Comparison of silverlight and Flash technologies [silverlight vs Flash]

(Reproduced from http://bbs.blueidea.com/thread-2773212-1-1.html)

In a previous article, I have explained the competitive relationship between Adobe and Microsoft in the presentation layer. Based on some data summary functions, I made a comparison chart for Flash and silverlight. I will explain each horizontal comparison later. Since there are almost no domestic and foreign comparative articles on Flash and silverlight, it cannot be used as a reference. I am not sure about some of the articles. Please point out.

1 Rich two-dimensional animation/graphics and video/audio performances Rich 2D animation/graphics with audio and video
There is no doubt that the products of both companies have made great efforts on this part, but there are still differences in seats. Friends who have used the Blend and Flash software will surely find the differences between the two software, such as the unique timeline form of Flash and the powerful interaction panel of Blend. From this point, we can see that, bland's positioning of ITS interaction application develop tools is still relatively accurate, while Flash covers the field of animation production and RIA development from basic to Professional.

2. Industry-standard video decoder Industry standard video codec
What is video decoding: video compression is an important driving force for all exciting new video products. Compression-extract (codec) algorithms can be used to store and transmit digital videos.
Typical codecs use either industry standards, such as MPEG2, MPEG4, and H. 264/AVC and AVS either adopt proprietary algorithms such as On2 and Real Video, and the two companies are located in different camps.
I learned from the materials that Microsoft's video decoding standards are:
SMPTE Society of Motion Picture and Television Engineers. Microsoft has made standard changes based on WMV here, and now it has standardized WMV9 in the industry with the new name of VC-1.
Flash adopts the on2 VP6 video encoding standard. Although it is not based on the so-called industry standard, on2 is its proprietary algorithm and can also find a balance between file size and image quality.
Therefore, it is less important to adopt industry-standard video encoders.

3 Hardware-assisted solution Hardware-installed ed editing and encoding solutions
This is not clear about how silverlight provides hardware assistance, but Flash does not seem to have it. However, Adobe's fellow teacher DIRECTOR supports hardware-assisted functions, I don't know if Adobe will do this porting.

4. the XML-based presentation layer helps search engines optimize XML-based presentation layer for SEO
As we all know, silverlight is based on XAML, and all silverlight programs are interpreted and executed by the user at the client runtime after downloading, that is, the client can see the source code of the program, in this way, the search engine can index the content.
Flash generates a swf binary file during export and downloads the file to a local file for execution at runtime. Therefore, it is difficult for search engines to index the file.

5 standard high-performance programming language Choice of standards-based and high-performance programming ages
The new version of silverlight supports the use of javascript C # and VB for development, and the new version of Flash CS3 supports the use of ActionScript 1 ActionScript 2 ActionScript 3 for development. Although the emergence of as3 has greatly improved the efficiency of ActionScript, there is still a big gap compared with programming languages like C.

6. End-to-end server and application platform
This silverlight has a natural advantage. After so many years of development, its servers and application platforms have already had a great monopoly advantage, and Flash seems unsatisfactory in comparison, coldFusion Jrun has made some progress this year, but it has no advantages for Microsoft.

7. Media server license (unlimited bandwidth) Media server licensing (unlimited bandwidth)
Although the specific price is not clear, Flash Media Server is indeed more expensive than we think, and Windows Media Server is much more approachable.
There is nothing to say about this. Adobe's policy on Media Server is not very successful, but it still takes some time for the Server-side software that has just entered 2.0.

8. Client side playlists for ad-insertion
Both of them have their own technical implementations, such as adding prompt points to videos and other ad insertion methods.

9 video publishing tool Robust video publishing tools
The video publishing tool in Flash is called Flash Media Encoder. It provides many similar video editing functions. In Microsoft expression, Media also provides many video editing functions.

10 High-performance clients, multi-core enabled clients
Although I do not quite clear what High-performance standards are, I believe that both silverlight and Flash Player are our expectation for High-performance client

11 adjustable full screen HD video (720 p) Scalable full screen video up to HD (720 p)
Although Flash supports full-screen viewing, the quality of the video is indeed a little weaker, and silverlight's ability to play multiple HD videos at the same time cannot be underestimated, coupled with the silverlight video brush function, it is indeed better than Flash video.

12 Offline File Operations Offline, document support
Files can be stored locally. In Flash, objects are similar functions. In silverlight, similar functions are not provided, but cookie operations can be performed using javascript.

13. The file Format is Binary or Text Format.
The two file formats have their own advantages. The binary swf format is conducive to the protection of source files, while the text xaml has great benefits for seo.

14 development and production Tools
The Flash back-end has the support of Adobe's powerful CS3 series suite. From the web page sanjianke to PhotoShop and other graphics software, it has a good reputation among the majority of design and developers.
Silverlight has a later expression suite, which cannot be ignored.

15 tool operation complexity Tools complex operation
This is because many developers and designers have become accustomed to Adobe's software operations and work methods, and it is indeed difficult to transfer them to Microsoft expressions overnight, making practitioners accustomed to expression operations and work methods is a challenge facing Microsoft.

16 3D Support
The support for 3D is not involved in both players, but it does not mean that we cannot try 3D. Many third-party developers in the Flash camp developed many 3D Engines Based on ActionScript, silverlight allows users to develop 3D engines using the development language provided by Microsoft.

17 Client size (size of the installation file to be downloaded) Client size
Both players are plug-ins that are parasitic on browsers, so the size of the installation file is a sensitive issue, but both companies are doing well in this regard, this allows you to download and install the SDK quickly.

18 Supported operating systems
The operating systems supported by Flash Player include all operating systems and even many operating systems with mobile phones. This is a great advantage of Flash, developers do not need to modify the operating system program.
Silverlight supports fewer operating systems than Flash. If you want to make WPF really Everywhere, there is still a lot to go.

In general, the platforms of the two companies have their own merits, and there are still many small features that have not been compared in detail, such as support for Alpha-channel videos and text rendering. The two companies each have their own advantages. Adobe has a long history of player shares, support for various operating systems, and tool penetration rates. Microsoft's monopoly in operating systems, application software, and server software gives Microsoft the opportunity to catch up.

Author: ai829 (80s.net.cn)
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Recommended articles help you better understand the comparison between silverlight and Flash:
Silverlight vs. Flash: The Developer Story
Silverlight showcase
Getting started with silverlight
New Flash CS3 Function

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