eXPerience the "V"

Amnesty Generator : Widgets to Gadgets converter!

2007-02-07T03:52:00.000-08:00

Amnesty's Generator allows you to easily convert numerous widgets from Google Sidebar and other Web widgets to Windows Vista's Sidebar Gadgets! All you need to do is copy and paste the HTML code for widgets into Amnesty Generator and watch it do it's magic.

Note: Amnesty Generator is still in Beta stages and may contain bugs (it does contain some bugs!)

Website and Download Link: Amnesty Generator for Vista

ATI Catalyst 7.1 for Windows Vista RTM

2007-01-29T22:38:00.000-08:00

ATI has released the final Catalyst drivers for Windows Vista RTM. These drivers feature:

- Blu-ray and HD-DVD playback
- CrossFire support under Vista
- Native OpenGL Vista support
- Catalyst Install Manager for Vista
- New Catalyst Control Center

Download : ATI Catalyst 7.1 for Windows Vista (x32)
ATI Catalyst 7.1 for Windows Vista (x64)

Windows Live Messenger 8.1 released!

2007-01-29T21:44:00.000-08:00

Windows Live team has released an update to their Windows Live Messenger! The new version 8.1 (8.1.0178) features:

- New, more detailed, Contact Cards
- Quick Display Picture change
- Display Pictures and Display name are now kept server-side
- Minor changes to the interface.

Download : Windows Live Messenger 8.1

Microsoft Photo Info Released!

2007-01-25T22:02:00.000-08:00

Microsoft Photo Info allows photographers to add, change and delete common "metadata" properties for digital photographs from inside Windows Explorer.

When installed, a new "Photo Info" item appears on the context menu for files selected in Windows Explorer. To use, simply select one or more image fiiles, right-click and choose "Photo Info" to open the Photo Info properties editor. You can edit metadata for files individually, or all together as a batch. Photo Info reads and writes metadata in IPTC and XMP formats (depending on file type). It also provides enhanced "hover tips" and additional sort properties for digital photographs in Windows Explorer.

Size: 4.0 MB

Note: For Windows XP and Windows Vista only. Requires you to validate Windows before you can download.

Download: Microsoft Photo Info

Google Image Search Updated!

2007-01-24T01:24:00.000-08:00

Just noticed it today. When you do an image search, results are now displayed in a clean layout. Only when you hover your mouse over an image do you see its details (name, resolution, size, format, source website). I think this looks too similar to Microsoft's Windows Live Search. Here's a screenshot:

(Click to enlarge)

Link: Google Image Search

Windows Ultimate Extras Revealed!

2007-01-11T07:48:00.000-08:00

Microsoft at their recent CES, revealed the first set of Ultimate Extras for their Windows Vista Ultimate Edition. These Extras are:

1) Windows DreamScene (animated desktop).
2) BitLocker and EFS Enhancements (security related).
3) Hold 'Em Poker Game.

Note that Microsoft will keep adding more Ultimate Extras with time.

Goto Windows Ultimate Website.
Goto Ultimate Extras.

P.S. : DreamScene looks awesome!!!

Apple unviels iPhone!

2007-01-09T20:54:00.000-08:00

The rumors were true, Apple has announced iPhone. It looks cool (as all the Apple products) with a huge display and only.....ONE button!! The rest of the navigation can be controlled through touch screen.
Check it out for yourself at the below link:

Apple-iPhone

P.S.: It's also an iPod.

Show Us Your WOW!

2007-01-08T22:07:00.000-08:00

Another site from Microsoft to promote Windows Vista, Show us your wow lets you upload pictures/videos for other members to vote (and go "wow" on :P ). Yeah well, here's the link:

Show us your wow

Windows Weekly 9 with Paul Thurrott

2007-01-06T22:39:00.000-08:00

The new episode of Windows Weekly on twit is finally out. In Episode 9, Paul Thurrott and Leo Laporte discuss:
- Windows Vista Launch in NYC January 29
- CES preview
- Dissecting Peter Guttman's paper on Vista content protection
- we'll interview Peter on Security Now next Thursday
- Windows Mobile 5 and Vista's mobile device center
- Leo's Anti-Zune rant
- Silencing the Xbox 360

Windows Weekly NetCast Website: twit.tv
Paul's Website : WinSuperSite
Paul's Blog : Internet Nexus

Windows Vista Business Test Drive

2007-01-06T21:18:00.000-08:00

The Windows Vista Business test drive allows you to try Vista without installing it on your PC. You just need to login using a web browser. The test drive requires Internet Explorer 6 or later, a browser plug-in, and a broadband Internet connection. A minimum 1024 x 768 screen resolution is recommended.

Website: Windows Vista Test Drive

Windows Live Onecare 1.5 has RTMed!

2007-01-06T09:13:00.000-08:00

Microsoft has released OneCare 1.5 for manufacturing this week. OneCare provides many features including Anti-Virus, Anti-Spyware, Two-Way Firewall and performance tweaks. Main noticable feature in version 1.5 is it's compatibility with Windows Vista.
The current latest version of OneCare is available for subscription at about $49.95/year for upto 3 PCs.

Happy New Year!

