Why there's no 64-bit Silverlight from Microsoft

[sygnus21]

Why there's no 64-bit Silverlight from Micorsoft... yet

In February 2009 we e-mailed Scott Guthrie, corporate vice president of Microsoft's .NET Developer Division, and asked him if Silverlight 3 would have a 64-bit version. He told us no, as other browser plugins (and most browsers) don't support 64-bit. Silverlight 3 was released in February 2009 and indeed was only available for 32-bit browsers.

Soon after the Silverlight 4 beta arrived (unsurprisingly, only in a 32-bit version), we spoke with Brian Goldfarb, director of the Developer Platform and Tools Group at Microsoft, about the company's priorities for developing future versions of the plugin.

"The simple answer is no, we are not supporting 64-bit browsers," Goldfarb told us. "Users are running 32-bit browsers because of plugins. It's all about sequencing and timing. We're absolutely going to do it; we're just not going to do it yet." Based on the data Microsoft was seeing, 64-bit browser support just wasn't worth the effort, Goldfarb told us.

"I don't know at what version, but it will happen," he said. "My customers are asking for other features. We need to bring people into the 64-bit world, but the tradeoffs aren't worth it right now. Businesses aren't asking for 64-bit."

Source -
Why there's no 64-bit Silverlight from Microsoft... yet

This might also answer why there's no 64-bit plug-in for Adobe Flash (yet) as well

 

[Night Hawk]

You would think after now 5yrs. time of having a 64bit edition of Windows with each version since XP Pro 64 and Silverlight being the latest item for Windows Live some type of plugin would be available. MS has been providing the 64bit platform while hardly anyone else is stepping upto the plate!

 

[sygnus21]

MS has been providing the 64bit platform while hardly anyone else is stepping upto the plate!

While I understand what you're saying, it's kind of hard to argue about 64-bit browser plug-in support when Microsoft themselves said they won't support it (yet).

If Microsoft won't supply a 64-bit version of their own plug-in to support their own 64-bit browser, well...

 

[Night Hawk]

Plugins isn't the only thing being left out of the loop! This has been going for some time apparently.

Microsoft: No plans for 64-bit Silverlight 3

By Tom Warren, 05 February 2009 - 08:19

Once again Microsoft is going back on its push for 64-bit computing for the masses.

Neowin.net - Microsoft: No plans for 64-bit Silverlight 3

Just that first line alone from the old article seems to sum things up for the #4 beta version as well.

 

[Lebon14]

I think there would be more 64-bit browsers IF there was a 64-bit Flash.....
To me, Flash block all advancement.

 

[Zidane24]

Actually the real problem here is that no one wants to step up to the plate and offer 64-bit plug-ins...

Sun doesn't, Adobe doesn't, Microsoft doesn't...until someone does the telemetry is of course going to favor only 32-bit...seeing as folks want to use their plug-ins...

 

[WindowsStar]

If Microsoft would offer Silverlight in 64bit they will put Adobe out of business. Everyone I know in the Corp world has gone Window 7 64bit and wants IE 64bit because of security and because all the servers are now Windows Server 2008 R2 Terminal Server (64bit ONLY). TS is wonderful and more deployment means we in Corp need 64bit plug-ins. I don't know where MS gets its information from but they have not asked us or my fellow Crop friends. Between all of us that’s over 100,000 64bit installs, many trying to use IE 64bit as their only web browser. We are stuck with 32bit because of Flash and Silverlight. Come on Microsoft give us 64bit plug-ins.

 

[Zidane24]

If Microsoft would offer Silverlight in 64bit they will put Adobe out of business. Everyone I know in the Corp world has gone Window 7 64bit and wants IE 64bit because of security and because all the servers are now Windows Server 2008 R2 Terminal Server (64bit ONLY). TS is wonderful and more deployment means we in Corp need 64bit plug-ins. I don't know where MS gets its information from but they have not asked us or my fellow Crop friends. Between all of us that’s over 100,000 64bit installs, many trying to use IE 64bit as their only web browser. We are stuck with 32bit because of Flash and Silverlight. Come on Microsoft give us 64bit plug-ins.

I think you mean...come on everyone

Seriously like I said above...it will only take one of them to step forward to see all the major plugins go 64-bit...

It is sad...Microsoft has the chance to be first at something and get ahead of the internet market that has been a major goal for them since the browser wars began and like their very lazy competitor Adobe they put it off for another day...

 

[sygnus21]

From posted article...

The 64-bit conundrum

That might sound like a vicious circle, and it is; if you are using a 64-bit browser, you need to use 64-bit versions of all your plugins, and plugin makers aren't particularly eager to make 64-bit versions until 64-bit browsers start being used with some frequency. There are three key plugins that need to offer 64-bit versions before mainstream users can switch. In order of least important to most important, these are: Silverlight, Java, and Flash.

I think this says it all as to why no one has stepped up to the 64-bit plug-in yet. Whether we like it or not, many many users are using 32-bit browsers, just like there are many many users still using 32-bit OS's.

I personally think that if Adobe were to step up, things would start to change. Until then, snails pace.

