What are the new features?

• 
  
  ASP.NET Dynamic Data
  
  ASP.NET Dynamic Data helps you quickly build a fully customizable, data-driven application without writing code. Dynamic Data provides a rich scaffolding framework that is easily extensible by using the traditional ASP.NET programming model. For more information, visit the ASP.NET Dynamic Data section on this site.
• 
  
  ASP.NET AJAX browser history
  
  ASP.NET AJAX history provides support for navigating within an AJAX application by using the Forward and Back buttons in the browser.
• 
  
  ASP.NET AJAX script combining
  
  The ASP.NET AJAX script combining feature improves the performance of AJAX applications by reducing the number of scripts that have to be individually downloaded to the browser.
• 
  
  ADO.NET Data Services
  
  ADO.NET Data Services provide new services that find, manipulate and deliver data over the web using simple URIs. Benefits include an easy and flexible way to access data over the web, while enabling the separation of presentation and data access code.
• 
  
  ADO.NET Entity Framework
  
  ADO.NET Entity Framework is a new modeling framework that enables developers to define a conceptual model of a database schema that closely aligns to a real world view of the information. Benefits include easier to understand and easier to maintain application code that is shielded from underlying database schema changes.

For more information about how to use these features in existing ASP.NET and ASP.NET AJAX applications, and about how to work with these features in applications that were created with the ASP.NET 3.5 Extensions December 2007 CTP release, see the readme.

Where can I find these new features?

Combined Visual Studio 2008 Service Pack 1 Beta and .NET Framework 3.5 Service Pack 1 Beta

The update for Visual Studio 2008 SP1 Beta and .NET Framework 3.5 Service Pack 1 Beta in a single install.

.NET Framework 3.5 Service Pack 1 Beta

The update for just the .NET 3.5 Service Pack 1 Beta, it does not include updates for Visual Studio 2008.

Where can I find the features that were in the ASP.NET 3.5 Extensions December 2007 CTP?

The .NET Framework 3.5 Service Pack 1 Beta release contains a number of items which previously shipped in the ASP.NET 3.5 Extensions December Preview.

ADO.NET Entity Framework: The ADO.NET Entity Framework is now included in the .NET Framework 3.5 Service Pack 1 Beta release. You can find the documentation for the ADO.NET Entity Framework here.

ASP.NET controls for Silverlight: These ASP.NET Web server controls make it easier to use Silverlight in ASP.NET Web applications. These controls are now included in the Microsoft Silverlight 2 Software Development Kit.

ASP.NET MVC Preview 2: The ASP.NET MVC Preview 2 release contains the latest version of the ASP.NET MVC framework and related Visual Studio tools support.

Where can I ask questions and discuss these features?

ASP.NET 3.5 SP1 Beta Forum: For setup issues and general questions regarding the ASP.NET 3.5 SP1 Beta release.

ASP.NET Dynamic Data Forum: For questions and discussions related to ASP.NET Dynamic Data.

ASP.NET AJAX UI Forum: For questions and discussions related to ASP.NET AJAX.

Where can I learn more?

The following are good resources for more information about this release:

• Scott Guthrie's blog post covering the new changes in .NET Framework 3.5 SP1 Beta release.
• See Brad Abrams' blog post on the Visual Studio 2008 SP1 Beta and .NET Framework 3.5 SP1 Beta Web Development features.
• Scott Hanselman's blog post covering the changes and additions in ASP.NET 3.5 SP1 Beta.