Microsoft Popfly to shutdown on August 24

Microsoft Popfly, the company's hosted tool for building Web pages

, mashups, and games, will be shut down on August 24, the victim of an economy that has the software giant re-evaluating priorities.

Geared to non-programmers, Popfly was unveiled two years ago and featured social networking and support of the Microsoft Silverlight browser plug-in for video and interactive applications. But all sites, references, and resources pertaining to Popfly will be taken down and access to Popfly accounts removed, including access to any games or mashups developed.

With Popfly, Microsoft set out to do something new and learned lessons applicable to operating a large-scale service, the company said. Knowledge also was gained on how beginning developers approach their first projects. However, the economic situation caused Microsoft to refocus and evaluate priorities. While successful and popular, Popfly did not make the cut.

"We want to thank everyone who registered for and used Popfly. We've been fortunate enough to see all the innovative mashups, Web pages, and games you've created since we launched Popfly two years ago, and it's been a pleasure to watch the spirit of creativity flow through a growing Popfly community over the life of the product," said John Montgomery, of the Popfly team at Microsoft, in a blog post on July 16.

Users interested in pursuing refinement of Web application development skills are encouraged to access the Microsoft Web Platform Installer site, featuring technologies for building and hosting Web sites. Windows programmers who had used Popfly can visit the Microsoft Express site for tools and the Microsoft SQL Server database.

Popfly is still in a beta phase of release.

Microsoft Popfly to shutdown on August 24

By: liza

POST COMMENT

Microsoft Dynamics GP in Retail Implementation Highlights Chance shows that Microsoft is still leads Opera says Microsoft without IE browser offer "not enough" Microsoft settles suit with Mississippi for $100 mln Microsoft Photosynth Integrates Into Virtual Earth Microsoft App. Store Opens To Developers Kaspersky Lab Announces Support for Microsoft Forefront 'Stirling' Microsoft Office 2007 Microsoft Dynamics GP 2010/11 Version Update considerations Tech Triumph: How Apple Beat Microsoft Wms For Microsoft Dynamics Gp: Allocation, Fulfillment, Replenishment Ballmer: Microsoft thinks that tablet ‘urgency' Microsoft Tech Support Offered by Help Gurus