SilverLight是微软最新推出的跨浏览器、跨平台的解决方案。
主要有以下特点：
1. 在Web上提供丰富的用户体验
* 空前的富媒体体验以及网络应用
* 强大的基于向量的图形
* 无敌的从Mobile到HD质量的视频以及音频
* 在有硬件加速支持下，最高达15倍的视频编码速度
* 移动设备支持
2. 快速，更具生产力的开发
* 集成现有的网络开发技术及资源
* Web以及桌面一致的表现层，保证了开发的低成本性
* 基于标准的可验证的开发技术
* 为开发人员以及设计人员提供了广泛的工具支持，并且建立了相应的开发设计生态圈
3. 快速部署
* 简单按需安装的SilverLight浏览器插件
* 灵活的基于视频及动画的广告嵌入方案
* 低成本的流媒体解决方案，基于荣获艾美奖荣誉的Windows Media技术
* 内容访问保护技术
* 在Microsoft Expression Media Encoder的支持下，加速编码并且发布基于视频的体验
开发工具：
可以使用已经具有的技能和熟悉的工具来创建基于Silverlight的应用程序，在Web页面中，既可以使用HTML，也可以使用 Silverlight的WPF元素，和HTML一样，在Web应用程序中XAML同样可以使用声明的标记来创建用户界面，不同的是，XAML提供了更强大的元素。
可以使用强大的Visual Studio codename "Orcas" Beta1创建Silverlight应用。(Silverlight在编号为“Orcas”Visual Studio Beta1的IDE中作为一个插件而得到支持。)同样Visual Studio为Silverlight提供了开发工具，比如.NET Framework中已经为创建应用程序提供的强大的编辑器、项目管理、调试等等。
设计人员可以轻松的拥有使用Expression Studio进行设计、编译和发布Silverlight应用程序。Expression Studio有创建图像、媒体，设计交互和产生体验需要的一切能力。Expression Blend能够生成XAML进行输出，这样使用Visual Studio的程序员和使用Expression Blend的设计人员可以共享同样的文件。
Flash将会失去垄断地位，互联网将会变得越来越精彩！
silverlight官方网站：http://www.microsoft.com/silverlight
微软SilverLight是一个跨浏览器、跨客户平台的技术，能够设计、开发和发布有多媒体体验与富交互(RIA,Rich Interface Application)的网络交互程序。
因为SilverLight提供了一个强大的平台，能够开发出具有专业图形、音频和视频的Web应用程序，增强了用户体验，所以SilverLight吸引了设计人员和开发人员的眼球。同时，SilverLight还提供了强大的工具来提高他们的工作效率。
SilverLight能创建一种具有很高艺术性的应用程序，具有以下的特点：
◆一种跨浏览器、跨平台的技术。可以在所有流行的浏览器中运行，包括Microsoft Interner Explorer、Mozilla Firefox, Apple Safari, 和Opera，同样可以运行于Microsoft Windows和Apple Mac OS X。
◆无论在哪运行，都能提供一致的用户体验。
◆需要下载很小的文件来安装以支持，只需几秒。
◆它的视频和音频流，视频质量无论从移动设备还是桌面浏览器都是720p HDTV video模式。
◆用户可在浏览器中直接对其进行控制，可以拖动、翻转、放大的图片。
◆它读取数据并且更新外观，但不会通过刷新整体页面来打断用户操作。
SilverLight将多种技术结合到一个开发平台，可以在其中选择符合需求的合适的工具和编程语言。SilverLight提供了如下的特性：
◆WPF和XAML。SilverLight包含了Windows Presentation Foundation(WPF)技术，这个技术在创建用户界面时极大的扩展了浏览器元素。WPF可以创建融合图形、动画、媒体和其他的富客户端特性，扩展了基于浏览器的用户界面，超越了HTML所提供的。可扩展应用程序标记语言(XMAL)提供了创建WPF元素的声明性标记。
◆对于javascript的扩展。SilverLight提供了对于全球浏览器脚本语言的扩展，从而为浏览器用户界面提供更加强大的控件，包括与WPF元素工作的能力。
◆跨浏览器，跨平台的支持。SilverLight在所有的流行浏览器(任何平台)运行一致。设计和开发应用程序不需要担心你的用户是什么平台什么浏览器。
◆与现存应用程序的集成。SilverLight可以与已经存在的javascript和ASP.NET AJAX代码无缝集成，不会使已经创建的功能缺失。
◆可访问.NET Framework编程模型和相关工具。可以使用托管的Jscrit和IronPython或者C#和VB这样的动态语言来创建基于 SilverLight的应用程序。可以使用Visual Studio这样的开发工具来创建基于SilverLight的应用程序。
◆LINQ。SilverLight包含集成查询(LINQ)语言。
◆如果已经使用ASP.NET，可以将SilverLight集成到熟悉的ASP.NET服务器和客户端功能。可以在ASP.NET中创建基于服务器的资源，使用ASP.NET的AJAX特性与服务器端资源交互而不会打断用户。
开发工具：
可以使用已经具有的技能和熟悉的工具来创建基于Silverlight的应用程序，在Web页面中，既可以使用HTML，也可以使用 Silverlight的WPF元素，和HTML一样，在Web应用程序中XAML同样可以使用声明的标记来创建用户界面，不同的是，XAML提供了更强大的元素。
可以使用强大的Visual Studio codename "Orcas" Beta1创建Silverlight应用。(Silverlight在编号为“Orcas”Visual Studio Beta1的IDE中作为一个插件而得到支持。)同样Visual Studio为Silverlight提供了开发工具，比如.NET Framework中已经为创建应用程序提供的强大的编辑器、项目管理、调试等等。
设计人员可以轻松的拥有使用Expression Studio进行设计、编译和发布Silverlight应用程序。Expression Studio有创建图像、媒体，设计交互和产生体验需要的一切能力。Expression Blend能够生成XAML进行输出，这样使用Visual Studio的程序员和使用Expression Blend的设计人员可以共享同样的文件。
第一本： Wrox Silverlight 1.0 with full-color and Illustrations
Silverlight--the hot new web technology based on the powerful WPF graphics platform that ships with Windows Vista--is the web developer's choice for creating cross-platform interactive applications that work in multiple browsers. This one-of-a-kindreference shows you, with full-color illustrations, how to create rich interactive apps with Silverlight.
