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Windows 7#Development history

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+#REDIRECT [[Windows 7#Development history]]
-{{Windows 7}}'''Development of Windows 7''' started in 2006. [[Windows 7]] has been in development for over two years and is expected to be released on July 1, 2009.<ref name="fy2010"/>
-==History==
-In 2000, Microsoft was planning to follow up [[Windows XP]] and its server counterpart [[Windows Server 2003]] (both codenamed ''Whistler'') with a major new release of Windows that was [[Microsoft code names|codenamed]] ''Blackcomb'' (both codenames refer to the [[Whistler-Blackcomb]] resort). This new version was at that time scheduled for a 2005 release.<ref>[http://www.wininsider.com/news/?226 Microsoft pushes back Blackcomb to 2005]</ref><ref>[http://news.cnet.com/2100-1001-966174.html .Net Server: Three delays a charm?]</ref>
-Major features were planned for Blackcomb, including an emphasis on searching and querying data and an advanced storage system named [[WinFS]] to enable such scenarios. In this context, a feature mentioned by Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates for Blackcomb was "a pervasive typing line that will recognize the sentence that [the user is] typing in."<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.microsoft.com/presspass/exec/billg/speeches/2000/07-12pdc.aspx |title = Professional Developers Conference Remarks |last=Gates |first=Bill |authorlink=Bill Gates |publisher=[[Microsoft|microsoft.com]] |date = 2000-07-12 |accessdate=2008-03-05}}</ref>
-Later, Blackcomb was delayed and an interim, minor release, codenamed "Longhorn", was announced for a 2003 release.<ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.theregister.co.uk/2001/10/24/gates_confirms_windows_longhorn |title=Gates confirms Windows Longhorn for 2003 |last=Lettice |first=John |date=2001-10-24 |publisher=[[The Register]] |accessdate=2008-03-05}}</ref> By the middle of 2003, however, Longhorn had acquired some of the features originally intended for Blackcomb, including [[WinFS]], the [[Desktop Window Manager]], and new versions of system components built on the [[.NET Framework]]. After the 2003 "Summer of Worms", where three major viruses − [[Blaster (computer worm)|Blaster]], [[Sobig (computer worm)|Sobig]], and [[Welchia]] − exploited flaws in Windows operating systems within a short time period, Microsoft changed its development priorities, putting some of Longhorn's major development work on hold in order to develop new service packs for Windows XP and [[Windows Server 2003]]. [[Development of Windows Vista|Development of Longhorn]] was also "reset" in September 2004.
-===Naming===
-As major feature work on Windows Vista wound down in early 2006, Blackcomb was renamed ''Vienna''.<ref name=thurrottfaq>{{cite web |url=http://www.winsupersite.com/faq/windows_7.asp |title=Windows "7" FAQ |last=Thurrott |first=Paul |authorlink=Paul Thurrott |publisher=Paul Thurrott's SuperSite for Windows |date=14 February 2007 |accessdate=2008-01-05}}</ref> However, following the release of [[Windows Vista]], it was confirmed by [[Microsoft]] on 20 July 2007 that "the internal name for the next version of the Windows Client OS"<ref name="zdnet592">{{cite news | first=Mary J |last=Foley |title=Windows Seven: Think 2010 |date=2007-07-20 |publisher=[[ZDNet]] | url=http://blogs.zdnet.com/microsoft/?p=592 |accessdate = 2007-09-19}}</ref> was ''Windows 7'', a name that had been reported by some sources months before.<ref name="thurrottfaq" /> On 13 October 2008, it was announced that ''Windows 7'' would also be the official name of the operating system.<ref>{{cite news | first=Ina | last=Fried | title=Microsoft makes Windows 7 name final | date=2008-10-13 | publisher=[[CNET]] | url=http://news.cnet.com/8301-13860_3-10064971-56.html | accessdate=2008-10-13}}</ref><ref name="CBC14Oct08"> {{cite web|url = http://www.cbc.ca/technology/story/2008/10/14/tech-windows.html|title = For Microsoft's Windows, 7th time's a charm|accessdate = 2008-10-27|last = [[Canadian Broadcasting Corporation]]|authorlink = |year = 2008|month = October}}</ref>
-On 13 October 2008 Mike Nash, Microsoft's vice-president of Windows product management said:
-{{cquote| The decision to use the name Windows 7 is about simplicity. Simply put, this is the seventh release of Windows, so therefore Windows 7 just makes sense.
