraries
CHAPTER 20 File I/O and Isolated Storage
Exploring the System.IO Namespace
The Directory(Info) and File(Info) Types..
Working with the DirectoryInfo Type
Working with the Directory Type..
Working with the DriveInfo Class Type..
Working with the FileInfo Class..
Working with the File Type
The Abstract Stream Class
Working with StreamWriters and StreamReaders..
Working with StringWriters and StringReaders
Working with BinaryWriters and BinaryReaders
Programmatically “Watching” Files.
Performing Asynchronous File I/O.
Understanding the Role of Isolated Storage
A Primer on Code Access Security..
An Overview of Isolated Storage
Obtaining a Store Using IsolatedStorageFile
Isolated Storage in Action: ClickOnce Deployment..
Summary

CHAPTER 21 Introducing Object Serialization
Understanding Object Serialization.
Configuring Objects for Serialization
Choosing a Serialization Formatter.
Serializing Objects Using the BinaryFormatter
Serializing Objects Using the SoapFormatter
Serializing Objects Using the XmlSerializer.
Serializing Collections of Objects..
Customizing the Serialization Process
Summary


CHAPTER 22 ADO.NET Part I: The Connected Layer
A High-Level Definition of ADO.NET.
Understanding ADO.NET Data Providers..
Additional ADO.NET Namespaces.
The Types of the System.Data Namespace
Abstracting Data Providers Using Interfaces.
Creating the AutoLot Database
The ADO.NET Data Provider Factory Model.
Understanding the Connected Layer of ADO.NET
Working with Data Readers
Building a Reusable Data Access Library.
Creating a Console UI–Based Front End..
Asynchronous Data Access Using SqlCommand..
Understanding Database Transactions..
Summary

CHAPTER 23 ADO.NET Part II: The Disconnected Layer
Understanding the Disconnected Layer of ADO.NET.
Understanding the Role of the DataSet..
Working with DataColumns.
Working with DataRows.
Working with DataTables.
Binding DataTable Objects to User Interfaces
Filling DataSet/DataTable Objects Using Data Adapters..
Revisiting AutoLotDAL.dll.
Navigating Multitabled DataSet Objects..
The Data Access Tools of Visual Studio 2008
Decoupling Autogenerated Code from the UI Layer.
Summary

CHAPTER 24 Programming with the LINQ APIs
The Role of LINQ to ADO.NET
Programming with LINQ to DataSet.
Programming with LINQ to SQL..
Generating Entity Classes Using SqlMetal.exe
Building Entity Classes Using Visual Studio 2008
Manipulating XML Documents Using LINQ to XML..
Navigating an In-Memory Document
Summary

CHAPTER 25 Introducing Windows Communication Foundation
A Potpourri of Distributed Computing APIs.
The Role of WCF..
Investigating the Core WCF Assemblies..
The Visual Studio WCF Project Templates..
The Basic Composition of a WCF Application
The ABCs of WCF.
Building a WCF Service..
Hosting the WCF Service..
Building the WCF Client Application.
Using the WCF Service Library Project Template..
Hosting the WCF Service As a Windows Service..
Invoking a Service Asynchronously.
Designing WCF Data Contracts
Summary

CHAPTER 26 Introducing Windows Workflow Foundation
Defining a Business Process
The Building Blocks of WF
WF Assemblies, Namespaces, and Projects
Building a Simple Workflow-Enabled Application
Examining the WF Engine Hosting Code..
Invoking Web Services Within Workflows.
Building a Reusable WF Code Library
A Brief Word Regarding Custom Activities.
Summary

Part 6 Desktop User Interfaces
CHAPTER 27 Programming with Windows Forms
The Windows Forms Namespaces..
Building a Simple Windows Forms Application (IDE-Free)..
The Visual Studio Windows Forms Project Template.
The Anatomy of a Form..
Responding to Mouse Activity
Responding to Keyboard Activity..
Designing Dialog Boxes..
Rendering Graphical Data Using GDI+
Building a Complete Windows Forms Application..
Summary

CHAPTER 28 Introducing Windows Presentation Foundation and XAML
The Motivation Behind WPF
The Various Flavors of WPF Applications..
Investigating the WPF Assemblies.
Building a (XAML-Free) WPF Application..
Additional Details of the Application Type.
Additional Details of the Window Type..
Building a (XAML-Centric) WPF Application
Transforming Markup into a .NET Assembly
Separation of Concerns Using Code-Behind Files.
The Syntax of XAML
Building WPF Applications Using Visual Studio 2008.
Processing XAML at Runtime: SimpleXamlPad.exe.
The Role of Microsoft Expression Blend.
Summary


