Today we're announcing something you've all been waiting for -- information on the upgrade process for those of you who are planning to buy a new PC in the coming months but prior to the Windows Vista launch. Well, now you can have both (and Office to boot)! Here's the scoop: PCs loaded with...

I've noticed a few discussions out in the community on how Microsoft’s great new LifeCams don’t quite work yet with Windows Vista. Well, to find out for myself, I just bought the Microsoft LifeCam VX-3000 this weekend. I’m happy to say I am currently testing beta drivers for the LifeCams, to which...

Looking for a handy resource for tips and tricks to get the most out of Windows Vista? No need to wait for RTM -- we've provided the Windows Vista Tips and Tricks Website for you to get acquainted with all the resources needed for making Windows Vista run exactly the way you want it. Check it out at...

eWeek Labs recently took some time to dig deeper into Windows Vista’s User Access Control (UAC), praising Microsoft for their dedication to securing Windows Vista. " With Vista's UAC, Microsoft has finally gotten serious about securing the Windows operating system by limiting a user's rights during day...

I have over 2 years' worth of digital camera photos taken from events and travels -- managing that with Windows XP is next to impossible outside organizing them in folders by date. Windows Vista right out of the box offers incredible ways to manage your digital photos using Windows Photo Gallery -- so...

If you find yourself in New York City this week, perhaps attending Digital Life , I invite you to come by and meet some of the team in person. We're putting on a Blogger Lounge specifically for members of the community who write commentaries of their own, as well as read this blog. The great thing...

As you've probably already surmised, downloads of Windows Vista RC2 for the Customer Preview Program (CPP) have now closed and the links are no longer active. We were bowled over by your response to RC2 -- in fact, we hit our download target (200K+) within 72 hours of propping the files! This is an incredible...

You already know that a new version of the Windows Mobile Device Center (WMDC) Beta has been released for Windows Vista RC1; its build number is 6.0.6526. WMDC Beta 3 enables you to setup new partnerships, synchronize content and manage music, pictures and video with any Windows Mobile 2003- or Windows...

As we get close to the business availability of Windows Vista, we'll want to provide more information specifically for IT professionals to help them get ready for their Windows Vista deployments. To help out, one of my teammates, Alex Heaton, will become a regular contributor here on the blog, focusing...

Windows Mobile Program Manager Mel Sampat tells us that Windows Mobile Device Center (Beta 3) is finally here for Public Download for Windows Vista RC1 and higher. Head over to the Windows Mobile Device Center webpage at Microsoft.com to download !

Today, Microsoft is excited to announce the availability of Windows Vista RC2 to Technical Beta Testers, TAP Testers, and MSDN/TechNet subscribers. This new build of Windows Vista offers users a higher level of performance and stability – improving what was established in Windows Vista RC1. We were able...

In Build 5728, we got to see examples of the kind of fit-and-finish the Windows Shell Team is making to Windows Vista as they progress toward RTM. I'd like to show you a few that I found. I imagine there is quite a bit more. In “Computer”, you will notice that the “System Properties” and “Map Network...

PC World got the conversation going on installation times in Windows Vista . While they quote Jim Allchin that Windows Vista can take as little as 15 minutes to install, my installs have been more like 20 minutes (still rocking fast), so I thought I would talk with David D'Souza who manages our Deployment...

A lot of folks have been pinging us with questions regarding release of the Windows Mobile Device Center. Today I’d like to personally give you the heads-up that next week you will get your chance to download the new WMDC Beta and sync your mobile devices up with newer builds of Windows Vista. When...

Yet another fantastic post from Vinny Pasceri, Program Manager for the Windows Shell Team, appears over at the Windows Shell blog . Vinny sheds some light on what is involved in the feature design process here at Microsoft. He separates the process into three different parts: Page 1, The Spec and Building...

Another follow-up to my original post on Build 5728: the Japanese download page for both 32- and 64-bit versions is live. That means that this link is now active!

As a follow-up to last week's post on the WinFX version of the New York Times Reader, I've learned that the link allowing access to non-MS and non-NYT emails addresses is finally live -- phew! Go here to see NYT's "First Look" page on the Reader, which will lead you to this page , where it's necessary...

Per my post from last week, I've got some news for you regarding the release of interim build 5728: The 64-bit version of build 5728 is now availabile in both German and English . The window is rapidly closing for download of the English build, as we're nearing our targeted download quantity...

Today we released an interim build of Windows Vista, also known as an EDW, or External Developer Workstation. This build is number 5728 and serves as an update to RC1 and runs in parallel with that release. The build is available to the public. Here's our official message to our testers: Updated...

We heard you loud and clear when it came to discussing our plans to include a default start-up sound that plays as you boot-up Windows Vista: you said you wanted to have the opportunity to mute it if and when you felt it necessary. Your collective voice truly made a difference in this matter, as we've...

You may have read about the Times Reader back in April when it was previewed at the American Society of Newspaper Editors convention. It’s now available for download to Windows Vista beta users! The Times Reader enhances the onscreen reading experience through Windows Presentation Foundation, Microsoft...

Windows Experience Index: An In-Depth Look Introduction The Windows ® Experience Index is a new feature built into Windows Vista ™ . It is designed to help consumers understand how well Windows Vista and the software running on it will perform on a specific PC. The index achieves this by...

Windows Test Manager Paul Donnelly just sent the mail below to Beta testers at connect.microsoft.com , and I was so fascinated with the maps he's generated representing where Windows Beta testers are located, I thought I'd share it with you: I'm sure you've noticed people here in the newsgroups...

Our friends at the Microsoft RSS Team Blog have pointed out the announcement by NewsGator’s Nick Harris of the new NewsGator Desktop Sync Beta . Their Desktop Sync Beta will sync RSS feeds you've saved in the Windows RSS Feed Store (in both Windows Vista or IE7 for Windows XP) with your NewsGator Online...

Over at the Windows Shell blog , Program Manager Vinny Pasceri explains the balance necessary to be struck in order to complete the UI polish, or "fit-and-finish", of Windows Vista's UI . Questions like "will it affect the user’s habits in a bad way?" must always be faced when changing any part of the...