Microsoft Avalon Community Technology Preview

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"Avalon" is the code name for the presentation subsystem class libraries in WinFX. Avalon provides the foundation for building applications and high fidelity experiences, blending together application UI, documents, and media content, while exploiting the full power of your computer. The functionality extends to the support for Tablet and other forms of input, a more modern imaging and printing pipeline, accessibility and UI automation infrastructure, data-driven UI and visualization.

Avalon will be available (in 2006) on Windows XP, Windows Server 2003 and all future releases of the Windows operating system.

Download: Public November 2004 "Avalon" Community Technology Preview Including WinFX™ SDK

View: Longhorn Developer Center Home : Avalon

SYMPTOMS
After you upgrade from either Microsoft Windows 98, Microsoft Windows 98 Second Edition, or Microsoft Windows Millennium Edition (Me) to Windows XP, the game port devices may not be available.

CAUSE
This problem can occur because the upgrade process has not automatically upgraded the game port devices. The drivers and the configuration of game port devices is different in Windows XP in comparison to Windows 98, Windows 98 Second Edition, and Windows Me.

RESOLUTION
To resolve this problem, add the game port devices after the upgrade process is completed. In Control Panel, double-click Game Controllers, click Add, and then add the devices.

STATUS
Microsoft has confirmed that this is a problem in the Microsoft products that are listed at the beginning of this article.

MORE INFORMATION
This problem is known to occur with Microsoft SideWinder Game Pad (a game controller).

#1 Mx² on 14 Jan 2005 - 22:11

Cool!

(8 replies) #2 Jugalator on 14 Jan 2005 - 22:13

Nice! Hmm, is this to try out developing for Avalon??

The news paragraph only mention what Avalon is, not what the Tech Preview contains.

Can you produce & compile simple apps from it?

Hmm... Just 261 MB? Downloading...

Edit: LOL, 0.5 megabytes / sec... I love the MS servers as usual

#2.1 figgy on 14 Jan 2005 - 22:17

You need Whidbey compilers to run and compile Avalon apps.
Both the original Beta 1 build (40607.16) or the Beta 1 Refresh (40607.47) that was distributed with the Whidbey August CTP drop will work.

Wow! 4Megabits / sec. You mush have a very fast connection.

#2.2 Jugalator on 14 Jan 2005 - 22:22

Ugh, only got VS .NET 2003 installed

And a beta of .NET Framework 2.0...

Not sure I wish to install beta software of that magnitude on this computer.

Oh well, guess I'll complete the download anyway and look around, hopefully some nice docs and samples in.

Well, yes, it's a 10 Mbps connection

For $49/month. Quite a deal. LOL

Edit: Aah, you say beta *compilers*, not the whole thing? Hmm, I'll see what I can find then.

#2.3 divertom15 on 14 Jan 2005 - 22:25

you can compile apps with msbuild you do not need whidbey, altho it certianly helps.

#2.4 Jugalator on 14 Jan 2005 - 22:37

I see the "msbuild" command you speak of is part of the WinFX environment, so you get it with this package? OK then, I think I'll go low level for a start at least, and kick up my text editor.

#2.5 figgy on 14 Jan 2005 - 22:38

Just to make things clear, the compilers are included as a part of .Net framework 2.0
Since you already have it you are all set. Just verify the framework version numbers are as specified above.

MSBuild is not a compiler. It is more like nmake.
You can't compile Avalon apps with just with msbuild.

#2.6 Jugalator on 14 Jan 2005 - 22:40

Ah, I see... Thanks for that info

Yup, will upgrade to this version if I had an "older" 2.0.

#2.7 Synthetic on 15 Jan 2005 - 04:31

Wow who do you go through to get 10 Mbps for only $49 a month!

and good luck building that app!

#2.8 Jugalator on 15 Jan 2005 - 18:01

They have those connections basically everywhere as a "hole in the wall" pre-drawn to the apartments in the area I live. It's not too uncommon in rural areas in Sweden... I think the cheapness comes from that it's really not too expensive for maintainenance if you have already drawn the fiber.

Not that I really care why though.

