The Internet community that is following the development of the next Microsoft operating system codenamed Windows 7 has seen some speculation and false rumors about the release of Windows 7 Server lately. Many blog writers jumped to the conclusion that the announced Windows Server 2008 R2 would indeed be the same as Windows 7 Server.
It probably started with Mary-Jo Foley’s article over at Zdnet which basically stated that it was confirmed that Microsoft would skip Windows Server 2008 R2 and publish Windows 7 Server directly. Three days later Mary-Jo backpedaled on her initial article stating that Windows Server 2008 R2 was alive and on schedule to be released roughly 2 years after the release of Windows Server 2008. (That’s roughly 18 months from now).
On the other hand the internal codename for Windows Server 2008 R2 is Windows 7 Server which has definitely some irony it it because it’s also the name of the next installment of Windows Server after Windows Server 2008 R2 for the general public.
To rest the case: Windows Server 2008 R2 will be published as scheduled and the Windows Server product coming after that release will be Windows 7 Server which will probably have a different name by then.
Friday, May 1, 2009
Windows 7 Development Team
A few days ago we mentioned the new blog called Engineering Windows 7 which was run by two core members of the Windows 7 development team who promised to update the general public on Windows 7 news. Most likely in an effort to reduce the amount of rumors circulating the Internet and getting more control on the news flow.
Steven Sinofsky published a very long post today which contains interesting information about the Windows 7 team structure of the development team.
Microsoft is using so called feature teams of which there are 25 currently contributing to the development of Windows 7. The teams average about 40 developers which would mean a core development crew of around 1000 developers for Windows 7.
In general a feature team encompasses ownership of combination of architectural components and scenarios across Windows. “Feature” is always a tricky word since some folks think of feature as one element in the user-interface and others think of the feature as a traditional architectural component (say TCP/IP). Our approach is to balance across scenarios and architecture such that we have the right level of end-to-end coverage and the right parts of the architecture. One thing we do try to avoid is separating the “plumbing” from the “user interface” so that teams do have end-to-end ownership of work (as an example of that, “Find and Organize” builds both the indexer and the user interface for search).
He goes on to describe the exact composition of a feature team:
A feature team represents three core engineering disciplines of software development engineers (sde or dev), software development engineers in test (sdet or test, sorry but I haven’t written a job description externally), and program managers (pm)….
We talk about these three disciplines together because we create feature teams with n developers, n testers, and 1/2n program managers. This ratio is pretty constant across the team. On average a feature team is about 40 developers across the Windows 7 project.
This means that to the 1000 developers 1000 testers and 500 program managers are working on Windows 7. Now those are numbers calculated from the numbers given in the article. Those are also only the development numbers.
Several core members work across the entire product, those are the writers that create the documentations, manuals and websites related to Windows 7, members who do customer research and select features, designers who produce a consistent design and members who perform research and usability tests.
Steven Sinofsky published a very long post today which contains interesting information about the Windows 7 team structure of the development team.
Microsoft is using so called feature teams of which there are 25 currently contributing to the development of Windows 7. The teams average about 40 developers which would mean a core development crew of around 1000 developers for Windows 7.
In general a feature team encompasses ownership of combination of architectural components and scenarios across Windows. “Feature” is always a tricky word since some folks think of feature as one element in the user-interface and others think of the feature as a traditional architectural component (say TCP/IP). Our approach is to balance across scenarios and architecture such that we have the right level of end-to-end coverage and the right parts of the architecture. One thing we do try to avoid is separating the “plumbing” from the “user interface” so that teams do have end-to-end ownership of work (as an example of that, “Find and Organize” builds both the indexer and the user interface for search).
He goes on to describe the exact composition of a feature team:
A feature team represents three core engineering disciplines of software development engineers (sde or dev), software development engineers in test (sdet or test, sorry but I haven’t written a job description externally), and program managers (pm)….
We talk about these three disciplines together because we create feature teams with n developers, n testers, and 1/2n program managers. This ratio is pretty constant across the team. On average a feature team is about 40 developers across the Windows 7 project.
This means that to the 1000 developers 1000 testers and 500 program managers are working on Windows 7. Now those are numbers calculated from the numbers given in the article. Those are also only the development numbers.
Several core members work across the entire product, those are the writers that create the documentations, manuals and websites related to Windows 7, members who do customer research and select features, designers who produce a consistent design and members who perform research and usability tests.
Engineering Windows 7
Windows 7 News! There is finally a sign of life, an official that is, from Microsoft about Windows 7. Microsoft kicked of the Engineering Windows 7 blog which is run by two senior engineering managers for the Windows 7 product. The interesting aspect of this specific Windows 7 blog is that it is maintained and run by Microsoft employees that are deeply involved in the creation of Windows 7 and that it aims for a two-way communication instead of just reports without interaction.
We strongly believe that success for Windows 7 includes an open and honest, and two-way, discussion about how we balance all of these interests and deliver software on the scale of Windows. We promise and will deliver such a dialog with this blog.
Two events for developers have been mentioned in their initial blog post where Microsoft will provide “in-depth technical information about Windows 7″ and that the blog will inform interested users with regular posts about behind the scene developments. The two events mentioned are PDC (Professional Developers Conference) on October 27 and WinHec (Windows Hardware Engineering Conference) a week later. Seems we have to wait two more months before we finally get detailed information about the Windows 7 plattform.
The last paragraph is especially interesting and comments on the flow of news since the first announcement of Windows 7. Microsoft is trying to gain control of the discussion and communication about Windows 7 which is understandable. Rumors have been filling the void space that Microsoft left by not talking to anyone outside about Windows 7 and it’s time to control the information flow as we are slowly seeing the finish line in sight.
They also mention that they want to “make sure not to set expectations around the release that end up disappointing you” which was a major error Microsoft made during Windows Vista development.
We strongly believe that success for Windows 7 includes an open and honest, and two-way, discussion about how we balance all of these interests and deliver software on the scale of Windows. We promise and will deliver such a dialog with this blog.
Two events for developers have been mentioned in their initial blog post where Microsoft will provide “in-depth technical information about Windows 7″ and that the blog will inform interested users with regular posts about behind the scene developments. The two events mentioned are PDC (Professional Developers Conference) on October 27 and WinHec (Windows Hardware Engineering Conference) a week later. Seems we have to wait two more months before we finally get detailed information about the Windows 7 plattform.
The last paragraph is especially interesting and comments on the flow of news since the first announcement of Windows 7. Microsoft is trying to gain control of the discussion and communication about Windows 7 which is understandable. Rumors have been filling the void space that Microsoft left by not talking to anyone outside about Windows 7 and it’s time to control the information flow as we are slowly seeing the finish line in sight.
They also mention that they want to “make sure not to set expectations around the release that end up disappointing you” which was a major error Microsoft made during Windows Vista development.
Microsoft Has Nothing To Say About Windows 7 Server
A Microsoft software development team is working on the successor of Windows Server 2008 just like the Windows 7 development team is working on Windows Vista’s successor. There is however a huge time difference between expected releases for Windows 7 and Windows 7 Server mainly caused by the expected release of Windows Server 2008 R2 around 2009/2010 which is exactly the date that Windows 7 is expected to hit the shelves.
This could mean a projected release date of 2011/2012 for Windows 7 Server, almost 4 years away from today and 1-2 years after the release of Windows 7.
This could mean a projected release date of 2011/2012 for Windows 7 Server, almost 4 years away from today and 1-2 years after the release of Windows 7.
Windows 7 End user license agreement
Is it news to report that Microsoft has created an almost blank page that will contain the Windows 7 End user license agreement? The page at Microsoft.com states that pages about the Windows 7 Eula, Windows 7 Privacy Statement, Windows Media Player, Activation and Validation are coming soon.
I think that it will definitely be interesting to see which additions and changes have been made to the Windows 7 Eula in comparison to that of Windows Vista and Window XP. To answer the question; Yes it is news, especially when it is concerning Windows 7 which has not seen any news in the last days.
I think that it will definitely be interesting to see which additions and changes have been made to the Windows 7 Eula in comparison to that of Windows Vista and Window XP. To answer the question; Yes it is news, especially when it is concerning Windows 7 which has not seen any news in the last days.
MS Windows 7
Microsoft has once again confirmed that Windows 7 is right on track and that they are still aiming for a release date that comes close to three years after the deployment of Windows Vista. Bill Veghte, Senior Vice President, Online Services & Windows Business Group, said on Thursday that Windows 7 remains on track according to an article published over at Cnet.
The article was updated lated on with a statement made by Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer who did not reveal any new - and exciting - details about the upcoming Microsoft operating system. He did mention however that Windows 7 will look great and that it will be quite compatible which once again confirms that Microsoft will not implement any revolutionary changes in Windows 7.
The article was updated lated on with a statement made by Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer who did not reveal any new - and exciting - details about the upcoming Microsoft operating system. He did mention however that Windows 7 will look great and that it will be quite compatible which once again confirms that Microsoft will not implement any revolutionary changes in Windows 7.
Windows 7 Server
Windows 7 Server is another product that we can expect to be released approximately at the same time that Windows 7 will hit the streets. A first announcement, or shall we say Hello World, message has been posted at Brian Puhl’s website. Brian is an Active Directory engineer for Microsoft’s IT department and he published the first public screenshot of it on his website.
There is not much to see and it’s definitely more of a “here we go again” post than anything else but we are happy with every tidbit that we can find out about Windows 7 and Windows 7 Server especially when they come from official Microsoft employees or internal sources.
Brian posted some additional information about this early build like the product name (Windows Server (R) 2008 Enterprise) and build ( 6608.winmain_win7m2.080511-1400)
There is not much to see and it’s definitely more of a “here we go again” post than anything else but we are happy with every tidbit that we can find out about Windows 7 and Windows 7 Server especially when they come from official Microsoft employees or internal sources.
Brian posted some additional information about this early build like the product name (Windows Server (R) 2008 Enterprise) and build ( 6608.winmain_win7m2.080511-1400)
Windows 7 Expectations
When Microsoft announced Windows Vista everyone had high expectations for that Microsoft operating system and it’s pretty safe to say that Windows Vista could not live up to those expectations in many areas. Expectations for Windows 7 are therefor directly related to those that Windows Vista was not able to deliver.
Windows Vista was not a failure but it had the problem that Microsoft was creating expectations that Windows Vista could not match. A lot of Vista users are perfectly happy with their system but there is probably an equally large number of users who do not like it and stick with Windows XP instead.
There are several key areas where Windows 7 has to make an improvement over Windows Vista. It’s not only a performance issue although that one is definitely pressing. Windows Vista has hardware requirements - and I’m not talking about the suggested hardware but hardware where it runs solid on - that caused disappointment in many users who updated from Windows XP to Windows Vista with their old computers.
Users who bought a new PC with Windows Vista did not encounter that many performance issues because their PCs were usually equipped with better hardware.
Windows 7 Expectations:
Resource Friendly / Performance: Windows 7 should not continue the trend of Windows Vista and put computer hardware of the last year to the limit. Performance issues are the biggest complaint of Windows Vista users.Edition Chaos: Vista Basic, Vista Home Premium, Vista Business, Vista Enterprise, Vista OEM.. I’m not sure why Microsoft decided to fork out that many Vista editions for the market but I can definitely say that this leads to confusion by the consumer. Four Editions are definitely enough: Windows 7 OEM, Windows 7 Home, Windows 7 Business and Windows 7 EnterpriseListen to the customers: Many users have the feeling that Microsoft is not listening to them.Modularity: Windows “forces” several features and functions on the user even if he does not want or need them. Modularity would be helpful where the user could turn those features on and off without interfering with system stability and performance.Layout: Giving the user more choice in how he places the elements on his screen. For the Taskbar it could mean: Resizable Taskbar, moving the Start button from left to right or top to bottom, removing and adding elements to the taskbar, configurable clock outputDo you have expectations ? If so let me know about them so that we can collect a nice list.
Windows Vista was not a failure but it had the problem that Microsoft was creating expectations that Windows Vista could not match. A lot of Vista users are perfectly happy with their system but there is probably an equally large number of users who do not like it and stick with Windows XP instead.
There are several key areas where Windows 7 has to make an improvement over Windows Vista. It’s not only a performance issue although that one is definitely pressing. Windows Vista has hardware requirements - and I’m not talking about the suggested hardware but hardware where it runs solid on - that caused disappointment in many users who updated from Windows XP to Windows Vista with their old computers.
Users who bought a new PC with Windows Vista did not encounter that many performance issues because their PCs were usually equipped with better hardware.
Windows 7 Expectations:
Resource Friendly / Performance: Windows 7 should not continue the trend of Windows Vista and put computer hardware of the last year to the limit. Performance issues are the biggest complaint of Windows Vista users.Edition Chaos: Vista Basic, Vista Home Premium, Vista Business, Vista Enterprise, Vista OEM.. I’m not sure why Microsoft decided to fork out that many Vista editions for the market but I can definitely say that this leads to confusion by the consumer. Four Editions are definitely enough: Windows 7 OEM, Windows 7 Home, Windows 7 Business and Windows 7 EnterpriseListen to the customers: Many users have the feeling that Microsoft is not listening to them.Modularity: Windows “forces” several features and functions on the user even if he does not want or need them. Modularity would be helpful where the user could turn those features on and off without interfering with system stability and performance.Layout: Giving the user more choice in how he places the elements on his screen. For the Taskbar it could mean: Resizable Taskbar, moving the Start button from left to right or top to bottom, removing and adding elements to the taskbar, configurable clock outputDo you have expectations ? If so let me know about them so that we can collect a nice list.
