There is a review of the new Windows Media Center over at CoolTechZone which describes it as :
It’s so confusing; it would render even the computing enthusiasts frustrated. There is a new scrolling menu, thanks to the abundance of options that you don’t need. Compare this to the Front Row launched by Apple a few days ago at its famous “One More Thing….” press conference. Now that is simplicity, and the previous Windows MCE beat Apple to that. Of course someone at Microsoft was not delighted in making things easier and hired the best brains to figure out the most complicated way of listening to and watching music/videos/movies. We must say the developers accomplished just that by disguising everything under the hood of more choices. If you have ever driven an M5, you know that more choices are not always better, and forced choices are the worst.”
Once you have gotten over the initial shock, you calm down and decide to give it a spin (after a lot of “easy customizations” using “wizards”). Although the interface is responsive and very smooth, it’s a painstaking task to get to the options of your choice. The menus, sub-menus and sub-sub-menus are just as cumbersome as the rest of the interface.”
Oh dear, doesn’t sound great but we have to remember that its still in Beta so a lot could change between now and launch date.
28.Oct.05 
Reviews 
Read more 
Comments (0)
According to HotFix, A microsoft employee has revealed that he is currently running Vista build 5247 :
An official Microsoft employee blog today revealed that Windows Vista build 5247 is currently in testing internally. Kevin Remde, a TechNet and MS Blogger, admitted today on his blog just in a passing comment that his build was 5247. The Hotfix has sent an e-mail to Kevin asking for screenshots of the build or any additional information, but the chances of him replying a about zero percent considering it would violate his NDA with Microsoft. Either way, it’s interesting to hear what build they are at from time to time. Here’s the quote:
“I’m currently playing with 5247. What build are you running?”
The current build out to Beta testers and MSDN subscribers is build 5231.
Read the story here.
26.Oct.05 News Read more Comments (0)
To help vendors get in early in preparation for the Christmas season, Vista is due to be released to them on July 25, 2006 according to sources familiar with Microsoft’s plans. The operating system wont be on sale to the public though till late 2006.
A new beta version of Windows Vista is due on December 16, 2005.
26.Oct.05 News Read more Comments (0)
An exclusive wallpaper made for allvistaworld.com :
Click image for full size wallpaper
24.Oct.05 Wallpapers Read more Comments (0)
Here’s a video demonstrating the Vista sidebar and windows gadgets
Sidebar lives!
But it’s even better, here Sean Alexander, David Streams, and special guest Sanaz Ahari of the Start.com team, demonstrate the new sidebar and gadgets that come in Windows Vista. Plus, we cover the three different kinds of gadgets and show how to build your own.
Watch the video on Channel 9
24.Oct.05 Downloads Read more Comments (0)
Future Publishing has been awarded the contract to publish the official windows Vista magazine. The first issue will be published in autumn 2006 and will be available in the UK, US, France and Italy.
Future publish a wide range of magazines including the official xbox magazine, .Net magazine and Computer Arts.
The contract will run for 5 years.
24.Oct.05 News Read more Comments (0)
Good review of build 5231 at Windows Supersite, Paul Thurrott concludes that Microsoft are on the right track with Vista :
Windows Vista Build 5231 (Community Technical Preview 2) could have been horrible and I’d still be happy about it, because we’re finally getting regular Windows Vista builds. That build 5231 is not horrible, and includes a number of exciting new features, is just the frosting on the cake. After a rough beginning and a particularly bad 2004-2005, Windows Vista is finally on track. And that’s good news for all Windows users, not to mention Microsoft, which, let’s face it, desperately needs some good news on the client side. This month, build 5231 is that good news. I hope things continue this smoothly going forward. So far, so good.
Read The full Review at Windows Supersite
24.Oct.05 Reviews Read more Comments (0)
Schedule #1
Windows Vista Beta 1: July 27, 2005 (limited public beta August 3, 2005)
Windows Vista Beta 2: November 16, 2005
Windows Vista RC 0: March 17, 2006
Windows Vista RTM: June 28, 2006
Schedule #2
Windows Vista Beta 1 code complete: March 16, 2005
Windows Vista Beta 1 internal release and domain rollout: April 2005
Windows Vista Beta 2 (and product) code complete: July 1, 2005
Windows Vista Beta 2 internal release: Q3 2005
Windows Vista Beta 2 public release: September 2005 (PDC 2005)
Windows Vista Release Candidate 0 (RC0) internal release: Q4 2005
Windows Vista Release Candidate 1 (RC1) internal release: March 2006
Windows Vista release to manufacturing (RTM): May 2006
24.Oct.05 News Read more Comment (1)
Have yourself a Vista Wallpaper, click image for full size version :
19.Oct.05 Wallpapers Read more Comments (0)
This is something Im looking forward to, having been a fan of Konfabulator for some time now.
Gadgets or Widgets are small applications that sit on your desktop and can provide information and features such as a stock ticker, weather forcasts, they can pull rss feeds off websites and so on.
They are fairly easy to create if you have knowledge of web design or development.
Microsoft will be providing three types of gadgets :
Gadgets for Windows Sidebar will run on your desktop or dock into Windows Sidebar, an upcoming feature in Windows Vista alongside other applications. Desktop Gadgets can developed using Windows Presentation Foundation, DHTML/Atlas, and even ActiveX controls. The beauty of Desktop Gadgets is that they are visually and programmatically rich – scaling from vector-based graphics and managed code to standard techniques you’d use for the Web. You’ll be hearing more about Windows Sidebar over the coming months here as we approach release around Beta 2 of Windows Vista.
Gadgets for Start.com (a.k.a. Web or Server-based Gadgets) provide a fast, customizable homepage with a clean user interface – putting the user in control of more of their online experience. Currently in incubation/public preview, Start.com is a place where consumers can customize the web to their liking by adding their own sources of content including RSS web-feeds and web-based Gadgets that extend functionality of their site- anything from custom calendars to service integration. Start.com demonstrates the use of DHTML and ASP.Net Atlas, which separates the data from the UI resulting in significant performance improvements. In addition, Start.com Gadgets can easily support docking into the Windows Sidebar.
Gadgets for Windows SideShow(tm) (a.k.a. Auxilary Display Gadgets) allow users to view their information on devices. Users can view their data where they want it, whether it is for instant access on the lid of a laptop PC, for notifications on a keyboard display or for convenience on a detached device like a cell phone. Gadgets for Windows SideShow run on the PC and use COM interfaces to send data to devices. This Windows SideShow platform combined with the power of desktop applications allows for new scenarios and opportunities.
Read More On the Microsoft Gadgets Blog
19.Oct.05 General Read more Comments (0)
