Microsoft: Vista Apps Must be 'Cool'
In an open letter posted on MSDN, Microsoft's Windows chief Jim Allchin called on developers to start building "cool" applications for Windows Vista, promising "new opportunities on a scale you haven't seen since Windows 95."
Allchin, who is retiring after launch, says that barring any last minute quality issues, Vista is on track to reach consumers in January. Analysts are predicting that the new operating system will be installed by 200 million people within the first 24 months, the quickest adoption of any Microsoft OS. "Millions of people will be looking for applications," Allchin noted.
Study: Vista Will Add 50,000 Jobs in EU
Likely aimed at allaying European Union fears, a Microsoft-commissioned study by research firm IDC indicates 50,000 jobs would be created across six countries in Europe as a result of Vista. While the study confirmed Microsoft is expected to profit handily off the next-gen operating system, the profits for partners would be much greater, it said.
IDC expects Vista to be installed on 30 million computers across those six countries, and 105 million worldwide during 2007.
Microsoft Announces Vista Peripherals
Microsoft elaborated on its fall and winter hardware lineup on Thursday, announcing three new wireless keyboard and mouse packages, along with three new wireless mice. The first products would begin shipping this month, with launch dates throughout the winter through February 2007.
"We are pushing the envelope on hardware design to meet the new ways consumers are using their PCs at home and in the office," Microsoft hardware designer Dan O'Neil said. "Keyboards and mice are no longer just about typing and clicking - they are an extension of the individual's personality."
Windows Vista RC1 Open to Public
Those eager to try out the newest release of Windows Vista, which has received positive reviews from analysts and testers alike, can rest easy: RC1 is now available to the general public. Microsoft expects the latest beta code to reach 5 million people through the Customer Preview Program.
"RC1 represents a significant industry milestone on the road to delivering Windows Vista, and customer participation and feedback are integral parts of the development process," a company spokesperson told BetaNews. "The feedback received thus far from testers has been extremely valuable." Download Windows Vista RC1 now and tell us what you think!
EU Concerned About Vista Security
The war of words between Microsoft and the EU continued Tuesday, with the European Commission warning that Windows Vista's built-in security features should not shut third party vendors out of the market.
The warning came after Microsoft made a public statement on the matter, telling reporters that the EU should not attempt to block the security features, as the move would only put customers at risk and delay Vista's launch in Europe. Microsoft has often used the press to put pressure on the EU Commission.
MS Security Manager Joins Vista Team
Stephen Toulouse, a program manager for Microsoft's Security Response Center who often served as the public face for the company's security woes on the MSRC blog, is taking a new job with the Windows Vista team. His focus, not surprisingly, will be on operating system security.
Toulouse's says his new role will be more proactive, as opposed to the reactive nature of MSRC, which responds to new security threats with patches and advisories. He will begin with a focus on Vista and continue that work with other Microsoft products.
Microsoft Could Delay Vista in Europe
Microsoft is pushing hard to get its next-generation Windows operating system ready for a public launch in January, but now it has a new hurdle: the European Commission has raised concerns about Vista. The Redmond company said a delay may occur if the EU demands changes to the product.
Microsoft has had a tumultuous relationship with the European Union after being found guilty of violating antitrust laws in March 2004. The Commission long accused the company of not complying with the ruling, while Microsoft has responded by publicly chiding regulators for ignoring key information.
Microsoft Details Vista RC1, Pricing
Microsoft on Tuesday further elaborated on its plans for RC1 of Windows Vista, including a confirmation of its planned retail pricing for the next-generation operating system and plans to expand the Customer Preview program (CPP) to five million testers.
The long holiday weekend also gave testers and pundits a chance to pour over Redmond's latest build of Vista, and some of Microsoft's biggest supporters had harsh words for the software maker.
Vista Inches Closer to Release with RC1
Microsoft's long, strange trip with Windows Vista came closer to an end Friday as the company released the first release candidate of its next-generation operating system. Windows client vice president Jim Allchin, who plans to retire after Vista's release, made the announcement in an e-mail to TechNet subscribers.
"It's official -- RC1 is done," Allchin said. "We could not have achieved this milestone without your support. The quantity and quality of feedback and data we received from you has been essential to helping us progress."
Amazon Begins Selling Windows Vista
Online retailer Amazon.com has begun to accept pre-orders for Windows Vista, which it says "will be released on January 30, 2007." The company is charging $399 USD for the Ultimate Edition of Vista, $239 USD for Home Premium and $199 USD for Home Basic. Vista Business is priced at $299 USD.
While Amazon frequently lists products before they become available and shipping dates are often an estimate, the pricing usually does not change. Microsoft also appears to be planning a new "Additional License" pack to go along with Vista, which includes just a Product Key and enables customers to use Vista on a second computer. On Amazon, however, pricing for the license pack is only $10 to $20 less than the full retail Vista packages.
Microsoft Offers Pre-RC1 Vista Beta
Despite initially saying it wouldn't be made public, Microsoft late Monday released Windows Vista Build 5536 for download by those who had signed up for the Beta 2 Customer Preview Program. The catch: only 100,000 visitors will be able to download before the links are deactivated.
5536 is a pre-RC1 build, which was released last week and received rave reviews from even Vista's harshest critics. The decision to offer public downloads was seemingly made in order to test the infrastructure before RC1 makes its official public debut. After being unable to handle the demand for Vista Beta 2, Microsoft has tapped Akamai to host the first release candidate.
High-End Vista Comes at a High Price
A glitch on the Microsoft Canada Web site has apparently let slip Microsoft's planned prices for Windows Vista, indicating the Redmond company intends to charge as much as $299 CDN for its top-of-the-line upgrade to Ultimate Edition, and $499 CDN if users wish to purchase the full version.
Canadian prices are typically higher than their American equivalents. Thus, it can be expected that Windows Vista pricing in the United States would be lower. However, it does show that Microsoft stands to make considerably more money if it can convince computer users that upgrading to higher-end versions is worthwhile.
Microsoft Releases Pre-RC1 Vista Beta
Microsoft on Friday announced a new beta build of Windows Vista, which serves as an interim update while the company finalizes Release Candidate 1. Build 5536 is available to technical beta testers and MSDN subscribers, and includes a number of quality improvements.
"This interim build is not widely distributed (you'll have to wait for RC1) but does serve to underscore the progress the Dev and Test teams have made since Beta 2, while also confirming that we're still on track for the release of RC1 in the near future," wrote Microsoft product manager Nick White on the Vista Team Blog.
Microsoft Clarifies Vista HD Movie Stance
Microsoft is endeavoring to put out fires caused by what it says was a misstatement by a senior program manager who claimed 32-bit versions of Windows Vista would not support high-definition protected content, including HD DVD and Blu-ray. Nothing has changed, the company says.
At a session during TechEd 2006 in Sydney Thursday, Microsoft's Steve Riley asserted that because 32-bit versions of Windows must support unsigned drivers being loaded into the kernel, the company could not ensure that HD movies would be copy protected. In turn, only x64 versions of Vista would support commercial movies, he said.
No HD DVD or Blu-ray in 32-bit Vista
Microsoft disclosed at TechEd 2006 in Sydney Thursday that 32-bit versions of Windows Vista would never support high-definition protected content, including HD DVD and Blu-ray movies. The new formats will require 64-bit systems running the x64 edition of Vista.
The news, first reported by Australian tech publication APC Magazine, may come as a surprise to many Windows users looking to take advantage of the high-definition support with their current hardware. For example, Intel's Core Solo and Core Duo chips -- included in many laptops -- are not 64-bit compatible.
Recent Headlines
Most Commented Stories
© 1998-2025 BetaNews, Inc. All Rights Reserved. About Us - Privacy Policy - Cookie Policy - Sitemap.