What's new in the .NET Framework 4

Introduction:

The .NET Framework 4 introduces an improved security model, APIs, workflow models, inbuilt plug-in, workflow and VS designer for attract to end-users

Here they introduced many new features and environment,

• Security Changes in the .NET Framework 4.
• Application Compatibility and Deployment
• Web
• Client - Enhancements in WPF
• Data
• Communications and Workflow

Security Changes in the .NET Framework 4 :

They implemented two major changes in security the code that calls security policy APIs receives a NotSupportedException in addition to compiler warnings at run time and also they invoked obsolete request permissions.

• Machine-wide security policy
• Security transparency

Application Compatibility and Deployment

The .NET Framework 4 does not automatically use its version of the common language runtime to run applications that are built with earlier versions of the .NET Framework. To run older applications with .NET Framework 4, you must compile your application with the target .NET Framework version specified in the properties for your project in Visual Studio, or you can specify the supported runtime with the <supportedRuntime> Element in an application configuration file.

New features:

• Diagnostics and Performance
• Garbage Collection
• Code Contracts
• Design-Time-Only Interop Assemblies
• Dynamic Language Runtime
• Memory-Mapped Files

Features in Web:

1. Web Forms controls, including a new Chart control.
2. Microsoft Ajax, including additional support for client-based Ajax applications in the Microsoft Ajax Library.
3. Multi-targeting, including better filtering for features that are not available in the target version of the .NET Framework.
4. Web Forms, including more integrated support for ASP.NET routing, enhanced support for Web standards, updated browser support, new features for data controls, and new features for view state management.
5. MVC, including new helper methods for views, support for partitioned MVC applications, and asynchronous controllers.
6. Deployment, including new tools for automating typical deployment tasks.
7. MVC, including new helper methods for views, support for partitioned MVC applications, and asynchronous controllers.

Enchancements in WPF:

1. New Controls,
   
   1. DataGrid
   2. Calendar
   3. DatePicker
2. Visual State Manager.
3. Touch and Manipulation.
4. Graphics and Animations,
   
   1. Layout Rounding
   2. Cached Composition
   3. Pixel Shader 3 Support
   4. Easing Functions
5. Text,
   
   1. New Text Rendering Stack
   2. Selection and Caret Customization
6. Binding,
   
   1. XAML Browser Applications
   2. HTML-XBAP Script Interop
   3. Full-Trust XBAP Deployment
7. WPF and Windows.
8. WPF and Silverlight Designer
   
   1. Improved Support for Silverlight.
   2. Support for Multiple Platform Versions.
   3. Visual Databinding.
   4. Auto Layout.
   5. Improved Property Editing.
   6. The Properties window now enables visually creating and editing Brush resources.

DATA:

1. ADO.NET
   
   1. Foreign Keys in the Conceptual Model.
   2. New Methods for N-Tier Application Development.
   3. EntityDataSource Support for the QueryExtender Control.
   4. Testability with IObjectSet<T>.
   5. Direct Execution of Store Commands
   6. Persistence-Ignorant Objects.
   7. Lazy Loading of Related Objects.
   8. Functions in LINQ to Entities Queries.
   9. OrderBy Improvements in LINQ to Entities.
   10. Customized Object-Layer Code Generation.
   11. Model-First Support.
   12. Complex Type Support.
   13. Naming Service.
   14. Improved Model Browser Functionality.
   15. Entity Designer Extensibility.
   16. Entity Data Model Documentation.
2. Dynamic Data
   
   1. Automatic validation that is based on constraints that are defined in the data model.
   2. The ability to easily change the markup that is generated for fields in the GridView and DetailsView controls by using field templates that are part of a Dynamic Data project.

Communications and Workflow:

1. WCF
   1. Configuration Based Activation.
   2. System.Web.Routing Integration.
   3. Multiple IIS Site Bindings Support.
   4. Routing Service.
   5. Support for WS-Discovery.
   6. Standard Endpoints.
   7. Workflow Services.
   8. Target Framework Attribute.
2. WorkFlow
   
   1. Workflow Activity Model.
   2. Rich Composite Activity Options.
   3. Expanded Built-In Activity Library.
   4. Explicit Activity Data Model.
   5. Enhanced Hosting, Persistence, and Tracking Options.
   6. Easier Ability to Extend WF Designer Experience.

Download : http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/vstudio/dd582936.aspx