Posts Tagged ‘Windows 7’

About a month ago, I ran across a picture of an internal Windows 7 MCE box with a custom Windows 7 case. Doing a bit of research, I noticed it was being lugged around to various conferences/events… or maybe more than one of these was made. Regardless, I just happened upon a few more pictures to add to the collection. As I noted in my last post, I have no idea how this would be useful for anything more than demonstrative purposes… or perhaps an expensive entertainment system front-end. Anyway, on with the pictures (click on them for high-resolution versions):

If nothing else, the case certainly looks cool! =)

Update: An anonymous commenter left a link where you can view the specs for this hardware on the vendor’s site (customized Windows 7 case, not included) here.

-Stephen

WZor has just posted an update regarding the signing-off of Windows 7 RTM! Here is the roadmap to RTM:

Basically, between now and July 10, 2009, Microsoft will be preparing the build containing all of the SKU’s which will be sent out to partners first, possibly Connect and MSDN/Technet subscribers next, and finally customers when it hits the store shelves! Then, on July 13, 2009, Windows 7 will officially be COMPLETED! This is bittersweet for me as I was hoping to have an RTM build to install soon, but I suppose a couple more weeks isn’t too long to wait.

WZor also noted that employees will have access to the RTM build on July 10th, so be on the lookout for the RTM build shortly thereafter. Likewise, in regards to what the RTM build number will be, WZor says their sources report it will most likely be rounded to 7300.

So, the RTM build that leaks may look something like be:

6.1.7300.0.winmain.??????-????

More as it comes in!

Source: WZor

WinFuture.de is reporting today that sources close to them say Windows 7 will RTM on June 29, 2009. As far as who is right and who is wrong, both of these sources are credible, so they’re both hearing information from people out of Microsoft; it’s not as if one of these sites are lying to everyone. And just to add to the mix, Neowin.net reported on June 16, 2009 that their sources indicated an RTM date of June 26, 2009! Again, all credible sites, so the difference probably lies in which of their sources has the most recent information. Both WZor and WinFuture have posted their RTM dates today, so I guess we’ll see what happens. Just to recap, here are the RTM dates as they’ve been reported by 3 credible sites:

Neowin.net: June 26, 2009
WinFuture.de: June 29, 2009
WZor.net: July 13, 2009

Place your bets, everyone!

-Stephen

With that said, I just ran across the LinkedIn profile of a Microsoft PM intern who has the following responsibilities written in his profile:

Evaluating and collating technical and business requirements for developing new networking features in Windows 8.

Designing features, functional specification and prototype for Windows 8.

Perhaps the most notable networking feature in Windows 7 is the addition of HomeGroup. If you’re unfamiliar with the HomeGroup feature, you can read an extensive article about it on the official Engineering Windows 7 blog here. I can only imagine that Microsoft will be looking to follow suit and make home networking even easier in Windows 8. Along with the specifications they’re currently writing, I’m sure feedback of the current networking features in Windows 7 will play an integral role in exactly what goes into Windows 8′s networking features.

Personally, I have no need for anything networking-wise from my OS, so perhaps those of you whose focus tends to be networking-centric can shed some light on what you would personally like to see changed/added to/removed from Windows 8.

Reference: Aditya Malhotra’s LinkedIn Profile

-Stephen

PS – As obvious as it may seem for a feature to come down the proverbial Windows pike, I assume nothing. This post is a direct result of that observance.

I’m hearing murmurs around the community of a build 7264 which was supposedly compiled to fix a showstopper bug discovered in build 7263. The rumored build string is:

6.1.7264.0.win7_rtm.090620-1900

Whether or not it’s legit, I’m not sure. I haven’t seen it confirmed by any sources I know or trust, so I’m going to take it with a grain of salt for the moment – as should you. As far as potential evidence for it being fake, check out this coincidence:

The last 3 RTM candidates have had a compile time of 1900 hours and they’ve all been compiled within 2 days of one another on the 15th, 17th, and 19th, respectively:

6.1.7261.0.win7_rtm.090615-1900
6.1.7262.0.win7_rtm.090617-1900
6.1.7263.0.win7_rtm.090619-1900

So, basically, it would be extremely easy to have made up such a build string for this supposed 7264 build, which follows the same formula; 2 days apart, 1900 hours. Regardless, if that build is legit, I’m curious to know what the showstopper bug was that was found… and why it wasn’t discovered in any of the previous RTM candidates. Perhaps it would be due to new code created between builds 7262 and 7263 to fix bugs from previous compiles. But that’s if this build string is the real deal in the first place. =)

Anyway, more when it comes in!

