Microsoft Ships Second Vista CTP
As expected, Microsoft has shipped the October Community Technology Preview of Windows Vista, embarking on what the company hopes will be monthly test releases of the operating system. Build 5231 first surfaced last week and brings changes to Internet Explorer, Windows Media Player and Vista's networking.
Internet Explorer 7 has received a minor facelift, with its tabs moved below the address bar to match the interface style used by the likes of Firefox and Opera. Microsoft has additionally added a "Favorites Center" for managing links and a "QuickTabs" overview of all open Web sites.
On the security side, IE7 sports an improved phishing filter and turns off all ActiveX plug-ins by default. Users must now specifically enable the ActiveX controls they need in an effort to limit malicious code being executed by the browser. Vista's Parental Controls have also now been integrated into IE7.
An early build of Windows Media Player 11 makes an appearance in the October CTP of Vista, although it's still labeled version 10. According to Robert McLaws, Microsoft MVP and author of LonghornBlogs, "The UI is nowhere near final, but it's still sweet. Definitely worth playing around with."
Under the covers, Windows Vista's internal network has been reworked for build 5231. A new "Network Center" provides a visual status and configuration options for network connections, and replaces the current "My Network Places" and "Network Neighborhood" currently in Windows XP.
The October CTP also offers a hint of things to come. Windows AntiSpyware is now linked from Vista's Security Center, but the application is not included in the test release.
Unfortunately for Windows enthusiasts eager to play with the Windows Sidebar and its Gadgets, the feature is not included in the new CTP. Although Microsoft executives highlighted the Windows Side at PDC 2005, it has yet to make an appearance in any publicly available Vista build.
The Windows Vista October CTP is now available for technical beta testers and the 2.3GB operating system download will be posted for MSDN and TechNet subscribers sometime today. Microsoft warns that "many of the features included in the October CTP are still being developed and do not yet represent their final functionality or design."