Vista News

VMware wants users to try its virtualization software on the house. On Nov. 13, VMware will offer the beta version of its VMware Server 2, a free virtualization tool that allows users to partition a single physical server into multiple virtual machines. The software works both within Microsoft Windows and Linux environments. VMware released the first version of its free software in February 2006, and the company estimates that more than 3 million copies of the software has been downloaded since then. The new beta is available for download Nov. 13 and will become generally available in the first half of 2008. What's New New features and enhancements in the VMware Server Beta 1 release: Web-based management interface: A new...

This update to the .Net framework 2.0 targets the Microsoft Vista™ Operating System. This is an enhancement to provide additional support for managed services that do not manage their own service state during shutdown. The Vista™ Operating system can experience delays during shutdown if running a managed service that was designed with a ServiceBase.OnShutdown method that does not explicitly call the ServiceBase Stop() method on system shutdown. This update facilitates quicker system shutdown by explicitly setting the service state to stopped after calling their OnShutdown, if the service has not already called the Stop() method. Download - Download details: Vista Shutdown GDR

Windows Ultimate Extras is losing value faster than the US dollar as one of the few “extras” is soon to be superseded by a free third-party application that works not only on Vista Ultimate, but Home Premium and Business versions as well. That extra would be DreamScene, that third party would be Stardock and that application would be DeskScapes 2.0. Those grumpy looking people in the corner would be Ultimate Extra advocates. Tomorrow, Stardock will announce DeskScapes 2.0 – the second version of its desktop background visualiser tool for Windows Vista. Formerly DeskScapes was an extension to the DreamScene extra, allowing for dynamic generated “Dreams” on top of just the motion videos allowed by DreamScene itself. Now, both formats...

For all you beta testers Windows Vista SP1 RC Preview is Now Available for Download on connect :D

I found this: http://dailyapps.net/2007/10/hack-attack-d...indows-update/f It originally worked fine for me (except removing watermark) on x64 Vista Ultimate. I had to get my Sony laptop replaced and therefore, reinstalled x64 Vista all over again. This time, it did not work. Sony laptop is 100% same anyway, o/s same as well. Not sure what went wrong this time. Same Vista key as well of course. Basically, the problem is it is not updating to SP1. Windows update is not doing anything nor showing any updates this time around. Has any one tried this? Did you have a similar problem? Many in that link said it worked, while a bunch said it didn't. My main reason to get this is to fix the Media Center memory bug which affects tv tuners...

REDMOND, Washington (Reuters) - Microsoft Corp. (Nasdaq:MSFT - news) had sold 60 million Windows Vista licenses as of the end of June, including 20 million copies sold since mid-May, the company said on Thursday. The world's largest software maker disclosed the new sales figures on Vista, the latest version of its dominant Windows operating system released on January 30, at its annual meeting with financial analysts. Microsoft Chief Executive Steve Ballmer took the stage at the company's headquarters in Redmond, Washington with a message that the software maker can still deliver growth by expanding its core desktop and server software business while succeeding in new areas like Web services. Windows Vista is at the core of...

This update improves the compatibility, reliability, and stability of Windows Vista. This update includes the following improvements: •It extends the battery life for mobile devices. •It improves the stability of portable computers and of desktop computers that use an uninterruptable power supply (UPS). •It improves the reliability of Windows Vista when you open the menu of a startup application. •It improves the stability of wireless network services. •It shortens the startup time of Windows Vista by using a better timing structure. •It shortens the recovery time after Windows Vista experiences a period of inactivity. •It shortens the recovery time when you try to exit the Photos screen saver. •It improves the...

We are pleased to announce the release of the remaining 19 languages packs for Windows Vista Ultimate. This Ultimate Extras release brings the total number of language packs for use with Windows Vista Multilingual User Interface Pack (MUI) to 35. Windows Vista Ultimate enables users install multiple languages on their system and quickly switch between them by associating a system language with their login name. MUI is particularly useful in multilingual homes where multiple people use a single computer and choose different languages for their primary use. People who wish to learn a new language will also find MUI to be a particularly useful feature. We are aware of a very large number of customers who have purchased Ultimate for this...

Microsoft have released a few updates on the Microsoft Download Center to resolve various issues in Vista and Server 2008: Vista: -KB941229 (x86) (x64): This update addresses issues with Media Center for Microsoft Vista. -KB941651 (x86) (x64): This is a reliability update. Install this update to improve the reliability of Windows Media Player 11 for Windows Vista in certain scenarios. -KB941600 (x86) (x64): This update resolves some reliability issues in the USB core components on the Windows Vista operating system. -KB941649 (x86) (x64): This update resolves some compatibility and reliability issues in Windows Vista. By applying this update, you can achieve better reliability and hardware compatibility in various scenarios...

I previously wrote a blog post describing a set of supplemental Windows Vista Media Center project templates for Visual Studio 2005 and 2008 that can be installed on a system that already has the Windows Vista Media Center SDK installed to give you some development options that are not currently available in the SDK. I have updated this set of project templates to include the following changes from the initial package that I posted: Added a C# template for creating a Media Center background application and integrated it into both VS 2005 and VS 2008. These are modeled after the steps that Charlie Owen listed in this blog post. Integrated the C# template that is included in version 5.2 of the Windows Vista Media Center SDK with VS...

