Microsoft is backporting a range of features from Windows 7 to Windows Vista with Service Pack 2 installed. Now, don’t expect Windows 7’s Windows Aero or multi-touch Natural User Interface, but there are details in which Vista SP2 will be on par with the latest iteration of the Windows client scheduled for general availability on October 22nd, 2009. The Redmond-based company is essentially offering a Platform Update for Windows Vista. Delivered under the Platform Update for Windows Vista moniker, the refresh, which tailors Windows 7 features to Vista SP2, is available exclusively through Windows Update.

The software giant is positioning the Platform Update for Windows Vista as a collection of new technologies designed to streamline the work of developers that are in the process of transitioning to Windows 7. Via the Platform Update for Windows Vista, Microsoft is offering a set of runtime libraries, which enable developers to target both Windows 7 and Windows Vista with the same application.

Brandon LeBlanc, Windows Communications Manager on the Windows Client Communications Team, explained that “The Platform Update for Windows Vista includes:

•Windows Ribbon and Animation Manager Library: contains the Windows Ribbon API, a command framework that enables developers to quickly and easily create rich ribbon experiences in their applications, and the Windows Animation Manager API, an animation framework for managing the scheduling and execution of user interface element animations.

•Windows Graphics, Imaging, and XPS Library: components for developers to leverage the latest advancements in modern graphics technologies for gaming, multimedia, imaging and printing applications. It includes updates to DirectX to support hardware acceleration for 2D, 3D and text based scenarios; DirectCompute for hardware accelerated parallel computing scenarios; and XPS Library for document printing scenarios.

•Windows Automation API: allows accessibility tools and test automations to access Windows user interface in a consistent way across operating system versions.

•Windows Portable Devices Platform: supplies the infrastructure to standardize data transfers between an application and a portable device, such as a mobile phone, digital camera, or portable media player.”

Users must understand that Platform Update for Windows Vista is currently in Beta development stage. However, it is a public Beta, meaning that all those running Windows Vista SP2 or Windows Server 2008 SP2 can easily access the release. All that interested testers need to do is to grab the Platform Update for Windows Vista - Beta Download Script (KB971644) and execute it.

“The Platform Update for Windows Vista will be available to all Windows Vista customers through Windows Update, so developers leveraging these libraries in their applications can feel confident knowing it is broadly deployed. Third-party applications that require the Platform Update for Windows Vista can have Windows Update detect whether or not it is installed; if not, Windows Update will download and install it silently in the background. The ability for PCs to download this update can be managed by IT professionals Windows Server Update Services (WSUS), System Center Configuration Manager (SCCM) and other third-party desktop management tools,” LeBlanc added.

Source

Posted By: v0id
11 Sep 2009