Microsoft Expression Blend 2 FAQ
General and Sales
Q: What is Microsoft Expression Blend 2?
A: Microsoft Expression Blend 2 is a professional design tool to create compelling
user experiences and applications for Windows using either the .NET Framework 3.0,
.NET framework 3.5 (which both include the Windows Presentation Foundation), or
for the web with Silverlight.
Q: How can I purchase Expression Blend 2?
A: Expression Blend 2 is available either separately as part of the full Expression
Studio 2 or as part of the Expression Professional Subscription. It can be purchased
from a range of resellers and online resellers or can be purchased for immediate
download from Microsoft’s online store. For a comprehensive list of purchasing options,
see the How To Buy page.
Q: What is the price for Expression Blend 2?
A: Expression Blend 2 has an estimated retail price of US $499.
Q: What are the upgrade options and prices?
A: Qualifying customers, including owners of several Adobe products, can upgrade to
Expression Blend for US $99 (local pricing may vary). Click here to purchase and
digitally download this upgrade. For complete upgrade eligibility, please go here.
Expression Web, Expression Blend, Expression Media & Expression Studio customers
can upgrade to the full Expression Studio 2 for an estimated retail price of US
$349. Click here to purchase and digitally download your Expression Studio upgrade
now.
Q: In what languages are the Microsoft Expression products available?
A. Each of the Microsoft Expression products is available in the following languages:
English, French, German, Spanish, Italian, Japanese, Chinese Simplified, Chinese
Traditional, and Korean.
Q: Is there a trial version of Expression Blend 2?
A: Yes. The fully featured 30 day free trial for Expression Blend 2 is currently available
for download here.
Q: Does the Expression Blend 2 Free Trial have an expiration date?
A: Yes. The free Expression Blend 2 trial will expire 30 days after you install
the program. When your trial expires, select the option "I have a product key and
want to license Microsoft Expression Blend 2" if you have a valid product key and
want to enable full licensing rights to your copy of Expression Blend 2.
Q: Is the Expression Blend 2 Service Pack 1 compatible with the Expression Blend
2 trial?
A: Yes. You can install the Expression Blend 2 Service Pack 1 if you are using the
Expression Blend 2 trial. The Service Pack will enable the trial version of Expression
Blend 2 to target the Silverlight 2 platform during its trial period. The trial
will also be reset allowing an extra 60 days to test the capabilities of Expression
Blend 2 Service Pack 1.
Q: Where can I find resources to help me use my Expression products?
A: The
Expression Community Web site on all the Expression products and the Microsoft technologies that they are designed
to work with.
Product Specific
Q: Are there preview releases available of future versions of Microsoft Expression
Blend?
A: No, there are no previews available at the moment. Expression Blend 2 Service
Pack 1 is the most recent release and fully supports Silverlight 2.
Q: I would like to build content for Silverlight 2, should I install Expression
Blend 2?
A: To target Silverlight 2 you should install Expression Blend 2, and then apply
the new Expression Blend 2 Service Pack 1, which enables targeting of the Silverlight
2 platform.
Q: What happened to Expression Blend 2.5?
A: Expression Blend 2.5 provided support for Silverlight 2 through its Beta cycle,
both Beta 1 and Beta 2. Silverlight 2 has now been released and the Silverlight
2 platform support that Expression Blend 2.5 enabled is being made available to
all our Expression Blend users via the Expression Blend 2 Service Pack 1.
Q: What is Expression Blend 2 Service Pack 1?
A: Expression Blend 2 Service Pack 1 is a free of charge update for Expression Blend
2 that enables authoring for the Silverlight 2 platform for all Expression Blend
2 users.
Q: Can I install Expression Blend 2 Service Pack 1 and Expression Blend 2.5
June 2008 Preview at the same time?
A: No. Expression Blend 2.5 June 2008 Preview has been replaced by Expression Blend
2 Service Pack 1. The two products should not be installed side by side.
Q: What is the relationship between Expression Blend 2 and the .NET Framework
3.0 that is part of Windows Vista?
A: With the .NET Framework 3.0, designers and developers can work collaboratively
to build visually stunning Windows applications that deliver a superior user experience
and enhance user productivity and satisfaction. .NET Framework 3.0 includes the
Windows Presentation Foundation, which introduces XAML (Extensible Application Markup
Language), a markup language for describing application user interface, documents,
and media content. XAML serves as a back-and-forth communication format which designers
and developers can use to directly exchange and collaborate on applications created
using both the Expression Studio 2 and Visual Studio. Expression Blend 2 targets
both .NET Framework 3.0 and 3.5 applications.
Does Expression Blend support the Microsoft .NET Framework 3.5 Service Pack
1?
A: All versions of Expression Blend support the Microsoft .NET Framework 3.5 Service
Pack 1.
Q: What is the relationship between Expression Blend 2 and Expression Design
2?
A: Microsoft® Expression® Design 2 supports the creation of graphic designs for
export to the XAML file format–the declarative markup language that is used to describe
application user interface elements and rich content for both WPF and Silverlight.
Microsoft Expression Blend 2 is built on WPF and can natively consume the XAML files
exported from Expression Design 2. For more information, view the Expression Blend training videos that are available on the Expression Web site. To learn more technical
details about Windows Vista, WPF, and building applications using .NET Framework
3.0, visit the
Windows Vista Developer Center and for Silverlight information visit
Silverlight.net.
Q: What compatibility issues do I need to be aware of?
A: To get accelerated hardware performance from .NET Framework 3.0/3.5 and Expression
Blend 2, you need to make sure you have a recent graphics driver installed. Check
your display adapter for the following settings (Start, Control
Panel and then Display):
Click the Settings tab and then under Color quality,
make sure Highest (32 bit) is selected.
Click the Advanced button, and then on the Adapter
tab, click the Properties button.
Click the Driver tab and look next to the Driver Date
to see if the date is more recent than 11/1/2004. If it is not, then video and hardware
acceleration will not work properly on your system unless you upgrade your video
drivers. This issue will be fixed in future versions of the .NET Framework.
Support
Q: How do I get technical support for my purchased Expression product?
A: Visit Microsoft Help and Support.
Q: Is customer support offered with Expression Trial versions?
A: Formal support is not offered for this Expression Trials. Instead, we have a
community web site and forums for all the Expression products where you can solicit
feedback and help get your questions answered by the both the Expression community
and the moderators from the different Expression teams.
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