 | Windows Vista: Encyclopedia II - Windows Vista - Overview
Windows Vista - Overview
Windows Vista was originally expected to ship sometime late in 2003 as a minor step between Windows XP and Windows "Vienna". Gradually, Vista assimilated many important new features and technologies of "Vienna", and so the date of release was pushed back to first quarter of 2006. In August 2004, Microsoft announced that it was making changes to what was then only known as "Longhorn". Microsoft basically started development afresh, building on the Windows Server 2003 codebase. This decision was reached in the wake of Windows XP Service Pack 2. As part of this decision, Microsoft announced that it is delaying the release of WinFS so that Vista could be released in "a reasonable timeframe". Due to this, WinFS may not be included in Windows Vista.
Two beta versions of Windows Vista are planned; the first was released on July 27, 2005, the second has been delayed. Beta 2 is projected for April, 2006 with release candidates to be released throughout 2006.
Vista Beta 1 (build 5112) is currently available to Microsoft Developer Network (MSDN) and TechNet subscribers as well as a select group of Microsoft Beta testers and at select Microsoft developer conferences such as the Professional Developers Conference (PDC) and WinHEC. The preview release is classified as a beta version at the moment, although its feature set is not representative of the release product. Like many other products (including all Windows releases since Windows 98), it has since been leaked onto popular networks (file sharing or otherwise) such as IRC, BitTorrent, eDonkey and various newsgroups.
With build 5219, Microsoft started releasing monthly Community Technical Previews (CTP) to beta testers. Build 5219 was distributed among 2005 PDC attendees, and has been released to Microsoft Beta testers and MSDN subscribers. It is also known as CTP1. Although not enabled by default, this refresh sees the return of the Windows Sidebar, which had been removed from previous builds due to a memory leak, and the introduction of Desktop Gadgets, both of which are part of Microsoft gadgets line of mini-applications. These are similar to Apple's widgets. Microsoft has stated that these Gadgets will be available at www.microsoftgadgets.com, and they will be available for Windows XP as well. It also sported a new version of Windows Media Center code-named "Diamond" (previously only available in Windows XP Media Center Edition).
Although Microsoft has stated that WinFS will not make its wide reaching debut in Windows Vista, users of the 5219 build noticed that WinFS is in fact included in that version. Several Windows 'rumor' sites and newsgroups such as Neowin and Paul Thurrott's Windows SuperSite have made speculation that WinFS will in fact be ready on time for Windows Vista's release.
About two weeks before its intended release, and one week after build 5219 was released, build 5231 was leaked, unfortunately containing a number of critical bugs. On schedule, about two weeks later, Microsoft released 5231, also known as CTP2 or the October 2005 CTP, to MSDN subscribers and Microsoft Beta Testers. This "Ultimate" build introduced the next version of Windows Media Player (version 11).
On November 22, 2005, the Windows Vista TAP Preview (build 5259) was released to TAP members, four days after its originally announced release date of November 18th as a November CTP. Microsoft cancelled the November CTP due to the instability of that build, and decided to release it only to TAP members. Microsoft's plans for releasing additional monthly CTP builds are unclear. The December CTP (build 5270), which was released to testers and MSDN on December 19, is very close to feature complete, since Microsoft is planning to lock all of Vista's features at the end of January. The first feature-complete CTP is expected to be the upcoming February CTP, due out February 21.
Vista Beta 2 was originally slated for release in December, 2005, but has since been pushed back to April of 2006.
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 Adapted from the Wikipedia article "Overview", under the G.N U Free Docmentation License. Please also see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki |
