It is also available to those on CPP

Microsoft will also let those users who have Windows Vista RC1 (which means that they are on Customer Preview Program, CPP) to download RC2 as well.  Those who are interested can visit this page.  The download will be for a limited period only.  Microsoft also states that RC2 will not receive as much support as RC1 via Windows Update and that RC2 might not be able to upgrade to the full RTM version when Windows Vista ships.

Windows Vista RC2 is available

Yes, it is now available to tech beta testers and soon MSDN subscribers will be able to download it.  RC2 will be the last preview build for Windows Vista.  Microsoft is targeting 25th October to release Windows Vista to those who are holding the enterprise volume license (or something like that).  Thus normal user should be able to purchase it come next year’s January.

Orcas CTP and Expression suite are now available

Finally, tools that are compatible with Windows Vista RC1, .NET Framework 3.0 RC1 and Windows SDK RC1 are now available.  Orcas is now a real gem to use, especially the included Cider (the Visual Designer tools for Windows Presentation Foundation) which won’t slow down your Visual Studio anymore.  I am now quite satisfy with Cider performance and it can finally display my application’s GUI in its designer window.

Other tools of interest to any .NET Framework 3.0 programmer are Expression Interactive Designer, Expression Graphic Designer, and Extensions for Windows Workflow Foundation.  Enjoy!

Release Candidate for Windows SDK and .NET Framework 3.0

Hot on the heels of Windows Vista RC1 (or is it the other way around?), Microsoft has released the set of tools that developers can use on Windows Vista RC1 (or use to develop applications that can work on Windows Vista RC1).

The Windows SDK has been updated to be compatible with RC1 of Windows Vista.  Hopefully, all the header files that had been breaking since Windows Vista interim build 5483, has been fixed and applications build using Windows SDK July CTP will not crash on Windows Vista RC1 (they have been crashing on interim build 5536).

The .NET Framework 3.0 has been bump up to Release Candidate status.  Thus any developer that feels more comfortable in Windows XP (hmmm….. that’s a thought) can install this build of .NET Framework 3.0 (together with Windows SDK RC1) and still be able to program applications that can work on Windows Vista RC1.

Strangely, the Visual Studio 2005 extension for .NET Framework 3.0 (codename Orcas) has not been updated to support RC of .NET Framework 3.0.  It has been missing ever since Windows Vista July CTP and .NET Framework 3.0 July CTP.  I hope this will be release soon.

Lastly, designers who wish to get onto the RC1 bandwagon, have to wait patiently.  This is because Microsoft Expression suite of applications has not been release for RC1 just yet.  Soon.  I hope.

The First Release Candidate for Windows Vista

Finally, the highly anticipated RC1 (Release Candidate 1) of Windows Vista has been released.  Build 5600 of Windows Vista is now the official RC1 at least according to Paul Thurrott’s RC1 review.  I can’t verify whether Beta Testers have received this RC1 or not, as it is weekend and I am not at work.  However, MSDN subscribers have not received it; I can verify this because MSDN subscribers can access their account online, and I’ve log on to my account and checked; The latest is still August CTP (Build 5536).  This means that I can only get my hand on RC1 when I get back to work on Monday.

If you are interested in knowing what is new since Beta 2, you can check out Paul Thurrot’s review that I have linked in the first paragraph.

Microsoft still targeting November

Seems like Microsoft will be releasing their up and coming OS, Windows Vista, this November after all.  After several votes of “no-confidence” from online journalists, beta testers and die-hard supporters, Microsoft has instead crank up the gear and shifted into fast speed.  July saw the coming of the July CTP at the end of the month.  Then 1 week later, interim build 5483.  Another week later, interim build 5492.  This thursday, we saw the coming of interim build 5520.

So… Yes, they are definitely in the fast speed lane and November is the goal they are heading for.

Bye Bye Hour Glass, Hello Blue Circle

Windows Vista July CTP (Build 5472) springs a surprise.  The “Busy” hourglass has been replaced by a revolving blue circle.  If you have tried out the Internet Explorer 7 Beta 3, you will be familiar with the new “Busy” or “Working in the background” animation of the mouse cursor; the “Busy” animation while a web page is loading is also using a revolving blue circle.

Seems like the Windows Vista is really getting a “wax and polish” for each version that came out after the Beta 2.  I believe that more changes will be coming our way.

Did you download a copy?

What is your guess?  How many people downloaded the Windows Vista Beta 2 Customer Preview Program (CPP)?  Apparently, Microsoft has not release this information yet.  However the bandwidth needed to cater for everyday download had reached a stage whereby increasing the bandwidth some more will potentially bring down the whole Internet!

Incidentally, if you have not download a copy, the Customer Preview Program has already been closed.

Windows Vista Beta 2 is looking good

After using Windows Vista Beta 2 (Build 5384.4) for about one whole day, I find that this is the most polish Windows Vista OS ever since Microsoft releases CTP build at the PDC 05.  It seems that Microsoft has gotten their act together to deliver a much better experience.  The look and feel are all iron out nicely with more consistency.

Performance is also much better.  It used to be that after you login, you’ve got to wait a while before you can get hold of the command to order the computer around.  This time round a fade out and fade in, then you can straight make use of the quick launch bar, the start menu or even right click to personalize your computer.  Even the installation take shorter time than last build.

Its getting better and better; I am looking forward for the actual release so that I can use it daily for all my regular business.

Office 2007 Beta 2 is out for the public

Yes it is finally out.  Click on the link below and try it out.  Go ahead, its a good software, worth the time you spend on it to try (or should I say test?).

I am definitely going to check this new release of Office 2007 out.  New usability idea, can I use that “Ribbon” in my application development?

http://www.microsoft.com/office/preview/

Windows Vista Beta 2 is out – But its not for public yet

So Windows Vista Beta 2 (Build 5384.4) is out for Connect (those who are in the Beta program) and MSDN Subscribers.  I am currently downloading the iso and hopefully will be able to install it come tomorrow.  During the keynotes for WinHEC, I think it is also mentioned that public will be able to get their hands on Windows Vista Beta 2 by this coming few weeks.  So anyone who is not on the above 2 programs will need to be patience and wait for it to go public.

I believe a bunch of bugs has been solved for this Beta 2 and hopefully there will also be some performance boost from the last CTP.

Windows SDK, WinFX and Expression suite latest Beta are all out

In fact it seems that Microsoft has made all new developing tools compatible for Windows Vista Beta 2 available all at the same time after the OS itself is released.  You can get these software by following these links:

• Windows Vista, Windows SDK and WinFX Beta
• Microsoft Expression Interactive Designer May CTP
• Microsfot Expression Graphic Designer May CTP

So rumour is just rumour

There was a rumour at a popular Windows website (the same one that I have mentioned before) saying that Microsoft is going to release another build of Windows Vista (specifically build 5365) this week to their beta testers.  This would be the second such release before an actual CTP release.  The one that has been released to beta testers is build 5342.

But it is just that, a rumour.  Nothing more.  However, I was actually looking forward to the said build, as rumour also has it that this build will be a lot faster in performance and much more stable as well.  A bit disappointed that it turn out to be just another rumour, but Paul Donnelly, from Microsoft, who confirm that the release is a rumour did say that they are preparing for a release but just not plan for this week.  He hope that it will be sooner than later.

I am still eagerly waiting for the full public beta 2 (rumour has it that it should be release around the last week of May, but again, just another rumour).

Finally, Microsoft Expression March CTP

After the release of Windows Vista Feb CTP, it seems that there is still something missing to complete the puzzle.  Yes that is Microsoft Expression Suite that work with the WinFX Feb CTP.  Now it is finally here.

Expression Interactive Designer March CTP and Expression Graphic Designer March CTP.  2 great tools that help you to harness the new capabilities of Windows Presentation Foundation.

Windows Vista Feb CTP and WinFX Feb CTP

So they are officially released.  Although, currently only Beta Testers can get their hands on Windows Vista Feb CTP, but it will be out soon for the MSDN subscribers.  In this feature complete build, Windows Sidebar finally make a debut and user can now try out the new rss feed gadget that lies on top of the sidebar.For WinFX Feb CTP, it is now publicly available.  There will be some changes as compared to the Jan CTP that will break any application that was build base on Jan CTP.Since the Windows Vista Feb CTP came out on 22nd Feb, the popular rumour “starter” is wrong again.

Community Technology Preview

People who are familiar with the traditional software development milestones will know about Alpha, Beta, and RC.  As in the schedule for a particular software release will be like this, start out in Alpha, where by important features are in but most things are not that stable, this stage is normally for internal testing only.  Then when the software is stable enough for more people to test, it will go into Beta stage.  And after a few iteration, in a final Beta, all features will be in and the software will be consider feature complete.  After that the software will go into RC stage (RC stands for Release Candidate), and the software is being prep for the final release.

It all started with Microsoft Visual Studio 2005.  Microsoft decided to try a new method of releasing software for external testing and they called it Community Technology Preview (CTP).  The CTP will be release monthly and feedback from external tester can then be gotten far more frequently than traditional milestones.  CTP being a preview, will also put less pressure on developers.  In between CTP, there will also be Beta and RC milestones.  For Visual Studio 2005, the CTP program was a success, this success prompted Microsoft to try out the CTP program for Windows Vista as well.

But after the first 2 CTP for Windows Vista (the Sep CTP and the Oct CTP), the suppose Nov CTP turns out to be too bugy for external release.  After some delay Microsoft finally announce that they will not release monthly CTP as it is too taxing on resources.  However, the CTP program has also been successful, but instead of monthly CTP they will now release CTP as frequent as possible.  Furthermore, they will skip Nov CTP and will release Dec CTP instead.  A public Beta 2 will aslo be release sometime in the Q1 of 2006.

Now Microsoft’s co-president Jim Allchin is saying that they will concentrate instead on the CTP approach and will drop the traditional milestones method.  This really make me wonder, is the CTP approach really better or am I missing something?

IE 7 Beta 2 is out

Currently, the new beta will only work with WinXP SP2.  I guess Windows Vista will get the IE 7 Beta 2 in their upcoming Feb CTP.  New to IE 7 is the new interface, which get rid of the old bulky toolbar, and let you see more of the web page. Next is the tabbed browsing (this should not be anything new to users of Firefox and Safari) which let you open several web sites in a single instance of IE 7 using tabs.  Then you have the new built-in search box on the top right corner, this search box even let you select your own favourite search engine like Google, Yahoo and so on.  Another new feature is the RSS Feeds which let you view the headlines and post from your favourite blogs or websites.  Last but not least, is the new phishing detection engine, which let you know whether a website is really just a phishing site.

You can get the beta here.

Feature Complete Windows Vista and Blu-Ray support?

Rumour has it that Microsoft going to release Windows Vista Feb CTP in the week of Feb 15 and that a week later they will add Blu-Ray support into their internal build.  I am still quite skeptical about the rumour “starter” but I will go with it for now.  See whether he is going to be right this time.

Another month Another CTP

Windows Vista development is heating up.  Jan CTP (Community Technology Preview) has been released for Windows SDK, WinFX Runtime and Visual Studio 2005 Extension for WinFX.  You can get the load here.