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....

On Tuesday of this week at WinHEC in Seattle we launched the Beta2 releases of Windows Vista, Windows Server and Office 2007. Take a minute to find out more about the features included in this milestone release of Windows Vista, including: Enhanced...

How does Sidebar Geek do it? I was just putting the finishing touches on a post about the new theme when I found out that Brandon beat me to it . Well great job picking that up! I had a chance to chat with Don Lindsay on the User Experience Team about...

OK, so I've been getting RC1-related questions a lot, both via blog comments and directly over email: Will Microsoft open testing sign-ups again when RC1 is released? Yes. Will the Customer Preview Program be available for those who missed out on...

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...

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...

There has been much discussion on this blog and others as to how tech enthusiasts can get their hands on the Windows Vista Beta2 release, given the traffic that the download site is experiencing. We want to let you know that we are pumping out bits as...

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...

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...

Today Microsoft Windows formally announced public availability of Windows Vista Beta 2. In a nod to community and blogs, Windows announced it first on The Hive : “As members of The Hive, you are some of Microsoft’s most technically-savvy and enthusiastic...

Please let us underscore a very important point surrounding Windows Vista Beta2 that can be easily overlooked in all the excitement to download and install the code: it is very important that every user activate Windows Vista Beta2 within the first 14...

To help you explore Windows Vista, we have created a list of tasks for you to try. To access the list and provide feedback on your experience, visit the Windows Vista Scenario Voting site. And if there's something that you like or dislike in this pre...

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...

Windows Vista Beta 2 features built-in support for Windows Mobile-powered devices for the very first time with the new Windows Mobile Device Center. Instead of installing ActiveSync to use our devices, our device drivers are now part of Windows Vista...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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 come into the home stretch in the Windows Vista development cycle, we’ve got a lot of stuff left to do to make this the best Windows release ever. As we do this, we wanted to take a moment to thank you for your feedback and give you an idea of the...

Hi, my name is Lorrin Maughan; I’m a Product Manager with the Windows Client Marketing organization, focused on the Windows Vista consumer story. Being a typical consumer, I’m going to talk about how I’m using some of the consumer focused features in...

My colleague Jane Ly, a Software Test Engineer on the Windows Mobile team working on the Windows Mobile Device Center, sent along an update on the status of WMDC (replacement to ActiveSync) in Windows Vista and also offers us a tip on a common issue when...