An Update on the Windows Roadmap
A letter from Microsoft to Windows customers -that is business partners- , that has not happened a lot in the past. The letter gives Windows customers an update on three interesting core issues: The plans for Windows XP, the progress in Windows Vista and the view on Windows 7. The last part is obviously the one that is of interest to us more than the other two although they are a good read for everyone running one of those operating systems or planning to do so in the future.
So what has Bill Veghte, Senior Vice President of Microsoft, to say about Windows 7. Not that much unfortunately. The largest part of the article is reserved for Windows vista and only two paragraphs at the end take a look at Windows 7.
Some of you may have heard about “Windows 7″, which is the working name for the next release of Microsoft Windows. We have learned a great deal through the feedback you have shared with us about Windows Vista and that feedback is playing an important role in our work on Windows 7. You have told us you want a more regular, predictable Windows release schedule. To this end, our plan is to deliver Windows 7 approximately 3 years after the January 2007 general availability launch date of Windows Vista.
Microsoft is aiming at a Windows 7 release around January 2010, that’s now confirmed by Microsoft in this official letter. It does not really mean that it will come out at this time because development could very well be delayed for one or the other reason as was the case with Windows Vista. But for now we stick with January 2010 for the new operating system.
You’ve also let us know you don’t want to face the kinds of incompatibility challenges with the next version of Windows you might have experienced early with Windows Vista. As a result, our approach with Windows 7 is to build off the same core architecture as Windows Vista so the investments you and our partners have made in Windows Vista will continue to pay off with Windows 7. Our goal is to ensure the migration process from Windows Vista to Windows 7 is straightforward.
So Windows 7 will be build on the same core that Windows Vista was build on. Many customers who did not like Windows Vista or are sticking with Windows XP for the time being will probably dislike that last paragraph. There is a reason why so many users are not switching to Windows Vista and it is safe to say that Windows Vista is disliked by many.
So what has Bill Veghte, Senior Vice President of Microsoft, to say about Windows 7. Not that much unfortunately. The largest part of the article is reserved for Windows vista and only two paragraphs at the end take a look at Windows 7.
Some of you may have heard about “Windows 7″, which is the working name for the next release of Microsoft Windows. We have learned a great deal through the feedback you have shared with us about Windows Vista and that feedback is playing an important role in our work on Windows 7. You have told us you want a more regular, predictable Windows release schedule. To this end, our plan is to deliver Windows 7 approximately 3 years after the January 2007 general availability launch date of Windows Vista.
Microsoft is aiming at a Windows 7 release around January 2010, that’s now confirmed by Microsoft in this official letter. It does not really mean that it will come out at this time because development could very well be delayed for one or the other reason as was the case with Windows Vista. But for now we stick with January 2010 for the new operating system.
You’ve also let us know you don’t want to face the kinds of incompatibility challenges with the next version of Windows you might have experienced early with Windows Vista. As a result, our approach with Windows 7 is to build off the same core architecture as Windows Vista so the investments you and our partners have made in Windows Vista will continue to pay off with Windows 7. Our goal is to ensure the migration process from Windows Vista to Windows 7 is straightforward.
So Windows 7 will be build on the same core that Windows Vista was build on. Many customers who did not like Windows Vista or are sticking with Windows XP for the time being will probably dislike that last paragraph. There is a reason why so many users are not switching to Windows Vista and it is safe to say that Windows Vista is disliked by many.
Windows Sensors
Two screenshots of the Windows 7 control panel popped up recently which were showing a new function called Windows Sensors. The current menus unfortunately offer no real clues about this new feature, the help simply states: Programs on your computer can communicate with your Windows compatible sensors.
Listed in the same menu are Windows Media Player and the Windows Live Inbox. The screen also contains a Gadgets section that is showing the installed gadgets. It seems to be a new way of communication between applications that are running in Windows 7 and gadgets that are connecting to the computer.
Speculations have been started by Mary-Jo Foley who was the first to write an article about the newly discovered feature which offered several explanations and applications for the feature. She connected it to the touch screen feature, other household devices that would be controlled by Windows 7 and mobile devices. More than 140 comments added more speculation but none mentioned the most likely explanation which is called Windows Home Concept by Microsoft.
Windows Home Concept:
Microsoft published the white paper “Hardware Innovation for Windows - Platform and component design for Microsoft® Windows® Operating Systems - Windows Home Concept” which includes several hints that connect Windows Sensors to this concept:
Microsoft is working with industry partners to research compelling innovations for PCs that substantially change computing experiences. A new concept prototype that exemplifies these innovations for home computing is the Microsoft® Windows® Home Concept. The Windows Home Concept design embodies a convergence of future capabilities to provide compelling home entertainment, media management, and communication experiences, making the PC the ideal technology hub for the home.
The white paper mentions Biometric Sensors which “provides user identification and authentication”. It continues..
The Windows Home Concept uses biometric sensors on both the Home Tablet PC and the Home Center Remote for identity and authentication purposes. The sensor allows the user to access personalized information, such as playlists and favorites. Although biometric algorithms are not yet mature enough for secure access (such as domain logon), fingerprint readers can establish identity among a limited number of people, such as the members of a household, and it can offer parental controls.
A biometric fingerprint reader is especially suited for gaining identity on devices, such as a remote control, that don’t require login; for these types of devices, identity is established through the login process. Current cost of goods for fingerprint readers are under $10, averaging approximately $5 per unit.
This would fit perfectly with the two applications that are listed in the Windows Sensor menu. Authentication for Windows Mail and Playlists for Windows Media Player.
Listed in the same menu are Windows Media Player and the Windows Live Inbox. The screen also contains a Gadgets section that is showing the installed gadgets. It seems to be a new way of communication between applications that are running in Windows 7 and gadgets that are connecting to the computer.
Speculations have been started by Mary-Jo Foley who was the first to write an article about the newly discovered feature which offered several explanations and applications for the feature. She connected it to the touch screen feature, other household devices that would be controlled by Windows 7 and mobile devices. More than 140 comments added more speculation but none mentioned the most likely explanation which is called Windows Home Concept by Microsoft.
Windows Home Concept:
Microsoft published the white paper “Hardware Innovation for Windows - Platform and component design for Microsoft® Windows® Operating Systems - Windows Home Concept” which includes several hints that connect Windows Sensors to this concept:
Microsoft is working with industry partners to research compelling innovations for PCs that substantially change computing experiences. A new concept prototype that exemplifies these innovations for home computing is the Microsoft® Windows® Home Concept. The Windows Home Concept design embodies a convergence of future capabilities to provide compelling home entertainment, media management, and communication experiences, making the PC the ideal technology hub for the home.
The white paper mentions Biometric Sensors which “provides user identification and authentication”. It continues..
The Windows Home Concept uses biometric sensors on both the Home Tablet PC and the Home Center Remote for identity and authentication purposes. The sensor allows the user to access personalized information, such as playlists and favorites. Although biometric algorithms are not yet mature enough for secure access (such as domain logon), fingerprint readers can establish identity among a limited number of people, such as the members of a household, and it can offer parental controls.
A biometric fingerprint reader is especially suited for gaining identity on devices, such as a remote control, that don’t require login; for these types of devices, identity is established through the login process. Current cost of goods for fingerprint readers are under $10, averaging approximately $5 per unit.
This would fit perfectly with the two applications that are listed in the Windows Sensor menu. Authentication for Windows Mail and Playlists for Windows Media Player.
German Computer Mag Chip Windows 7 review
German computer magazine Chip reviewed Build 5619 of Windows 7. The article which is available online contains an extensive set of screenshots of the new operating system and a short German article detailing some of the changes of the new Microsoft operating system.
Their first impression was that the interface and design looked pretty much like Windows Vista and that most new functions were not visible at first glance. The Bootscreen of Windows 7 has changed compared to Windows Vista, it’s a full screen boot screen with a lightning animation.
Entries in the Windows 7 start menu can now be locked in place so that they their location in the start menu will not change. The search that is still accessible in the start menu is now making use of the complete width of the start menu to display results. Windows Vista was only using the left side of the start menu for that.
An arrow icon was added to the systray which opens a new menu that is showing the hidden icon with the options to increase the size of the systray.
One of the better changes is the ability to drag and drop sidebar gadgets on the desktop which means that it is possible to place them freely upon it.
Chip continued to note two changes to Windows Explorer. The first was that the transparent Aero effect was now also effective on maximized windows while the other made it possible to change the size of the search box in Windows Explorer.
Windows 7 provides a function to create a recovery disk which is useful for those users who did not receive a retail installation DVD when they bought their PC.
If you take a look at the changes so far you notice that most of them are smaller changes to the interface and functions. The only feature that caused some stir so far was the integrated touch screen support.
Their first impression was that the interface and design looked pretty much like Windows Vista and that most new functions were not visible at first glance. The Bootscreen of Windows 7 has changed compared to Windows Vista, it’s a full screen boot screen with a lightning animation.
Entries in the Windows 7 start menu can now be locked in place so that they their location in the start menu will not change. The search that is still accessible in the start menu is now making use of the complete width of the start menu to display results. Windows Vista was only using the left side of the start menu for that.
An arrow icon was added to the systray which opens a new menu that is showing the hidden icon with the options to increase the size of the systray.
One of the better changes is the ability to drag and drop sidebar gadgets on the desktop which means that it is possible to place them freely upon it.
Chip continued to note two changes to Windows Explorer. The first was that the transparent Aero effect was now also effective on maximized windows while the other made it possible to change the size of the search box in Windows Explorer.
Windows 7 provides a function to create a recovery disk which is useful for those users who did not receive a retail installation DVD when they bought their PC.
If you take a look at the changes so far you notice that most of them are smaller changes to the interface and functions. The only feature that caused some stir so far was the integrated touch screen support.
Windows 7 Milestone 1 Build 6519 Leaked
It was clear that a release of Windows 7 would sooner or later make its way into the dark side of the Internet. Windows 7 Milestone 1 with the buld number 6519 was released on June 11th by a group calling themselves The Microsoft Beta Project. The nfo file, a sort of readme text file states that the downloads has a packed size of 3.1 Gigabytes and that it will fit on one DVD after uninstallation.
The group created a crack to defeat the WGA protection of the Windows 7 build. Microsoft is apparently shipping the Windows 7 test builds with WGA protection, probably to reduce the chance that a leaked release will be useful to downloaders. The crack uses a combination of file replacements, modifications and the bios time to fake the validation.
The reminder written by the group seems to contain an error. It states:
This build will expire in June 2008!So you have 6 months to test!
What they probably meant to say was that this release will be valid for six additional months from June 2008 on. Interestingly though the BIOS clock will be set to December 2007 which is six months as well.
The group created a crack to defeat the WGA protection of the Windows 7 build. Microsoft is apparently shipping the Windows 7 test builds with WGA protection, probably to reduce the chance that a leaked release will be useful to downloaders. The crack uses a combination of file replacements, modifications and the bios time to fake the validation.
The reminder written by the group seems to contain an error. It states:
This build will expire in June 2008!So you have 6 months to test!
What they probably meant to say was that this release will be valid for six additional months from June 2008 on. Interestingly though the BIOS clock will be set to December 2007 which is six months as well.
Windows 7 Theme for Windows XP
If you cannot wait anymore until the release of Windows 7 the Windows 7 theme for Windows XP might ease the pain of waiting another year or so until the new operating system is released to the public. The theme can be installed on any Windows XP version that has a patched uxtheme.dll file. If you do not know how to check or do that read the following article about uxtheme.dll that explains how to patch the file in Windows XP Service Pack 3.
Once the file is patched you can load user made themes and not only the official Microsoft themes. The Windows 7 theme was created by Deviant Art user deskmundo who has created some other excellent themes. The theme is based on the Milestone 1 release of Windows 7 and not on the version that was used for presentation at the D6 conference.
I guess that the theme will be updated by Deskmundo soon to reflect the visible changes of the presentation version, for example a change of the start menu button.
Once the file is patched you can load user made themes and not only the official Microsoft themes. The Windows 7 theme was created by Deviant Art user deskmundo who has created some other excellent themes. The theme is based on the Milestone 1 release of Windows 7 and not on the version that was used for presentation at the D6 conference.
I guess that the theme will be updated by Deskmundo soon to reflect the visible changes of the presentation version, for example a change of the start menu button.
Multi-Touch LCDs: Will they be ready when Windows 7 is released ?
The demonstration of the Windows 7 multi-touch feature was interesting but I think most users have asked themselves how likely it would be that they would be having a multi-touch LCD monitor in their homes at the time Windows 7 is released to the public. If you currently look at hardware retailers you notice that touchscreen monitors are rare and expensive. Newegg for instance lists 72 touchscreen monitors with a price range of $200 to $2000 of which one has a size greater 20″, sixteen a size between 18″ - 19″ and the other 55 a size of 17″ or less.
A 19″ touchscreen LCD monitor is not available for less than $699 at Newegg currently, that’s pretty expensive for a soon to be mainstream technology. There is still time, between 1 and 2 years, before Windows 7 will be released and this likely means that hardware manufacturers will be able to provide better and cheaper touchscreen displays.