-Coming up with an all-new 'aspirational' name does not do justice to what we are trying to achieve, which is to stay firmly rooted in our aspirations for Windows Vista, while evolving and refining the substantial investments in platform technology in Windows Vista into the next generation of Windows.<ref name="CBC14Oct08" /><ref>{{cite web
-|url = http://www.pcpro.co.uk/news/230106/windows-7-to-be-called-windows-7.html
-|title = Windows 7 to be called... Windows 7
-|date = 14 October 2008
-|accessdate = 2008-10-17
-|last = Collins
-|first = Barry
-|publisher = [[PC Pro]]
-}}</ref> }}
-Numbering this version of Windows as "7" has confused many users, so on 14 October 2008 Nash clarified his earlier remarks, saying:<ref name="Protalinski"> {{cite web|url = http://arstechnica.com/journals/microsoft.ars/2008/10/15/final-release-of-windows-7-to-have-kernel-version-6-1|title = Final release of Windows 7 to have kernel version 6.1|accessdate = 2008-11-24|last = Protalinski |first = Emil|authorlink = |year = 2008|month = October}}</ref><ref name="Nash14Oct08"> {{cite web|url = http://windowsteamblog.com/blogs/windowsvista/archive/2008/10/14/why-7.aspx|title = Windows Vista Team Blog - Why 7?|accessdate = 2008-11-24|last = Nash|first = Mike.|authorlink = |year = 2008|month = October}}</ref>
-{{cquote|The very first release of Windows was Windows 1.0, the second was Windows 2.0, the third Windows 3.0. Here's where things get a little more complicated.  Following Windows 3.0 was Windows NT which was code versioned as Windows 3.1. Then came Windows 95, which was code versioned as Windows 4.0.  Then, Windows 98, 98 SE and Windows Millennium each shipped as 4.0.1998, 4.10.2222, and 4.90.3000, respectively. So we're counting all 9x versions as being 4.0. Windows 2000 code was 5.0 and then we shipped Windows XP as 5.1, even though it was a major release we didn't want to change code version numbers to maximize application compatibility. That brings us to Windows Vista, which is 6.0. So we see Windows 7 as our next logical significant release and 7th in the family of Windows releases...There's been some fodder about whether using 6.1 in the code is an indicator of the relevance of Windows 7.  It is not. Windows 7 is a significant and evolutionary advancement of the client operating system.  It is in every way a major effort in design, engineering and innovation.  The only thing to read into the code versioning is that we are absolutely committed to making sure application compatibility is optimized for our customers.<ref name="Nash14Oct08" /> }}
-==Focus==
-Microsoft's Ben Fathi stated on 9 February 2007 that the focus of the operating system was still being worked out, and he could only hint at some possibilities:<ref name="Vista2009">{{cite web|url=http://www.infoworld.com/article/07/02/09/HNvistafollowup_1.html|title=Microsoft: Vista follow-up likely in 2009|author=Robert McMillan, IDG News Service|date=9 February 2007}}</ref>
-{{cquote|We're going to look at a fundamental piece of enabling technology. Maybe it's [[hypervisor]]s. I don't know what it is [...] Maybe it's a new [[user interface]] [[paradigm]] for consumers.|Ben Fathi, Windows Core Operating System Division Vice President}}
-[[Bill Gates]], in an interview with [[Newsweek]], suggested that the next version of Windows would "be more user-centric."<ref name="gates">{{cite web|url=http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/16934083/site/newsweek/page/4/print/1/displaymode/1098/|title=Bill Gates on Vista and Apple's 'Lying' Ads|author=Steven Levy|date= 3 February 2007}}</ref> When asked to clarify what he meant, Gates said:
-{{cquote|That means that right now when you move from one [[Personal computer|PC]] to another, you've got to install apps on each one, do upgrades on each one. Moving information between them is very painful. We can use [[Windows Live|Live Services]] to know what you're interested in. So even if you drop by a [public] kiosk or somebody else's PC, we can bring down your home page, your files, your fonts, your favorites and those things. So that's kind of the user-centric thing that Live Services can enable. [Also,] in Vista, things got a lot better with [digital] ink and speech, but by the next release there will be a much bigger bet. Students won't need textbooks; they can just use these [[Tablet PC|tablet devices]]. [[Parallel computing]] is pretty important for the next release. We'll make it so that a lot of the high-level graphics will be just built into the operating system. So we've got a pretty good outline.}}
