.NET

Simply known as the .NET framework, it is a software development platform.
.NET empowers developers to provide solutions accross multiple platforms (desktop, mobile and web) using an array of different programming languages, that compile to a Common Intermediate Language (CIL).

Accesibility

Aero (Authentic, Energetic, Reflective & Open)

Aero is Microsoft Vista's new graphical user-interface
Aero simulates the sort of effects you would see on an Apple Macintosh machine that you would see today
More info here

Avalon

Discontinued code-name for WPF, see WPF.

D3D (Direct 3D)

More info here

DirectX

More info here

GDI/GDI+ (Graphical Device Interface)

GDI is a component that Microsoft Windows utilises to render graphics to a visual device or printer.
Some info here

Raster

Semantics

WinFX

WPF (Windows Presentation Foundation)

WPF, formerly code-named 'Avalon', is the official platform for rendering XAML documents on a WinFX-enabled machine.
WPF is referred to as one of the 'four pillars of Vista', and is a component of the WinFX API.

WPF/E (Windows Presentation Foundation Everywhere)

WPF/E is Microsoft's initiative to support WPF on machines that do not natively run .net
Microsoft are planning to introduce support for XAML documents for non-microsoft browsers (firefox, safari, opera),operating systems(linux) and platforms(Apple Mac,Mobile devices).

Vectors

Vista

Vista is Microsoft's latest Windows operating system.
Vista is scheduled for release in January 2007.

XAML (eXtensible Application Markup Language)

XAML is an XML-based user-interface markup language.
It provides support for events and scripted behaviours, animations, videos, rasterised and vector based imagery and multimedia.