One of the first companies was Albatron who demonstrated on this year’s Computex a 22″ touchscreen LCD display which would retail for roughly 120% of the price of a usual LCD without touchscreen feature. That surely sounds promising and a little bit surprising at the same time. It would make touchscreen LCD monitors affordable to the mass market.
The demonstration was not running on a Windows 7 system obviously at the time of the fair. It should be working fine on Windows XP and Windows Vista and this would lead to the prediction that most touchscreen features of Windows 7 will sooner or later be ported by dedicated Open-Source and freeware developers to those other two operating systems.
To answer the question. Yes they will be ready and affordable at the time Windows 7 will be released. Would you pay an additional 20% to get a touchscreen LCD monitor?
A 19″ touchscreen LCD monitor is not available for less than $699 at Newegg currently, that’s pretty expensive for a soon to be mainstream technology. There is still time, between 1 and 2 years, before Windows 7 will be released and this likely means that hardware manufacturers will be able to provide better and cheaper touchscreen displays.
One of the first companies was Albatron who demonstrated on this year’s Computex a 22″ touchscreen LCD display which would retail for roughly 120% of the price of a usual LCD without touchscreen feature. That surely sounds promising and a little bit surprising at the same time. It would make touchscreen LCD monitors affordable to the mass market.
The demonstration was not running on a Windows 7 system obviously at the time of the fair. It should be working fine on Windows XP and Windows Vista and this would lead to the prediction that most touchscreen features of Windows 7 will sooner or later be ported by dedicated Open-Source and freeware developers to those other two operating systems.
To answer the question. Yes they will be ready and affordable at the time Windows 7 will be released. Would you pay an additional 20% to get a touchscreen LCD monitor?
Windows 7 Presentation Recap
I guess everyone has already seen the touchscreen presentation from the All Things Digital conference a few days ago. While most eyes were glued to that main presentation it turned out that Microsoft was revealing more information than they wanted to reveal at that point. Long Zheng has already written a great article about the taskbar that was shown during the presentation of the multi-touch feature of Windows 7. He discovered the following information about the Windows 7 taskbar:
The taskbar is higher than usual, probably 1.75x as high as the normal taskbarThe Windows orb still sticks the upper part out of the taskbarThe taskbar is divided into different colored sectionsThe system tray is not touching the edge of the screenTwo lines for the date and icons in the middle of the taskbarLarger Quick Launch iconsThere was another interesting tidbit that could lead to some speculation. During the presentation Julie Larson Green’s opens a circle menu by pressing her finger on the screen for a short period of time.
That circle menu (or pie menu) could be an indication that Microsoft will introduce circle menus in Windows 7 on a broader scale, at least for the time when a user is using the touch interface. It’s not yet clear if the touch menu shown was purely related to the application or if it was a broader menu that works in full screen applications.
From the visible icons (plane, earth) I would say that it is a specific menu of the application which does not mean that other menus or even the Windows desktop will not have a pie menu as well.
The taskbar is higher than usual, probably 1.75x as high as the normal taskbarThe Windows orb still sticks the upper part out of the taskbarThe taskbar is divided into different colored sectionsThe system tray is not touching the edge of the screenTwo lines for the date and icons in the middle of the taskbarLarger Quick Launch iconsThere was another interesting tidbit that could lead to some speculation. During the presentation Julie Larson Green’s opens a circle menu by pressing her finger on the screen for a short period of time.
That circle menu (or pie menu) could be an indication that Microsoft will introduce circle menus in Windows 7 on a broader scale, at least for the time when a user is using the touch interface. It’s not yet clear if the touch menu shown was purely related to the application or if it was a broader menu that works in full screen applications.
From the visible icons (plane, earth) I would say that it is a specific menu of the application which does not mean that other menus or even the Windows desktop will not have a pie menu as well.
Microsoft is learning from the past
The public perception of Windows Vista is not really positive which is not only Microsoft’s fault but also the fault of hardware and software developers. Microsoft recently changed their Hardware Logo Program Requirements requiring that every hardware developer requesting a Windows Vista logo certification to submit test logs for Windows 7 as well starting with the first Windows 7 beta. If the hardware passes the Vista logo certification it will receive the Logo even if the Windows 7 test will fail.
Microsoft is basically trying to collect as many information as possible at the earliest stage in development to improve the development of Windows 7 and will most likely result in a far better driver compatibility of Windows 7 which would not only benefit the end users but also hardware developers who would see reduced support requests.
The new policy will become active as of June, 1st 2008 but it is highly unlikely that Microsoft will be releasing the first beta version of Windows 7 at that time.
Microsoft is basically trying to collect as many information as possible at the earliest stage in development to improve the development of Windows 7 and will most likely result in a far better driver compatibility of Windows 7 which would not only benefit the end users but also hardware developers who would see reduced support requests.
The new policy will become active as of June, 1st 2008 but it is highly unlikely that Microsoft will be releasing the first beta version of Windows 7 at that time.
Microsoft Professional Developers Conference 2008
The Microsoft Professional Developers Conference 2008 takes place between October, 26-30 in Los Angeles. More than 5000 developers from all over the world are expected to join the conference. You might be asking why we are posting about this and how it is related to Windows 7. Red on and you will find it out.
Microsoft will disclose details of its future plattform at the conference and the current agenda lists four Windows 7 sessions:
Windows 7: Graphics Advances - Windows 7 enables you to advance the graphics capabilities of your applications while carrying forward existing investments in your Win32 codebase, including GDI and GDI+. New enhancements to DirectX let Win32 applications harness the latest innovations in GPUs and LCD displays, including support for scalable, high-performance, 2D and 3D graphics, text, and images. Also learn how to leverage the GPU’s parallelism for general-purpose computation such as image processing.Windows 7: Optimizing for Energy Efficiency and Battery Life - A single application can reduce mobile battery life by up to 30%. Windows 7 provides advances for building energy-efficient applications. In this session we will discuss how to leverage new Windows infrastructure to reduce application power consumption and efficiently schedule background tasks and services.Windows 7: Touch Computing - In Windows 7, innovative touch and gesture support will enable more direct and natural interaction in your applications. This session will highlight the new multi-touch gesture APIs and explain how you can leverage them in your applications.Windows 7: Web Services in Native Code - Windows 7 introduces a new networking API with support for building SOAP based web services in native code. This session will discuss the programming model, interoperability aspects with other implementations of WS-* protocols and demonstrate various services and applications built using this API.Part of the touch computing was already revealed yesterday at the D6 Conference when Microsoft demonstrated a multi-touch interface running on Windows 7.
It is possible to draw some conclusions that will most likely make their way into the release candidate of Windows 7. Microsoft is definitely aiming to raise the consistency between their web applications (Windows Live) and Windows 7. This could mean that many web services will be integrated in Windows 7. The recently leaked internal memo linked Windows Live and Windows 7 as well.
Notebooks and mobile devices will benefit from an optimized operating system and infrastructure. This is important because of the popularity of mobile computing. Windows Vista was not that energy efficient and it would be a welcome change if Windows 7 would be less energy hungry.
Microsoft will disclose details of its future plattform at the conference and the current agenda lists four Windows 7 sessions:
Windows 7: Graphics Advances - Windows 7 enables you to advance the graphics capabilities of your applications while carrying forward existing investments in your Win32 codebase, including GDI and GDI+. New enhancements to DirectX let Win32 applications harness the latest innovations in GPUs and LCD displays, including support for scalable, high-performance, 2D and 3D graphics, text, and images. Also learn how to leverage the GPU’s parallelism for general-purpose computation such as image processing.Windows 7: Optimizing for Energy Efficiency and Battery Life - A single application can reduce mobile battery life by up to 30%. Windows 7 provides advances for building energy-efficient applications. In this session we will discuss how to leverage new Windows infrastructure to reduce application power consumption and efficiently schedule background tasks and services.Windows 7: Touch Computing - In Windows 7, innovative touch and gesture support will enable more direct and natural interaction in your applications. This session will highlight the new multi-touch gesture APIs and explain how you can leverage them in your applications.Windows 7: Web Services in Native Code - Windows 7 introduces a new networking API with support for building SOAP based web services in native code. This session will discuss the programming model, interoperability aspects with other implementations of WS-* protocols and demonstrate various services and applications built using this API.Part of the touch computing was already revealed yesterday at the D6 Conference when Microsoft demonstrated a multi-touch interface running on Windows 7.
It is possible to draw some conclusions that will most likely make their way into the release candidate of Windows 7. Microsoft is definitely aiming to raise the consistency between their web applications (Windows Live) and Windows 7. This could mean that many web services will be integrated in Windows 7. The recently leaked internal memo linked Windows Live and Windows 7 as well.
Notebooks and mobile devices will benefit from an optimized operating system and infrastructure. This is important because of the popularity of mobile computing. Windows Vista was not that energy efficient and it would be a welcome change if Windows 7 would be less energy hungry.
Windows 7 Multi-touch demo at D6 Conference
We announced a few days ago that Bill Gates and Steve Ballmer will make an appearance at the D6 Conference demonstrating the new user interface of Windows 7.
Microsoft’s Julie Larson-Green had the honor to do the demonstration saying that Microsoft is using part of the multi-touch technology from Microsoft Surface to enhance Windows 7. The operating system the demonstration is running on is a Dell Latitude XL with Windows 7.
This demonstration is basically showing how Microsoft Surface could enhance Windows 7 on computers. It’s still a bit early to judge if this feature will have a big impact and how it will be implemented into Windows 7. I think that monitors with touch support will still be a minority in 2010 when Windows 7 comes out. Great for notebooks or other mobile devices though.
Here are some quotes from the interview with Bill Gates and Steve Ballmer: (click for full transcript)
Windows 7 is apparently months away, due late in 2009.Walt asks Ballmer if he’s worried about the next iteration of Mac OS X, which will likely be released before Windows 7. Is there a risk that the work you’re doing now with multi-touch will look dated when Apple (AAPL) releases its next OS?Ballmer says he’s confident Microsoft will have fantastic Windows 7 PCs, regardless of what Apple’s got on the market. “There’s a lot in Windows 7, and our goal is to produce fantastic PCs with our hardware partners.”The conversation turns to Windows 7, which Microsoft hasn’t said too much about. Clearly, the company has learned from the media beating it took over the defeatured and perennially delayed Windows Vista. Indeed, in a post to the Windows Vista blog today, Microsoft’s Chris Flore noted that Microsoft is being very careful about releasing details about Windows 7. “What is a little different today is when and how we are talking about the next version of Windows,” Flore wrote. “So, why the change in approach? We know that when we talk about our plans for the next release of Windows, people take action. As a result, we can significantly impact our partners and our customers if we broadly share information that later changes. With Windows 7, we’re trying to more carefully plan how we share information with our customers and partners. This means sharing the right level of information at the right time depending on the needs of the audience.”
Microsoft’s Julie Larson-Green had the honor to do the demonstration saying that Microsoft is using part of the multi-touch technology from Microsoft Surface to enhance Windows 7. The operating system the demonstration is running on is a Dell Latitude XL with Windows 7.
This demonstration is basically showing how Microsoft Surface could enhance Windows 7 on computers. It’s still a bit early to judge if this feature will have a big impact and how it will be implemented into Windows 7. I think that monitors with touch support will still be a minority in 2010 when Windows 7 comes out. Great for notebooks or other mobile devices though.
Here are some quotes from the interview with Bill Gates and Steve Ballmer: (click for full transcript)
Windows 7 is apparently months away, due late in 2009.Walt asks Ballmer if he’s worried about the next iteration of Mac OS X, which will likely be released before Windows 7. Is there a risk that the work you’re doing now with multi-touch will look dated when Apple (AAPL) releases its next OS?Ballmer says he’s confident Microsoft will have fantastic Windows 7 PCs, regardless of what Apple’s got on the market. “There’s a lot in Windows 7, and our goal is to produce fantastic PCs with our hardware partners.”The conversation turns to Windows 7, which Microsoft hasn’t said too much about. Clearly, the company has learned from the media beating it took over the defeatured and perennially delayed Windows Vista. Indeed, in a post to the Windows Vista blog today, Microsoft’s Chris Flore noted that Microsoft is being very careful about releasing details about Windows 7. “What is a little different today is when and how we are talking about the next version of Windows,” Flore wrote. “So, why the change in approach? We know that when we talk about our plans for the next release of Windows, people take action. As a result, we can significantly impact our partners and our customers if we broadly share information that later changes. With Windows 7, we’re trying to more carefully plan how we share information with our customers and partners. This means sharing the right level of information at the right time depending on the needs of the audience.”
Microsoft: Why we are not talking about Windows 7 yet
It is clear since day one that Microsoft is using a different approach to communicating Windows 7. One could say they are extremely tight-lipped and do not reveal more than necessary to the public which includes online and offline press. The approach is not without risks and one of the greatest is that not saying anything about a new operating system leaves room for speculations, rumors and fake news like those fake Windows 7 Videos on Youtube.
