Behind the Scenes of Windows 7 Enterprise

An article has been posted on the Windows Team Blog highlighting the enterprise value of Windows 7 and how it reflects what customers and partners told us enterprises need most. Here is what the article reads-

With Windows Vista, we learned a lot about how involved our customers and partners like to be in the development of an OS – in a nutshell, early and often. With Windows 7, we changed the way we developed the Windows OS in order to be more responsive to that feedback. As such, early on we identified three main principles to our new process:

• Planning: Our team spent six months on planning Windows 7 in a “vision phase.” We analyzed trends and customer needs before building features. We also focused more on end-to-end business scenarios, rather than solely on features and technologies.
• Predictability: We committed to giving our customers and partners a timeframe for our release and stuck to it. We remain on track to ship Windows 7 within three years of the Windows Vista release. We also only shared information about Windows 7 when we had a higher degree of certainty which has resulted in minimal changes from earlier disclosures.
• Early Ecosystem Engagement: We engaged with partners during the early stages of Windows 7 development, rather than waiting for the traditional beta timeframe. This has allowed for a more seamless experience and greater compatibility in all areas.

The article is big enough to be posted here so you can read the rest on the Windows Team Blog

The New Internet Games in Windows 7

If you’re running the Windows 7 Beta you might have already noticed 3 new Windows Games for Windows 7.

Internet Backgammon:

Internet Checkers:

Internet Spades:

These games were well liked in Windows XP. Due to the amount of requests we received, we are bringing them back!

The new versions of these games have been completely redesigned and improved over their old-school predecessors. With each game, you can:

• Play online against human opponents (up to 4 players at the same time with Internet Spades).
• Select from 3 skill levels to be matched with similarly skilled players from all around the world.
• If your opponent drops out, a computer opponent takes over to finish the game.
• Choose from cool different backgrounds and piece/card designs.

Source- Windows Team Blog

Windows 7 Beta Brings New Functionality to Games Explorer

In Windows Vista, we introduced the Games Explorer. This is the place where you can launch and manage your games, including built-in Windows games such as Solitaire and Chess Titans, and also PC games such as Games for Windows (and Games for Windows – LIVE) titles.

In Windows 7, we are introducing new functionality to Games Explorer that we think people will enjoy. These new features in Games Explorer can not only be appreciated by the casual gamer looking to play one of Windows 7’s many built-in games, but also the more advanced PC gamer too.

The new features I am going to talk about here are available for you to try out in the Windows 7 Beta today.

When you first fire up Games Explorer in Windows 7, you will notice that Games Explorer is divided up between Games and Game Providers. Game Providers are the companies that distribute the games you install on your PC.

Read the full article at Windows Team Blog

Change Windows 7 Media Center background

Hack7mc has posted a guide to change the Windows 7 Media Center Background.

Although not officially a part of the Media Center software, there is a way to do it. It’s not the easiest thing in the world as it involves applying a new registry file and editing permissions. But if those sorts of things are second nature to you, it’s definitely worth checking out the tutorial on this hack.

If you want to get even crazier, there’s also a guide available on making new, complete themes for Media Center using a software program called Restorator.

However, if all that sounds like way too much geeking out for you, then you can simply download and install this new Media Center theme called “Homeworld” from the Hacking Windows 7 Media Center blog. The download works on Windows 7 Beta1 Build 7000 – both x86 and x64 versions.

Source- Channel 10 Blog

Enabling Multi-Touch in the Windows 7 Beta

Windows 7 has been out for a while, I’d like to highlight how folks can try out Windows Touch, Windows 7’s new multi-touch capabilities.

In order to take advantage of it, you are going to need a PC that supports multiple touch points. Today – there are a few PCs on the market to choose from:

• HP TouchSmart All-in-One PCs (IQ500 series & IQ800 series)
• HP TouchSmart tx2 Tablet PC
• Dell Latitude XT Tablet PC

To enable multi-touch capabilities on these PCs running the Windows 7 Beta you will need to make sure you have the latest multi-touch beta drivers. The driver allows the digitizer screen to support multiple touch points. Remember these are beta drivers, they still need to pass through our rigorous Windows Logo process before they are final, we can’t guarantee that all pre-Windows 7 PCs will have logoed drivers.