In these color-filled pages, a crack team of Wrox experts gives you a comprehensive introduction to Silverlight. You'll see the vivid graphics and video images you can achieve. You will learn to use the component languages, tools, and techniques of Silverlight to create applications that enhance the user experience. You'll also discover how to leverage existing technologies, such as javascript®, XAML, ASP.NET, and AJAX, and incorporate them with development tools like Visual Studio®, Expression® Encoder, and Expression Blend. Soon you'll be building everything from basic static pages to Internet applications that integrate rich media and animation.
What you will learn from this book
* Easy ways to incorporate graphics, animation, audio, and video into Internet applications
*Methods for creating rich media apps that run on Windows® and Mac®, as well as in Internet Explorer, Firefox®, and Safari
*How to write standard javascript within an HTML page to manipulate and program against any XAML DOM element, storyline animation, or video
*Ways to integrate Silverlight within existing HTML pages, web sites, and ASP.NET applications
*How to handle data access in Silverlight applications using AJAX
第二本：O'Reilly Introducing Silverlight 1.1
In this Short Cut, we'll take a close look at Silverlight 1.1 and bring clarity to this bleeding-edge technology. First we'll take a broad look at the new concept of Rich Internet Applications and how Silverlight fits into that picture. Then we'll examine how you work with Silverlight 1.1, highlighting tools, concepts, and code that you will need to build these interactive applications. Finally, we'll take a practical look at using Silverlight 1.1 to build a custom control, pulling all of the concepts and tools together.
Join ASP.NET Master and Telerik Chief Technical Evangelist Todd Anglin and the Telerik Team as they guide you to understanding Silverlight 1.1.
第三本：O'Reilly Essential Silverlight
Essential Silverlight teaches experienced .NET and ASP.NET developers how to add more interactive and graphically rich interfaces to their web applications using the new Microsoft® Silverlight™ cross browser plug-in.
1. Concise: Essential Silverlight is a concise introduction to Silverlight 1.0 and Silverlight 1.1 that doesn't waste your time.
2. Always Up-to-Date: Essential Silverlight will be published initially as an eBook with a print-on-demand option when Silverlight 1.0 ships and will be updated each time Microsoft releases a new beta or release candidate for Silverlight 1.1 releases.
3. Day and date: The final edition of Essential Silverlight will be published when Silverlight 1.1 releases in 2008.
4. Expert author: Christian Wenz is author of Programming ASP.NET AJAX (O'Reilly, 2007) and numerous books on javascript in English and in German. He has written on all of the competing RIA technologies -- - Flash, PHP, ActionScript, ASP.NET -- and understands the market well.
5. Loaded with code: Essential Silverlight includes scores of tested examples readers can cut and paste for reuse in their own applications. All code is available for download from O'Reilly.
