Microsoft has developed its Silverlight web browser plug-in software tool as a competitor to Adobe's Flash tools. But is Microsoft getting ready to throw in the towel regarding future Silverlight development? ZDNet.com claims via unnamed but multiple sources that the answer to that question could be "yes."
The article claims that not only could Microsoft close the books on Silverlight when version 5 is released later in November it also might not offer any service pack updates to Silverlight 5. Indeed, the article claims that its sources are unsure of how long Microsoft will offer official support for Silverlight 5 after it is released.
There's even a rumor from one source that claims Silverlight 5 will only work on Windows and only with Microsoft's Internet Explorer browser. The current version of Silverlight supports both Windows and Mac operating system along with a number of different web browsers.
So are we really getting close to the end for Silverlight's development? We would guess the news is indeed true. The reason? Windows 8. Microsoft has said more than once that Windows 8 and the upcoming Internet Explorer 10 web browser would do away with plug-in programs and continuing development of Silverlight beyond version 5 would seem to run contrary to Microsoft's plans for Windows 8 and IE 10.
In any case, Microsoft has yet to confirm or deny anything about the future of Silverlight.
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