Chris Flores is explaining in a blog post entitled Communicating Windows 7 why Microsoft is using this approach for their next operating system:
So, why the change in approach? We know that when we talk about our plans for the next release of Windows, people take action. As a result, we can significantly impact our partners and our customers if we broadly share information that later changes. With Windows 7, we’re trying to more carefully plan how we share information with our customers and partners. This means sharing the right level of information at the right time depending on the needs of the audience. For instance, several months ago we began privately sharing our preliminary plans for Windows 7 with software and hardware partners who build on the Windows platform. This gave them an opportunity to give us feedback and gave us the opportunity to incorporate their input into our plans. As the product becomes more complete, we will have the opportunity to share our plans more broadly.
One aspect that Chris forgot to mention though is the public perception of Windows Vista. Many Windows XP users do not feel that it is necessary to change to Windows Vista yet and an announcement that Windows 7 would be faster, better looking, more secure and coming out in the near future would definitely have an impact on their decision. The lack of information prevents that users make that decision based on the next Microsoft operating system.
As I said earlier not speaking about Windows 7 will inevitably lead to false rumors and Chris responds to the rumor that Windows 7 will make use of a new kernel.
Contrary to some speculation, Microsoft is not creating a new kernel for Windows 7. Rather, we are refining the kernel architecture and componentization model introduced in Windows Vista. While these changes will increase our engineering agility, they will not impact the user experience or reduce application or hardware compatibility. In fact, one of our design goals for Windows 7 is that it will run on the recommended hardware we specified for Windows Vista and that the applications and devices that work with Windows Vista will be compatible with Windows 7.
Last but not least he clears the confusing three years after Windows Vista statement by Bill Gates when asked about the release of the Microsoft operating system. Windows Vista was released on January 30, 2007 to the general public which would mean that the release date of Windows 7 will be most likely in the first quarter of 2010.
We are well into the development process of Windows 7, and we’re happy to report that we’re still on track to ship approximately three years after the general availability of Windows Vista. As always, we will be releasing early builds of Windows 7 prior to its general availability as a means to gain feedback, but we’re not yet ready to discuss timing and specific plans for any Beta releases. In the meantime, customers can confidently continue with their Windows Vista deployment plans.
It obviously is just an estimation and anyone working in IT knows that things sometimes happen that impact a release date dramatically. As of know this is the only information that we got.
Chris Flores is explaining in a blog post entitled Communicating Windows 7 why Microsoft is using this approach for their next operating system:
So, why the change in approach? We know that when we talk about our plans for the next release of Windows, people take action. As a result, we can significantly impact our partners and our customers if we broadly share information that later changes. With Windows 7, we’re trying to more carefully plan how we share information with our customers and partners. This means sharing the right level of information at the right time depending on the needs of the audience. For instance, several months ago we began privately sharing our preliminary plans for Windows 7 with software and hardware partners who build on the Windows platform. This gave them an opportunity to give us feedback and gave us the opportunity to incorporate their input into our plans. As the product becomes more complete, we will have the opportunity to share our plans more broadly.
One aspect that Chris forgot to mention though is the public perception of Windows Vista. Many Windows XP users do not feel that it is necessary to change to Windows Vista yet and an announcement that Windows 7 would be faster, better looking, more secure and coming out in the near future would definitely have an impact on their decision. The lack of information prevents that users make that decision based on the next Microsoft operating system.
As I said earlier not speaking about Windows 7 will inevitably lead to false rumors and Chris responds to the rumor that Windows 7 will make use of a new kernel.
Contrary to some speculation, Microsoft is not creating a new kernel for Windows 7. Rather, we are refining the kernel architecture and componentization model introduced in Windows Vista. While these changes will increase our engineering agility, they will not impact the user experience or reduce application or hardware compatibility. In fact, one of our design goals for Windows 7 is that it will run on the recommended hardware we specified for Windows Vista and that the applications and devices that work with Windows Vista will be compatible with Windows 7.
Last but not least he clears the confusing three years after Windows Vista statement by Bill Gates when asked about the release of the Microsoft operating system. Windows Vista was released on January 30, 2007 to the general public which would mean that the release date of Windows 7 will be most likely in the first quarter of 2010.
We are well into the development process of Windows 7, and we’re happy to report that we’re still on track to ship approximately three years after the general availability of Windows Vista. As always, we will be releasing early builds of Windows 7 prior to its general availability as a means to gain feedback, but we’re not yet ready to discuss timing and specific plans for any Beta releases. In the meantime, customers can confidently continue with their Windows Vista deployment plans.
It obviously is just an estimation and anyone working in IT knows that things sometimes happen that impact a release date dramatically. As of know this is the only information that we got.
Windows 7 to make appearance at D6 Conference
Long Zheng speculates in an article on his website I started something that Microsoft will officially present Windows 7 at the The Wall Street Journal’s D: All Things Digital conference hosted by Walt Mossberg and Kara Swisher on May 27.
Bill Gates and Steve Balmer will both be present at the conference which has seen its share of important Microsoft announcements in previous years. The interesting question will be how Windows 7 will be shown on the conference. Will it be a theoretical approach where Bill and Steve talk about Windows 7 and what they want to achieve with this new operating system or will they even show one of the Milestone releases of Windows 7.
In addition to just discussing their ideas and vision, it’s rumored the event will actually involve a demonstration of Windows 7 in some fashion. Whether or not we’ll actually see a live build of Windows 7 or purely a technology demo of a specific feature remains a mystery, but it’s sure exciting.
It would definitely be interesting if they would demonstrate an early Windows 7 version to the public.
Bill Gates and Steve Balmer will both be present at the conference which has seen its share of important Microsoft announcements in previous years. The interesting question will be how Windows 7 will be shown on the conference. Will it be a theoretical approach where Bill and Steve talk about Windows 7 and what they want to achieve with this new operating system or will they even show one of the Milestone releases of Windows 7.
In addition to just discussing their ideas and vision, it’s rumored the event will actually involve a demonstration of Windows 7 in some fashion. Whether or not we’ll actually see a live build of Windows 7 or purely a technology demo of a specific feature remains a mystery, but it’s sure exciting.
It would definitely be interesting if they would demonstrate an early Windows 7 version to the public.
NVIDIA looking for Windows 7 Lead Engineer
Long Zheng has discovered a job offering at the NVIDIA employment website that is explicitly looking for a senior QA engineer to lead the roll-out of Windows 7. While some might think that this is a bit early, considering that the release of Windows 7 is not expected before 2010, some NVIDIA users will be delighted to hear those news.
NVIDIA has been smacked left and right for their buggy Windows Vista drivers and this could mean that they want to make sure that history does not repeat itself when Windows 7 gets released.
NVIDIA is looking for a senior QA engineer to lead the roll-out of Windows 7 within the GPU Software QA organization. This is an exciting opportunity to work with nVidia’s world class GPU and software offerings that are the heart of visual computing.
Once on-board, this technical leader will work with each of the GPU Software QA teams, Windows 7 driver development, product management, and our Seattle QA team to assure a smooth roll-out of this new operating system into QA. This leader will also drive improvements into the test planning process by working with NVIDIA’s industry leading development organization to assure that our testing is enhanced using a broader range of testing techniques. For example, the addition of white or gray box testing to the validation process to augment the unit and black box testing already being performed. This leader will also assure that coverage meets target levels and that testing leverage between operating systems, system hardware, and GPU hardware and software is utilized wherever possible.
Specific duties include reviewing of product specifications and requirements required to create comprehensive and effective Windows 7 test plans and subsequently driving cross-functional review of those plans.
NVIDIA has been smacked left and right for their buggy Windows Vista drivers and this could mean that they want to make sure that history does not repeat itself when Windows 7 gets released.
NVIDIA is looking for a senior QA engineer to lead the roll-out of Windows 7 within the GPU Software QA organization. This is an exciting opportunity to work with nVidia’s world class GPU and software offerings that are the heart of visual computing.
Once on-board, this technical leader will work with each of the GPU Software QA teams, Windows 7 driver development, product management, and our Seattle QA team to assure a smooth roll-out of this new operating system into QA. This leader will also drive improvements into the test planning process by working with NVIDIA’s industry leading development organization to assure that our testing is enhanced using a broader range of testing techniques. For example, the addition of white or gray box testing to the validation process to augment the unit and black box testing already being performed. This leader will also assure that coverage meets target levels and that testing leverage between operating systems, system hardware, and GPU hardware and software is utilized wherever possible.
Specific duties include reviewing of product specifications and requirements required to create comprehensive and effective Windows 7 test plans and subsequently driving cross-functional review of those plans.
Windows 7 Concept Renderings
All of these “official” concept renderings have been apparently taken from Deviant Art and are not official at all. Some still look very nice.
The guys over at Crunchgear came up with eighteen new screenshots of Windows 7 which later turned out to be concept renderings instead of screenshots of the latest Windows 7 build. This was pointed out by a Microsoft representative after posting those images on the website. Several of the features shown on the screenshots however resemble those that we have seen from Windows 7 Milestone 1 screenshots and videos and it is very likely that they will make their way into the final product.
The guys over at Crunchgear came up with eighteen new screenshots of Windows 7 which later turned out to be concept renderings instead of screenshots of the latest Windows 7 build. This was pointed out by a Microsoft representative after posting those images on the website. Several of the features shown on the screenshots however resemble those that we have seen from Windows 7 Milestone 1 screenshots and videos and it is very likely that they will make their way into the final product.
Native Support for Virtual Hard Disks in Windows 7
A recent job offering at the Microsoft website revealed a new feature unintentionally that will be available in Windows 7. Microsoft is looking for a Software Development Engineer in Test that is supporting the engineering team that is bringing virtualization to Windows 7.
Do you want to join the team that is bringing virtualization into the mainstream? In Windows 7, our team will be responsible for creating, mounting, performing I/O on, and dismounting VHDs (virtual hard disks) natively. Imagine being able to mount a VHD on any Windows machine, do some offline servicing and then boot from that same VHD. Or perhaps, taking an existing VHD you currently use within Virtual Server and boost performance by booting natively from it.
The big new feature is the native support for Virtual Hard Disks (VHDs) in Windows 7 which is the next logical step from Windows Vista’s Complete PC Backup feature and Hyper-V in Microsoft Windows Server 2008.
Virtualization technology has been a great success with Virtual Server and Hyper-V. With native OS support on the horizon it will become an even greater hit. Our team is making this a reality in Windows 7. Consider the simplicity of backup using a VHD, or the portability of a virtual disk backed by a single file. These are a few reasons why this technology is poised to be one of the greatest features in Windows 7–come help us achieve this goal.
That’s the first big new feature that has been announced officially by Microsoft although definitely unintentionally.
Do you want to join the team that is bringing virtualization into the mainstream? In Windows 7, our team will be responsible for creating, mounting, performing I/O on, and dismounting VHDs (virtual hard disks) natively. Imagine being able to mount a VHD on any Windows machine, do some offline servicing and then boot from that same VHD. Or perhaps, taking an existing VHD you currently use within Virtual Server and boost performance by booting natively from it.
The big new feature is the native support for Virtual Hard Disks (VHDs) in Windows 7 which is the next logical step from Windows Vista’s Complete PC Backup feature and Hyper-V in Microsoft Windows Server 2008.
Virtualization technology has been a great success with Virtual Server and Hyper-V. With native OS support on the horizon it will become an even greater hit. Our team is making this a reality in Windows 7. Consider the simplicity of backup using a VHD, or the portability of a virtual disk backed by a single file. These are a few reasons why this technology is poised to be one of the greatest features in Windows 7–come help us achieve this goal.
That’s the first big new feature that has been announced officially by Microsoft although definitely unintentionally.
Windows 7 To Break Backwards Compatibility
Previous versions of Windows provided backwards compatibility with older versions of windows, making it easy for users to upgrades as their favorite programs would still work.
However, with Windows 7 Microsoft are approaching backwards compatibility differently, and Windows 7 will not be binary compatible with older versions. This won’t mean that older programs won’t run, but that virtualisation will be used to make them run. The key drivers for this are performance improvements, but also in an attempt to sidestep regulatory programs.
Vista struggles with performance because Microsoft choose to incorporate regulatory challenged features like Internet Explorer and Windows Media Player using a modular design, rather than the monolithic processes used in previous versions of windows. The greater use of componentisation led to performance issues due to the increased number of libraries within the operating system. Simply put, the more separate files your hard drive has to load, the slower your system is going to run.
Another reason why Vista runs so slowly is:
The operating system stores multiple copies of core system libraries, as each revision of a library typically adds/removes functions, and applications compiled with dynamic links to a specific version of a DLL file may call on functions not present in the currently installed library. Vista aims to solve this issue through the WinSxS collection; essentially a massive store of every differing version of libraries present on the system. That way, when an application makes a call for a dynamically linked library, Vista queries the WinSxS cache for the correct version, which is then loaded into memory. On the average system, this directory can be several gigabytes in size, with much of the code duplicated between the separate versions many times.
By not being binary compatible with previous versions of Windows and being built from the ground up, will give Windows 7 significant performance improvements. This will make it easier for developers to produce faster apps as they won’t have to worry about backwards compatibility, but it will increase the upgrade pain for users who may find that some of their existing applications will no longer work and will need upgrading.
Where do you lie on the trade-off between compatibility and speed? Do you think Microsoft are making a mistake here?
However, with Windows 7 Microsoft are approaching backwards compatibility differently, and Windows 7 will not be binary compatible with older versions. This won’t mean that older programs won’t run, but that virtualisation will be used to make them run. The key drivers for this are performance improvements, but also in an attempt to sidestep regulatory programs.