CHAPTER 29 Programming with WPF Controls
A Survey of the WPF Control Library
Declaring Controls in XAML
Understanding the Role of Dependency Properties.
Understanding Routed Events
Working with Button Types
Working with CheckBoxes and RadioButtons
Working with the ListBox and ComboBox Types..
Working with Text Areas.
Controlling Content Layout Using Panels..
Building a Window’s Frame Using Nested Panels.
Understanding WPF Control Commands.
Understanding the WPF Data-Binding Model
Data Conversion Using IValueConverter.
Binding to Custom Objects
Binding UI Elements to XML Documents.
Summary

CHAPTER 30 WPF 2D Graphical Rendering, Resources, and Themes
The Philosophy of WPF Graphical Rendering Services
Exploring the Shape-Derived Types
Working with WPF Brushes
Working with WPF Pens.
Exploring the Drawing-Derived Types..
The Role of UI Transformations..
Understanding WPF’s Animation Services.
Understanding the WPF Resource System
Defining and Applying Styles for WPF Controls..
Altering a Control’s UI Using Templates.
Summary

Part 7 Building Web Applications with ASP.NET
CHAPTER 31 Building ASP.NET Web Pages
The Role of HTTP.
Understanding Web Applications and Web Servers.
The Role of HTML.
The Role of Client-Side Scripting.
Submitting the Form Data (GET and POST)
Building a Classic ASP Page
Problems with Classic ASP
The ASP.NET Namespaces
The ASP.NET Web Page Code Model
Details of an ASP.NET Website Directory Structure.
The ASP.NET Page Compilation Cycle..
The Inheritance Chain of the Page Type.
Interacting with the Incoming HTTP Request
Interacting with the Outgoing HTTP Response
The Life Cycle of an ASP.NET Web Page.
The Role of the Web.config File..
Summary

CHAPTER 32 ASP.NET Web Controls, Themes, and Master Pages
Understanding the Nature of Web Controls
The System.Web.UI.Control Type.
The System.Web.UI.WebControls.WebControl Type.
Major Categories of ASP.NET Web Controls
Building a Feature-Rich ASP.NET Website
The Role of the Validation Controls
Working with Themes..
Positioning Controls Using HTML Tables.
Summary

CHAPTER 33 ASP.NET State Management Techniques
The Issue of State
ASP.NET State Management Techniques.
Understanding the Role of ASP.NET View State.
The Role of the Global.asax File.
Understanding the Application/Session Distinction.
Working with the Application Cache
Maintaining Session Data
Understanding Cookies.
The Role of the Element.
Understanding the ASP.NET Profile API.
Summary

Part 8 Appendixes
APPENDIX A COM and .NET Interoperability
The Scope of .NET Interoperability.
A Simple Example of .NET to COM Interop
Investigating a .NET Interop Assembly.
Understanding the Runtime Callable Wrapper
The Role of COM IDL.
Using a Type Library to Build an Interop Assembly.
Building a More Elaborate COM Server.
Examining the Interop Assembly.
Understanding COM to .NET Interoperability
The Role of the CCW.
The Role of the .NET Class Interface
Building Your .NET Types
Generating the Type Library and Registering the .NET Types
Examining the Exported Type Information.
Building a Visual Basic 6.0 Test Client
Summary

APPENDIX B Platform-Independent .NET Development with Mono
The Platform-Independent Nature of .NET
Obtaining and Installing Mono.
The Mono Development Tools.
Building .NET Applications with Mono.
Suggestions for Further Study.
Summary

INDEX

Amazon Link: Pro C# 2008 and the .NET 3.5 Platform, Fourth Edition

VS2008 Training Kit: Introduction to Silverlight

This session was presented by Adam Kinney and is from the Visual Studio 2008 training kit available from http://go.microsoft.com/?linkid=7602397.

Silverlight is a cross platform UI framework for creating compelling Web experiences. Come learn the high-level architecture of Silverlight and the tools that are available to build Silverlight applications.