#3 figgy on 14 Jan 2005 - 22:13

Woot! I have been waiting for the public release of this SDK for a long time.
After watching the cool Avalon demos on Channel9 I can't wait to get my hands dirty on this.

Thanks for posting.

#4 divertom15 on 14 Jan 2005 - 22:23

must note that you need the .net framework 2.0 beta for this to run correctly

#5 FISKER_Q on 14 Jan 2005 - 22:40

As written in the readme:
1. Install Microsoft .NET Framework v2.0 Beta 1.
2. Install Microsoft "Avalon" Community Technology Preview.
3. Install Microsoft Visual Studio 2005 Beta 1 from the Visual Studio 2005 CD Set. Note: You must install Visual Studio 2005 Beta before installing the WinFX SDK in order to use Visual Studio to develop "Avalon" applications.
OR
Install Visual Basic 2005 Express Edition Beta or Visual C# 2005 Express Edition Beta. We recommend that you install to the default location. Otherwise, you will have to edit the batch file, ConfigureAvalonForExpressSKUs.cmd, and set the variable used in the batch file to the install location.

4.Install the Microsoft WinFX SDK, "Avalon" Community Technology Preview Edition.
5.If you have installed Visual Basic 2005 Express Edition Beta or Visual C# 2005 Express Edition Beta, run the provided batch file, ConfigureAvalonForExpressSKUs.cmd, in the Command Prompt. Do not run this batch file if you have installed Visual Studio 2005 Beta 1 as this step is unnecessary.

The iso is what you download btw, so other than .NET Framework 2.0 Beta and VS.NET 2005 Beta then you wouldn't need more

(1 reply) #6 mr_scruff on 14 Jan 2005 - 23:22

I'd love to hear people's opinions of this.... will someone start a forum thread once they've had a play with it?

#6.1 Jugalator on 15 Jan 2005 - 18:07

Sure, I might do that, if I get it all to work and have time to play with it.

I'm also interested in seeing others do that in the Programmers Forum.

(1 reply) #7 naap51stang on 14 Jan 2005 - 23:49

Instead of releasing this, I'd rather see screen shots. Until it is in "prerelease" status, I'll pass.
I don't have time tinkering with pre-beta junk anymore......too tired at the end of the day

#7.1 CountryKING™ on 15 Jan 2005 - 00:22

You might want to take a look at this then.

(1 reply) #8 Nelsinho on 15 Jan 2005 - 00:02

hmmm, is right almost I start this download but seem vs.net 2003 not works with this application!!!then now I'm completely lost , I think is better to verify in ms website before download somehing

#8.1 Jugalator on 15 Jan 2005 - 18:05

I ended up (see the thread above

) getting the Visual C# 2005 Express Edition.

Not as much features as the whole VS .NET 2005 "Whidbey", but enough if you don't want to install an elephant to a beta package.

What's important is the 2005 compiler and .NET Framework 2.0, and VS .NET 2003 don't have any of that.

(5 replies) #9 kanga202 on 15 Jan 2005 - 00:48

ok i know this may be a stupid question, but will this add the cool Avalon UI i have seen around or is it just a test thing for makeing apps

dont laugh @ me please

Last edited by 90908 on 15 Jan 2005 - 00:58

#9.1 Jason on 15 Jan 2005 - 01:06

It won't add any different UI to XP.

#9.2 divertom15 on 15 Jan 2005 - 03:59

avalon is not the ui it is a complext new programing thing. avalon alows you to run avalon apps and xaml files.
aero is the ui which is exclusive to longhorn and will never make it to windows xp

#9.3 Goalie_CA on 15 Jan 2005 - 07:18

Basically, this is just a programmers interface. In addition to new developer tools this includes the libraries needed to make windows applications vectorized and hardware accelerated for some powerful per application features. For the desktop (explorer) and window manager (gdi?) meh! is not what is included.

#9.4 Jugalator on 15 Jan 2005 - 18:03

Yup, this is for developers to build the GUI in the same cool apps that are in Longhorn, but it's not to get Longhorn's Aero GUI itself.

#9.5 kanga202 on 16 Jan 2005 - 09:15

Ahh ok cool, i was getting it confused with aero

Thanks guys

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