Vista struggles with performance because Microsoft choose to incorporate regulatory challenged features like Internet Explorer and Windows Media Player using a modular design, rather than the monolithic processes used in previous versions of windows. The greater use of componentisation led to performance issues due to the increased number of libraries within the operating system. Simply put, the more separate files your hard drive has to load, the slower your system is going to run.
Another reason why Vista runs so slowly is:
The operating system stores multiple copies of core system libraries, as each revision of a library typically adds/removes functions, and applications compiled with dynamic links to a specific version of a DLL file may call on functions not present in the currently installed library. Vista aims to solve this issue through the WinSxS collection; essentially a massive store of every differing version of libraries present on the system. That way, when an application makes a call for a dynamically linked library, Vista queries the WinSxS cache for the correct version, which is then loaded into memory. On the average system, this directory can be several gigabytes in size, with much of the code duplicated between the separate versions many times.
By not being binary compatible with previous versions of Windows and being built from the ground up, will give Windows 7 significant performance improvements. This will make it easier for developers to produce faster apps as they won’t have to worry about backwards compatibility, but it will increase the upgrade pain for users who may find that some of their existing applications will no longer work and will need upgrading.
Where do you lie on the trade-off between compatibility and speed? Do you think Microsoft are making a mistake here?
Bill Gates reveals information about Windows 7
Bill Gates revealed some exciting new information about the upcoming next Microsoft operating system codenamed Windows 7. He spoke at the Windows Digital Lifestyle Consortium in Tokyo and had the following to say about Windows 7.
We’re hard at work, I would say, on the next version, which we call Windows 7. I’m very excited about the work being done there. The ability to be lower power, take less memory, be more efficient, and have lots more connections up to the mobile phone, so those scenarios connect up well to make it a great platform for the best gaming that can be done, to connect up to the thing being done out on the Internet, so that, for example, if you have two personal computers, that your files automatically are synchronized between them, and so you don’t have a lot of work to move that data back and forth.
Previous assumptions that Microsoft would indeed avoid a Vista 2 and make Windows 7 faster and resource friendly seem to come true. Connectivity seems to be another keyword that is taken seriously in Windows 7.
The whole transcript of the speech is available at the Microsoft Presspass website.
We’re hard at work, I would say, on the next version, which we call Windows 7. I’m very excited about the work being done there. The ability to be lower power, take less memory, be more efficient, and have lots more connections up to the mobile phone, so those scenarios connect up well to make it a great platform for the best gaming that can be done, to connect up to the thing being done out on the Internet, so that, for example, if you have two personal computers, that your files automatically are synchronized between them, and so you don’t have a lot of work to move that data back and forth.
Previous assumptions that Microsoft would indeed avoid a Vista 2 and make Windows 7 faster and resource friendly seem to come true. Connectivity seems to be another keyword that is taken seriously in Windows 7.
The whole transcript of the speech is available at the Microsoft Presspass website.
Bill Gates reveals information about Windows 7
Bill Gates revealed some exciting new information about the upcoming next Microsoft operating system codenamed Windows 7. He spoke at the Windows Digital Lifestyle Consortium in Tokyo and had the following to say about Windows 7.
We’re hard at work, I would say, on the next version, which we call Windows 7. I’m very excited about the work being done there. The ability to be lower power, take less memory, be more efficient, and have lots more connections up to the mobile phone, so those scenarios connect up well to make it a great platform for the best gaming that can be done, to connect up to the thing being done out on the Internet, so that, for example, if you have two personal computers, that your files automatically are synchronized between them, and so you don’t have a lot of work to move that data back and forth.
Previous assumptions that Microsoft would indeed avoid a Vista 2 and make Windows 7 faster and resource friendly seem to come true. Connectivity seems to be another keyword that is taken seriously in Windows 7.
The whole transcript of the speech is available at the Microsoft Presspass website.
We’re hard at work, I would say, on the next version, which we call Windows 7. I’m very excited about the work being done there. The ability to be lower power, take less memory, be more efficient, and have lots more connections up to the mobile phone, so those scenarios connect up well to make it a great platform for the best gaming that can be done, to connect up to the thing being done out on the Internet, so that, for example, if you have two personal computers, that your files automatically are synchronized between them, and so you don’t have a lot of work to move that data back and forth.
Previous assumptions that Microsoft would indeed avoid a Vista 2 and make Windows 7 faster and resource friendly seem to come true. Connectivity seems to be another keyword that is taken seriously in Windows 7.
The whole transcript of the speech is available at the Microsoft Presspass website.
Windows 7 Features Video
A new Windows 7 video was uploaded to Youtube today which is demonstrating some of the new features that are already implemented in the Windows 7 Milestone release. The speed of the video is fast, really fast and I had to watch it twice to get a look at all the new features.
The video shows footage of the Windows Explorer, ftp locations, keyboard shortcuts, screen and animation capturing, disk usage analyzer, task manager, virtual drive, website, blog and portal designer, pdf conversion and password manager. Lots of interesting new features.
The video shows footage of the Windows Explorer, ftp locations, keyboard shortcuts, screen and animation capturing, disk usage analyzer, task manager, virtual drive, website, blog and portal designer, pdf conversion and password manager. Lots of interesting new features.
Microsoft Internal Memo ties Windows Live to Windows 7
In an internal memo for Windows Live Wave 3 which dates back to August 2007 several Microsoft executives, including Chris Jones, Corporate Vice President of Windows Live Experience, David Treadwell, Corporate Vice President of Live Platform Services and Brian Arbogast, Corporate Vice President of Mobile Services outline their plans for the next stage of Windows Live services and how they will be tightly integrated with other Microsoft products including Microsoft Office, Internet Explorer and Windows.
What’s interesting from our viewpoint is that Windows 7 is mentioned several times throughout the memo and that this reveals new information about the new Microsoft operating system codenamed Windows 7.
The first quote below outlines the plans to provide a seamless integration of Windows Live services on the Windows 7 plattform by working with the Windows 7 team which automatically gives Windows Live a huge headstart over every other service that might provide a similar experience.
While we will target a seamless experience on Windows Vista, we will make a bet on the Windows 7 platform and experience, and create the best experience when connected with Windows 7. We will work with the Windows 7 team and be a first and best developer of solutions on the Windows 7 platform.
Our experiences will be designed so when they are connected to Windows 7 they seamlessly extend the Windows experience, and we will work to follow the Windows 7 style guidelines for applications. We will work with the Internet Explorer 8 team to make sure we deliver an experience that seamlessly extends the browser with our toolbar and other offerings.
The memo continues by laying emphasize on the seamless integration and ease of use on the Windows 7 plattform.
“We have an opportunity to make it much easier for customers to ‘get started’ with Windows Live. Our goal should be to have customers log in, type their Live ID, and then they are automatically ’set up’ with Live. For new machines, we want Windows Live to come with the experience and will consider investments to make this experience easy. For customers who are upgrading from Windows Vista to Windows 7, we will explore ways to make it easy for them to get Windows Live – particularly for photos, calendar, and movies where our applications complete the experience.”
The next paragraph explains the plans to provide the best Windows Live user experience in Windows 7 by “lighting up” on the plattform.
The Windows 7 platform provides new enhancements that allow us to deliver even richer experiences for customers. We will invest in differentiated features that “light up” on Windows 7, and in this theme we will identify these “signature elements” – gestures, ribbon, or other – that make our suite best on Windows 7. We will explore innovations in graphics and presentation, including window management and high-DPI support, that make our applications feel distinct and “pop” on the new platform.
During the time the memo was issued Windows 7 was still in very early stages and that has not changed a lot since then. This means that it is a bit early to draw hasty conclusions about the impact of Windows Live on the Windows 7 plattform has.
We can expect a tight link between Windows Live and Windows 7 and Microsoft will surely try to push Windows Live with the Windows 7 plattform.
What’s interesting from our viewpoint is that Windows 7 is mentioned several times throughout the memo and that this reveals new information about the new Microsoft operating system codenamed Windows 7.
The first quote below outlines the plans to provide a seamless integration of Windows Live services on the Windows 7 plattform by working with the Windows 7 team which automatically gives Windows Live a huge headstart over every other service that might provide a similar experience.
While we will target a seamless experience on Windows Vista, we will make a bet on the Windows 7 platform and experience, and create the best experience when connected with Windows 7. We will work with the Windows 7 team and be a first and best developer of solutions on the Windows 7 platform.
Our experiences will be designed so when they are connected to Windows 7 they seamlessly extend the Windows experience, and we will work to follow the Windows 7 style guidelines for applications. We will work with the Internet Explorer 8 team to make sure we deliver an experience that seamlessly extends the browser with our toolbar and other offerings.
The memo continues by laying emphasize on the seamless integration and ease of use on the Windows 7 plattform.
“We have an opportunity to make it much easier for customers to ‘get started’ with Windows Live. Our goal should be to have customers log in, type their Live ID, and then they are automatically ’set up’ with Live. For new machines, we want Windows Live to come with the experience and will consider investments to make this experience easy. For customers who are upgrading from Windows Vista to Windows 7, we will explore ways to make it easy for them to get Windows Live – particularly for photos, calendar, and movies where our applications complete the experience.”
The next paragraph explains the plans to provide the best Windows Live user experience in Windows 7 by “lighting up” on the plattform.
The Windows 7 platform provides new enhancements that allow us to deliver even richer experiences for customers. We will invest in differentiated features that “light up” on Windows 7, and in this theme we will identify these “signature elements” – gestures, ribbon, or other – that make our suite best on Windows 7. We will explore innovations in graphics and presentation, including window management and high-DPI support, that make our applications feel distinct and “pop” on the new platform.
During the time the memo was issued Windows 7 was still in very early stages and that has not changed a lot since then. This means that it is a bit early to draw hasty conclusions about the impact of Windows Live on the Windows 7 plattform has.
We can expect a tight link between Windows Live and Windows 7 and Microsoft will surely try to push Windows Live with the Windows 7 plattform.
Windows 7 Milestone 1 Build 6574.1
Chinese website Think Next published several new details about the latest Windows 7 Milestone 1 release that has the internal build number 6574.1. Just a few hours after posting the new pictures, videos and information they pulled them again but thanks to caches they are still accessible. About a dozen new Windows 7 screenshots were posted as well as one new Windows 7 video and explanations that described the screenshots and videos.
All screenshots found on the website are included below, just click on one to load the image in full size. Let us hear what the original author of the article had to say about the changes in this new milestone release of Windows 7.
The installer is not greatly changed since M1 R1, only some words are updated from Vista to 7. Last time I use R1, the License Terms and SKU selection referred ‘Windows Vista’, now it’s changed to ‘Windows 7”.
The SKU selection shows these options:Windows 7 Business, HomeBasic, HomePremium, Ultimate, HomeBasic N, Business N and Starter.See some new SKUs are included however I don’t think these will definitively be the SKUs Windows 7 will provide. The installer program may inherit from some development tree so the SKU names are inherited also. Anyway, it’s not important to argue how many SKUs Win7 will bring to us. It’s much of business, not technology.The SKU selection uses something like a grid control, the 1st column is SKU name, and 2nd, Date Modified. For all those SKUs, the date is March 2008.
As in the M1 R1, Win7 installer automatically creates an additional 500.0 MB partition before system partition. A user doesn’t have control on this. No idea on what for. The partition doesn’t appear in My Computer but you can see it in disk management.
Other parts of the installation are same as in M1 R1.The post-installation setup wizard, may be used for performance benchmarking to determine experience index, differs from that of Vista in that Win7 removes those fancy animation pictures during the process and the time it spends on this step is much less (less than 2 minutes on my platform).
Finally, after the setup here comes the product key… Yes, you can still input a blank key. M1 R2 recognizes my G35 integrated graphic card and adapts display mode which makes my eyes comfortable at the first sight on Win7. Remember I had to find drivers for M1 R1. The user name, machine name setup windows isn’t the default Vista style, I mean, neither Basic nor Aero. See below. The font is even Arial not Vista’s default.
Changes that are noted by the author are to the search in the Start Menu which now uses the full width of the Start Menu to display search results, to the Windows Health Center, changes to Explorer layouts and to UAC which is probably one of the greatest improvements yet. When issuing multiple commands that require elevated rights Windows 7 asks the user if the wants to disable UAC temporarily.
All screenshots found on the website are included below, just click on one to load the image in full size. Let us hear what the original author of the article had to say about the changes in this new milestone release of Windows 7.
The installer is not greatly changed since M1 R1, only some words are updated from Vista to 7. Last time I use R1, the License Terms and SKU selection referred ‘Windows Vista’, now it’s changed to ‘Windows 7”.
The SKU selection shows these options:Windows 7 Business, HomeBasic, HomePremium, Ultimate, HomeBasic N, Business N and Starter.See some new SKUs are included however I don’t think these will definitively be the SKUs Windows 7 will provide. The installer program may inherit from some development tree so the SKU names are inherited also. Anyway, it’s not important to argue how many SKUs Win7 will bring to us. It’s much of business, not technology.The SKU selection uses something like a grid control, the 1st column is SKU name, and 2nd, Date Modified. For all those SKUs, the date is March 2008.
As in the M1 R1, Win7 installer automatically creates an additional 500.0 MB partition before system partition. A user doesn’t have control on this. No idea on what for. The partition doesn’t appear in My Computer but you can see it in disk management.