• For HP TouchSmart All-in-One PCs: The driver is available from Windows Update. After you have installed the Window 7 Beta, open Windows Update from the Start menu. You might have to click the “Check for Updates” link on your left so it will find the driver, it is Optional right now so you’ll have to select it before it will install.
• For the Dell Latitude XT and HP TouchSmart tx2 Tablet PCs: the drivers are available now on N-Trig’s website. N-Trig is the company that makes the digitizer in these PCs (you should read the release notes, there are some limitations, like no pen support you should be aware of and how to switch between Windows Vista and Windows 7). Please also note these are beta drivers and are not supported by Dell or HP.

Source- Windows 7 team Blog

Windows 7 Build 7022 leaked!!

We know that Microsoft is currently going ahead with internal beta releases of Windows 7 and is preparing for the Windows 7 RC release,which is scheduled in April 2009.

The build 7022 is now available on various torrents site and on rapidshare too and is confirmed to be real.The Build is Build 7022.winmain.090115-1850 which clearly states that the build was created on 15th of January about 7 days after the release of the first public beta build 7000.According to the sources, build 7034 has also been released to the Microsoft employees. The Build is Build 7034.winmain.090202-1920 which states that it was created on 2nd Feb,pretty new indeed

Windows 7 pricing leaked

After the official announcement about the various editions of Windows 7 by Microsoft two days back,their has been news about the pricing of the different versions of Windows 7. According to the German Website Windows Secrets the different versions of Windows 7 would cost between  $199.95 and $ 319.95,though Microsoft has not published any news about the same. 

The Starter Edition of Windows 7 is valued at $199,95 which would be available worldwide. The Starter Edition of Windows 7 wouldn’t be available in stores, but exclusively through OEM partners.

Users in the developed countries have to spent at least $259,95 to get a retail copy of Windows 7 Home Premium edition, which is the smallest package available for them. Windows 7 Professional would be available for $299,95.

If you want full functionality,then you probably need to spent $319.95 for the Ultimate version of Windows 7. No information is available on pricing for the Windows 7 Enterprise Edition.

Source- Win7.in

E7 Blog:Roadmap from Windows 7 beta to RTM

The Engineering Windows 7 Blog has posted about the path of Windows 7 from the current beta to the general availability of Windows 7.

Here are the main points from the blog post

The next milestone for the development of Windows 7 is the Release Candidate or “RC”. Historically the Release Candidate has signaled “we’re pretty close and we want people to start testing the release, especially because all the features are done.” As we have said before, with Windows 7 we chose a slightly different approach which we were clear up front about and are all now experiencing together and out in the open.

We will then provide the Release Candidate as a refresh for the Beta. We expect, based on our experience with the Beta, a broad set of folks to be pretty interested in trying it out.

With the RC, this process of feedback based on telemetry then repeats itself. However at this milestone we will be very selective about what changes we make between the Release Candidate and the final product, and very clear in communicating them. We will act on the most critical issues. The point of the Release Candidate is to make sure everyone is ready for the release and that there is time between the Release Candidate and our release to PC makers and manufacturing to validate all the work that has gone on since the pre-Beta.

We also continue to build out our compatibility lists, starting with logo products, so that our http://www.microsoft.com/windows/compatibility site is a good resource for people starting with availability

Here is the summery of the Windows 7 release

Pre-Beta – This release at the PDC introduced the developer community to Windows 7 and represents the platform complete release and disclosure of the features.

Beta – This release provided a couple of million folks the opportunity to use feature complete Windows 7 while also providing the telemetry and feedback necessary for us to validate the quality, reliability, compatibility, and experience of Windows 7. As we said, we are working with our partners across the ecosystem to make sure that testing and validation and development of Windows 7-based products begins to enter final phases as we move through the Beta.

Release Candidate (RC) – This release will be Windows 7 as we intend to ship it. We will continue to listen to feedback and telemetry with the focus on addressing only the most critical issues that arise. We will be very clear in communicating any changes that have a visible impact on the product. This release allows the whole ecosystem to reach a known state together and make sure that we are all ready together for the Release to Manufacturing. Once we get to RC, the whole ecosystem is in “dress rehearsal” mode for the next steps.

Release to Manufacturing (RTM) – This release is the final Windows 7 as we intend to make available to PC makers and for retail and volume license products.

General Availability (GA) – This is a business milestone and represents when you can buy Windows 7 pre-installed on PCs or as full packaged product.