2006-12-31T22:28:00.000-08:00

Just a short note : :P

WISH YOU A HAPPY AND PROSPEROUS NEW YEAR!!

Firefox 2.0.0.1 Released!

2006-12-20T10:16:00.001-08:00

Mozilla updated it's popular browser, Firefox 2, to version 0.0.1. This update fixes some security issues and now supports Windows Vista. If you've enabled Automatic Update feature in Firefox, then you don't have to worry about manually updating Firefox. However, if you have this option disabled, then click Help-> Check for Updates to download this update.

Website: Mozilla Firefox
Release Notes : Click Here

Opera 9.10 Released!

2006-12-19T06:57:00.000-08:00

Opera team has released version 9.10 of it's popular browser. Download it by clicking below link:

Website: Opera.com
Download: Opera 9.10

sync iPod with Windows Media Player 11!!!

2006-12-18T08:11:00.000-08:00

That's right! With this handy little plug-in, you can sync you iPod with Windows Media Player 11! MGTEK dopisp lets sync your MP3 music to your iPod directly from within Windows Media Player. I checked this thing out with my iPod shuffle, works great!

Download Link : MGTEK dopisp

digg.com updated!

2006-12-18T07:45:00.000-08:00

Popular user powered site, digg, got an update a few minutes back. digg now features new layout, new navigation system, new comment system, podcast and video section and much more! Check it out by clicking the below link:

Website: digg

Edit: eXPerience has reached a new milestone with total of 101 posts!! :D :D :D

Microsoft.com redesigned!

2006-12-17T07:02:00.000-08:00

Microsoft has updated their website with a new, fresh design! The new page makes extensive use of Ajax navigation, with pop up styled windows to browse Microsoft's related products and technologies. Check it out by clicking the link below!

Website: Microsoft.com

Adobe Photoshop CS3 Beta is out!

2006-12-17T06:51:00.000-08:00

Adobe has released a public beta version of Photoshop CS3. You must have an Adobe account to download this version. The download size is about 350 MB (Windows). Adobe Photoshop features a new user interface and many other improvements. Go get it now! :)

Website: Adobe.com
Download : Adobe Labs

Microsoft releases first ever update for Internet Explorer 7

2006-12-14T06:39:00.000-08:00

After initial release last month, Microsoft has released first update for Internet Explorer 7. The update fixes an issue where the browser would significantly increase system CPU usage when scanning a web page with the integrated Phising Filter. This caused the user's computer to slow down.

Download this update for Internet Explorer 7 :
Windows XP Users -> For x86 | For x64
Windows 2003 Users -> For x86 | For x64

Windows Live Mail Desktop Build 1223 Released!

2006-12-14T06:31:00.000-08:00

Live Team has finally released a new build of Windows Live Mail Desktop! WLMD developers have not posted any changelog though the first thing you'll notice in this build is the new login screen. Other than that, I think the only change is bug fixes.

Download Windows Live Mail Desktop Build 1223

iPod troubles!

2006-12-11T21:03:00.000-08:00

Three Days ago:
When I connected iPod with Video to my computer, iTunes prompted if I wanted to update iPod to version 2.1.1 (or something like that). I allowed it to do so. Then I disconnected iPod and started watching Pirates of the Caribbean on it. Half way through the movie, iPod suddenly blacked out! I could still see the backlight, but the screen was completely blank and I could hear clicker when I clicked buttons too! I had never heard of iPods hanging!!
I quickly went to Apple's site and looked up if there was something I could do. First thing Apple suggested was to reset the iPod. So I pressed the Menu and the middle button of iPod at the same time and voila! iPod rebooted! The battery had nearly drained out, so I plugged the iPod to my computer again and let it charge up!

Yesterday:
I still had some space left on iPod shuffle and decided to add some more songs. So I connected shuffle and opened up iTunes. It asked me whether I wanted to update shuffle's software. The memories of my previous similar troubles with iPod video came back to me. I thought "whatever, I can handle it if it happens again". So I let it update. After iTunes downloaded the software, it failed to update shuffle. So I disconnected shuffle, reconnected it and restarted iTunes. It updated shuffle effortlessly this time. Phew! But when I tried adding songs to it, it said something like "iPod cannot be updated. The disk cannot be read from/written to" After half an hour of continuously trying to get songs to my shuffle, I almost gave up.
Then I decided to try adding songs with previous version of iTunes. I dual booted to Windows 2000, installed iTunes and iPod software that came in CD with the shuffle. I fired up iTunes, erased all the songs and added what I wanted. It worked!!

Last couple of days were adventurous, won't you say! :P

eXPerienceARTS on deviantART

2006-12-08T09:32:00.000-08:00

Well, check out the official (:P) eXPerience the "V"'s eXPerienceARTS on deviantART! :)

Click to Visit eXPerienceARTS

Screenshot of IE6 VPC Image

2006-12-05T23:05:00.000-08:00

Well, I downloaded the Virtual PC (VPC) Image of Windows XP SP2 with IE6 (495 MB) released by Microsoft as mentioned in this post. And here's the screenshot of it! (click the image to enlarge)

Free Pre-Activated Windows XP SP2 Virtual PC Image!