-Gates later said that Windows 7 will also focus on performance improvements:<ref name="gates2">{{cite web|url=http://www.microsoft.com/presspass/exec/billg/speeches/2008/05-07japanwdlc.mspx|title=Bill Gates: Japan—Windows Digital Lifestyle Consortium|author=Bill Gates|date=12 May 2007}}</ref>
-{{cquote|We're hard at work, I would say, on the next version, which we call Windows 7. I'm very excited about the work being done there. The ability to be lower power, take less memory, be more efficient, and have lots more connections up to the mobile phone, so those scenarios connect up well to make it a great platform for the best gaming that can be done, to connect up to the thing being done out on the Internet, so that, for example, if you have two personal computers, that your files automatically are synchronized between them, and so you don't have a lot of work to move that data back and forth.}}
-Senior Vice President [[Bill Veghte]] stated that Windows 7 will not have the kind of compatibility issues with Vista that Vista has with previous versions:<ref>{{cite web|url=http://news.softpedia.com/news/Windows-7-Will-Not-Inherent-the-Incompatibility-Issues-of-Vista-88625.shtml|title=Windows 7 Will Not Inherit the Incompatibility Issues of Vista|author=Marius Oiaga|date=24 June 2008}}</ref>
-{{cquote|You've let us know you don't want to face the kinds of incompatibility challenges with the next version of Windows you might have experienced early with Windows Vista. As a result, our approach with Windows 7 is to build off the same core architecture as Windows Vista so the investments you and our partners have made in Windows Vista will continue to pay off with Windows 7. Our goal is to ensure the migration process from Windows Vista to Windows 7 is straightforward.}}
-Speaking about Windows 7 on 16 October 2008, Microsoft CEO [[Steve Ballmer]] confirmed compatibility between Vista and Windows 7:<ref name="DignanOctober2008"> {{cite web|url = http://blogs.zdnet.com/BTL/?p=10464|title = Ballmer: It’s ok to wait until Windows 7; Yahoo still ‘makes sense’; Google Apps ‘primitive’|accessdate = 2008-10-17|last = Dignan|first = Larry|authorlink = |year = 2008|month = October}}</ref>
-{{cquote| Our next release of Windows will be compatible with Vista. The key is let’s get on with it. We’ll be ready when you want to deploy Windows 7.<ref name="DignanOctober2008" /> }}
-Ballmer also confirmed the relationship between Vista and Windows 7, indicating that Windows 7 will be an improved version of Vista.<ref name="DignanOctober2008" />
-==Builds==
-[[Image:Build6801superbar.png|thumb|right|Windows 7 Build 6801 with the new Windows Taskbar enabled]]
-[[Image:Win7_bootscreen.png|thumb|right|Windows 7 new boot screen announced since build 6954]]
-[[Image:AeroSnap.png|thumb|right|Windows 7 Build 6956 showing Aero Snap new feature]]
-;Milestone 1
-The first known [[Software build|build]] of Windows 7 was identified as a "Milestone 1 (M1) code drop" according to TG Daily with a version number of 6.1.6519.1. It was sent to key Microsoft partners by January 2008 in both [[x86]] and [[x86-64]] versions although only x86 leaked.<ref name="tgdailym1">{{cite web|first=Wolfgang|last=Gruener|url=http://www.tgdaily.com/content/view/35641/118/|title=TG Daily - Windows Vista successor scheduled for a H2 2009 release?|publisher=TG Daily|date=2008-01-16|accessdate=2008-01-17}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.techradar.com/news/software/operating-systems/windows-7-set-for-late-2009-release-201142|title=Windows 7 set for late 2009 release|author=Dan Graham|date=2008-01-18|accessdate=2008-01-18}}</ref> Though not yet commented on by [[Microsoft]], reviews and screenshots have been published by various sources.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.tgdaily.com/content/view/35814/140/|title=More Windows 7 screenshots surfacing|accessdate=2008-01-28}}</ref><ref>[http://www.thinknext.net/archives/2150 ThinkNext.net: Screenshots from a blogger with Windows 7 M1]</ref> The M1 code drop installation comes as either a standalone install or one which requires Windows Vista with [[Windows Vista#Service Pack 1|Service Pack 1]], and creates a dual-boot system.<ref>[http://www.tgdaily.com/content/view/35936/140/ TG Daily: Windows 7 M1: Nothing to get excited about]</ref>
