.NET Renaissance from India (Arun GG)!!!

1. Download the Avalon CTP.

2. Install the “Public November 2004 Avalon CTP Release.msi”.

3. This will create a folder @ ……\My Documents\MSDN\Public November 2004 Avalon CTP Release, which has iso CD image: “en_winfx_sdk_ctp.iso”.

4. The first step is to generate a CD from file en_winfx_sdk_ctp.iso. An ISO-9660 image file is an exact representation of a CD, including the content and the logical format. The most common use of an image file is to write it to a blank CD-R resulting in an identical copy of the original CD including file name and volume label information.

5. The contents of images files can be extracted to hard drive using utilities such as ISObuster or DaemonTools. Image files can be mounted locally using the Virtual CD-ROM Control Panel for Windows XP.

6. I used the tool “Virtual CD-ROM Control Panel” and once you mount locally, run the CD and install the Avalon and WinFX SDK.

7. The installation instructions on the CD will direct you to install Visual Studio 2005 Beta 1 from the Visual Studio 2005 CD Set. If you do not have access to Visual Studio Beta 1, please download and install Visual Basic 2005 Express Edition Beta or Visual C# 2005 Express Edition Beta, both of which are available to the public.

8. After installation is complete, please run the provided batch file, "ConfigureAvalonForExpressSKUs.cmd", to configure the above tools for use with "Avalon".

Really Avalon CTP is rocking…… Try it!!!!!!!!!!!!!

• "Avalon" now installs and runs on Windows XP Service Pack 2 or Windows Server 2003.
• New controls like : ToggleButton and TabControl, as well as a ViewBox element.
• A new storyboard concept provides a mechanism to orchestrate animations across multiple objects.
• The data binding services continue to mature with support for asynchronous data binding, update validation, and better styling.
• 3D drawing enhancements.

The Avalon team has provided the November 2004 Avalon Community Technology Preview for the general public!!!!

Now you can download the Public November 2004 "Avalon" Community Technology Preview including WinFX SDK for Windows XP Service Pack 2 and Windows Server 2003..........

Just downloaded and installed the bits....

In addition, the team has provided a batch file to enable the Avalon project item templates for use in the beta of Visual Studio 2005 Express Edition, which is also freely available to the general public.

Cooool..... Isn't it?

Wait............... Heeey what is this Avalon (If any one ask this question!)

"Avalon" is the code name for Microsoft's unified presentation subsystem for Windows. It 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.

Ok..... The picture above shows: 3D Graphics.. Right? so what's new about 3D?

Channel 9: Avalon 3-D in the Community Technology Preview: Check the cool demos -- Daniel, a software design engineer on the Avalon team responsible for the 3D features of Avalon, gives us a demo of Avalon 3D.