2006-12-01T20:58:00.000-08:00

The Internet Explorer Development Team has announced a free downloadable Virtual PC image of Windows XP SP2 with IE6 installed. This is mainly released keeping in mind the web-developers since they often need to test their sites on different browsers and configurations.
You need Microsoft Virtual PC (Free download available here) to run this file. Please note that this image has been time-bombed and will expire in April 2007.

Download Windows XP SP2 + IE6 VPC Image

My take on new Microsoft releases.

2006-11-30T07:10:00.000-08:00

Microsoft Office 2007 : I know it's weird to actually fall in love with an Office application, but Office 2007 deserves it. It's wonderfully magnificent! The new ribbon interface is awesome. Microsoft has really simplified the interface with this new ribbon feature. The live previews option is cool too. Hat's off to the Office team for sticking with this new interface throughout beta process and not drastically changing ribbon interface (as many feared might happen in final release). My only problem is too much use of yellow color. It doesn't look good at all.

My rating: 4.5/5.

Microsoft Windows Vista: The new visual refresh to new version of Windows, Windows Vista is awesome. The new icons, the Aero Glass theme, transition effects are all cool. Security-wise Vista is a huge improvement over Windows XP. UAP, low-lever security features, Protected mode in Internet Explorer really make Vista safer. One thing where I think Microsoft went wrong was when they decided to release many Vista programs for Windows XP too. They have released Windows Defender, Internet Explorer 7, Windows Media Player 11 for Windows XP, and a few years back there were also talks about porting Windows Sidebar to Windows XP. This really reduces Vista specific features Microsoft can use to persuade users to buy Vista. Anyhow, Vista is still a great improvement over XP.

My rating: 3.5/5.

Internet Explorer 7: They finally updated it! The new version of Internet Explorer features tabbed browsing interface, integrated RSS support, Phishing protection, Pop-up blocker, integrated search, auto-complete form among others. Upgrade to this version if you haven't done so already!

My rating: 4/5.

Windows Media Player 11: You have to agree, the new WMP11 interface is a LOT better than previous versions (remember the bloated WMP10 interface?). The new media player offers advanced Library management which lets you organize your media with ease. New WMP also supports MTV's new Online Music service called URGE.

My rating: 4.5/5.

Windows Defender: This is a really good anti-spyware program. The detection rate is good. I like the fact that it does all the work silently and doesn't irk you with stupid pop-ups like other competitors' products. It also keeps running when you are logged off! Overall this is a really good anti-spyware program that everyone should have. It can be improved however. For start, it should show the approximate time remaining for scan to complete or at least a true progressbar. It should also show some entry like "1 infection detected" or something like that. You have no idea whether anything has been found until the scan is complete.

My rating: 4/5.

High Quality Windows Vista RTM Wallpapers

2006-11-27T07:15:00.000-08:00

Haklabs has posted on Yahoo! Photos, all the wallpapers available in the RTM (final) version of Windows Vista. There are about 54 wallpapers for you to view and download. Enjoy!

View and download wallpapers from Yahoo! Photos.
Download all the wallpapers from RapidShare.
View Haklabs' website.

When is enough really enough?

2006-11-25T06:57:00.000-08:00

A few months back, I really wanted to own an iPod... any iPod, be it nano, shuffle, or video. I just wanted one for myself. Then my generous brother got this for me:

and he got this one for himself:

It didn't stop there. He even got this for our dad:

3 iPods in one family!! Now that was more (really more) than I had asked for...

I wonder what's coming next...

;)

eXPerience the "V" is back

2006-11-24T22:17:00.000-08:00

So, I haven't updated eXPerience since November 06! Thing is, my RAM went dead on that day and I haven't had a working computer till day before yesterday. And I spent yesterday re-installing Windows XP then Service Pack 2 then downloading and installing updates and patches and finally installing all my regular applications (yeah, my previous Windows XP got corrupt too!) So it really hasn't been my month, November :( . Ah well, I'll start posting regularly again from tomorrow.

Windows Weekly Episode 4

2006-11-06T23:30:00.000-08:00

In this episode, Paul Thurrott and Leo Laporte talk about Windows Vista Build 6000, Vista Express Upgrades, the Motion Desktop, Windows Media Player 11, and product support nightmares with Dell and Apple.

Listen to this podcast (oops... netcast) on TWiT.

Microsoft Office 2007 Released to Manufacturing

2006-11-06T23:19:00.000-08:00

Monday morning at 9:00 EST, Microsoft announced that its long-awaited Office 2007 System was complete, setting the stage for a late November 2006 business rollout of the products and a wider consumer launch in January.
"We've crossed the development finish line, and the team deserves to celebrate," says Microsoft president Jeff Raikes , who oversees the company's Business Division. "The 2007 Microsoft Office system RTM completes the most significant improvements to the products in more than a decade. It's rewarding to be able to send this release off to our customers and help them take the next big leap forward in productivity."

See Screenshots and read more at source.
Source: WinSuperSite

What I'm reading...

2006-11-05T22:54:00.000-08:00

These are the books that I've read recently (or) am reading.

