Software

Microsoft Silverlight Now Supports GPU Video Acceleration

By John Herrman on July 10, 2009 at 7:05 PM

Download links are live for the latest version of Microsoft’s softly maligned not-Flash plugin, and they come bearing gifts. Ars breaks the new features down:

• Media: GPU hardware acceleration, new codec support (H.264, AAC, MPEG-4), raw bitstream Audio/Video API, and improved logging for media analytics
• Graphics: GPU Acceleration and hardware compositing, perspective 3D, bitmap and pixel API, pixel shader effects, and Deep Zoom improvements
• Application development: Deep linking, navigation and SEO, improved text quality, multi-touch support, 60+ controls available, and library caching support
• Data: Data-binding improvements, validation error templates, server data push improvements, binary XML networking support, and multi-tier REST data support

That first one is far and away the most important, since high-bitrate HD streaming is well on its way to becoming the de facto standard for online video, and Flash kinda sucks at it. [Ars]

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Comments (AU Comments | US Comments)

  • KStrike155
    July 10, 2009 at 10:01 PM
    Damn right Flash sucks at it. This would be PERFECT for those of us with older PCs that would like to do some HD streaming without it turning into a jittery mess.

    Or you know, those of us that are cool enough to have a netbook (read: not me).

    KStrike155

  • regnez
    July 10, 2009 at 10:00 PM
    @dropped from the spec.
  • regnez
    July 10, 2009 at 9:59 PM
    @Eruanno: If you watched the Olympics online at the NBC site, you were using Silverlight. I agree that Silverlight is not popular or common yet, but Flash really needs a legitimate competitor before Adobe actually puts some work into it.
  • Yanguang
    July 10, 2009 at 9:33 PM
    I don't know, I always prefer downloading the video right away (at higher resolutions, if possible). Anyone else do this?
  • Kris Aubuchon
    July 10, 2009 at 9:12 PM
    Flash still can't do this why?

    Kris Aubuchon

  • shinchan
    July 10, 2009 at 9:11 PM
    @Eruanno: Same here, I really don't see a need for yet another plugin. And with HTML5 video embedding around the corner, the use for silverlight will diminish even more.

    shinchan

  • Daniel Grinton
    July 10, 2009 at 9:03 PM
    Honestly? Good. Flash is a goddamn pig and a piece of shit when you're playing video with a resolution higher than 640x480 on anything but the most modern hardware.

    Daniel Grinton

  • Eruanno
    July 10, 2009 at 8:13 PM
    Funny thing, I have yet to install Silverlight and I have had no problems whatsoever browsing 99,9% of the sites I usually visit. Actually, the only site that did have problems was Microsofts own site for... uhh.. I don't even remember why I needed it.
  • Eugenia
    July 10, 2009 at 8:06 PM
    It breaks my Firefox, crashes it when i go to a page using the plugin.
  • FezJ
    July 10, 2009 at 7:56 PM
    @Gonzie: I seriously doubt they'll be cutting support for other platforms once they become "the standard".

    FezJ

  • FezJ
    July 10, 2009 at 7:53 PM
    pretty effin sweet!

    FezJ

  • Gonzie
    July 10, 2009 at 7:51 PM
    flash generally sucks anyway and I still won't install silverlight, the less Microsoft feet in less doors the better because I don't feel any guarantees they will continue to be multi platform once they become "the standard"
  • djangopool9
    July 10, 2009 at 7:28 PM
    Still in the office, so can't test it. I hope it works well.. If it works well. I hope they add some HD previews on Bing.

    djangopool9

  • telepheedian
    July 11, 2009 at 2:30 PM
    @Scaramanga:They can, but they haven't gotten around to releasing anything yet, and it will only work with certain GPU brands.

    telepheedian

  • MePerson
    July 11, 2009 at 12:19 PM
    Arrgh... agreed, Flash can't handle full-screen video. Boxee can play full-screen streaming HD video just fine, but try even a low-resolution YouTube video in full screen on my computer, and it's a guaranteed blue screen in less than 10 minutes of accumulated playback.

