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...

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...

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?...

An update from the Mobile and Embedded Devices Team: The Windows Mobile Device Center (WMDC) Application is an independent application apart from Windows Vista. Windows Vista RC1 includes the WMDC driver which enables you to sync music, acquire pictures...

A message from my colleague Aseem on the Defect Prevention team: With the release of Windows Vista RC1, the product teams are eager to hear what you think. Visit the Windows Vista Scenario Voting site to explore Windows Vista and let the teams know...

Regarding my post from last week, please note that the Silicon Valley Campus Install Fair is now closed. Please also take into consideration that we're not simply giving away copies of Windows Vista at this event -- it's necessary to register for it...

A quick update on CPP status: Windows Vista RC1 is now publicly available. This means that 32- and 64-bit downloads for all three languages (English, German, and Japanese) are live. If you did not receive and email in the previous wave, you can...

The folks at the Silicon Valley Campus asked me to share the following invite with you. If you find yourself in the San Francisco Bay area on one of these dates, feel free to drop in and pick up the latest version of Windows Vista for your current workstation...

Microsoft has just announced the availability of three new pieces of hardware coming from MS Hardware later this year that will take advantage of Windows Vista functionality at the press of a button. Wireless Entertainment Desktop 8000 – Available...

I know I'm sounding like a broken record (just read my comments on previous posts relating to RC1), but keep an eye on this blog for upcoming news on when and where to get your PID (product key) and image download when the public portion of the Windows...

We've now updated the Windows Vista Upgrade Advisor, enhancing its UI and device support in order to help users successfully determine which version of Windows Vista best suits their particular hardware configuration. If you've not heard of it, this app...

I know you've been there: you're giving a presentation and, having previously left a Windows Messenger window open, up pops a messages from one of your buddies. You lose both your audience and your train of thought. Not a comfortable place to be, especially...

The Windows Shell Team, responsible for Windows' core user interface, has launched a blog called shell: revealed . This new site has blogs from several team members and also includes galleries and a forum to discuss Windows shell-related topics, such...

Some sites out in the community have begun posting links to the Customer Preview Program (CPP) download of Windows Vista RC1. Before you jump up to get your own download of RC1, please bear in mind these facts: If you previously registered for the...

One of the areas of Windows Vista on which we've received the most feedback is User Account Control (UAC). The Security Team has made a lot of changes since Beta 2 and created a video to show some of the main ways they have reduced the number of prompts...

Now that Windows Vista RC1 has shipped, Brian Valentine , Senior Vice President of Windows Core Operating System Division, has decided to move on from Microsoft for a new adventure. Following the release of Windows Vista RC1 last Friday , Brian announced...

The Windows Sidebar Team has launched their very own blog called " Gadget Corner ." Here, team members take turns writing blog posts addressing topics relevant to Windows Sidebar and desktop Gadgets. Windows Sidebar Program Manager Brian Teutsch has...

This just in: Platforms and Services Co-President Jim Allchin has just now posted an announcement that RC1 is complete on the TechBeta/TAP site (note that it's password-protected). We’re reproducing the text here so that you all can see his comments....

We were recently able to catch up with Sven Hallauer, Director of Release Management for Windows Vista, to ask him a few questions regarding the build process of Windows Vista. Sven is the master of all Windows builds. On top of the awesome interview...

There has been a lot of talk lately about sound in Windows Vista. Recently Robert Scoble talked with Steve Ball , Group Program Manager for the Windows Audio/Video Excellence Team regarding plans to hard-code the start-up sound played just before the...

Per my post from late last week, Microsoft has placed build 5536 online for public download. Folks visiting this page over at the Windows Vista website are testing this interim build in anticipation of the upcoming release of RC1. Let me clarify: only...

We've gotten lots of heat from the community for the lack of multi-GPU support in Windows Vista. No longer -- check out Multi GPU running in Vista f rom the Gaming section of Hexus : "...the reason ATI are pumping out 3DMark over three monitors...

Last piece of news for tonight, this time from the Release Team: "We are pleased to announce the release of Pre-RC1 build 5536.16385! This build represents significant progress incorporating your Beta 2 and 5472 feedback. We have made a lot of...

(Almost got lost in all the excitement of today's news around HD-DVD support in Windows Vista.) Today the IE Team shipped Internet Explorer 7 Release Candidate 1 for Windows XP SP2/x64/Server 2003 users. Some of the enhancements you’ll find with...

The community is buzzing with reactions to APC Magazine’s article regarding playback of protected High Definition content in 32-bit versions of Windows Vista. However, the information shared was incorrect and the reactions pervading the community are...