Today at DigitalLife, Microsoft Corp. joined initial launch partners in revealing highly anticipated details about new Extenders for Microsoft® Windows Media® Center. These devices, which are expected to be available for purchase this holiday season, will allow easy access to premium cable, high-definition TV, popular video formats including DivX, music, paid movies, photos and more from any TV in the house, with a wired or wireless network connection. People can even pause a recorded show in one room, and then resume it from the same moment in another room. Microsoft also announced that the Extender technology will be incorporated in HP’s current line of MediaSmart high-definition televisions. Adding to the wealth of content...

As announced last night on the Media Center Sandbox blog, a new application for Windows Vista Media Center has been released. The application, named PowerPlaylist, adds a custom strip to the Windows Vista Media Center start menu with up to five tiles. Each tile represents an audio, slideshow and/or visualization combination which will start when the tile is selected. PowerPlaylist is configured via an XML data file, and the application includes an editor to customize the information in the data file, including the title of the custom Start Menu strip and the name, image, audio source, slideshow folder and visualization for each tile. PowerPlaylist has been released on CodePlex, and you can download x86 and/or x64 MSI-based...

Today we release the Beta of windows Vista Service Pack 1 (SP1) to a private group of Beta testers via connect.microsoft.com. Brandon over on the Windows Experience blog has installed and regularly uses SP1 on all of his machines (as do I) and discusses the more notable elements of it. We'll review some of the changes made in SP1 later this week on the blog; what’s more, our VP of Product Management, Mike Nash, answers questions about Windows Vista and SP1 in a video on Channel9. Meanwhile, I invite you to read the SP1 white paper we published last month. We also released today five reliability packages via connect.microsoft.com for testing by selected members of the community. These packages consist of numerous improvements to...

Windows DreamScene released! In early July, I wrote about The Ultimate Team’s intention to ship the remaining promised Ultimate Extras (DreamScene and the remaining Language Packs) by the end of the summer. Unfortunately summer never really came to Seattle this year—so we missed our cue. That being said, we are pleased to announce that Windows DreamScene is now available. As most of you already know, Windows DreamScene transforms your desktop from a static wallpaper image into a full-motion video. In conjunction with Stardock, we’re pleased to also offer a number of cool, new animated DreamScene desktops, including “Aurora”. Additionally, you can use your own videos as DreamScene desktops or visit Stardock’s...

Windows Vista Service Pack 1 Beta Overview Microsoft Download Center: Windows Vista Service Pack 1 Beta Overview SEE: Windows Vista Service Pack 1 Beta Overview.pdf 496 KB Download Windows Vista Service Pack 1 Beta Overview.xps 674 KB Download Shawn

Microsoft released a hotfix for Windows Vista that fixes an issue with not correct updating the screen. •Parts of the screen may go black. •Parts of the screen may become transparent. •The toolbar may disappear. •The toolbar may appear at the top of the screen instead of at the bottom of the screen. Update for Windows Vista Download the 932406 package now. Update for Windows Vista for x64-based systems Download the 932406 package now. Source: support.microsoft.com

Windows Vista Ultimate users rejoice! A bit. There's a new Dreamscene background available for download, produced by the Silverlight team. Silverlight, in case you haven't been following the cutting edge of website development, is a new Microsoft technology for creating programs that run in your web browser - everything from proper tools to streaming video. To celebrate the release of the first beta, the team have created a new Windows Vista DreamScene background - a soothing blue affair with twirlingshapes, like a very low-key version of the Ribbons screensaver. It's not a proper Windows Vista Ultimate Extra, so it's not on Windows Update - you can download it from the Microsoft website. NOTE: Right click on link, and click...

Now is the time and the time is now: let's talk about Windows Vista Service Pack 1 (SP1). Much has been made of what will or will not be included in SP1 and when it will be released (some accurate, some otherwise). I'm here to set the story straight: we're in the process of developing and deploying a Beta version of SP1. This post will describe for you what to expect from that effort and how you can be involved in the process. First, a note on service packs. As you are aware, service packs are part of our traditional software lifecycle; they’re something we do for most major products as a commitment to continuous improvement. But, the servicing situation has changed with the advent of Windows Vista, as we no longer rely solely on...

The wait is over! The Microsoft Solution Accelerators Team is pleased to announce the newly-released Windows Vista Hardware Assessment 2.1 with many of the features YOU have been looking for. For example, we've added features such as localization to 6 more languages in addition to North American English, IP range scanning and Simple Network Management Protocol (SNMP) detection of non-Windows machines and network devices. These are excellent features to help you speed up your migration projects to Windows Vista and 2007 Microsoft Office! For the newcomers of the Windows Vista Team Blog, let me give you a brief overview and show you what Windows Vista Hardware Assessment solution accelerator can do for you. Of course, if you can't...

Microsoft Security Bulletin Advance Notification for August 2007 Published: August 9, 2007 Microsoft Security Bulletins to be issued: August 14, 2007 Read full details at the source: http://www.microsoft.com/technet/security/bulletin/MS07-aug.mspx?pubDate=2007-08-09 For Vista x64 and x32: Shawn