1. Paulo Coelho - Veronika Decides to Die*

2. Paulo Coelho - Like the Flowing River

3. J.R.R. Tolkien - The Hobbit*

4. J.R.R. Tolkien - The Lord of the Rings - The Fellowship of the Ring*

Finally then, a non-techy post! :P

* The images of covers shown here may not actually depict the cover of the respective book that I own ;).

Microsoft releases official Zune Theme!

2006-11-02T21:30:00.000-08:00

Microsoft has posted on it's Official Zune website, zune.net, a desktop theme for Windows XP! This theme looks like the Royal Noir theme that was leaked a few days back, but all the bugs have been fixed. The taskbar and titlebars are black and start button orange-brownish.
Overall, this is pretty good theme and worth a download and try.

Download Zune Theme : Click Here.

Windows Vista: The Road to Gold : Part 4

2006-11-02T00:17:00.000-08:00

"By the end of 2004, beta testers and tech enthusiasts were running out of patience with Microsoft: The company hadn't shipped a public Longhorn pre-release build since the previous April and it didn't look like it was ready to do so anytime soon. And while Microsoft had pushed back its schedule, revealing that Longhorn wouldn't ship until 2006, and provided guidance on Longhorn features that would be back-ported to Windows XP and Windows Server 2003, questions remained. Fortunately, 2005 would see the beginning of the turnaround for Longhorn. It would get a final name, Windows Vista. And Microsoft would ship a Beta 1 release and then a rapid-fire series of interim builds that would finally give testers their first taste of the final Vista experience."

Read more in Part 4 of Windows Vista - The Road to Gold on WinSuperSite

Update: Paul has posted Part 5 , Part 6 and Part 7 of The Road to Gold.

Windows Media Player 11 Final Released!

2006-10-30T23:52:00.000-08:00

Microsoft has finally released the next version of it's Media Player software, Windows Media Player 11. WMP11, among other features, includes a completely new user interface, improved snycing, support for MTV's URGE service, improved management of playlists, etc.

Main Page : Windows Media Player Home
Download : Download Windows Media Player 11 (x86) for Windows XP

Flock : The Social Web Browser

2006-10-30T09:59:00.000-08:00

Flock is an amazing new web browser that makes it easier to share media and connect to other people online. Share photos, automatically stay up-to-date with new content from your favorite sites, and search the Web with the most advanced Search Toolbar available today.

Main Website: Flock
Download : Download Page

Windows Vista: The Road to Gold : Part 3

2006-10-30T09:46:00.000-08:00

"If 2003 was the apex of excitement for Windows Vista, 2004 would reverse that trend quite nicely. We wouldn't know it until a year later, but in 2004, Microsoft hit a wall with Windows Vista, requiring the company to literally drop much of the work it had previously done and start again from scratch. But let's not get ahead of ourselves."

Read more in Part 3 of Windows Vista - The Road to Gold on WinSuperSite.

Firefox 2.0 Final Released!

2006-10-24T20:07:00.000-07:00

Mozilla team released on 24th October, as promised, the next version of it's highly popular web browser, Firefox 2.0.
Firefox 2.0 sports a new clean and glassy look and helps in improving the usability. Among other features, Firefox 2.0 comes with in-built Phishing Filter, improved Tab Browsing and Inline Spell Checking.

Go to Firefox Homepage
Download Firefox 2.0

Windows Defender Final released!

2006-10-23T20:42:00.000-07:00

Microsoft has (quietly) released the final version of it's anti-spyware solution, Windows Defender. Final release includes, among other changes, a minor UI update (now featuring blue-green colors of Vista), new options, improved detection rates and improved Software Explorer.

What is Windows Defender?

Windows Defender is a free program that helps protect your computer against pop-ups, slow performance, and security threats caused by spyware and other unwanted software. It features Real-Time Protection, a monitoring system that recommends actions against spyware when it's detected and minimizes interruptions and helps you stay productive

Goto : Windows Defender Homepage
Download Windows Defender Final

Windows Vista: The Road to Gold

2006-10-22T07:18:00.000-07:00

In Windows Vista : The Road to Gold, Paul Thurrott examines what really happened during the long five years of development of Windows Vista (then called Windows Codenamed Longhorn). Paul walks us through each year highlighting important events (and disasters) that occurred during Windows Vista's development. An interesting read.

Read Windows Vista : The Road to Gold Part 1 (2001-2002)
Read Windows Vista : The Road to Gold Part 2 (2003)

Note: There are 3 more articles on this topic lined up (2004,2005,2006). I'll update this post with new links when Paul posts them on his WinSuperSite.

Firefox 2.0 Final will release on October 24!

2006-10-21T02:02:00.000-07:00

Not to be outdone by Microsoft's recent release of Internet Explorer 7, Mozilla will release the second major version of its rival Firefox browser on Tuesday, October 24.
According to Mozilla Vice President of Products Christopher Beard, Firefox 2.0, which should be available on Tuesday if all goes according to schedule, includes key new usability features missing in the new IE 7.

Read More on Yahoo! News

Add Yahoo! friend to your WLM to enter a chance to win a free trip!

2006-10-20T04:21:00.000-07:00

If you use Windows Live Messenger which lets you chat with Yahoo! friends, then you can win a free trip to visit your friend! Here's what you need:

1] Windows Live Messenger 8. (click to download)
2] Atleast "one" Yahoo! friend in your contact list.

