Windows is finally getting antivirus protection from Microsoft.
That’s what Microsoft says at the Windows OneCare Beta website. Backup, antivirus, antispyware, two-way firewall (finally!), automatic PC tune-ups, and more are scheduled to be included in the final release. However, I’ve heard that OneCare will have a paid subscription program and won’t be included with Windows Vista. Darn.
According to this CNET review, “Microsoft has more to do on its new operating system, but this first beta suggests that Windows Vista will be up to par with Linux and Apple Mac OS X.”
However, I’m keeping in mind that Mac OS X 10.5 is due by the time Vista is released.
The very first site I saw on July 27 with a Windows Vista Beta 1 review was PC Magazine. They have a very comprehensive and optimistic review, plus a nice screenshot gallery with a slideshow mode.
The SuperSite for Windows had a slightly more pessimistic review, giving the beta 3 points out of 5 (which, I admit, is better than the 1-point rating he gave the last Longhorn release). Despite the review’s author’s rating, he did point out that the Beta 1 of “Whistler” (the codename for Windows XP) only hinted at the quality of the final release. He also said that Vista Beta 1 is actually farther ahead than Whistler Beta 1 was. And I quote, “Maybe this thing isn’t a train wreck after all.”
I read this article at the Microsoft Watch website, and it seems Microsoft revealed some features on privacy notices intended for beta testers. This list and the many other lists of features are making my jaw drop… it looks like Windows is finally going to be a real competitor to Mac OS X and Linux.
Some of the Windows Vista features mentioned are:
Some Internet Explorer 7 features:
Yesterday I read the following at the Windows Vista FAQ at the SuperSite for Windows:
Q: So when will Windows Vista Beta 1 ship?
A: Microsoft says it will ship Beta 1 to testers by August 3, 2005. However, in a recent Beta 1 briefing, the company recently acknowledged that the July 27, 2005 date for Beta 1 I had previously published is the correct internal goal.
And then I read this PCWorld article saying that Microsoft has apparantly changed the Beta 1 release date to July 27… today!
I’ll be watching the SuperSite for Windows for the Beta 1 review. Since this is a limited beta release, you must be invited by Microsoft to participate. 
Beta 2, however, will be available to the general public.
It’s official: Longhorn, the next version of Windows, is now “Windows Vista.” Microsoft now has an official Windows Vista page on their website, and PCWorld also has a story about the announcement. For more information on why Microsoft chose this name, check out this BetaNews page titled “Microsoft Explains Windows Vista Name.”
I’m surprised Microsoft announced the name so soon and so suddenly; they didn’t “build up suspense” by announcing ahead of time that they were deciding on a name for Longhorn. And Vista isn’t even in Beta 1 yet!
I remember a long time ago (maybe a year or so), I used the “contact us” form on the Microsoft website and gave a suggestion that they call Longhorn “Windows 2006.” I suggested that they make the “6″ in “2006″ a different color in the logo, because Longhorn is Windows NT version 6, right? Like I expected, I never heard back from them. And it seems Microsoft is leaning away from dated product names. If Windows XP were named Windows 2001, then computer-illiterate people who were buying Windows in 2005 might think that this “Windows 2001″ was very outdated.
Microsoft also announced yesterday that Beta 1 of Vista is arriving on August 3. The beta (a beta is a pre-release “testing version” of a product) will only be available to select people and not the general public. The final version of Windows Vista will released in time for the 2006 holiday season.
(Drum roll please…)
“Windows Vista!”
Microsoft announced the official Longhorn name this morning. ActiveWin claims they were the very first website to announce it. You can also see the Microsoft press release.
With five letters, it’s certainly the longest suffix a version of Windows has ever had, besides “Server 2003″ of course. The closest, with four letters, was “2000.” It’s certainly an interesting name. But it’s possible that the name could change, as Windows Server 2003′s name did; before its release, Server 2003 had an “official name” of “Windows .NET Server.”
I’ve also heard that beta versions of Longhorn… er, Vista… have been circulating in a invitation-only beta release. The next version of Windows is fast approaching.
Hurry up, Vista!
I found a way to create a special file that looks exactly like a JPEG file, but when double-clicked, opens a Windows Explorer window.
These are the steps; as far as I know, it only works in Windows XP.
[Shell]
Command=2
IconFile=%SystemRoot%\system32\shimgvw.dll,3
[Taskbar]
Command=Explorer
As far as I know, you can only use the SCF extension to:
I doubt Microsoft would be dumb enough to allow an SCF file to open any ol’ program (like fdisk.exe) due to the fact that the SCF extension is hidden.
Of course, there is really no practical application for this (for malicious purposes or otherwise). It’s just kind of fun to see how you can take advantage of the SCF extension. 