Microsoft just released the December Preview of Expressions Blend 2. One improvement that caught my eye is the new font embedding functionality to ensure that all audiences can see Silverlight and WPF applications as the designer intended them to be viewed. Ah yes, technology functioning as it should. A full list of improvements is included on the download site. MS Expressions Download site.

A month after Electric Rain released the first build of StandOut beta they have just released a second, public beta. Although I haven't had an opportunity to play with the applciation yet, I am excited at the potential. In January Nate and I attended the MS Expressions release party in SF and got our first glipse of this revolutionary presentation application. To learn more or download Electric Rain's StandOut Beta go to: http://www.erain.com/products/Standout/