Windows Vista Beta Is On Redmond Releases Beta 1 for Longhorn, IE7, and Longhorn Server Susan Kuchinskas
The end of the long road to Longhorn finally appeared over the horizon with Microsoft's release today of early test versions for its next-generation client and server operating systems.
On Wednesday, Microsoft delivered the Beta 1 releases of Windows Vista (formerly code-named Longhorn) and the still-code-named Longhorn Server.
Microsoft executives said Windows Vista Beta 1 focuses on the fundamentals of security, deployment, manageability, reliability, and diagnostics.
The code includes some views of the new user interface, including Virtual Folders, which constantly feed the results of XML queries such as keywords or topics into the folder as new files on the desktop are created. They said most end-user features will arrive with the beta 2 version.
The code also includes the Internet Explorer 7 Beta 1, which was built into the platform. The technical Beta of Internet Explorer 7 for Windows XP SP2 also is available today.
Microsoft invited beta testers from its Longhorn Technical Beta Program, MSDN, its developer program, and Microsoft TechNet to take the code for a ride.
As previously reported, Redmond also offered the core foundation and APIs for Longhorn Server in a private beta program.
The objective of the private beta program is to gather feedback from partners, including OEMs, hardware vendors, system builders, independent software vendors, and developers. The new version aims to offer administration-friendly features, such as policy-based networking, improved branch management, and better end-user collaboration.
Microsoft will tout these "milestones" at its Financial Analysts Day tomorrow.