Download it here: http://channel9.msdn.com/ShowPost.aspx?PostID=359712#359712

VS2008 Training Kit: What's New in Windows Presentation Foundation 3.5

This session was presented by Kevin Moore and is from the Visual Studio 2008 training kit available from http://go.microsoft.com/?linkid=7602397.

Learn about the work being done in the Orcas release of WPF, including improved 3D with UIElement3D, increased animation smoothness, better cookie and FireFox plug-in support for XBAPs, as well as support for AddInControl, LINQ, ADO.NET and much more!

Download it here: http://channel9.msdn.com/ShowPost.aspx?PostID=359713#359713

VS2008 Training Kit: Building Windows Presentation Foundation Applications in Visual Studio 2008 and Expression Blend

This session was presented by Jaime Rodriguez and is from the Visual Studio 2008 training kit available from http://go.microsoft.com/?linkid=7602397.

Come and learn how to build Windows Presentation Foundation (WPF) applications with the help of the new WPF designer in Visual Studio 2008 This session focuses on the construction of a real-world application demonstrating how to get the best out of the designer's capabilities. Learn the basics of building WPF applications in the Visual Studio 2008 WPF designer; have a clear view on when you'll want to work in XAML Code and on the Visual Studio design surface to get your WPF application built; and see how you can use Microsoft Expression Blend in conjunction with Visual Studio 2008 WPF designer.

Watch the screencast here: http://channel9.msdn.com/ShowPost.aspx?PostID=359715#359715

Video: Pascal Bourque - Building a rich datagrid in WPF

Channel 9 has posted their latest video: Pascal Bourque - Building a rich datagrid in WPF

From the site:

We talk about what its like to develop a rich control using WPF, mainly focusing on the custom theming of the grid. It really shows off the whole concept of seperating the UI interaction and style from the core code. And with that capability, diving into redefining a grid's purpose and how real-time visualization changes can be used effectively.

I'm hoping they take my suggestion of a custom themes contest and run with it. It'd be interesting to see what other type of skins people could create.
Listen to the podcast(MP3)
Listen to the podcast(WMA)
Download the Video
Watch the Video

Screencast: Cider Beta 2 : Styling a WPF application with Blend and Cider

Brief walkthrough on using Blend to style a WPF application originally created with VS 2008 Cider designer; see how you can seamlessly go back and forth between the two tools to get the best out of a developer (intellisense, code wiring, etc.) and designer ( styling, templating) tools for creating WPF applications. This is part 2 in a 2 part series, part 1 is available here: Cider Beta 2 : Feature walkthrough

Watch the screencast(WMV)

Video: New Features in WPF 3.5

Channel 9 has posted their latest video. From the site:



Although WPF is less than a year old, we’re already putting the finishing touches to an update that will add some neat features and improvements, improve internationalization support and increase performance. In this video, Charles Torre (and Dr Sneath, when he finally turns up) sit down with Kevin “Bag’o’Tricks” Moore as he provides a whirlwind tour of the improvements and changes you can expect to see.



Download the Video

Watch the Video

Video: Acropolis Meet (some of) the Team

Channel 9 has published their latest video, from the site:

The Microsoft code name “Acropolis” Community Technology Preview is a set of components and tools that make it easier for developers to build and manage modular, business focused, client .NET applications. Acropolis is part of the “.NET Client Futures” wave of releases, our preview of upcoming technologies for Windows client development.
Acropolis builds on the rich capabilities of Microsoft Windows and the .NET Framework, including Windows Presentation Foundation (WPF), by providing tools and pre-built components that help developers quickly assemble applications from loosely-coupled parts and services. Here, Kathy Kam, "Acropolis" PM, takes us around the halls of building 42 to meet some of the people who create "Acropolis". We also run into an old friend in the hallway who's thinking deeply about big software componentization problems...Enjoy!
Check out the "Acropolis" Team Blog.

Listen to the podcast(MP3)
Listen to the podcast(WMA)
Download the Video
Watch the Video

Screencast: Preparing for Silverlight Release Candidate

A quick screencast showing some simple steps in preparing your Silverlight 1.0 applications for the release candiate. We walk through 2 samples on silverlight.net and prep them for RC.

This is a very simple screencast demonstrating some of the more required steps. Every preparation for your sample may vary depending on the amount of code, but this is intended to show you some quick steps.

