The SDK used to create the New York Times Reader (as an example) fomerly known as "Reader SDK" is now available as "Syndicated Client Starter Kit" from windowsclient.net: http://windowsclient.net/wpf/starter-kits/sce.aspx.

Get more information concerning the SDK from Tim Sneath: http://blogs.msdn.com/tims/archive/2008/01/16/we-ve-released-the-news-reader-sdk.aspx

I've tried the MSDN reader sample and was fairly impressed. Besides some problems in getting the content to my pc (might be based on problems with the Subscription Center) the reader worked very well and the layout is WPF par excellence.

Let me save you some time ;).

I had a hard time of finding all the information I needed to create a really usable wpf custom control (user defined templates etc.). Looks like Charles Petzold had to go the same way and was keen enough to write an article for MSDN mag.

So if you want to go the custom control route, read the article at http://msdn.microsoft.com/msdnmag/issues/08/01/Foundations/default.aspx before you start. It's quite easy once you got all the information in place.

Another interesting links, even if you are looking for tipps on how to integrate your new control nicely into all the editors out there (VS 2008, Blend, etc.): http://forums.microsoft.com/MSDN/ShowPost.aspx?PostID=2125195&SiteID=1

BTW: Never set

within your custom control just because your Bindings within the generic.xaml template doesn't work. Take the proper approach:

Microsoft's server are getting a personality. As Windows Server 2008 entered ESCROW a few weeks ago it looks like the bits are getting ready. Microsoft.com being one of the largest web pages in today's Internet (in case of unique hits) one can say that it might be its own testbed for new servers.

Check out the new ad from MSFT: Loneserver (http://www.loneserver.com). The interesting part -besides all the fun- is that a build of longhorn was already used in '05 for hosting parts of Microsoft.com.