And you can enter the contest by clicking here!

Contest ends on November 21, 2006.

Source: MessengerSays Team

Windows Server 2003 SP2 Beta 2 Refresh released!

2006-10-20T03:39:00.000-07:00

Windows Serviceability Team has released a refresh of Service Pack 2 Beta 2 for Windows Server 2003 and Windows XP Professional x64 Edition on connect. This build, tagged 2805, contains:
- Roll up of hotfixes released to date
- Roll up of security updates released to date
- Fixes for bugs reported by Beta customers and other known issues on previous Service Pack 2 builds
- Fix for Volume Licensing customers who are using Windows XP Professional x64 Edition

Goto Microsoft Connect.

Windows Vista RTM delayed!

2006-10-20T02:14:00.000-07:00

Microsoft's next OS, Windows Vista, was supposed to RTM next week, on October 25. However, Jim Allchin, co-president of Microsoft's platforms and services division, says they will have to postpone the date for RTM.

"We won't RTM (release to manufacturing) in a week. We are in pretty good shape." says Allchin, "And there are still months before (the January 2007) launch."

Source: Mary Jo Foley's Blog

Windows XP Service Pack 3 delayed!

2006-10-19T22:05:00.000-07:00

Microsoft has quietly updated their Windows Service Pack Road Map page to reveal that Windows XP Service Pack 3 might now be released in 1H (1st half) of 2008! Originally, Windows XP SP3 was planned for 2H 2007 release. So that makes about 4 years gap between SP2 and SP3!(SP2 was released on August 6, 2004) Wonder if Service Pack 3 will be bigger than SP2..

Other changes in that page reveal that Windows Server 2003 Service Pack 2 is now planned for Q1 2007. (It was originally planned for 2H 2006)

I've just got one question for Microsoft....why?!

Internet Explorer 7 Released!!

2006-10-18T22:24:00.000-07:00

Internet Explorer 7 is finally out! Sporting build number 7.0.5730.11 it is about 15MB in size. Note that this version will automatically uninstall previous beta versions of Internet Explorer 7 that you may have installed.
If you don't plan to download and install IE7 (and don't want it to be delivered to you via Automatic Update on 1st November) then Microsoft suggests that you install IE7 Blocker Toolkit.

Visit Internet Explorer 7 Homepage

Download IE7 for Windows XP SP2 (32 bit)
Download IE7 for Windows 2003 (32 bit)
Download IE7 for Windows XP/2003 (64 bit)

Cheers!

Get.Live.Com updated!

2006-10-18T09:36:00.000-07:00

Get.Live.com, part of Windows Live service, has been updated with a new layout!

click image to enlarge it

Check it out by clicking here!

c|net Download.com get's a layout update

2006-10-18T06:25:00.000-07:00

c|net's download.com has just been updated to a new layout. Although, I like the way they've arranged everything, there's just too much yellow! ew...

(click image to enlarge it)

Click to visit download.com

(My) Top 20 Firefox Extensions

2006-10-18T00:36:00.000-07:00

Here are my top 20 extensions for Firefox:

1. DOM Inspector - Inspect the DOM of HTML, XUL, and XML pages, including the browser chrome.

2. Adblock - Filters ads from web-pages.

3. Tabbrowser Preferences - Enhance control over some aspects of tabbed browsing.

4. Web Developer - Adds a menu and toolbar with various web developer tools.

5. FasterFox - Performance and network tweaks for Firefox.

6. SessionSaver - Magically restores your last browsing session.

7. NoScript - Extra Protection for your Firefox : NoScript allows JavaScript, Java (and other plugins) only for trusted domains of your choice.

8. Right-Click Link - Opens selected text in a new tab.

9. Anonymouser - Open link anonymously with anonymouser.org.

10. Disable Targets for Downloads - Prevents download links opening a blank window.

12. Mouse Gestures - Allows you to execute common commands using mouse gestures.

13. Tab Mix Plus - Tab browsing with an added boost.

14. Paste and Go 2 - Past text and load/search it immediately.

15. Super DragAndGo - Drag a link or anything like a uri and throw it anywhere to open in new tab.

16. DownThemAll - The mass downloader for Firefox.

17. Remove Cookie(s) for Site - Adds right-click menu option and toolbar button to remove all cookies of currently opened site.

18. CookieSafe - Control cookie permissions.

19. FlashGot - Enables single and massive downloads using most popular external download manager.

20. VideoDownloader - Download embedded videos from more than 60 websites (including YouTube,Google, etc).

Firefox 2.0 RC3 available for download!

2006-10-17T08:44:00.000-07:00

From Firefox 2.0 site:

Firefox 2 Release Candidate 3 (RC 3) is a preview release of our next generation Firefox browser and is being made available for download to Web application developers, our testing community and users who want to get a sneak peek at the next version of Firefox. Please note that at this time, users should not expect all of their extensions, plugins and themes from previous versions of Firefox to work properly. Please note that installing Firefox 2 RC 3 will overwrite your existing installation of Firefox. You won't lose any of your bookmarks or browsing history, but some of your extensions and other add-ons might not work until updates for them are made available. Your copy of Firefox 2 RC 3 will be automatically updated to the final release of Firefox 2 when it becomes available.

Download Firefox 2.0 RC3

Vista Features alternatives for Windows XP : Part 1

2006-10-17T02:46:00.000-07:00

Windows Vista features numerous new features, which are exciting and useful too. So, for XP users, let me briefly mention alternatives to much talked about features in Vista for Windows XP.

1. Search.

- Windows Desktop Search (Microsoft) : Fast, well organised, nice UI.
Size : Just above 4MB
Click to Download.

- Google Desktop Search (Google) : Fast, Traditional Web-based Google layout for Searches.
Size : About 2MB
Click to Download.

2. Sidebar.

- Google Desktop Search (Google) : Comes with it's own sidebar!
Size : About 2MB
Click to Download.

- Desktop Sidebar : High Customizability
Size : 10.8MB
Click to Download.

3. Picture Organizer.

- Picasa 2 (Google) : Great UI, easy to use and organize
Size : About 5MB
Click to Download.

4. User Interface.

- WindowBlinds 5.1 (Stardock)
Size : ?
Click to Download.

- Windows Vista Skins
Search them on DeviantArt.

Well, enjoy then! :P

Part 2 coming soon.

Edit: Why doesn't blogger display PNG files correctly? >:( . This is what it should have looked like! -> Click

Internet Explorer 7 to be out on 18th October?

2006-10-16T08:48:00.000-07:00

According to a blog on MSDN,Internet Explorer 7 is set to be released on 18th of October and will be delivered via Automatic Updates on 1st November. How cool is that! Can't wait ;)

Microsoft agrees to change Windows Vista's security

2006-10-16T08:39:00.000-07:00

Microsoft Corp. did an about-face yesterday, agreeing to make it easier for customers of its forthcoming Vista operating system to use outside security vendors, such as those who make popular antivirus and anti-spyware programs.

Until now, Microsoft had planned to block those companies from installing their products in the deepest levels of the new operating system, which is scheduled for release early next year.

The company said it was doing so to address the concerns of security and performance in Windows XP and apply them to Windows Vista.

Microsoft's shift means that users would continue to have a choice in the programs they use to protect their computers and not be tied to something that Microsoft offers.

Read more at source.

Source: Washington Post

Virtual PC 2007 Beta begins!

2006-10-14T02:28:00.000-07:00

Microsoft team has started the beta of Virtual PC 2007, which now comes with support for Windows Vista.

Major Changes:
- Support for hardware virtualisation (both Intel & AMD)
- Support for Windows Vista as a host operating system
- Support for Windows Vista as a guest operating system
- Improved performance

Sign up for Virtual PC 2007 Beta

Source: Technet Blog

Microsoft updates it's website's favicon

2006-10-14T02:24:00.000-07:00

Microsoft has updated it's website's favicon. Here's what it looks like:

Looks good,eh? :P

Check it out yourself by visiting Microsoft Website

Windows Weekly 2: Podcast with Paul Thurrott and Leo Laporte

2006-10-13T23:24:00.000-07:00

Paul Thurrott brings us another cool Pod...er..Netcast. In this episode, Paul and Leo discuss:

* RC2 ships
* Vista Sideshow
* Windows compatibility shivs
* Features missing from Vista, WinFS, Monad, Sidebar
* Internet Explorer 7's "forced" upgrade
* IE 7 compatibility issues
* The registry lives on
* Ray Noorda passes on
* Michael Robertson says the Zune will be the flop of 2007.
* Too bad about the Rio Carbon
* Amazon's Unbox is a DRM nightmare
* Get free books and buy Paul's old stuff on his Internet Nexus blog
* Earth Abides by George R. Stewart
* Paul's game of the week is Lego Star Wars II for Windows and Xbox
* Bend Internet Explorer to your will with IEForge's inline search extension

Worth listening folks :)

Click here to listen to Episode 2 of Windows Weekly
Click here to visit Paul's Windows SuperSite
Click here to visit Paul's InternetNexus Blog

Cheers! :D

New Office Online and Office Live Preview!!

2006-10-10T08:23:00.000-07:00

In this new preview of Office Live, Microsoft has adopted the “ribbon” look (similar to that in found in Betas of Office 2007) into the web design and it looks awesome! At the moment, it only features the Luna (Blue) style as opposed to Blue, Black and Silver styles found in Office 2007 Beta.

Preview:

See it for yourself by clicking here.

The Windows Live OneCare Beta (v1.5) Begins!

2006-10-09T22:02:00.000-07:00

Windows Live OneCare 1.5 Beta has just started. This time, OneCare supports Windows Vista (Build 5500 and above). Here's what OneCare does for you according to Microsoft:

- Runs quietly in the background, providing anti-virus, anti-spyware, and firewall protection
- Activates Phishing Filter in Internet Explorer 7 to help block or warn against identity theft or online scams
- Updates itself to help you keep ahead of the latest threats
- Runs regular tune-ups to help optimize the performance of your PC
- Provides one-click resolutions for any actions that you may need to take
- Makes backups to a variety of devices a breeze
- Lets you see the status of your system at a glance

Currently this beta is available in the following countries:
Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Korea, Mexico, Netherlands, New Zealand, Singapore, Spain, Switzerland, UK, US.

and works on Windows XP SP2 and Windows Vista 5500+

Click here to learn more about Windows Live OneCare.

