Silverlight is a cross-browser, cross-platform plug-in for delivering the next generation of Microsoft.NET–based media experiences and rich interactive applications for the Web.Silverlight offers a flexible programming model that supports JavaScript, .NET, and other languages.

you can use in addition to silverlight project and .net framework some design tools like Expression blend and Microsoft Expression Media which all are interconnected with each other which helps creating user interaction for the application that you are working on:

- Expression Media which allows you to create and enhance videos ;
- Blend which is a design tool to create user interaction for Silverlight.

It is very useful for media project,GUI animations it simplifies the work to add animation in your application.

One of the projects done with Silverlight is the Top Banana which is a great media application that enables you to sort browse and edit video content.It is a rich interactive application deployed online and viewed in the Browsers(Firefox ,IE).More over you can drag the video player to transform the video frame into a sequence of images visually representing the entire video this is called film strip mode. All these edits that u make to these videos are finally stored as XML and with windows media you can publish the video in a blog ,website or broadcast the video.

Windows Vista is out and every one is wondering if it is worth buying and if it has advantages over the XP and if not what are the disadvantages.The best way to get acquainted with Vista is to test it. So i decided to spend a day with my friend (Challita Youssef) who works as a part timer in the IT department of LAU (Lebanese American University) and they have already installed the Vista windows there on a PC in order to test its performance and see all its new features.

Here’s some feeds about how Vista works.

In order to install Vista first u need arround 12Gb space.Once installed u will feel and touch the difference between the XP and the VISTA especially in graphics. The AeroGlass interface gives you a great feeling and that is why you need arround 256 MB VGA card to run and enjoy the graphics on Vista.Moreover i have a tool that tells how much memory and CPU percentage you are using.After running and testing it on Vista when you are doing nothing (meaning that no program is running on ur PC)if you have a 1GB ram which is the average rams that can be found in all pcs 39% memory is used on this computer so the windows vista is always using 390 MB in our case wow Vista is a big product (39% is too much don’t you think).

Windows Vista Performance Enhancements

With SuperFetch and ReadyBoost, Windows Vista introduces two features to make use of today’s technology in order to improve the user experience.Windows SuperFetch enables programs and files to load much faster than they would on Windows XP–based PCs.This means that more application data should be actively cached into all available memory moreover SuperFetch monitors which applications you use the most and preloads these into your system memory so they’ll be ready when you need them. Windows Vista also enables you give priority to important programs that you use infrequently (SuperFetch), whether that is physical RAM or a USB Flash memory device (ReadyBoost).Microsoft’s goal was to create balanced performance by removing delays in everyday work.

Not mentioning also that they promised to improve the security in the Vista(automatic backup system especially when you are not using the PC) .But as we all know no product is made to be perfect.It is a well known strategy that Microsoft uses and has been using for marketing its own softwares so that it can profit from maintaining its products .I think the best thing to do is to wait a year before buying it ; just stick to the XP. If you guys have more than 1GB Ram memory and 256 MB VGA card why not try the free version at the beginning for 30 days and if you really liked it ; then later pay for it and get it but before you do ; ask your self this question: Is it worth paying this much on a product ?! Especially that the windows XP will satisfy you using any application from now until next year.

On the other hand we can find great Operating systems with great graphics and great interfaces. They are very secure and they are totally FREE ,such as UBUNTU.If i was to decide what to do in your place i will wait a year there is no rush to buy something new when you are satisfied with what you got. As long as softwares and games don’t demand new technologies( higher graphics cards,higher memories)i will keep on using my lovely XP.

Microsoft is about to launch a free Web Analytics service for webmaster. It’s called Gatineau and you can check it out on the following link:

If this truly will be Google Analytics’s competition, I’m hoping this is going to address several shortcomings that I’ve found in Google Analytics, particularly the notion of inaccurate counts (especially when compared with Urchin, which is ironic given that Google purchased Urchin yet dropped its core functionality), the absence of the direct referral page in the analysis review, and complexity (especially for newbies — how about simple Urchin-like reports and an advanced view?)