New features in Silverlight 4 Beta: Out Of Browser Applications (Trusted)

I previously wrote a post about new features of sandboxed out of browser applications. This post focuses on trusted applications.

Trusted application features

• Install requires users to “trust” the application
• Group Policy support for
  • Disabling installation of Trusted Applications
  • Disabling activation of Trusted Applications

• Native Integration / COM Automation objects on Windows
  • ComAutomationFactory
  • C# 4.0 “dynamic” programming model
  • Standard language feature in Visual Basic
  • Automation features supported in SL 4 Beta
    • Property get/set, indexed property get/set
    • Positional and optional parameters
    • Support by ref and by value
    • In proc and out of proc servers
    • Support VARIANT, BSTR, SAFEARRAY
    • Sink dispatch events with arguments
  • Automation features not supported in SL 4 Beta
    • Marshalling user defined types
    • Multi-dimensional or jagged arrays
    • Named parameters
    • IEnumVariant
    • Type Information

• File System Access
  • Folders: MyDocuments, MyMusic, MyPictures, MyVideos
  • These folders are distinct from the Windows 7 Libraries

• Relax sandbox speed bumps
  • Enable cross domain HTTP networking
  • Eliminate site locking for WebBrowser
  • Full path in Open/SaveFileDialog
  • Eliminate user initiation
    • Open/SaveFileDialog
    • Clipboard access
    • Full screen mode
    • Changing window settings
  • Enable full keyboard in full screen mode

Useful links

• http://microsoftpdc.com/Sessions/P09-11 
• http://scorbs.com/2009/11/19/pdc-session-silverlight-4-beta-overview/
• http://microsoftpdc.com/Sessions/CL20
• http://blogs.msdn.com/jstegman/archive/2009/11/19/trustedapp-sample-from-pdc-2009.aspx
• http://silverlight.net/learn/videos/all/com-object-access-trusted-applications/
• http://silverlight.net/learn/videos/all/local-file-access/
• http://silverlight.net/learn/videos/all/network-authentication-trusted-network-access/
• http://channel9.msdn.com/learn/courses/Silverlight4/OutOfBrowser/OutOfBrowser/
• http://channel9.msdn.com/learn/courses/Silverlight4/Overview/Overview/
• http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/dd550721(VS.96).aspx
• http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ee721083(VS.96).aspx
• http://mtaulty.com/CommunityServer/blogs/mike_taultys_blog/archive/2009/12/23/silverlight-4-grabbing-emails-from-the-outlook-inbox.aspx