-On 20 April 2008, screenshots and videos of a second build of M1 were leaked with a version number of 6.1.6574.1. This build included changes to Windows Explorer as well as a new Windows Health Center.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://news.softpedia.com/news/Leaked-Details-of-Windows-7-M1-March-2008-Edition-Version-6-1-Build-6574-1-83964.shtml|title=Leaked Details of Windows 7 M1 March 2008 Edition Version 6.1 Build 6574.1|accessdate=2008-04-24}}</ref>
-;Milestone 2
-According to the TG Daily article of 16 January 2008, the Milestone 2 (M2) code drop was at that time scheduled for April or May 2008.<ref name="tgdailym1"/> A Milestone 2 build was demonstrated at the D6 conference<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.engadget.com/2008/05/27/live-from-d-gates-and-ballmer-debut-windows-7/|title=Gates and Ballmer debut Windows 7|date=2008-05-27|accessdate=2008-05-31|publisher=engadget}}</ref> with a build number of 6.1.6589.1.x86fre.winmain_win7m2.080420-1634. The build had a different taskbar than found in Windows Vista, with, among other features, sections divided into different colors. The host declined to comment on it, stating "I'm not supposed to talk about it now today".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.istartedsomething.com/20080529/evolution-of-taskbar-windows-7/|accessdate=2008-06-27|title=Evolution of the taskbar in Windows 7 - “Superbar”}}</ref>
-;Milestone 3
-According to [[Paul Thurrott]], Milestone 3 (build 6780) was shipped to Microsoft employees and close partners in the week of 7 September 2008. Described as visually and functionally similar to Windows Vista by Mary Jo Foley of ZDNet<ref>{{cite web|url=http://blogs.zdnet.com/microsoft/?p=1590 |title=Windows 7 hits Milestone 3|publisher=ZDNet.com}}</ref> and Stephen Chapman of UX Evangelist,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://uxevangelist.blogspot.com/2008/09/windows-7-paint-and-wordpad-new-ui-new.html |title=Windows 7 Paint and WordPad: New UI, New Functionality}}</ref> some bundled applications in Milestone 3 now use a [[Ribbon (computing)|ribbon interface]] similar to that of [[Office 2007]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://windowsitpro.com/windowspaulthurrott/article/articleid/100295/ahead-of-pdc-microsoft-begins-internal-test-of-windows-7.html|title=Ahead of PDC, Microsoft Begins Internal Test of Windows 7|date=2008-09-14|accessdate=2008-09-15|publisher=Paul Thurrott}}</ref>
-Many applications that had been integrated into previous versions of Windows have been removed, including Calendar, Contacts, Mail, Meeting Space, Movie Maker, and Photo Gallery and are available as downloads in the [[Windows Live]] Wave 3 beta release.<ref name="thinknext.net">{{cite web|url=http://www.thinknext.net/archives/2268 |title=Windows 7 M3 Build 6780 Pictures and Video|publisher=Thinknext.net}}</ref> WinFuture.de has since leaked 192 images of Windows 7 build 6780.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://winfuture.de/screenshots/Windows-7-Meilenstein-3-Build-6.1.6780-3500-1.html |title=Windows 7 Meilenstein 3 Build 6.1.6780 Screenshots and Photos|publisher=WinFuture.de}}</ref>
-;Build 6801
-On 8 October 2008, screenshots of Windows 7 build 6801 were leaked.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://winfuture.de/screenshots/Windows-7-Meilenstein-3-Build-6.1.6801-3540-1.html |title=Windows 7 Meilenstein 3 Build 6.1.6801 Screenshots and Photos|publisher=WinFuture.de}}</ref> On 28 October 2008, Microsoft distributed build 6801 x86 and x64 to attendees at its [[Professional Developers Conference]] (PDC).<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ditii.com/2008/10/29/windows-7-media-center-features-in-pdc-build-6801-of-windows-7/|title=Windows 7 Media Center Features in PDC Build 6801 of Windows 7|date=2008-10-29|accessdate=2008-11-07|publisher=D' Technology Weblog}}</ref> It has since been leaked to bittorrent networks.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.idm.net.au/story.asp?id=16324|title=Windows 7 Pre-Beta Hits Bittorrent|date=2008-11-04|accessdate=2008-11-04}}</ref> It features an enhanced taskbar similar to the one in build 6933 although it is disabled by default. An unofficial patch has been released to enable the new taskbar in build 6801.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://ctforum.oxyhost.com/ctfblog/?p=1346|title=Flashy Windows 7 bits protected by elaborate scheme, workaround|date=2008-10-28|accessdate=2008-10-28|publisher=withinwindows}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.doeswhat.com/tutorialwhat/unlocking-special-features-and-taskbar-removing-30-day-trial-and-watermark-on-windows-7-build-6801/|title=Unlocking special features and taskbar, removing 30 day trial and watermark on Windows 7 (build 6801)|date=2008-11-06|accessdate=2008-11-06|publisher=DoesWhat (Tutorial What)}}</ref>