Source: eXPerience the "V"

Windows Vista to include animated wallpapers!

2006-10-09T09:44:00.000-07:00

The most recent in a series of rumors about the previously named "Desktop Aurora" purports that the long-awaited animated desktop wallpapers will indeed appear in Windows Vista's final release under the name "Motion Desktop". However, Aurora supposedly won't be the only animated wallpaper to be included with the operating system - it is rumoured that there will be at least three different animated desktops shipping with the upcoming OS.

Read more at source.

Source: JCXP

Windows Vista RC2 (Build 5744) released to Public!!

2006-10-07T03:56:00.000-07:00

As expected, Microsoft on Friday issued the second release candidate of Windows Vista (build 5744) - the last public build before the next-generation operating system goes RTM. This build is available to Public via CPP. Links given below.

Connect Users : Download Windows Vista RC2
Public Download, CPP : Download Windows Vista RC2
View Screenshots : Paul's WinSuperSite for Windows

Windows Live Mail Updated!

2006-10-05T23:14:00.000-07:00

After ignoring the product for over three months, after the managed beta program ended about a month ago, Microsoft, with great surprise, released a few minutes ago, a final visual update to Windows Live Mail beta, though what's surprising is that it still sports the beta tag.

The update features the Windows Live Orb, the "flare" header in one colour scheme, and it is overall less white throughout the UI.

Source: JCXP and eXPerience the "V"

Black color of maximized windows in Vista fixed!...Sort of

2006-10-03T22:08:00.000-07:00

The Windows Shell Team posted on Shell:Revealed that they have finally listened to people and are getting rid of that ugly black color you see when you maximize a window in Windows Vista. However, there's more to it. The Windows Shell Team quotes :

In the end, we decided that we like the black and think it is the right thing to do, but we want to respect the user's color choice for users who bother to make a change. So - starting in today's build, we have significantly backed off the amount of black that is mixed in with the user's color for maximized windows.

Which means that the maximized window will take the color of color scheme you are currently using, with a black shade. However this change will be almost unnoticable to those who use the default Color Scheme. Well, something is better than nothing,rejoice!!

Source: Shell:Revealed

Live! Word

2006-09-30T00:38:00.000-07:00

I've put up another blog on WordPress called Live! Word. This blog mainly concentrates on providing you with Guides, Tutorials, Mods and a few Reviews. At the time of writing this post, I have already written 6 articles (including 5 guides and 1 tutorial) on Live! Word.

Give it a try! Click Here to visit Live! Word.

Windows Weekly : Podcast with Paul Thurrott and Leo Laporte

2006-09-30T00:29:00.000-07:00

Paul Thurrott from WinSuperSite brings to us his first podcast with Leo Laporte. In this Podcast, named Windows Weekly, we hear Paul discuss Windows Vista, Office 2007, and the exploit in Internet Explorer VML. This first episode of Windows Weekly is really good and defiantely worth hearing.

Click here to listen to Windows Weekly
Click here to visit Paul's WinSuperSite for Windows

The-rDA Live temporarily down...

2006-09-25T23:27:00.000-07:00

The-rDA Live (the-rda.com | the-rda.dark-obsessions.net) is currently down. So you won't be able to access the new The-rDA Live! Word, but stick around, we'll have it up in no time!! :D :D :D :D

Microsoft launches Digital Advertising Solutions

2006-09-25T04:34:00.000-07:00

Microsoft has announced the launch of Microsoft Digital Advertising Solutions - a global advertising brand strategy that ties in Windows Live, Xbox, Office Online and more together for advertisers to take advantage and reach their intended consumers.

Digital Advertising Solutions is pretty much Microsoft’s service to give advertisers all-out access to the things they need to advertise on Windows Live, Xbox, and other services or products. If you want to advertise to the users of Windows Live Messenger or Windows Live Spaces, this is the place you would want to go.

Link to Microsoft Digital Advertising
Read Press Announcement
Read More...
Source: MSTech Today

The-rDA Live! Word is Online!!

2006-09-25T04:23:00.000-07:00

The-rDA Live word is now online. Live! Word offers Guides, Tutorials, Reviews and more all in one place! So give it a visit and be prepared to get Addicted!!

Click HERE to goto The-rDA Live! Word.

Now you can disable Vista Startup Sound!!

2006-09-23T10:17:00.000-07:00

Just before the login screen comes up, Vista displays a awesome animation of the the Windows Orb glowing with a start sound that plays. In previous builds, this sound that plays with the animation was hard-coded in - unable to be deactivated or muted.

In Build 5728, you can now go to the Sound Control Panel and disable this sound from playing when you start up your PC!

Source : MSTech Today

Windows Vista Build 5728 available for public download!

2006-09-23T08:47:00.000-07:00

Yep, it's now available for public download. Download it by Clicking HERE Now!

The-rDA Live! Gallery Update...

2006-09-22T22:29:00.000-07:00

An update to The-rDA Live! Gallery. Switched to Coppermine :) Right now it has more than 65 wallpapers (with about 60+ wallpapers added everyday!!)

