Microsoft .NET 3 Framework Released

With the imminent arrival of Microsoft Vista, the latest operating system, the .NET framework has ben upped a version. This was previously known as WinFx and consists of a new set of managed code APIs.

The new version includes four major new components.

• Windows Presentation Foundation, (WPF) (previously called Avalon) which adds 3d graphics to Windows.
• Windows Communication Foundation (WCF) (previously called Indigo) is a service oriented messaging system - this allows applications to communicate locally or remotely using XML.
• Windows Workflow Foundation (WF) to automate tasks.
• Windows Cardspace (WCS) (previously called InfoCard). Ths manages digital identities to provide authentication for a transaction, such as logging into a website.

Vista supports 32 bit but not 16 bit code. Microsoft are publishing new guidelines for developers, for instance user files and settings should not be stored in the exe directory. Applications should be written to work without Admin Privilege because they won't have it and only users logged in as Admins will be able to run applications that need this . This increases security, and stop naughty applications controlling your PC and prevents viruses and trojans taking over etc. It's what the Unix world has been doing for years!

For more details visit the Microsoft Vista website

See you soon!