Other parts of the installation are same as in M1 R1.The post-installation setup wizard, may be used for performance benchmarking to determine experience index, differs from that of Vista in that Win7 removes those fancy animation pictures during the process and the time it spends on this step is much less (less than 2 minutes on my platform).
Finally, after the setup here comes the product key… Yes, you can still input a blank key. M1 R2 recognizes my G35 integrated graphic card and adapts display mode which makes my eyes comfortable at the first sight on Win7. Remember I had to find drivers for M1 R1. The user name, machine name setup windows isn’t the default Vista style, I mean, neither Basic nor Aero. See below. The font is even Arial not Vista’s default.
Changes that are noted by the author are to the search in the Start Menu which now uses the full width of the Start Menu to display search results, to the Windows Health Center, changes to Explorer layouts and to UAC which is probably one of the greatest improvements yet. When issuing multiple commands that require elevated rights Windows 7 asks the user if the wants to disable UAC temporarily.
To wait or not to wait, that is the question
The press and users are highly critical of Windows Vista and while it is understandable that the public moans about features like the User Account Control that was specifically implemented to annoy them it is not as clear as to why the press is taking such a critical stance towards the operating system. It’s the same press that is full of praise for Windows Server 2008 that is critical of the client based product that is using the same code basis.
Users don’t like Windows Vista because of several reasons. The immense hunger for resources is probably the biggest complaint that users have. That in combination with the fact that Vista shines on the outside but does not offer that many valuable improvements when compared to Windows Vista is probably the main reason why so many users make the decision to keep Windows XP.
The majority of users who run Windows Vista have purchased a new PC with it. This group is growing over time and soon there will be no possibility to purchase computers with Windows XP installed. It’s Windows Vista or.. nothing ?
Microsoft is facing another problem. Talks about Windows 7, as marginal as they might have been are creating an immense reaction on the Internet. Everyone knows that Microsoft is having high hopes for Windows 7, that it will be the system to break with the old ways, that it will be faster, better. Everything that Windows Vista is not.
More and more users are convinced to wait with every tidbit that is released, with every screenshot, video or press release that mentions Windows 7. No one knows yet if this first hype, if you may call it that, is justified. The milestone 1 release was more an improved version of Windows Vista than it was Windows 7.
Microsoft is trying its best to stay closed lipped about Windows 7 and release only the information that are absolutely necessary. It’s not a coincidence that most information about Windows 7 have been leaked from unofficial sources, for instance from the testers of the milestone 1 release.
Users don’t like Windows Vista because of several reasons. The immense hunger for resources is probably the biggest complaint that users have. That in combination with the fact that Vista shines on the outside but does not offer that many valuable improvements when compared to Windows Vista is probably the main reason why so many users make the decision to keep Windows XP.
The majority of users who run Windows Vista have purchased a new PC with it. This group is growing over time and soon there will be no possibility to purchase computers with Windows XP installed. It’s Windows Vista or.. nothing ?
Microsoft is facing another problem. Talks about Windows 7, as marginal as they might have been are creating an immense reaction on the Internet. Everyone knows that Microsoft is having high hopes for Windows 7, that it will be the system to break with the old ways, that it will be faster, better. Everything that Windows Vista is not.
More and more users are convinced to wait with every tidbit that is released, with every screenshot, video or press release that mentions Windows 7. No one knows yet if this first hype, if you may call it that, is justified. The milestone 1 release was more an improved version of Windows Vista than it was Windows 7.
Microsoft is trying its best to stay closed lipped about Windows 7 and release only the information that are absolutely necessary. It’s not a coincidence that most information about Windows 7 have been leaked from unofficial sources, for instance from the testers of the milestone 1 release.
US Law Enforcement Have Started Windows 7 Tests
Microsoft clearly are trying to launch Windows 7 as soon as possible, even though many users are only just getting around to upgrading to Windows Vista. I wonder if Windows 7 will be one upgrade too many for some customers?
Regardless of this, Microsoft have already supplied a copy of Windows 7 to the Technical Committee of US Law Enforcement agencies testing according to a court ruling found by TechRadar, in an attempt to ensure the company’s compliance with US antitrust rulings:
“In addition, the (technical committee) has begun to review Windows 7 itself,” Microsoft and regulators said in the filing. “Microsoft recently supplied the TC with a build of Windows 7, and is discussing TC testing going forward. The TC will conduct middleware-related tests on future builds of Windows 7.”
Testing this early appears to show that Microsoft have more clearly defined plans for Windows 7 than many have been lead to believe.
Regardless of this, Microsoft have already supplied a copy of Windows 7 to the Technical Committee of US Law Enforcement agencies testing according to a court ruling found by TechRadar, in an attempt to ensure the company’s compliance with US antitrust rulings:
“In addition, the (technical committee) has begun to review Windows 7 itself,” Microsoft and regulators said in the filing. “Microsoft recently supplied the TC with a build of Windows 7, and is discussing TC testing going forward. The TC will conduct middleware-related tests on future builds of Windows 7.”
Testing this early appears to show that Microsoft have more clearly defined plans for Windows 7 than many have been lead to believe.
Windows 7 May Be Broken Up Into Components
Microsoft watcher Mary Jo Foley believes that Windows 7 may be released in ‘components’ where customers will be able to choose which features they want to install, rather than every part of Windows 7 and the kitchen sink as well being installed as a default e.g. if you don’t want the mail, photos or video features then you could choose to not install them.
Although this approach will allow Microsoft to avoid attacks from competitors and regulators that they are forcing all of their features onto users, I just can’t see Microsoft doing this as it is one of their clear business tactics. Do you think Internet Explorer would have such a high adoption rate if it weren’t bundled with Windows? Would anyone use Live Search if it wasn’t rammed down users’ throats at every opportunity?
Modular installation could help keep installation sizes down, as I’m sure Windows 7 will need at least 3 times the disk space that Vista does.
Although this approach will allow Microsoft to avoid attacks from competitors and regulators that they are forcing all of their features onto users, I just can’t see Microsoft doing this as it is one of their clear business tactics. Do you think Internet Explorer would have such a high adoption rate if it weren’t bundled with Windows? Would anyone use Live Search if it wasn’t rammed down users’ throats at every opportunity?
Modular installation could help keep installation sizes down, as I’m sure Windows 7 will need at least 3 times the disk space that Vista does.
Was Bill Gates Right? Is Windows 7 Coming In 2009?
Bill Gates isn’t involved in the day-2-day running of Microsoft anymore. Giving away a LOT of money isn’t as easy as it sounds, and Bill and his wife Melinda are beavering away to make the world a better place.
That probably would explain why Bill said this week that Windows 7, would come “sometime in the next year or so”. According to a Microsoft spokesperson who was quick to correct Bill, the correct date is more like January 2010.
Personally, I think it will be more like Q4 2010 as Microsoft are notorious at missing product launch dates. Maybe, we should start a sweepstake as to Windows 7 actual launch date where the nearest guess wins!
That probably would explain why Bill said this week that Windows 7, would come “sometime in the next year or so”. According to a Microsoft spokesperson who was quick to correct Bill, the correct date is more like January 2010.
Personally, I think it will be more like Q4 2010 as Microsoft are notorious at missing product launch dates. Maybe, we should start a sweepstake as to Windows 7 actual launch date where the nearest guess wins!
Windows 7 backwards compatibility
Windows 7 will be different. Different from previous Microsoft operating systems that all had to ensure that applications designed for older versions of Windows would also run perfectly on the newest operating system. Backwards compatibility is a great feature and gives users one less reason to worry about when updating from an old version of Windows to a newer one.
On the other hand it does have an impact on performance and size of an operating system. The biggest folder of a Windows Vista installation is not the system32 folder anymore, it’s the WinSxS folder. The WinSxS folder basically stores different versions of program libraries like dll files which are needed to ensure that an application that is requesting a library gets the correct version it is requesting.
This is on the other hand a very redundant method and there are reports on the Internet that the WinSxS folder grows out of proportion rapidly.
Microsoft’s approach in Windows 7 is different. Windows 7 will not be binary compatible to older Microsoft operating systems. This does not mean that old programs will simply not run on Windows 7 though because Microsoft will be using virtualization to ensure compatibility with older applications that have been designed for a previous Microsoft operating system.
The huge advantages of this approach are performance increases for native applications and the operating system itself and a decrease of the distribution size itself.
In Windows 7, Microsoft will break from the Windows’ norm by breaking previous API compatibility, offering new API frameworks as a native solution, and providing support for legacy frameworks (COM, ATL, .NET Framework, etc) through monolithic libraries designed to provide the functionality of all previous revisions of the modules in question. This extends/replaces the WinSxS philosophy, providing every single function, past and present, in fully comprehensive libraries. This should allow the majority of legacy applications to run perfectly, while still retaining native performance for applications compiled specifically with the Windows 7 platform in mind. It should also be possible for applications produced with previous versions of Visual Studio to be directly recompiled into native code using the new API frameworks.
On the other hand it does have an impact on performance and size of an operating system. The biggest folder of a Windows Vista installation is not the system32 folder anymore, it’s the WinSxS folder. The WinSxS folder basically stores different versions of program libraries like dll files which are needed to ensure that an application that is requesting a library gets the correct version it is requesting.
This is on the other hand a very redundant method and there are reports on the Internet that the WinSxS folder grows out of proportion rapidly.
Microsoft’s approach in Windows 7 is different. Windows 7 will not be binary compatible to older Microsoft operating systems. This does not mean that old programs will simply not run on Windows 7 though because Microsoft will be using virtualization to ensure compatibility with older applications that have been designed for a previous Microsoft operating system.
The huge advantages of this approach are performance increases for native applications and the operating system itself and a decrease of the distribution size itself.
In Windows 7, Microsoft will break from the Windows’ norm by breaking previous API compatibility, offering new API frameworks as a native solution, and providing support for legacy frameworks (COM, ATL, .NET Framework, etc) through monolithic libraries designed to provide the functionality of all previous revisions of the modules in question. This extends/replaces the WinSxS philosophy, providing every single function, past and present, in fully comprehensive libraries. This should allow the majority of legacy applications to run perfectly, while still retaining native performance for applications compiled specifically with the Windows 7 platform in mind. It should also be possible for applications produced with previous versions of Visual Studio to be directly recompiled into native code using the new API frameworks.
New UI Concepts to debut in Windows 7
The team responsible for the Windows 7 graphical user interface is planning to include several new User Interface (UI) concepts into the Windows 7 plattform. One of them is the graphical user interface widget Ribbon which users of Microsoft Office 2007 experienced first hand. Microsoft refers to the implementation as the Office Fluent Ribbon which basically describes the menu bar at the top.
Users might have noticed that most options are available right in the menu and that users do not have to search in various submenus anymore to access those functions.
Long Zheng mentioned that Microsoft’s goal is to switch from the Win32 UI framework from Window 95 to a more lightweight, high performance markup-based UI framework.
The information became available through a Microsoft job post where they were looking for Senior Technical Leader to “lead the effort to update the Windows 7 platform with the latest advancements in User Interface design and to bring the Ribbon, Jewel, and other new UI concepts to the Windows platform.”
Users might have noticed that most options are available right in the menu and that users do not have to search in various submenus anymore to access those functions.
Long Zheng mentioned that Microsoft’s goal is to switch from the Win32 UI framework from Window 95 to a more lightweight, high performance markup-based UI framework.
The information became available through a Microsoft job post where they were looking for Senior Technical Leader to “lead the effort to update the Windows 7 platform with the latest advancements in User Interface design and to bring the Ribbon, Jewel, and other new UI concepts to the Windows platform.”
Windows 7 release date not yet official
There has been some confusion lately about the release date of Microsoft’s upcoming operating system Windows 7. Some sources claimed that 2010 was finally announced as the official release data while others rebuked that story saying that Microsoft did not yet make such an announcement.
It turned out that the 2010 - and 2009 - release dates were based on interpretations or Microsoft press releases, especially the phrase “Development is scoped to three years” caused some confusion. Some sources simply added three years to the release of Windows Vista and assumed that this would be the official Windows 7 release date.
One should understand that the production phase does not end with development. There is much more to it like marketing, producing enough units, worldwide shipping, translations and much more that will probably extend the period quite a bit.
It should also be noted that three years can mean anything from 1095 days to 1459 days which is just one day short of four years. To conclude the article; There is no official Windows 7 release data yet and it is very likely that there will be none anytime soon.
It turned out that the 2010 - and 2009 - release dates were based on interpretations or Microsoft press releases, especially the phrase “Development is scoped to three years” caused some confusion. Some sources simply added three years to the release of Windows Vista and assumed that this would be the official Windows 7 release date.
One should understand that the production phase does not end with development. There is much more to it like marketing, producing enough units, worldwide shipping, translations and much more that will probably extend the period quite a bit.
It should also be noted that three years can mean anything from 1095 days to 1459 days which is just one day short of four years. To conclude the article; There is no official Windows 7 release data yet and it is very likely that there will be none anytime soon.
Updated Windows 7 FAQ
Paul Thurrott gets a lot of inside scoops from Microsoft and he recently updated his Windows 7 FAQ page. There’s some interesting facts in here, including Paul’s ‘belief’ that Windows 7 will only be released as a 64-bit version.
