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Microsoft Vista release 'imminent'

By Rhys Blakely, Times Online

The launch of Microsoft?s latest version of its Windows software is "imminent", the software giant has told Times Online.

The progress of Windows Vista, widely expected to be released in a beta test form today, has been closely scrutinised by industry insiders and computer users. How it performs will dictate whether Microsoft maintains its dominant position in the software market.

Windows accounts for more than 90 per cent of the desktop market and has posted revenues of more than $40 billion in the last 12 reported months, but its market share has slipped under pressure from open source rivals such as the Linux operating system.

Similarly, Firefox, the open source internet browser, has taken market share from Microsoft?s Internet Explorer (IE).

Security concerns surrounding Microsoft products have led users to download Firefox, which is freely available on the internet.

*

Bill Gates, pictured above, Microsoft?s founder and chairman, has indicated that Vista, which was developed under the codename "Longhorn", and IE 7, which is expected to be released at the same time, will seek to tackle the problem of viruses and other malicious software.

Microsoft?s leading market position has led hackers and other online criminals to target the company?s products.

According to winbeta.org, the news site, there are around 100,000 beta testers that have already been advised by Microsoft of their inclusion in the programme.

It is expected that the beta testers will get access to the download in waves, to allow access without crushing download servers.

The testing process will take some months. A final version of Vista is due to be released in the second half of 2006.

Source: http://business.timesonline.co.uk/article/...1710357,00.html

That's not the only release that is imminent.

Chris Jones, VP who runs the build team for Windows Vista, among others, was great yesterday (we interviewed him for Channel 9). Anyway, we're trying to get that video up this afternoon sometime. On campus there's a big party thanks to shipping Beta 1. He said they would sign off on the beta at a meeting this morning and that it would be on MSDN Universal soon.

Those parties are great....I was on campus for whistler beta1 launch and Brian Valentine was doing keg stands....

the funniest thing about people like you is that you forget that it will take a long time to download. Even if it's at about 1.4gb (which is a low estimate, but i'm being optimistic here), that would take AGES to download, especially with the other people wanting to get at it, too.

SO..... I don't think anyone will get it particularly soon. Best bet would be to do something useful for the next 2/3 days. Once the servers have calmed down, you can get it nicely. Alternatively, set up a transfer and go enjoy your social life. Come back, and enjoy destroying you social life!

Where is this from?

586280484[/snapback]

BETA 1 just shipped at Microsoft, they are having a party right now, it will be on MSDN real soon.

http://radio.weblogs.com/0001011/2005/07/27.html#a10758

Chris Jones, VP who runs the build team for Windows Vista, among others, was great yesterday (we interviewed him for Channel 9). Anyway, we're trying to get that video up this afternoon sometime. On campus there's a big party thanks to shipping Beta 1. He said they would sign off on the beta at a meeting this morning and that it would be on MSDN Universal soon.

Oh, and Chris showed us his Tablet PC running Windows Vista. I guess that answers the question about whether there's a future for the Tablet PC. Might explain why InStat is predicting large growth for the Tablet PC market between now and 2009. He wouldn't demo it for the camera, though. Didn't want to increase the buzz. ;-)

http://radio.weblogs.com/0001011/2005/07/27.html#a10758

When Beta 1 actually ships, this thread should be deleted.  23 pages the database wants back.  ;)

586280619[/snapback]

Neowin doesn't delete anything from what I understand. They hide it from the normal user, but it stays in the database. I might be wrong in my understanding, but I'm pretty sure that's right.

yea, what is actually different in IE7, cause i dont know :( does it just look better? lol

586280646[/snapback]

CSS 2 Support

CSS 1 fixes

Transparent PNG support

RSS support

DOM Support

Phishing blockers

imporoved pop-up blocker

and a bunch of other smaller stuff

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