Silverlight 2, Expression Blend 2 SP1 & Expression Blend 2.5 June 2008 Preview

While the news that we released Silverlight 2 today, is kind of generating the energy and almost all top blogs talk about it, I wanted to share a few things that might be useful for you as a designer / developer in getting started with the bits.

First off, let me share installation tips.

• Remove the SL 2 Beta 2 Version (not mandatory but nice to do)
• Remove Expression Blend 2.5 June 2008 Preview.  (This is Required !  The Blend 2.5 June 2008 Preview stops you from installing the updated bits for working with Visual Studio 2008)
• Remove the SL 2 Beta Tools for Visual Studio 2008 / Beta 2 SDK
• Remove any other version of SL 2 Beta, related bits installed
• Install Silverlight 2 from http://www.silverlight.net/GetStarted
• Install Silverlight Tools for Visual Studio 2008 SP1 from http://www.silverlight.net/GetStarted (Works with Visual Web Developer Express Edition as well, making SL Development completely free)
• Install Microsoft Expression Blend 2 if you haven't installed it already (You can install a 30 Day trial version from http://www.microsoft.com/expression/products/Overview.aspx?key=blend for free)
• Install Microsoft Expression Blend 2 Service Pack 1 (Important, this SP1 update helps Blend 2 target SL 2 Apps)
• Install Deep Zoom Composer from http://www.silverlight.net/GetStarted

In short, the Expression Blend 2.5 June 2008 Preview is no longer recommended and the features that were therein to support SL 2 Beta 2 are all now part of Expression Blend 2 Service Pack 1.  You cannot have a side by side installation of Expression Blend 2.5 June 2008 Preview and Expression Blend 2 SP1.

Again, you can download the SP1 from http://www.silverlight.net/GetStarted

If there are more questions around Expression Blend, check the FAQs at http://www.microsoft.com/expression/products/FAQ.aspx?key=blend

For a list of breaking changes from Beta2, RC to here, check Tim Heuer's Blog Post

Also, Scott Gu's blog post provides more useful information as well.

Pandurang Nayak  has been posting a lot of stuff around Silverlight and you may want to check it out as well.

Cheers !!!

Source Click Here.