Microsoft has released a beta 1 version of Windows
Vista, the biggest update so far of its operating system since
Windows XP.
The software giant said Windows Vista beta 1, which was in the
past called Longhorn, is being delivered to more than 10,000
testers. It aims to improve the operating system’s fundamentals —
security, deployment, manageability and performance.
New features are designed to improve security in corporate,
mobile and roaming environments, as well as reducing the total cost
of ownership of PCs through simplified management, increased
automation of tasks and improved diagnostics.
Windows Vista beta 1 has a built-in beta 1 version of the
browser Internet Explorer 7, which includes features designed to
help protect against malicious websites or malware and against
phishing and spoofing attacks.
The first beta version of Windows Server, previously codenamed
'Longhorn', has also been released to participants in the Technical
Beta Program, including hardware and software manufacturers,
vendors and developers. The new server operating system is due for
full release in 2007.
Windows Vista beta 1 also includes the first beta of Windows
Presentation Foundation, formerly known as “Avalon”, and Windows
Communication Foundation, formerly codenamed “Indigo”, which are
part of the WinFX programming model.