-Stephen

WZor has written a pretty lengthy article that I can’t translate at the moment (I’m over at my mom’s house for dinner… blogging, lol), but the header says that Microsoft engineers are signing off on the RTM build! Apparently, the new build to be signed off on (but currently just an RTM candidate) is:

6.1.7263.0.win7_rtm.090619-1900

So far, it’s the 20th and WZor noted that the RTM build would leak after the 19th… but just how long after is the question. Will 7263 be THE RTM build? According to WZor, it’s likely… well, more than likely, but we’ll see what happens. The next 24 hours should be interesting! Maybe we’ll have an RTM build of Windows 7 to install on our machines before the end of the weekend. =) What do you think?

UPDATE: Thank you a great deal to Ilia Jerebtsov, the first commenter of this post, for providing a summarized translation of what all is written on the WZor page regarding this build. This is what Ilia has translated for us:

“The post says that Microsoft had lengthy voting and discussions about which build to make RTM (7260, 61 or 62), but in the end neither build got the required votes to pass. So they decided to take the 7263 build as a new candidate for RTM. A lot of the post after that is a Angels and Demons parody.

They say not to get any fantasies of it coming out on CONNECT or MSDN earlier at least another 2-3 weeks after the build is decided.”

Thanks again, Ilia! I really appreciate you taking the time to write all of that. =)

-Stephen

As with 7260, it now appears that build 7261 also failed to make the cut! WZoR has just today listed the following build as being compiled 2 days ago, June 17th:

6.1.7262.0.win7_rtm.090617-1900

The difference with this build, however, is WZor has written that he seems to think this is going to be THE FINAL RTM build. Why, you ask? Well, he’s had a banner scrolling across the top of his site for a number of days now saying that the final RTM build will leak shortly after the 19th. Well, it’s the 19th, so now he and those who believe it will indeed RTM shortly are now champing at the bit. Me? I’ll still wait patiently and continue to update you folks on the latest. =)

Also of note is if 7262 is indeed to become the RTM build, it will be recompiled in winmain. If that somehow happens prior to 7262 being announced as the final RTM build, then it will be a sure sign that the process is indeed over. I supposed we’ll see what happens here soon…

Source: WZor

-Stephen

Now known as Windows Server 2008 R2, WZor has posted hash information and screen shots from the build soon to be leaked. Below is the info and, as always, keep your eyes on your favorite torrent hub if you’re interested in obtaining this build. It’s sure to leak within the next 12-24 hours from now:

MICROSOFT.WINDOWS.SERVER.2008.R2.BUILD.7260.WIN7_RTM.X64.VHD.ENGLISH
7260.0.amd64fre.win7_rtm.090612-2110.serverenterprise_en-us_vl.serverenterprise.vhd
SIZE: 6,834,271,744 byte
CRC: 874173BD
MD5: A3E6DAC35799D2AF816CA39158B6EBAB
SHA1: F194757D85F0ABAD6255CD471CC69179FCB3F483

Source: WZor

-Stephen

That’s not Windows 7 you’re looking at; it’s ViGlance by LeeSoft running on Windows XP. Quite simple to install/enable, check out the promotional video below:

Whereas I use Vista and will absolutely upgrade to Windows 7 as soon as it RTM’s, if you’re one of the 2 XP users who has still refused to learn Windows Vista’s user interface and has also yet to install a single build of Windows 7 to fiddle with, then this appears to be a great way to get the feel of Windows 7′s taskbar, or, “Superbar,” as it has previously been called.

Well, what are you waiting for? Get it!

Website: LeeSoft ViGlance

-Stephen

My friend, Rafael, over at WithinWindows has posted an interesting article regarding the feature lock in Windows 7 Starter Edition which restricts users from changing the wallpaper. Apparently, OEMs and Microsoft’s Partners must abide by the same restrictions! He quotes via Microsoft:

“In Windows Starter Edition, OEMs must not modify or replace the Windows-provided background for Windows Welcome, the logon screen, or the desktop.”

Wow, so it’s not only the wallpaper on the desktop, but everywhere else a user or OEM could customize backgrounds! Chatting with Rafael, he also made a good point that this restriction makes little sense in lieu of keeping the 3-application limitation which was canned. Strange, indeed. I guess Microsoft figures that background customization is bound to drive a person crazy in ways the 3-application limit has yet to. At that rate, I wonder just how much the next SKU up from Starter Edition will cost, considering they obviously want users to upgrade.

How much are you willing to pay just to be able to change your wallpaper? lol.

Anyway, definitely make sure to catch the rest of his article here.

Source: WithinWindows.com

-Stephen

Well, it looks like 7260 didn’t make the cut! WZoR has listed the following build as being compiled 2 days ago, June 15th:

6.1.7261.0.win7_rtm.090615-1900

So, the quest for RTM continues with Windows 7 7261…

-Stephen