News

'Avalon' Community Technical Preview Released

Microsoft earlier this month released a Community Technical Preview of "Avalon," the new presentation subsystem for Windows.

It is the third major technical preview of the technology, and the first to stand on its own for use with Windows XP and Windows Server 2003. The first two Avalon previews existed inside technical previews of the Windows "Longhorn" operating system distributed at the Professional Developers Conference in October 2003 and at WinHEC this year.

Up until late August, the Longhorn operating system had three code-named pillars: Avalon, Indigo and WinFS. Then Microsoft decided to pull WinFS from the operating system in order to hit a 2006 delivery schedule for the Longhorn client. At the same time, Microsoft officials decided to extend the Avalon and Indigo technologies to the Windows XP and Windows Server 2003 platforms to give developers a broader installed base for their next-generation applications.

In Microsoft's definition, Avalon is the unified presentation subsystem for Windows and consists of a display engine and a managed-code framework. "'Avalon' unifies how Windows creates, displays, and manipulates documents, media, and user interfaces, which enables developers and designers to create visually-stunning, differentiated user experiences that improve customer connection."

Avalon's DirectX-based engine provides a single runtime for browser-based applications, forms-based applications, graphics, video, audio and documents. Also included with Avalon is an Avalon framework and XAML, a markup language for declaratively representing user interface for Windows applications. The distribution also includes an initial release of the WinFX SDK.

Some highlights of the new Avalon preview include a new storyboard concept, providing a mechanism for orchestrating animations across multiple objects; more advanced 3D drawing functionality; ink-enablement for Tablet PC applications, and better support for globalization.

For more information on Longhorn, click here to view ENT's recent "Longhorn Status Report."

About the Author

Scott Bekker is editor in chief of Redmond Channel Partner magazine.

Featured

  • Microsoft Offers Support Extensions for Exchange 2016 and 2019

    Microsoft has introduced a paid Extended Security Update (ESU) program for on-premises Exchange Server 2016 and 2019, offering a crucial safety cushion as both versions near their Oct. 14, 2025 end-of-support date.

  • An image of planes flying around a globe

    2025 Microsoft Conference Calendar: For Partners, IT Pros and Developers

    Here's your guide to all the IT training sessions, partner meet-ups and annual Microsoft conferences you won't want to miss.

  • Notebook

    Microsoft Centers AI, Security and Partner Dogfooding at MCAPS

    Microsoft's second annual MCAPS for Partners event took place Tuesday, delivering a volley of updates and directives for its partners for fiscal 2026.

  • Microsoft Layoffs: AI Is the Obvious Elephant in the Room

    As Microsoft doubles down on an $80 billion bet on AI this fiscal year, its workforce reductions are drawing scrutiny over whether AI's ascent is quietly reshaping its human capital strategy, even as official messaging avoids drawing a direct line.

Most   Popular