Technical comparison of Silverlight vs Flash

Comparison

In a previous article I have explained the competitive relationship between Adobe and Microsoft in presentation layer. Based on the features summarized by some data, I made a comparison chart for Flash and Silverlight, followed by a description of each horizontal contrast. Because of the flash and Silverlight at home and abroad compared to the article almost no, so can not be used as a reference, the article some things I am not sure, please point out.

1 Rich two-dimensional animation/graphics and visual audio performance rich 2D Animation/graphics with audio and video

There is no doubt that the products of both companies have made a lot of effort on this piece, but there is still a difference in seats. Blend and flash The two software friends will certainly find two different software, such as flash unique timeline form and blend powerful interaction panel, from this point can be seen, bland to their own interaction Application develop tools positioning is more accurate, and Flash is from basic to professional version covers the animation production to RIA development field.

2 industry standard Video decoder industry standard videos codec

Let's start by introducing what video decoding is: Video compression is an important motivator for all exciting, new video products. Compression-Decompression (codec) algorithm can realize the storage and transmission of digital video.

Typical codecs either employ industry standards, such as MPEG2, MPEG4, H.264/AVC, and AVS, or proprietary algorithms such as ON2, real, and so on, which are located in different camps.

From the data that Microsoft's video decoding standards are:

SMPTE Society of Motion, picture and television engineers. While Microsoft has standardized modifications based on WMV, it now implements standardized-wmv9 in the industry with VC-1 's new name.

And Flash is the use of On2 VP6 Video coding standards, although not based on the so-called industry standards, but On2 is its own proprietary algorithm, but also in the file size and the quality of the picture to find a balance between.

Therefore, the use of industry-standard video encoder, it becomes less important.

3 Hardware-assisted solutions hardware-assisted editing and encoding solutions

It's not clear how Silverlight is hardware-assisted, but Flash does not seem to be, but Adobe's fellow Men Shi brother director supports hardware-assisted functionality and does not know if Adobe will be porting this.

4 XML based performance layer is advantageous to search engine Optimization xml-based presentation layer for SEO

It is well known that Silverlight is based on XAML, and that all Silverlight programs are interpreted and executed by the client by runtime after downloading, where the client can see the source code of the program so that the search engine can index its contents.

Flash, in turn, generates SWF-formatted binaries at the time of export and is downloaded by the user to local execution by runtime, making it difficult for search engines to index them.

5 standard High-performance programming languages Choice of standards-based and High-performance languages

The new version of Silverlight already supports development using JavaScript C # and VB, and the new Flash CS3 supports development using ActionScript 1 ActionScript 2 ActionScript 3. Although the advent of AS3 makes ActionScript a lot more efficient, but there is a big gap between programming languages like C #.

6 End to end server and application platform End-to-end server and application platform

This Silverlight has a natural advantage, its server and application platform has been developed over the years has a large monopoly advantage, and flash comparison is not satisfactory, but in the recent progress of this year (ColdFusion Jrun), But there is no advantage to Microsoft.

7 Media Server License (unlimited bandwidth) Media Server Licensing (unlimited bandwidth)

Although the price is not very clear, but the Flash Media server is indeed more expensive than we think, and Windows Media server is much more approachable.

There's nothing to say about it. Adobe's strategy for media server is not very successful, but it will take some time for the server-side software that has just stepped into 2.0.

8 client-side AD playback inserts client side playlists for Ad-insertion

Both have their own technical implementation, such as adding cue points to the video and many other ways of advertising.

9 Video Publishing Tool robust videos publishing tools

The video publishing tool in Flash, called Flash Media Encoder, offers a number of video editing features, as well as Microsoft's Expression Media also offers a number of video editing features

10 high-performance client high-performance, multi-core enabled client

While I'm not quite clear on what high performance standards are, I believe Silverlight and Flashplayer are the High-performance client we're looking for.

11 Adjustable Full-screen HD Video (720p) scalable full screensaver up to HD (720p)

While Flash also supports full-screen viewing, the quality of the video is indeed slightly weaker, and the ability of Silverlight to play multiple HD videos at the same time is really not to be underestimated, coupled with the Silverlight video brush feature, indeed, than flash slightly.

12 Offline File operation offline, document support

You can store files locally, which are similar to Shareobject in Flash, and do not provide similar functionality in Silverlight, but can be done using JavaScript to manipulate cookies.

13 file format is binary or text format binary or

Both file formats have advantages, binary SWF format is conducive to the protection of the source file, while the text of the XAML for SEO has great benefits.

14 Tools for development and production

Flash back end has adobe powerful CS3 series of support, from the Web page of the Three Musketeers to Photoshop and other graphics software, in the vast number of design and development staff has a very good reputation.

and Silverlight has a expression kit from behind, is also not to be overlooked.

15 tool complexity tools complex operation

I'm going to put this alone because a lot of developers and designers are used to Adobe's software operations and how they work, and it's really difficult for them to switch to Microsoft's expression overnight, and letting practitioners get used to expression and working is more of a problem for Microsoft.

3D Support 3D Support

For 3D support, two player is not involved, but not that we can not do 3D attempt, the Flash camp many Third-party developers based on ActionScript developed a lot of 3D engine, Silverlight also allows users to develop 3D engines using the language of development that Microsoft offers.

17 Client size (required download size of installation file)

The two player is a browser-parasitic plugin, so the size of the installation file is a relatively sensitive issue, but both companies do well in this area, basically enabling users to download and install them quickly.

18 supported operating systems supported operating systems

The operating system supported by Flashplayer basically includes the support of all operating systems and even many operating systems associated with mobile phones, which is a great advantage for flash, allowing developers to modify the program for the operating system.

Silverlight-supported operating systems are much less than flash, and there are plenty of ways to get WPF to really everywhere.

On the whole, the platforms of the two companies are different, and there are a lot of small features that are not compared in detail, such as the support for Alpha channel video, and the rendering of text. The two companies each have their own advantages, Adobe has a long time in the player's share, the support of each operating system and the penetration rate of the tools. Microsoft's dominance of operating systems and applications and server-side software has given Microsoft a chance to overtake it.