Development of 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 in 2009 or 2010.
In 2000, Microsoft started the 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 codenamed Blackcomb (both codenames refer to the Whistler-Blackcomb resort). This new version was at that time scheduled for a 2005 release.[1][2]
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."[3]
Later, Blackcomb was delayed and an interim, minor release, codenamed "Longhorn", was announced for a 2003 release.[4] 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, 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 Longhorn was also "reset" in September 2004.
Early Milestones
- Milestone 1
The first known 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.[5][6] Though not yet commented on by Microsoft, reviews and screenshots have been published by various sources.[7][8] The M1 code drop installation comes as either a standalone install or one which requires Windows Vista with Service Pack 1, and creates a dual-boot system.[9]
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.[10]
- 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.[5] A Milestone 2 build was demonstrated at the D6 conference[11] 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".[12]
- 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[13] and Stephen Chapman of UX Evangelist,[14] some bundled applications in Milestone 3 now use a ribbon interface similar to that of Office 2007.[15]
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.[16] WinFuture.de has since leaked 192 images of Windows 7 build 6780.[17]
- Build 6801
On 8 October 2008, screenshots of Windows 7 build 6801 were leaked.[18] On 28 October 2008, Microsoft distributed build 6801 x86 and x64 to attendees at its Professional Developers Conference (PDC).[19] It has since been leaked to bittorrent networks.[20] 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.[21][22]
- ^ Microsoft pushes back Blackcomb to 2005
- ^ .Net Server: Three delays a charm?
- ^ Gates, Bill (2000-07-12). "Professional Developers Conference Remarks". microsoft.com. Retrieved 2008-03-05.
- ^ Lettice, John (2001-10-24). "Gates confirms Windows Longhorn for 2003". The Register. Retrieved 2008-03-05.
- ^ a b Gruener, Wolfgang (2008-01-16). "TG Daily - Windows Vista successor scheduled for a H2 2009 release?". TG Daily. Retrieved 2008-01-17.
- ^ Dan Graham (2008-01-18). "Windows 7 set for late 2009 release". Retrieved 2008-01-18.
- ^ "More Windows 7 screenshots surfacing". Retrieved 2008-01-28.
- ^ ThinkNext.net: Screenshots from a blogger with Windows 7 M1
- ^ TG Daily: Windows 7 M1: Nothing to get excited about
- ^ "Leaked Details of Windows 7 M1 March 2008 Edition Version 6.1 Build 6574.1". Retrieved 2008-04-24.
- ^ "Gates and Ballmer debut Windows 7". engadget. 2008-05-27. Retrieved 2008-05-31.
- ^ "Evolution of the taskbar in Windows 7 - "Superbar"". Retrieved 2008-06-27.
- ^ "Windows 7 hits Milestone 3". ZDNet.com.
- ^ "Windows 7 Paint and WordPad: New UI, New Functionality".
- ^ "Ahead of PDC, Microsoft Begins Internal Test of Windows 7". Paul Thurrott. 2008-09-14. Retrieved 2008-09-15.
- ^ "Windows 7 M3 Build 6780 Pictures and Video". Thinknext.net.
- ^ "Windows 7 Meilenstein 3 Build 6.1.6780 Screenshots and Photos". WinFuture.de.
- ^ "Windows 7 Meilenstein 3 Build 6.1.6801 Screenshots and Photos". WinFuture.de.
- ^ "Windows 7 Media Center Features in PDC Build 6801 of Windows 7". D' Technology Weblog. 2008-10-29. Retrieved 2008-11-07.
- ^ "Windows 7 Pre-Beta Hits Bittorrent". 2008-11-04. Retrieved 2008-11-04.
- ^ "Flashy Windows 7 bits protected by elaborate scheme, workaround". withinwindows. 2008-10-28. Retrieved 2008-10-28.
- ^ "Unlocking special features and taskbar, removing 30 day trial and watermark on Windows 7 (build 6801)". DoesWhat (Tutorial What). 2008-11-06. Retrieved 2008-11-06.