Q: Is Microsoft working on an operating system after Windows Vista?
A: Yes. The next client version of Windows was originally codenamed “Blackcomb,” though the company renamed it to “Windows Vienna” in early 2006 and to “Windows Seven” or “Windows 7″ more recently.
Q: Why Windows 7?
Since Windows Vista is really Windows 6.0, Windows 7 will presumably be version 7.0.
Q: Is Windows 7 the final name?
No. Like Vienna, Windows 7 is just a codename and will likely change prior to the OS’ official release.
Q: I heard that Windows Vista will be the last major OS release from Microsoft. Is that true?
A: No. Windows-based PCs will continue to form the center of our digital lifestyles, and as Microsoft executives have noted in recent days, there are still plenty of areas in which Microsoft can improve Windows. Some obvious examples include voice recognition and storage.
Q: So is Windows 7 going to be a major Windows version?
A: Yes. Windows Vista was a major release, and Windows 7 will be also be a major update. Microsoft is currently on a development path where every other Windows version is a major release, so it’s possible we’ll see a minor OS update between Vista and Windows 7.
Q: When will Windows 7 ship?
A: Microsoft currently plans to ship Windows 7 in 2010, about four years after Vista. (Windows Server updates are on a similar cycle.)
Q: What features will be included in Windows 7?
A: Microsoft hasn’t publicly committed to any features for Windows 7 and the company is currently still deciding what this next Windows release will look like. We do know a few things about Windows 7, however: It will include a new version of Windows Explorer that is being built by the same team that designed the Ribbon user interface in Office 2007. It will likely include some form of the “Hypervisor” (Windows Virtualization) technologies that will ship shortly after Windows Server 2008. It will also likely include the WinFS (Windows Future Storage) technologies, though they won’t be packaged or branded as WinFS. Microsoft says it might also make a subscription-based version of the OS available to consumers, but that’s still in flux. In December 2007, a Microsoft product manager said that Windows 7 would include new touch features that expand on what’s available in Vista.
Q: That’s it?
A: Yes, but remember it’s early yet and Microsoft is being very secretive about future Windows versions. However, the company has publicly issued a bit of information about the broad capabilities it intends to include in Windows 7. This information comes from a publicly-available Microsoft slide deck:
Easier. Windows 7 will make it easier for users to find and use information. Local, network and Internet search functionality will converge. Intuitive user experiences will be further advanced. Automated application provisioning and cross-application data transparency will be integrated.
More secure. Windows 7 will include improved security and legislative compliance functionality. Data protection and management will be extended to peripheral devices. Windows 7 will advance role-based computing scenarios and user-account management, and bridge the inherent conflicts between data protection and robust collaboration. It will also enable enterprise-wide data protection and permissions.
Better connected. Windows 7 will further enable the mobile workforce. It will deliver anywhere, anytime, any device access to data and applications. It will enable a robust ad-hoc collaboration experience. Wireless connectivity, management and security functionality will be expanded. The performance and functionality of current and emerging mobile hardware will be optimized. The multiple device sync, management and data protection capabilities in Windows will be extended. Finally, Windows 7 will enable flexible computing infrastructures including rich, thin and network-centric models.
Lower cost. Windows 7 will help businesses optimize their desktop infrastructure. It will enable seamless OS, application and data migration, and simplified PC provisioning and upgrading. It will further efforts towards non-disruptive application updating and patching. Windows 7 will include improved hardware- and software-based virtualization experiences. And it will expand the PC self-help and IT Pro problem resolution diagnostics in Windows.
Q: Will Windows 7 be available in both 32-bit and 64-bit versions like Vista?
A: Though I had expected Windows 7 to ship only in 64-bit versions, Microsoft now says it will be the final Windows version to ship in both 32-bit and 64-bit versions.
Q: Will Microsoft release any Windows updates between now and Windows 7?
A: Yes. Windows Vista Service Pack 1 (SP1, codenamed “Fiji”) will ship simultaneously with Windows Server 2008 in early 2008 and will include a new kernel version that makes that release up to date with the kernel version in Longhorn. And one might logically expect a new Media Center update before Windows 7 as well.
Q: Is Microsoft working on an operating system after Windows Vista?
A: Yes. The next client version of Windows was originally codenamed “Blackcomb,” though the company renamed it to “Windows Vienna” in early 2006 and to “Windows Seven” or “Windows 7″ more recently.
Q: Why Windows 7?
Since Windows Vista is really Windows 6.0, Windows 7 will presumably be version 7.0.
Q: Is Windows 7 the final name?
No. Like Vienna, Windows 7 is just a codename and will likely change prior to the OS’ official release.
Q: I heard that Windows Vista will be the last major OS release from Microsoft. Is that true?
A: No. Windows-based PCs will continue to form the center of our digital lifestyles, and as Microsoft executives have noted in recent days, there are still plenty of areas in which Microsoft can improve Windows. Some obvious examples include voice recognition and storage.
Q: So is Windows 7 going to be a major Windows version?
A: Yes. Windows Vista was a major release, and Windows 7 will be also be a major update. Microsoft is currently on a development path where every other Windows version is a major release, so it’s possible we’ll see a minor OS update between Vista and Windows 7.
Q: When will Windows 7 ship?
A: Microsoft currently plans to ship Windows 7 in 2010, about four years after Vista. (Windows Server updates are on a similar cycle.)
Q: What features will be included in Windows 7?
A: Microsoft hasn’t publicly committed to any features for Windows 7 and the company is currently still deciding what this next Windows release will look like. We do know a few things about Windows 7, however: It will include a new version of Windows Explorer that is being built by the same team that designed the Ribbon user interface in Office 2007. It will likely include some form of the “Hypervisor” (Windows Virtualization) technologies that will ship shortly after Windows Server 2008. It will also likely include the WinFS (Windows Future Storage) technologies, though they won’t be packaged or branded as WinFS. Microsoft says it might also make a subscription-based version of the OS available to consumers, but that’s still in flux. In December 2007, a Microsoft product manager said that Windows 7 would include new touch features that expand on what’s available in Vista.
Q: That’s it?
A: Yes, but remember it’s early yet and Microsoft is being very secretive about future Windows versions. However, the company has publicly issued a bit of information about the broad capabilities it intends to include in Windows 7. This information comes from a publicly-available Microsoft slide deck:
Easier. Windows 7 will make it easier for users to find and use information. Local, network and Internet search functionality will converge. Intuitive user experiences will be further advanced. Automated application provisioning and cross-application data transparency will be integrated.
More secure. Windows 7 will include improved security and legislative compliance functionality. Data protection and management will be extended to peripheral devices. Windows 7 will advance role-based computing scenarios and user-account management, and bridge the inherent conflicts between data protection and robust collaboration. It will also enable enterprise-wide data protection and permissions.
Better connected. Windows 7 will further enable the mobile workforce. It will deliver anywhere, anytime, any device access to data and applications. It will enable a robust ad-hoc collaboration experience. Wireless connectivity, management and security functionality will be expanded. The performance and functionality of current and emerging mobile hardware will be optimized. The multiple device sync, management and data protection capabilities in Windows will be extended. Finally, Windows 7 will enable flexible computing infrastructures including rich, thin and network-centric models.
Lower cost. Windows 7 will help businesses optimize their desktop infrastructure. It will enable seamless OS, application and data migration, and simplified PC provisioning and upgrading. It will further efforts towards non-disruptive application updating and patching. Windows 7 will include improved hardware- and software-based virtualization experiences. And it will expand the PC self-help and IT Pro problem resolution diagnostics in Windows.
Q: Will Windows 7 be available in both 32-bit and 64-bit versions like Vista?
A: Though I had expected Windows 7 to ship only in 64-bit versions, Microsoft now says it will be the final Windows version to ship in both 32-bit and 64-bit versions.
Q: Will Microsoft release any Windows updates between now and Windows 7?
A: Yes. Windows Vista Service Pack 1 (SP1, codenamed “Fiji”) will ship simultaneously with Windows Server 2008 in early 2008 and will include a new kernel version that makes that release up to date with the kernel version in Longhorn. And one might logically expect a new Media Center update before Windows 7 as well.
Microsoft confirms Windows 7 2010 Release Year
It seems that Microsoft tried to ignore all the speculations and rumors about a soon to be published Windows Vista successor for as long as they could until they finally gave in and confirmed to Softpedia that the official release year for Windows 7 will be 2010, not 2009 and not 2011 as some other blogs and magazines have suggested.
Microsoft explained that it would deliver Windows 7 three years after the consumers launch of Vista. “We are currently in the planning stages for Windows 7 and development is scoped to three years from Windows Vista Consumer GA. The specific release date will be determined once the company meets its quality bar for release,” a Microsoft spokesperson revealed to Softpedia via email.
What does it mean for the consumer ? 2010 is still two years ahead which will give consumers enough time to switch to Windows Vista or sit it out with Windows XP until Windows 7 arrives. If you want my personal opinion, I don’t think it’s very smart from a consumer standpoint to release the new operating system in 2010 which feels awfully early.
Microsoft might think otherwise and analyst might prove them right again.
Microsoft explained that it would deliver Windows 7 three years after the consumers launch of Vista. “We are currently in the planning stages for Windows 7 and development is scoped to three years from Windows Vista Consumer GA. The specific release date will be determined once the company meets its quality bar for release,” a Microsoft spokesperson revealed to Softpedia via email.
What does it mean for the consumer ? 2010 is still two years ahead which will give consumers enough time to switch to Windows Vista or sit it out with Windows XP until Windows 7 arrives. If you want my personal opinion, I don’t think it’s very smart from a consumer standpoint to release the new operating system in 2010 which feels awfully early.
Microsoft might think otherwise and analyst might prove them right again.
Windows 7 submitted for Antitrust Review
Microsoft has submitted the first Milestone of its upcoming operating system Windows 7 to the committee that oversees its antitrust compliance in the US according to an Computer World article. A Technical Committee will conduct middleware-related tests to ensure that Windows 7 is not giving Microsoft an unfair advantage over third party software running on the operating system.
Microsoft itself is keeping exposure of the new operating system to a minimum which could be a move to avoid Windows Vista sale drops due to the release of Windows 7 in a year or two.
Mike Cherry, an analyst with research group Directions on Microsoft, said that for Windows 7, Microsoft will likely keep the bells and whistles to a minimum so they can deliver “something reasonable they can complete by a reasonable date … Their goal will be to try to put Vista behind them,” he said.
Microsoft will surely have to lookout not only for its antitrust compliance in the US but also in Europe where it was heavily fined just recently for 1.3 Billion Dollar.
Microsoft itself is keeping exposure of the new operating system to a minimum which could be a move to avoid Windows Vista sale drops due to the release of Windows 7 in a year or two.
Mike Cherry, an analyst with research group Directions on Microsoft, said that for Windows 7, Microsoft will likely keep the bells and whistles to a minimum so they can deliver “something reasonable they can complete by a reasonable date … Their goal will be to try to put Vista behind them,” he said.
Microsoft will surely have to lookout not only for its antitrust compliance in the US but also in Europe where it was heavily fined just recently for 1.3 Billion Dollar.
Windows 7 Calculator
To be honest, updating those small applications like the calculator, notepad or the control panel would not be very high on my priority list for a new Windows operating system. Microsoft apparently thought otherwise and managed to squeeze in some major changes to programs like the Windows Calculator.
The Windows 7 Calculator got a new look and several new functions. Users were able to choose between the normal and scientific calculator in Windows XP for instance and Microsoft decided to add the Programmer and Statistics mode to the calculator. Unit Conversions are another new feature of the updated calculator.
The Windows 7 Calculator got a new look and several new functions. Users were able to choose between the normal and scientific calculator in Windows XP for instance and Microsoft decided to add the Programmer and Statistics mode to the calculator. Unit Conversions are another new feature of the updated calculator.
Of Vista and Windows 7
Microsoft is having a problem, a huge one that is only becoming apparent these days. The announcement that the Windows 7 Milestone 1 was released to a first batch of testers which included an update of the release schedule made it clear that we might be less than two years away from the public retail release of Windows 7.I’m not sure why no one pointed this out yet but this announcement can have huge implications for Microsoft and the sales figures of Windows Vista. It is my understanding that the majority of sales of Windows Vista stem from sales bundled with hardware and not from sales to users migrating from another operating system.Many companies are waiting for the Service Pack 1 of Windows Vista before they will make the migration and I actually know quite a lot that are still using Windows 2000 as the main operating system in their network.The question that arises is if it makes sense to migrate to Windows Vista at all or if it would make more sense to wait another two years, use the previous operating system (XP, 2000) in that period and make the migration to Windows 7 directly after that time.Several of my colleagues are already comparing Windows Vista to Windows ME which failed miserably back then as a Windows 98 successor.It does not make sense financially as well. Migrate to Windows Vista now to migrate to another system in 2-3 years already ? To be fair, companies that did wait that long before migrating to Windows Vista would probably wait an equal amount of time before migrating to Windows 7.My personal projection sees an increase in Windows Vista sales especially with the release of Service Pack 1 but many users and companies who are using Windows XP will most likely skip this operating system and wait for the innovative Windows7 instead.
Input technologies
Mouse and keyboard are used by most users to work with their computer and software. Microsoft tried to make speech recognition more appealing in Windows Vista but failed miserably. No one is speaking about this feature anymore in Vista and everything is back to where it was in Windows 3.11 when it comes to input technologies.
