[Pixalo]

Press release:
Microsoft UK today announced significant product line enhancements along with pricing and availability of the Microsoft Expression Studio for creative professionals. The quality of user experience is emerging as a core requirement for differentiating products and services while optimising customers’ brand loyalty. Expression Studio, a key component of Microsoft’s strategy for improving the user experience delivered by applications, provides designers with an end-to-end tools platform that boosts collaboration with developers in the delivery of next-generation user experiences for the Web, Windows Vista applications and beyond.

Expression Studio comprises Expression Web for creating standards-based Web sites; Expression Blend (formally Interactive Designer) for designing rich interactive experiences for Windows; Expression Design (formally Graphic Designer) for the design of visual elements for Web and Windows experiences; and a new tool, Expression Media, which provides digital asset management and unifies team workflow across the suite. Expression Web is shipping today, and the full Expression Studio is planned for delivery in the second quarter of 2007.

"The launch of the Expression Suite marks a significant point of entry into a new market and demonstrates the significance Microsoft is placing on cutting edge design and user experience, particularly when combined with Visual Studio development tools and the .NET 3.0 platform technologies included in Windows Vista” said John Allwright, Web Design and Development Manger, Microsoft UK.

“The Expression family was born out of our recognition of the importance of design in today’s application development lifecycle and appreciates the central role that designers play in delivering compelling, highly engaging and usable experiences. Expression also fulfils Microsoft’s aims to elevate the designer role by providing tools that better integrate designers into the development lifecycle.”

Better Design Tools for Better User Experiences
Product enhancements unveiled today in Expression Blend and Expression Design include a new user interface crafted specifically for professional designers and based on extensive feedback following more than half a million downloads of Expression community technology previews (CTPs). Expression Blend Beta 1 and the Expression Design December 2006 CTP are available for download.

Expression Media, based on the iView MediaPro product acquired by Microsoft earlier this year, supports more than 100 media formats and provides offline access to visual catalogues, making it easier for creative professionals to manage and use their digital assets. Expression Media includes Expression Media Encoder, a complete solution for the preparation, encoding and deployment of rich video and audio for Web and Windows experiences. A first CTP of Expression Media is expected early in 2007.

Also made available today is the first CTP of Windows Presentation Foundation Everywhere (WPF/E). WPF/E is a cross-platform browser plug-in for delivering rich media, animation and video content based on the Emmy Award-winning Windows Media® technology, the industry’s most pervasive media platform for the Web, desktop and devices. Expression Media and Expression Design provide support for authoring content for the WPF/E CTP.

“The Expression tools leave no doubts about the seriousness with which Microsoft takes the importance of the user experience, both in the creation of applications and the use of applications,” said Bola Rotibi, senior analyst at Ovum Ltd. “Organisations will increasingly seek to differentiate their end-user services and retain and grow their customer base by delivering superior application user experiences. Microsoft’s product strategy acknowledges what we believe to be the new battle lines for environments tasked with delivering user-facing applications.”

New Resources, Downloads, Pricing and Availability

A new design professional community resource that includes forums, video demos and team blogs was launched today at Microsoft Design Center. The Web site underscores Microsoft’s vision for creative design and user experience, offering a behind-the-scenes view of the design process for major projects such as Xbox 360, Windows Vista and the 2007 Microsoft Office system. Technology downloads can be accessed at the updated Expression site at Microsoft® Expression and include a free full-version 60-day trial of Expression Web. With the first CTP of Expression Media expected early in 2007, customers can read about and download iView MediaPro at Professional Photo Software, Image Management Software and Stock Photography. The debut WPF/E CTP can be downloaded from http://www.microsoft.com/wpfe.




Microsoft also unveiled final product pricing and availability for the complete Expression product family. Expression Web is available for an estimated retail price (ERP) of $299 (U.S.) and qualifying users of FrontPage can upgrade to Expression Web for $99 ERP. Shipping in the second quarter of 2007, Expression Blend will be available for $499 ERP, Expression Media for $299 ERP, and the full Expression Studio for $599 ERP. When it ships, Expression Studio will also be available as a $349 ERP upgrade to users who have purchased Expression Web and other qualifying Microsoft products. Full product pricing and availability information is available on the Microsoft® Expression. All Expression products for English-speaking markets will include getting-started video training courtesy of Total Training Inc.