Graphical Composition in Avalon
Longhorn introduces significant new graphics technology, codenamed "Avalon." Avalon renders an application's visual elements onto the screen using a much more sophisticated approach than Windows has previously used. In this article, Ian Griffiths show how this new graphical composition model solves various limitations of Win32, what new user interface design techniques this enables, and what it means to developers. Mar. 8, 2004

Inside XAML
One of Longhorn's most interesting technologies for developers is its new XML-based markup language, codenamed XAML (short for eXtensible Application Markup Language, and pronounced "Zammel"). User interfaces in Longhorn applications are typically built using XAML. Ian Griffiths looks at how XAML relates to the underlying support provided by WinFX.  Jan. 19, 2004

WinFX: An All-Managed API
In Longhorn, Win32 will no longer be the principal API. It will, of course, continue to be supported; 20-year-old DOS applications still run on the latest version of Windows, and likewise, Win32 applications will also continue to work for the foreseeable future. But just as DOS and 16-bit Windows applications were superseded by Win32 applications, so in Longhorn will Win32 become the "old way" of doing things. In the first edition of this new column by Ian Griffiths, he explains why an all-managed API is a good thing. Nov. 24, 2003