Windows 7 wants to make a difference in a few areas. With the success of the iPhone and the iPod touch the touch technology has come into a wider focus and many users seem to prefer it over those pesky buttons they had to press in previous iPod generations. While it is nice that Windows 7 will feature additional touch features and functions it will most likely not affect the casual PC user.
This is simply because someone would obviously need a decide capable of recognizing the user input by touch and deliver it to the operating system. Tablet PCs come to my mind and it could very well be that this sector will see a rise with the release of Windows 7. Still, if you got no extra hardware you will not be able to use the touch features.
Next to that Microsoft is very anxious about advancing speech recognition as well. I’m not that optimistic about this new technology either after seeing several Vista speech demonstrations that go terribly wrong.
Last but not least we have handwriting recognition which again needs special hardware to work at all. Even though speech recognition did fail in Vista it is in my opinion the most likely to succeed in Windows 7 simply because of the fact that most users already have headsets with microphones and do not need to buy additional hardware.
This could change dramatically if a PC hardware manufacturer was to create a device like the Asus EEE PC but with touch technology.
Windows 7 wants to make a difference in a few areas. With the success of the iPhone and the iPod touch the touch technology has come into a wider focus and many users seem to prefer it over those pesky buttons they had to press in previous iPod generations. While it is nice that Windows 7 will feature additional touch features and functions it will most likely not affect the casual PC user.
This is simply because someone would obviously need a decide capable of recognizing the user input by touch and deliver it to the operating system. Tablet PCs come to my mind and it could very well be that this sector will see a rise with the release of Windows 7. Still, if you got no extra hardware you will not be able to use the touch features.
Next to that Microsoft is very anxious about advancing speech recognition as well. I’m not that optimistic about this new technology either after seeing several Vista speech demonstrations that go terribly wrong.
Last but not least we have handwriting recognition which again needs special hardware to work at all. Even though speech recognition did fail in Vista it is in my opinion the most likely to succeed in Windows 7 simply because of the fact that most users already have headsets with microphones and do not need to buy additional hardware.
This could change dramatically if a PC hardware manufacturer was to create a device like the Asus EEE PC but with touch technology.
Windows 7 Homegroup
One of the first - and few - new features that have been already implemented in the Windows 7 Milestone 1 release is the so called Homegroup.
Speculations have been running wild already, some suspected that it would be implemented in addition to the Workgroup feature which is already implemented in all newer Windows operating systems.
Others however have been looking back to Windows Longhorn and the year 2003 where Microsoft announced a feature for Windows Longhorn which was named Castle.
What it basically means is a simplified way of connecting computers without having to worry to much about the technical aspects. If that is indeed what Windows 7 Homegroup is all about it will be a welcome new feature that could make networking for all users a much easier and better experience.
Speculations have been running wild already, some suspected that it would be implemented in addition to the Workgroup feature which is already implemented in all newer Windows operating systems.
Others however have been looking back to Windows Longhorn and the year 2003 where Microsoft announced a feature for Windows Longhorn which was named Castle.
What it basically means is a simplified way of connecting computers without having to worry to much about the technical aspects. If that is indeed what Windows 7 Homegroup is all about it will be a welcome new feature that could make networking for all users a much easier and better experience.
New Windows 7 Screenshots and Information
There is still much talk going on about the Windows 7 Milestone 1 release which dates a few days back. While most blogs on the Internet are still arguing about the validity of the screenshots and videos a Russian user has posted tons of additional screenshots of new and old aspects of the Windows 7 Milestone 1 release.
Reiker posted an extensive review of several of the new features that Microsoft did add to this release of Windows 7. To be honest, a normal user would probably think he would be sitting in front of Windows Vista and not Windows 7 if someone would make the test. The two operating systems look really alike and most differences are rather cosmetic in nature.
Still, there are some functions that have been implemented in Windows 7 that are not available in Windows Vista or previous operating systems.
A so called HomeGroup is created during setup which seems to be a mandatory step. The HomeGroup lets the user share files with other computers in the homezone. My guess is that Microsoft tries to improve on the networking aspect of the operating system by distinguishing between Work and HomeGroups.
Reiker posted an extensive review of several of the new features that Microsoft did add to this release of Windows 7. To be honest, a normal user would probably think he would be sitting in front of Windows Vista and not Windows 7 if someone would make the test. The two operating systems look really alike and most differences are rather cosmetic in nature.
Still, there are some functions that have been implemented in Windows 7 that are not available in Windows Vista or previous operating systems.
A so called HomeGroup is created during setup which seems to be a mandatory step. The HomeGroup lets the user share files with other computers in the homezone. My guess is that Microsoft tries to improve on the networking aspect of the operating system by distinguishing between Work and HomeGroups.
Windows 7 Milestone 1 Leaked ?
Not surprisingly, the first milestone release of Windows 7, the upcoming Microsoft operating system due out in late 2009, has already been leaked on the Internet. The milestone version was uploaded to some popular torrent websites and is already being widely distributed.
Further tests however revealed that all torrents of Windows 7 that have been uploaded as of now to Bittorrent websites are fake and not the real Windows 7 milestone 1. It seems that the uploaders created a 2 Gigabyte file with no contents whatsoever, named it Windows 7 and released it to the Bittorrent websites.
Further tests however revealed that all torrents of Windows 7 that have been uploaded as of now to Bittorrent websites are fake and not the real Windows 7 milestone 1. It seems that the uploaders created a 2 Gigabyte file with no contents whatsoever, named it Windows 7 and released it to the Bittorrent websites.
A shaky Windows 7 video emerges
News about Windows 7 are rare because Microsoft tends to concentrate on Windows Vista nowadays and comments only when it is absolutely necessary. The last time I heard something about Windows 7 directly from Microsoft was when they announced the Windows 7 milestone release.
That milestone release was distributed to technology partners throughout the world. Since no one but Microsoft really knows how Windows 7 at this current stage looks like it is hard to tell if the following posted video is genuine. The Blair Witch like camera does not help proving the point either.
I personally do think it is legit if alone for the reason that no one refuted it. There are thousands of guys out there who received the Windows 7 milestone and you could think that at least one would have mentioned - probably anonymously - that those videos that are currently distributed are fake.
This has not happened to my knowledge, so enjoy this video of Windows 7.
That milestone release was distributed to technology partners throughout the world. Since no one but Microsoft really knows how Windows 7 at this current stage looks like it is hard to tell if the following posted video is genuine. The Blair Witch like camera does not help proving the point either.
I personally do think it is legit if alone for the reason that no one refuted it. There are thousands of guys out there who received the Windows 7 milestone and you could think that at least one would have mentioned - probably anonymously - that those videos that are currently distributed are fake.
This has not happened to my knowledge, so enjoy this video of Windows 7.
Why is the next Windows called Windows 7 ?
Windows 7 is the next operating system that Microsoft will release. It will be the successor of Windows Vista and was previously codenamed Windows Vienna. Well, Vienna is no more the new codename is Windows 7 which will be changed yet again once Microsoft comes up with another name for the next operating system.
Most people I have been talking with do not know that Windows 7 is not just another codename but also the version of the next operating system. It is currently named Windows 7 because Windows Vista was also internally called Windows 6, Windows XP was Windows 5, NT 4.0 was Windows 4 and then there was Windows 3 which most probably never had the pleasure to work with.
So the creative minds at Microsoft just selected the version number of the upcoming Windows operating system as the codename for it.
Windows 7Windows 6 - Windows VistaWindows 5 - Windows XPWindows 4 - NT 4.0Windows 3
Most people I have been talking with do not know that Windows 7 is not just another codename but also the version of the next operating system. It is currently named Windows 7 because Windows Vista was also internally called Windows 6, Windows XP was Windows 5, NT 4.0 was Windows 4 and then there was Windows 3 which most probably never had the pleasure to work with.
So the creative minds at Microsoft just selected the version number of the upcoming Windows operating system as the codename for it.
Windows 7Windows 6 - Windows VistaWindows 5 - Windows XPWindows 4 - NT 4.0Windows 3
Windows 7 To Be Launched In 2010
In an internal meeting for its sales force this week, Microsoft confirmed the code name and approximate timing for Windows Vista’s successor. “Windows 7″ will be available in 30 years.and it’s due out in approximately three years, in both 32- and 64-bit versions.
Not a lot of information was made available, but given that Windows Vista was announced for 2004, I can’t see Windows 7 emerging in 2010.
Not a lot of information was made available, but given that Windows Vista was announced for 2004, I can’t see Windows 7 emerging in 2010.
Windows 7 To Include Hypervisor?
Some details about what features might be included in Windows 7 are starting to emerge.
TarryBlogging have featured an excerpt from an interview on Windows 7 that seems to indicate that Windows 7 will include some form of the “Hypervisor” Windows Virtualisation technologies that will ship shortly after Windows Server.
The interview also claims that Windows 7 might include the Windows Future Storage (WinFS) technology.
TarryBlogging have featured an excerpt from an interview on Windows 7 that seems to indicate that Windows 7 will include some form of the “Hypervisor” Windows Virtualisation technologies that will ship shortly after Windows Server.
The interview also claims that Windows 7 might include the Windows Future Storage (WinFS) technology.
Microsoft says it has teared down the walls for a better view
REDMOND, Wash. — Sept. 18, 2008 — For the past two weeks, millions of people have watched the series of Bill Gates and Jerry Seinfeld television ads with the Windows logo at the end and wondered: “What’s next?”Today, Microsoft answers that question with the next phase of a multi-year, multi-million dollar Windows marketing effort designed to reconnect with consumers. And tonight, the Bill-and-Jerry “teaser” ads give way to a new series of television ads that celebrate the diversity and passion of consumers around the world who use Windows to stay in touch with the people, information and ideas that they care about.
The new ads are just a part of this major Windows marketing initiative, all designed around connecting with consumers in meaningful ways throughout their Windows experience – whether buying a PC, using a Windows Mobile device, or living life on the Web.
“Windows is truly the shared language of creativity and connection for more than one billion people,” says Bill Veghte, Senior Vice President, Online Services & Windows Business Group. “It’s a vibrant community of individuals who are passionate about how Windows helps them express their ideas and live life on their own terms. Starting today, we want to reflect the passion and excitement of this community in how we tell the story of the Windows brand.”
Tearing Down WallsMicrosoft signaled the next phase of the Windows brand campaign with full-page newspaper ads carrying the headline: “Windows vs. Walls”. The copy in the ads lays out the driving philosophy behind the new Windows marketing approach. Veghte says: “At the core, Windows is about enabling each one of us, as individuals, to live our lives without walls … I want to work when I want to work, I want to play when I want to play. I want to communicate and share with friends and family and co-workers.”
The “Life without Walls” tagline brings another key facet of the Windows brand to life: Windows connects people not only via the PC, but also via phones, devices, and the Web. The Windows platform of Windows Vista, Windows Mobile, and Windows Live were built to work together and to expand the Windows experience beyond the PC to the phone and the Web. The campaign will reflect this holistic, connected approach.
“On our journey to make sure that Windows enables a life without walls, we’ve taken a step back, reevaluated and tuned and tweaked our approach. So you’re seeing that in the advertising, in the products, in the experience at retail and on Windows.com,” notes Veghte.
Multiple Approaches for Multiple DevicesMicrosoft will extend the “Life Without Walls” campaign via billboards, digital “walkway” ads in airports and other advertising components. Additionally, new outdoor and print ads show how Windows has evolved to work across multiple devices: the desktop PC, laptops, phones and TVs.
The new ads are just a part of this major Windows marketing initiative, all designed around connecting with consumers in meaningful ways throughout their Windows experience – whether buying a PC, using a Windows Mobile device, or living life on the Web.
“Windows is truly the shared language of creativity and connection for more than one billion people,” says Bill Veghte, Senior Vice President, Online Services & Windows Business Group. “It’s a vibrant community of individuals who are passionate about how Windows helps them express their ideas and live life on their own terms. Starting today, we want to reflect the passion and excitement of this community in how we tell the story of the Windows brand.”
Tearing Down WallsMicrosoft signaled the next phase of the Windows brand campaign with full-page newspaper ads carrying the headline: “Windows vs. Walls”. The copy in the ads lays out the driving philosophy behind the new Windows marketing approach. Veghte says: “At the core, Windows is about enabling each one of us, as individuals, to live our lives without walls … I want to work when I want to work, I want to play when I want to play. I want to communicate and share with friends and family and co-workers.”
The “Life without Walls” tagline brings another key facet of the Windows brand to life: Windows connects people not only via the PC, but also via phones, devices, and the Web. The Windows platform of Windows Vista, Windows Mobile, and Windows Live were built to work together and to expand the Windows experience beyond the PC to the phone and the Web. The campaign will reflect this holistic, connected approach.
“On our journey to make sure that Windows enables a life without walls, we’ve taken a step back, reevaluated and tuned and tweaked our approach. So you’re seeing that in the advertising, in the products, in the experience at retail and on Windows.com,” notes Veghte.
Multiple Approaches for Multiple DevicesMicrosoft will extend the “Life Without Walls” campaign via billboards, digital “walkway” ads in airports and other advertising components. Additionally, new outdoor and print ads show how Windows has evolved to work across multiple devices: the desktop PC, laptops, phones and TVs.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