Watch the screencast(WMV)

Podcast: CSLA with Rockford Lhotka

DotNetRocks has published their latest podcast: CSLA with Rockford Lhotka

Rocky Lhotka talks about CSLA 3.0, the relationship with WPF and Silverlight, "paranoid" code, publishing and his experience with ebooks.
Rockford Lhotka is the author of numerous books, including the Expert Visual Basic .NET & C# Business Objects books. He is a Microsoft Software Legend, Regional Director, MVP and INETA speaker. Rockford speaks at many conferences and user groups around the world and is a columnist for MSDN Online. Rockford is the Principal Technology Evangelist for Magenic Technologies, one of the nation's premiere Microsoft Gold Certified Partners dedicated to solving today's most challenging business problems using 100% Microsoft tools and technology.

Download it here: http://dotnetrocks.com/default.aspx?showID=257

Microsoft .NET Framework 3.5 June 2007 Community Technology Preview Released

Brief Description
Microsoft .NET Framework 3.5 contains many new features that are compatible with both .NET Framework 2.0 and .NET Framework 3.0. .NET Framework 3.5 includes servicing for .NET Framework 2.0 and .NET Framework 3.0.

Overview
.NET Framework 3.5 builds incrementally on the new features added in .NET Framework 3.0, for example, Windows Workflow Foundation (WF), Windows Communication Foundation (WCF), Windows Presentation Foundation (WPF) and Windows CardSpace. In addition, .NET Framework 3.5 contains a number of new features in several technology areas. These new features have been added as new assemblies to avoid breaking changes. They include the following:
Deep integration of Language Integrated Query (LINQ) and data awareness. This new feature will let you write code written in LINQ-enabled languages to filter, enumerate, and create projections of several types of SQL data, collections, XML, and DataSets by using the same syntax.
ASP.NET AJAX lets you create 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.
New classes in .NET Framework 3.5 base class library (BCL) address the most common customer requests.

Download it here: http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyID=e6fd8663-8b77-4649-8d36-3830e18528fa&DisplayLang=en

Silverlight: Creating Video with Timed Overlays

Channel 9 has published their latest Silverlight screen cast, from the site:

In this screencast, we look at Expression Media Encoder and Expression Blend 2
Preview together, demonstrating encoding a file with media markers and then
using Silverlight to monitor when those markers are triggered, then perform some
animation.

This technique can be useful when re-using media elements
across advertising for example, but displaying different messaging, promotional
offers, links, languages, or whatever

Watch the screencast(WMV)

Expression Blend WPF and Silverlight Tutorials

Celso Gomes an amazing interactive designer working at Microsoft who is responsible for the beautiful sample applications that ship with Expression Blend came up with Nibbles: a series of "little tutorials for designers" that cover the use of Expression Blend to build WPF and Silverlight content. The site itself is a stunning example of Silverlight, with faded animations and transitions and accordion bars.

Visit the site here: http://www.nibblestutorials.net/

Podcast: Introducing Acropolis

DotNetRocks published their latest podcast: Introducing Acropolis

Carl and Richard talk with members of the Microsoft Acropolis team at TechEd 2007. Acropolis is a software factory-ish toolset that allows business developers to develop quality line-of-business WPF applications with ease.
http://dotnetrocks.com/default.aspx?showID=252

Acropolis Community Technology Preview 1 Available For Download

The Microsoft code name “Acropolis” Community Technology Preview 1 is a set of components and tools that make it easier for developers to build and manage modular, business focused, client .NET applications. Acropolis is part of the “.NET Client Futures” wave of releases, our preview of upcoming technologies for Windows client development.

Acropolis builds on the rich capabilities of Microsoft Windows and the .NET Framework, including Windows Presentation Foundation (WPF), by providing tools and pre-built components that help developers quickly assemble applications from loosely-coupled parts and services. With Acropolis you will be able to:

• Quickly create WPF enabled user experiences for your client applications.


• Build client applications from reusable, connectable, modules that allow you to easily create complex, business-focused applications in less time.


• Integrate and host your modules in applications such as Microsoft Office, or quickly build stand-alone client interfaces.


• Change the look and feel of your application quickly using built-in themes, or custom designs using XAML.


• Add features such as workflow navigation and user-specific views with minimal coding.


• Manage, update, and deploy your application modules quickly and easily.

