Vista beta release update 

Recently Microsoft has released an updated version of its Windows Vista beta code. Microsoft has tried to emphasize and improve networking and PC manageability in this major release of the vista beta release update. As windows vista release date comes closer the new release also gives some features to test for Microsoft's Internet Explorer 7.0 browser.

Community Technology Preview (CTP) 

In this month (October 2005) Windows Vista being released to a large technical community. Windows Vista Community Technology Preview (CTP) is the second in a vista longhorn serial. The October CTP offers the preview of some of the significant advances in the operating system's collaboration, desktop management and mobility features, as well as advancements to Internet Explorer. The October CTP also gives the platform for the new end-user experiences that will be part of the final version of Windows Vista.

Features included in the October CTP release 

• Desktop Management
  

Microsoft tries to help the organizations to lower its total cost of ownership while leveraging IT as a competitive business advantage by Improving the effectiveness and efficiency of desktop management. It also tries to ease diagnosing and fixing problems with networks and individual PCs, costing them valuable time and financial resources. It will add a new level of confidence in the overall system function, by reducing the time, complexity and cost of PC deployment, management, maintenance and security. I appreciate this move taken by Microsoft.

• Built-in diagnostics
  

To deliver the ease to handle the system more confidently Windows Vista provides built-in diagnostics collections of instrumentation, troubleshooting and resolution logic that resolve problems affecting the performance and reliability of the PC. It will help to detect upcoming problems and help resolve them well in advance.

List of diagnostic capabilities

• Windows Memory Diagnostics

Windows® Memory Diagnostics can automatically detect and resolve problems caused by defective physical memory. If the diagnostics module scans a memory problem, Windows Vista can prevent it using the affected portion of physical memory, enabling the operating system to start successfully and stop application crashes.

• Windows Disk Diagnostics

There will be very less chances of disk failure since Windows Vista can eliminate much of the impact of a disk failure by detecting disk problems well in advance. After getting warning signs Windows Vista allows users to take back up of their data and help them to replace drive without a bit of data loss.

• Network diagnostics

The most frustrating problems for end users are Network connectivity issues. For end users it's very difficult to help themselves by searching for solutions online. Windows Vista will feature integrated network diagnostics that analyze connectivity and network access issues, and resolve them automatically or provide easy solutions.

• Network Center, Computers and Devices

It will help the end user to operate network media players more easily and also setting up networking routers and wireless access points easily. The October CTP includes Network Center, the hub for managing networking in Windows Vista, Computers and Devices, which replaces My Network Places and Network Neighborhood from Windows XP, and serves as the place to quickly, easily and reliably find and interact with PCs and devices on the local network.

The new features will help the users to connect more easily to the cyber world. Windows Vista will help the user to connect to a variety of devices and networks are faster, easier and more secure way. The important feature is synchronization of data using a computer while on the move will be easier.

Additional features

• Windows Mobility Center

It's located in the Control Panel, this feature will give end users a single place to set display brightness, power utilization and other options important to mobile users.

• Content sharing
  

Windows Vista will make it easy for users to share content with other users on the same PC or other users on the same network. The system can automatically generate an e-mail message with in-built hyperlink for an easier way to connect to that shared content.

• Digital signatures for XML Paper Specification (XPS) format documents
  

This software helps the users digitally sign documents to make it more clear who actually created and modified the work.

The Microsoft has taken more efforts to combat the phishing threats. Internet Explorer includes many important new features in the areas of security.

Features of IE in Windows Vista

• Internet Explorer Phishing Filter

Microsoft offers the number of improvements in IE to protect end users from spoof sites and phishing attacks.

• Internet Explorer ActiveX® Opt-in
  

This feature reduces the threat of attack from malicious viruses and makes users more confident over the security of their PC.

• Favorites Center
  

This latest feature makes user to access quickly to Favorites, History and Web feed subscriptions.

• Quick Tabs
  

If users open multiple tabs they can view and manage them with an at-a-glance thumbnail view in a single window.

• Tab Groups
  

This feature enables the user to save all open tabs into a single group. Users can even set a tab group to open automatically every time they launch Internet Explorer from the Start menu.

• Page Zoom
  

With help of this feature users can zoom in and out on individual Web pages, including text and graphics, to focus on the specific content of their interest and also will help the content more accessible to those with vision disabilities.

• Advanced Printing
  

To ensure users to print exactly what they want Internet Explorer now includes a multi-page print preview with live margins and a default option to only print selected text.

The main aim behind Windows Vista CTP is to involve customers and partners in the early stages of Windows Vista development to get relevant feedback from them. This feedback will help Microsoft to deliver the high-class product to end-user.

The October CTP will be distributed to beta testers via the Windows Vista Technical Beta Program and Microsoft TechNet. Five hundred thousand end users can test it.

The October 2005 CTP is intended for the use of developers, IT professionals and the technical community. Many of the features included in the October CTP are still under beta testing and do not yet available for final design.

N, B: Some of the features in the October CTP may change before the final version of Windows Vista arises.

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