    MePerson

  • philibuster
    July 11, 2009 at 9:05 AM
    @beekerstudios: They use VC1 for their silverlight player, and I think that it is also (or can be) hardware accelerated.
  • philibuster
    July 11, 2009 at 8:52 AM
    @shaka999: An ion HTPC just became more reasonable.
  • SSJCrow
    July 11, 2009 at 4:45 AM
    i havn't tried it yet, but if silverlight works better than flash for video content, do you think youtube would try to transfer over from flash? maybe have a "SL-HD" button next to the HD button for silverlight HD. EDIT: also, has anyone with a slower computer tried doing a pre and post install comparison for vids to see if theres a big difference? i'll hopefully try that when i get home from work.

    SSJCrow

  • cosmic
    July 11, 2009 at 4:45 AM
    @Eugenia: not mine. Detected instantly that I had an old version running, installed without a reboot required (just a had to close firefox to have the update take effect - didn't even have to close it to install).

    cosmic

  • Paradise
    July 11, 2009 at 4:37 AM
    @The Donut Pirate: The Olympics and Netflix. I think MLB dumped it. I can't remember.
  • Canoehead
    July 11, 2009 at 3:50 AM
    Turns out that Netflix streaming doesn't work on a Mini9 Hackintosh.

    Canoehead

  • Xeno
    July 11, 2009 at 3:15 AM
    @UnderLoK: Now that processor is completely useless!

    Xeno

  • Algerad
    July 11, 2009 at 3:11 AM
    @Zodduska: Not yet it doesn't, but it likely will in the future. SL3 just came out, and Netflix will need to rebuild their app to enable the GPU acceleration feature. It will likely be a very simple change though, since GPU acceleraton on the developer side simply consists of setting a flag according to what I've read.

    Algerad

  • The Donut Pirate
    July 11, 2009 at 2:55 AM
    Just one question: does anyone actually use Silverlight, other than Microsoft?
  • beekerstudios
    July 11, 2009 at 2:01 AM
    @blash: no, not it won't

    beekerstudios

  • beekerstudios
    July 11, 2009 at 2:01 AM
    @Burrens: flash, but netflix uses silverlight, but I don't think they use h.264... boo!

    beekerstudios

  • blash
    July 11, 2009 at 1:47 AM
    But will it replace Flash on YouTube?

    blash

  • shaka999
    July 11, 2009 at 1:12 AM
    Netflix on a Netbook. Ok an ION Netbook just became more reasonable.
  • UnderLoK
    July 11, 2009 at 12:55 AM
    This just kicks ass. Too bad they didn't come out with it before I went and upped the CPU in my MMPC :(
  • Burrens
    July 11, 2009 at 12:44 AM
    Does Hulu use Flash or Silverlight?

    Burrens

  • MisterWho Cares
    July 11, 2009 at 12:43 AM
    I totally understood what "SEO" and "multi-tier REST data" are. I don't even need to check Wikipedia or anything. However, if someone wants to explain these concepts to the simps who don't have a clue, feel free.

    MisterWho Cares

  • telepheedian
    July 11, 2009 at 12:38 AM
    I hate to say this, but I'm actualy hoping Hulu switches to Silverlight soon. My netbook can barely handle Flash's stupid bloat, but silverlight flies on it.

    telepheedian

  • Scaramanga
    July 10, 2009 at 11:56 PM
    @Kris Aubuchon: They can. http://www.adobe.com/aboutadobe/pressroom/pressreleases/200906/060209AdobeandNvidia.html The problem with Silverlight, or Flash Air (which does most of what Silverlight can), is that to become a viable platform you need to be ubiquitous. The last thing the internet needs is another proprietary standard.

    Scaramanga

  • SewerShark
    July 10, 2009 at 11:33 PM
    @KStrike155: Netbooks are cool? WOW?

    SewerShark

  • Zodduska
    July 10, 2009 at 11:22 PM
    Does anyone know if the Netflix watch instantly takes advantage of the GPU acceleration in silverlight?

    Zodduska

  • Daniel Grinton
    July 10, 2009 at 11:20 PM
    @FezJ: You're right, they absolutely WOULDN'T do that. That would be a direct breach of antitrust laws.

    Daniel Grinton

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