As stated in the article, Adobe doesn't really care if Micorsoft beats them to the punch here,

But support for 64-bit browsers isn't something that can really be touted as a competitive advantage at this point in the game; it simply wouldn't faze Adobe to see the competition offer it.

and I would agree, seeing that Flash is the most widely used plug-in for browsers and will continue for some time.

Bottom line, I think it's Adobe who needs to put pressure on the competition.

 

[starfox444]

I don't think you guys don't get the point. Let's say 64 bit was implemented. But a large install base of 32 bit users can do exactly what they did before at the same rate they did before without having to change anything, you have to remember, for every person on this site and working in the ICT business caring about how technology advances and knowing exactly how their machines perform, there's a hell of a lot more people out there who are content with going on facebook and typing up reports with word processing software and never doing anything else.

 

[Zidane24]

Kudos to DarkNovaGamer for giving me the heads up that there is a 64-bit version of the Java plugin from Sun Microsystems...

 

[fseal]

Wow that is pure laziness, and yes Adobe jas been guilty of this kind of laziness for years. Photoshop should have been the 64bit flagship product on Windows years ago (and it could have been) but is only NOW barely there, with everything else still 32...

As a developer I can guarantee you that the difference between making a piece of code 64bit or 32bit compatible and then compiling both versions is absolutely miniscule in comparison to an entire project. We're talking 2-3% of development time. Even back-porting 64bit into a 32bit only project is not that complex (though takes more time than making it right the first time).

MS has no excuse for this. Their OS is finally being installed in 64 bit by default by a lot of manufacturers and in droves by enthisiasts and now they themselves are dragging their heels. This is very dissapointing

 

[Zidane24]

Wow that is pure laziness, and yes Adobe jas been guilty of this kind of laziness for years. Photoshop should have been the 64bit flagship product on Windows years ago (and it could have been) but is only NOW barely there, with everything else still 32...

As a developer I can guarantee you that the difference between making a piece of code 64bit or 32bit compatible and then compiling both versions is absolutely miniscule in comparison to an entire project. We're talking 2-3% of development time. Even back-porting 64bit into a 32bit only project is not that complex (though takes more time than making it right the first time).

MS has no excuse for this. Their OS is finally being installed in 64 bit by default by a lot of manufacturers and in droves by enthisiasts and now they themselves are dragging their heels. This is very dissapointing

+1 my good sir you are exactly correct and it is time for all these plug-in makers that are to lazy to get off their ass and just compile the 64-bit plug-ins to get it done

 

[Airbot]

Kudos to DarkNovaGamer for giving me the heads up that there is a 64-bit version of the Java plugin from Sun Microsystems...

Nah, you already knew about it months ago.
http://www.sevenforums.com/software/5062-java-windows-7-7048-64-bit.html#post265018

BTW, there is a new silverlight version available.
http://www.sevenforums.com/browsers-mail/56766-silverlight-3-0-50106-0-released.html

 

[Zidane24]

Kudos to DarkNovaGamer for giving me the heads up that there is a 64-bit version of the Java plugin from Sun Microsystems...

Nah, you already knew about it months ago.
http://www.sevenforums.com/software/5062-java-windows-7-7048-64-bit.html#post265018

BTW, there is a new silverlight version available.
http://www.sevenforums.com/browsers-mail/56766-silverlight-3-0-50106-0-released.html

I admit...I tend to be forgetful

Thanks for refreshing my memory also Aaron

 

[sygnus21]

Kudos to DarkNovaGamer for giving me the heads up that there is a 64-bit version of the Java plugin from Sun Microsystems...

It's also mentioned in the article

 

[sygnus21]

BTW, there is a new silverlight version available.
http://www.sevenforums.com/browsers-mail/56766-silverlight-3-0-50106-0-released.html

As well as a new version of Shockwave - Adobe - Adobe Shockwave Player

 

[Airbot]

Yep. That is here too -
http://www.sevenforums.com/browsers-mail/56708-adobe-shockwave-player-11-5-6-606-19-1-2010-a.html

 

[Night Hawk]

The part I love is going to Adobe and reasding this about Flash Player and the 64bit IE!

TechNote

Flash Player support on 64-bit operating systems


Issue

Adobe Flash Player is not supported for playback in a 64-bit browser. However, you can run Flash Player in a 32-bit browser running on a 64-bit operating system.

And now for clincher!

Reason

Adobe is working on Flash Player support for 64-bit platforms as part of our ongoing commitment to the cross-platform compatibility of Flash Player. We expect to provide native support for 64-bit platforms in an upcoming release of Flash Player following the release of Flash Player 10.1.

Note: To participate in pre-release testing of 64-bit Flash Players see Adobe Labs.

Flash Player support on 64-bit operating systems

Their "Solution" is simply running the 32bit browser on the 64bit OS.

As far as the Adobe Shockwave Player I end up with

Solution

This dialog appears because Adobe Shockwave 11.5 is a 32-bit application, and OS X 10.6 is a 64-bit operating system.

When arriving at http://kb2.adobe.com/cps/512/cpsid_51273.html while in the 64bit IE here.

 

[Dark Nova Gamer]

Their "Solution" is simply running the 32bit browser on the 64bit OS.

Dear lord.. they.. they are brilliant!!!!! :sarc: