Gartner: Wait Until 2008 to Adopt Vista
Research firm Gartner made waves Friday by telling clients in a note that there was no compelling reason for most businesses to upgrade to Windows Vista until 2008 -- or even later. However, Microsoft's response to the scathing analysis may shock many: it called the report "balanced."
The research note, entitled "Ten reasons you should and shouldn't care about Microsoft's Windows Vista client," highlighted the problems with Microsoft's strategy for the next-generation operating system.
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.
New Windows Vista Beta Build Leaks
Weeks before Microsoft is expected to release the October Community Technology Preview of Windows Vista, build 5231 has found its way onto the Internet. The pre-Beta 2 release incorporates minor updates over the September CTP that debuted at PDC 2005, including an early build of Windows Media Player 11.
Internet Explorer 7 has also 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. The Windows Sidebar has re-emerged in Vista build 5231, but it's not clear if the October CTP will include the feature.
Microsoft: XP Service Pack 3 After Vista
A representative of Microsoft's French division told ZDNet France on Friday that the company plans to release a third service pack for the Windows XP operating system. According to Bernard Ourghanlian, technical and security director at Microsoft France, the update is significant and a priority for Microsoft's developers.
Microsoft last updated Windows XP in August 2004, focusing on security issues. The changes came after the company received widespread criticism over the operating system's apparent lax security. No details have been received on the contents of the update, although it may include a version of WinFX being fine-tuned for the now four year-old version of Windows.
Windows Vista Goes With the Workflow
On Wednesday, Microsoft introduced Windows Workflow Foundation, a new way for developers to quickly build workflow-enabled applications on Windows Vista. The purpose of the technology is to support business processes and make programs adapt to the day-to-day needs of people who use them.
In an interview with BetaNews, Scott Woodgate, Microsoft's group product manager for the Connected Systems Division, tried to explain the announcement's significance more clearly.
Images: Windows Vista Build 5219
Microsoft issued to PDC 2005 attendees this week the first of its monthly CTP builds of Windows Vista, which includes a number of improvements over Beta 1. The version distributed to attendees does not include the new Windows Sidebar, but Microsoft did highlight the feature at PDC.
To take full advantage of Vista's new capabilities quite a bit of computing and graphics power is required. Click the image on the right to view Vista in its full glory.
Canon Brings Color to Windows Vista
Microsoft announced on Tuesday it had selected Canon to provide the color management system for Windows Vista, the company's next-generation operating system. Color management helps graphic designers better match screen colors to print and gives a better overall graphic appearance to the operating system.
"Devices such as digital cameras, color printers, high-definition displays and cell phones all have made the use of color pervasive across many walks of life," said Will Poole, senior vice president of Windows Client Business at Microsoft.
WinFS Resurrected for Windows Vista?
Microsoft's next-generation WinFS file system has been the subject of much confusion over the past two years, and that apparently hasn't changed - even with Windows Vista Beta 1 out the door. The company is reportedly putting the finishing touches on a WinFS preview release, which will be introduced at next month's Professional Developers Conference.
WinFS, or Windows Future Storage, was originally slated to sit atop NTFS and track metadata for all files on a system to improve organizing, searching and sharing of information. Applications could also store data directly in WinFS, which is based on Microsoft's SQL Server 2005 technology.
Windows Vista Beta 1 SDK Goes Live
As Microsoft's 2005 Professional Developers Conference draws ever closer, the company has put the finishing touches on its first Windows Vista Software Development Kit, which is now available on MSDN. The SDK includes documentation, samples, header files, and tools for developing on Windows Vista Beta 1.
"For the first time, the SDK provides support for using both managed WinFX and unmanaged Win32 Application Programming Interfaces (APIs)," Microsoft says. The kit will simply be dubbed "Windows SDK" upon release, as it includes both WinFX and Vista-specific documentation.
MS to Showcase Vista, Office 12 at PDC
Microsoft on Tuesday announced that its 2005 Professional Developers Conference, which begins September 13 in Los Angeles, has completely sold out. The four day event will give developers a long-awaited taste of Windows Vista and a look at the next release of Microsoft Office, code-named Office 12.
Bill Gates will kick off PDC05 with a keynote address, and other Microsoft executives will also speak at the event. The last PDC was held in 2003 and focused on the fundamentals of Longhorn. However, much has changed in the operating system since that time and PDC05 will be crucial for any developers looking to prepare for Vista's late 2006 debut.
Anti-MS Group Aims to Block Vista
UPDATED A public interest lawyer who is also intending to run as a Republican in the 2006 Illinois gubernatorial race is taking his fight to Microsoft in hopes of preventing the company from releasing what he calls "bad code."
Andy Martin of The Committee to Fight Microsoft on Tuesday announced his intentions to block Microsoft from releasing Windows Vista. Martin intends to ask Microsoft for an unconditional warranty that the operating system is free of bugs that could result in security vulnerabilities.
Windows Vista SDK Goes Gold
Microsoft on Monday signed off on the Windows Vista SDK, or software development kit, which will enable developers to create applications for the next-generation Windows release. The SDK, complete with code samples, tools and documentation will be available via MSDN and distributed at next month's PDC conference in LA.
The kit will simply be dubbed "Windows SDK" upon release, as it includes both WinFX and Vista-specific documentation. Microsoft will also post an online version of the docs, which can be browsed by any developer. It's not clear if the Windows SDK will replace the company's current Platform SDK.
Reports of First Vista Virus Inaccurate
Several news sources reported late Thursday that the first virus for the next generation operating system Windows Vista had been discovered. However the virus is written for Monad, a Unix-like command shell replacement for DOS, which may not even ship with the operating system and may not be part of any Microsoft OS until at least 2009.
The "proof of concept" viruses, named Danom, have five variants and will infect and either edit or overwrite .msh, .bat, and .cmd files. Security software firm F-Secure first reported the "Vista Virus" emergence, but admitted it "will never became a real-world problem."
Windows Vista, IE7 Betas Leak to Web
UPDATED Less than 24 hours after Microsoft announced the release of Windows Vista Beta 1 and Internet Explorer 7 Beta 1 to testers and MSDN subscribers, both betas have leaked to Internet sites and newsgroups along with a crack for Windows Product Activation, according to BetaNews sources.
The Vista download weighs in at close to 2.5GB, but the operating system's heft did not keep the pirates away. The next-generation Windows beta likely uses the same activation technology found in Windows XP, which was compromised long ago.
Vista Beta Offers Peek at Aero Interface
Following what many viewed as an unimpressive first showing of the then "Longhorn" OS at this year's WinHEC, Wednesday's release of Windows Vista Beta 1 began to show hints of the Aero interface that will play a large role in the new operating system.
Microsoft also confirmed Wednesday that a feature complete version of the interface will not be included until Beta 2, not due until early 2006.
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