6. Browser agnostic and platform aware: Essential Silverlight will cover all of the browsers supported by Silverlight (including IE, Firefox, Safari and Opera), and will also point out differences as they become known between the Windows and Mac OS platforms.
第四本：Silverlight and ASP.NET Revealed
Microsoft Silverlight allows you to create rich multimedia interfaces with the power and flexibility of Flash, but with the extensibility and the great tools that .NET offers. With Silverlight and ASP.NET Revealed, you’ll learn to use Microsoft’s Silverlight technology in conjunction with ASP.NET and Visual Studio 2008 (codename Orcas). You will ultimately incorporate Silverlight into an ASP.NET web site and use the ASP.NET controls that render Silverlight content. But you’ll also get the basics of Silverlight, too, making this book a must-read for any web developer curious about Silverlight.
Silverlight and ASP.NET Revealed assumes a deep knowledge of ASP.NET, but no knowledge of Silverlight.
第五本：Silverlight 1.0 - Development with javascript(暂无图片)
第六本：Wiley Microsoft Expression Blend Bible
* Microsoft Expression Interactive Designer will simplify the development of rich, interactive Web applications and this comprehensive reference introduces every tool and characteristic of this new software
* Detailing the ins and outs of the program, veteran authors Gurdy and Mary Leete provide professional Web designers, developers, and serious home users with the know-how they need to create amazing Web sites
* Readers interested in online game development will enjoy the coverage of 3D Web animations-something Flash can't do
* Key topics include working with drawings, text, and 3D objects; adding audio, video, and animation; programming Expression Interactive Designer; and more
* Discusses how to integrate this program with the Vista operating system as well as other components of the Expression suite
第七本：O'Reilly XAML in a Nutshell
When Microsoft releases Windows Vista, the new operating system will support applications that employ graphics now used by computer games--clear, stunning, and active. The cornerstone for building these new user interfaces is XAML ("Zammel"), the XML-based markup language that works with Windows Presentation Foundation (WPF), Vista's new graphics subsystem.
An acronym for Extensible Application Markup Language, XAML offers a wealth of new controls and elements with exciting capabilities, including animation and rendering of 3D graphics. Windows developers are already jazzed by the possibilities of using XAML for fixed and flow format documents like PDF and HTML, 2D and 3D vector-based graphics, form development, animation, audio and video, transparent layering, and a lot more. Many feel that XAML will eliminate the need for multiple file formats or plug-ins (read: Flash), while lowering development costs and reducing time to market.
The problem is, most developers don't know XAML. While it is fairly easy to understand, you still need a quick guide to bring you up to speed before Vista's release, and that's where this book's simple, no nonsense approach comes in.
XAML in a Nutshell covers everything necessary to design user interfaces and .NET applications that take advantage of WPF. Prerequisites such as Microsoft's new unified build system, MSBuild, and core XAML constructs and syntax--including shortcuts--are all presented with plenty of examples to get you started. The Core XAML Reference section lets you dig even deeper into syntax rules and attributes for all XAML elements with a series of quick-reference chapters. This section divides XAML elements into logical categories of elements, controls, shapes and geometry, layout, animations, and transformations for easy reference.
XAML in a Nutshell helps you learn, firsthand, how to use this XML-based markup language to implement the new generation of user interface graphics. As one reviewer noted, "Strong code examples and an efficient, conversational style take the tedium out of learning XAML and make the subject understandable--even interesting."
第八本：Silverlight 1.0 Unleashed
Silverlight is a lightweight but powerful plug-in for multiple web browsers on multiple operating systems that makes it easier than ever to create rich web-based content, applications, and controls. With support for vector graphics, animations, full-screen high-definition video, and more, Silverlight gives you the ability to create more compelling content than you dreamed possible for Windows, Mac OS X, and Linux. Silverlight provides much of the power of Windows Presentation Foundation, but with less overhead and easy integration with HTML and AJAX-style applications. Silverlight 1.0 Unleashed is the authoritative book that covers the technology in a practical and approachable fashion, authored by Silverlight guru and Microsoft developer Adam Nathan.
Covers everything you need to know about Extensible Application Markup Language (XAML) in Silverlight
Examines the Silverlight feature areas in depth: graphics, text, audio, video, animation, ink, events, and more
Demonstrates how to create reusable controls and perform common tasks (such as drag-and-drop) using basic building blocks
Explains how to download assets asynchronously to maximize your user experience
Demonstrates how to create hybrid applications that mix Silverlight content with HTML or Flash content
Highlights features scheduled for future versions of Silverlight while showing how to achieve your desired results with the current version