-;Pre-Beta 1
-<!--Build 6933 and above does not contain the string winmain_win7m3, and is therefore not milestone 3.-->
-Microsoft also demonstrated build 6933.winmain.081020-1842 during the PDC, but did not give it to attendees.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://neowin.net/news/live/08/10/28/introducing-the-windows-7-ui|title=Introducing the Windows 7 UI|date=2008-10-28|accessdate=2008-10-28|publisher=Tom Warren}}</ref><!--According to http://www.winsupersite.com/win7/win7_m3_screens.asp there are two new builds: the one distributed at PDC (build 6801) and one that was only demonstrated (build 6933). Be sure not to get these confused when writing and adding references.--> On 14 November 2008, screenshots of Windows 7 build 6936 were leaked by Winfuture.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://winfuture.de/screenshots/Windows-7-Build-6.1.6936-3640-1.html |title=Windows 7 Meilenstein Build 6.1.6936 Screenshots and Photos|publisher=WinFuture.de}}</ref> On 20 November 2008, Microsoft posted screenshots of build 6948 on the Engineering Windows 7 blog.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://blogs.msdn.com/e7/archive/2008/11/20/happy-anniversary-windows-on-the-evolution-of-the-taskbar.aspx|title=Engineering Windows 7: The Windows 7 Taskbar|date=2008-11-20|2008-11-22|publisher=Microsoft|author=Chaitanya}}</ref> In early December, WinFuture.de leaked screenshots of Build 6956, which demonstrated a new bootscreen. (Announced by WinFuture since Build 6954<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7oEythML7Hc|title=Video of Windows 7 New Boot Screen on build 6954}}</ref>) and several improvements.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://winfuture.de/screenshots/Windows-7-Build-6.1.6956-3664-1.html |title=Windows 7 Meilenstein Build 6.1.6956 Screenshots and Photos|publisher=WinFuture.de}}</ref> At the WinHEC in China an attendee from the conference leaked a [[Virtual Hard Disk]] (VHD) image of Windows 7 Build 6956 x86,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://windows7center.com/windows-7-news/windows-7-build-6956-leaked-by-attendee-at-winhec-china/#more-955|title=Windows 7 Build 6956 leaked by an attendee at WinHEC China|publisher=Windows7Center.com}}</ref> then an [[ISO image]] was published,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://windows7center.com/windows-7-news/windows-7-build-6956-iso-torrent-released/|title=Windows 7 Build 6956 ISO Torrent Released|publisher=Windows7Center.com}}</ref> in this same site we can see many new screenshots of this build.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://windows7center.com/windows-7-news/more-windows-7-build-6956-hd-screenshots/|title=More Windows 7 Build 6956 Screenshots|publisher=Windows7Center.com}}</ref> Lately, Paul Thurrott posted several screenshots on his website of another build from the 69xx range.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.winsupersite.com/win7/win7_m3_69xx.asp|title=Windows 7 Build 69xx Screenshots|publisher=WinSuperSite.com}}</ref> On December 10, 2008, Windows 7 Build 6936 x64 leaked to the internet.
-===Planned builds===
-;Beta 1
-Microsoft has confirmed that Beta 1 will be handed out at MSDN Developer Conference on 13th January 2009 in the form of a DVD.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.neowin.net/news/main/08/12/03/windows-7-beta-1-to-be-released-at-ces#|title=Windows 7 Beta 1 to be released at CES|date=2008-12-03|accessdate=2008-11-22|publisher=NeoWin}}</ref>
-;Pre-release candidate
-After the beta testing stage, Microsoft will release a pre-release candidate build before the release candidate build.{{Fact|date=December 2008}}
-;Release candidate
-Microsoft plans to move on to the release candidate stage for Windows 7 immediately after Beta 1.<ref name="fy2010">{{cite web|url=http://news.softpedia.com/news/Microsoft-Confirms-Windows-7-Could-Drop-as-Early-as-July-1-2009-98434.shtml|title=Microsoft Confirms Windows 7 Could Drop as Early as July 1, 2009|date=2008-11-21|accessdate=2008-11-22|publisher=Softpedia|author=Marius Oiaga}}</ref>
-;Final build
-Microsoft plans to release the final build of Windows 7 on July 1, 2009.
-==See also==
-*[[Windows 7]]
-*[[History of Microsoft Windows]]
-*[[Development of Windows XP]]
-*[[Development of Windows Vista]]
-==References==
-{{reflist|2}}
-==External links==
-* [http://www.microsoft.com/windows/windows-7/ Windows 7 official website]