Download it here: http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyId=72386CE5-F206-4D5C-AB09-413B5F31F935&displaylang=en

Windows Presentation Foundation Unleashed (WPF) By Adam Nathan

Title: Windows Presentation Foundation Unleashed (WPF)
Author: Adam Nathan
Publisher: Sams.
Series: Unleashed.
ISBN-10: 0-672-32891-7;
ISBN-13: 978-0-672-32891-6;
Published: Dec 21, 2006;
Pages: 656;
Edition: 1st.


Book Description
Printed entirely in color, with helpful figures and syntax coloring to make code samples appear as they do in Visual Studio.

Windows Presentation Foundation (WPF) is a key component of the .NET Framework 3.0, giving you the power to create richer and more compelling applications than you dreamed possible. Whether you want to develop traditional user interfaces or integrate 3D graphics, audio/video, animation, dynamic skinning, rich document support, speech recognition, or more, WPF enables you to do so in a seamless, resolution-independent manner. Windows Presentation Foundation Unleashed is the authoritative book that covers it all, in a practical and approachable fashion, authored by .NET guru and Microsoft developer Adam Nathan.

• Covers everything you need to know about Extensible Application Markup Language (XAML)
  
• Examines the WPF feature areas in incredible depth: controls, layout, resources, data binding, styling, graphics, animation, and more
  
• Features a chapter on 3D graphics by Daniel Lehenbauer, lead developer responsible for WPF 3D
  
• Delves into non-mainstream topics: speech, audio/video, documents, bitmap effects, and more
  
• Shows how to create popular UI elements, such as features introduced in the 2007 Microsoft Office System: Galleries, ScreenTips, custom control layouts, and more
  
• Demonstrates how to create sophisticated UI mechanisms, such as Visual Studio-like collapsible/dockable panes
  
• Explains how to develop and deploy all types of applications, including navigation-based applications, applications hosted in a Web browser, and applications with great-looking non-rectangular windows
  
• Explains how to create first-class custom controls for WPF
  
• Demonstrates how to create hybrid WPF software that leverages Windows Forms, ActiveX, or other non-WPF technologies
  
• Explains how to exploit new Windows Vista features in WPF applications

Table of Contents
PART I Background
1 Why Windows Presentation Foundation?
2 XAML Demystified
3 Important New Concepts in WPF


PART II Building a WPF Application
4 Introducing WPF’s Controls
5 Sizing, Positioning, and Transforming Elements
6 Layout with Panels
7 Structuring and Deploying an Application


PART III Features for Professional Developers
8 Resources
9 Data Binding
10 Styles, Templates, Skins, and Themes


PART IV Going Beyond Today’s Applications with Rich Media
11 2D Graphics
12 3D Graphics
13 Animation
14 Audio, Video, Speech, and Documents


PART V Advanced Topics
15 Interoperability with Win32, Windows Forms, and ActiveX
16 User Controls and Custom Controls
17 Layout with Custom Panels


PART VI Appendix: Helpful Tools
Index



Amazon Link: Windows Presentation Foundation Unleashed (WPF)
Sample Chapter: Important New Concepts in WPF

WPF and XAML Tutorials By Josh Smith Available

CodeProject has an excellent series on WPF by Josh Smith

Part 1 (XAML): Learn about XAML and how it is used in WPF applications.
Part 2 (Layout): Learn about layout panels and how they are used to construct user interfaces.
Part 3 (Data binding): Learn how WPF data binding works and how it can be used.
Part 4 (Data templates and triggers): Learn how data templates and triggers work and how they can be used.
Part 5 (Styles): Learn about how UIs can be styled in WPF.

List Of XAML Controls

Control Library
The Windows Presentation Foundation (WPF) control library contains information on the controls provided by Windows Presentation Foundation (WPF), listed alphabetically.
In This Section

Border
BulletDecorator
Button
Canvas
CheckBox
ComboBox
ContextMenu
DockPanel
DocumentViewer
Expander
FlowDocumentPageViewer
FlowDocumentReader
FlowDocumentScrollViewer
Frame
Grid
GridSplitter
GroupBox
Image
Label
ListBox
ListView
Menu
Panel
PasswordBox
Popup
ProgressBar
PrintDialog
RadioButton
RepeatButton
RichTextBox
ScrollBar
ScrollViewer
Separator
Slider
StackPanel
StatusBar
TabControl
TextBlock
TextBox
ToolBar
ToolTip
TreeView
WrapPanel
Viewbox

Reference
System.Windows.Controls
System.Windows.Controls.Primitives

Related Sections
Control Library Samples
Control Customization
Controls by Category
Content Models