Link: Click Here

Note: I'll be editing the Gallery link on Main site to link to this new gallery soon.

Windows Vista Build 5728 Released!

2006-09-22T19:40:00.000-07:00

Microsoft has just released an updated version of Windows Vista to technical beta testers. Build 5728 is available in either x86 or x64 right now on Microsoft Connect.

File Information:

x86 vista_5728.16387.060917-1430_x86fre_client-LRMCFRE_EN_DVD.iso - 2,622.25 MB

x64 vista_5728.16387.060917-1430_x64fre_client-LRMCxFRE_EN_DVD.iso - 3,628.64 MB

Win Windows Vista USB Drive!

2006-09-22T03:05:00.000-07:00

Microsoft dude James Senior is giving away not two, not three, but one (1) Windows Vista branded 256MB USB flash/memory drive/stick!!

For this competition, you actually have to turn on your brain. James asks, in no more than 30 words, "tell me about your favourite feature in Vista and why it’s so great." The competition closes on the 25th of September 2006 by noon GMT, so you better start thinking!

For details on how to enter this competition, go check out James Senior’s blog. He has also publically published his email address, so you can also send him mortgage offers.

Source: Live tr

My Desktop Today 4

2006-09-22T00:51:00.000-07:00

Today's :
Using classic theme in Windows Vista.

Temporary address change

2006-09-20T08:56:00.000-07:00

Temporarily, The-rDA.com will be unavailable. But you can still see the site by using this link:

http://the-rda.dark-obsessions.net

So, that's it :) :)

My Desktop Today 3

2006-09-20T08:54:00.000-07:00

Well, today I have a wallpaper from Vista Starter Edition:

My Desktop Today 2

2006-09-18T22:57:00.000-07:00

So, here's my desktop for the day:

[Click Image To Enlarge]

Windows Vista Editions color-coded!

2006-09-18T09:13:00.000-07:00

Many people are confused about numerous versions of Windows Vista Microsoft's going to release. Microsoft is trying to find ways to avoid people from being lost because of the fact that all seven editions are on a single DVD, and to simplify the user upgrade process. Hence Microsoft created a color code for all Windows Vista editions:

1] Home Basic: Light Green
2] Home Premium: Dark Green
3] Business: Blue
4] Ultimate: Silver/Platinum

Hmm...

Btw, Souce: JCXP

My Desktop Today

2006-09-17T22:24:00.000-07:00

I'll be posting a screenshot of my desktop everyday (or as often as I get time :P ) here. So, let's start. This is my desktop for the day!

Media Portal, XP Media Center Alternative

2006-09-16T02:36:00.000-07:00

MediaPortal is an Open Source application ideal for turning your PC in a very advanced Multi-Media Center / HTPC. MediaPortal allows you to listen to your favorite music & radio, watch your video's and DVD's, view, schedule and record live TV and much more.

As Open Source software licensed under the GNU/GPL agreement, you get MediaPortal for free. This means anyone can contribute to MediaPortal or customize for their own needs!

MediaPortal is built on the Microsoft .NET framework using C# and currently has a growing international community of over 10,000 users.

This awesome software can play DVDs/VCDs, let you watch TV, listen to music, watch pictures and slideshows, listen to radio, read RSS newsfeeds and much more!!

Main Program Download Page

Download Link

If you do not have essentials Listed HERE, download them first!

NOTE: This software is still under-development, so this may not be what final product looks like. Although it worked great on my PC. BTW, this software is totally free and is open source

1st Day after switching back to Firefox...

2006-09-15T04:08:00.000-07:00

As mentioned in my previous post, I've switched back to Firefox after about 6 months of using Opera. I'm planning to give Firefox a try for 5 days without touching IE or Opera.

Today was the first day, and it's been exciting. Websites load faster, I can get rid of annoying ads and few sites which don't work well with Opera, open like charm in Firefox. I can finally use Toolbars (which was not possible in Opera).

I faced some problems with devianrtART though. Firefox fails to load images (specifically the deviation images uploaded by other deviants), so I can see drawings section nor previews of deviations that I want to download. I think it must be problem with some of the extentions (probably Adblock or something).

Anyways, I loved Firefox on this first day, and am determined to use it extensively for the next five days before I consider switching :)

Office 2007 Beta 2TR released!

2006-09-14T10:49:00.000-07:00

Yes, it's been released! with many bug fixes and improved interface. view more details in my previous post, here

Switched to Firefox, almost

2006-09-14T06:56:00.000-07:00

I've been using Opera for quite sometime now, maybe more than 5-6 months. I used Firefox and Internet Explorer ocassionally, usually when Opera just wouldn't open a site right. Today I decided to give Firefox 1.5.0.6 a try for next 5 days and see if I am more comfortable (and productive) with it.
So that's it! It's Firefox for me for the next 5 days :)

P.S.: Anyone know how I can arrange bookmarks in Firefox the way they are in Opera, instead of default scrolling thing?

Office 2007 Beta 2 TR to be realeased in few hours

2006-09-14T03:12:00.000-07:00

Microsoft will release a Technical Refresh build (4407.1005) for Office 2007 Beta 2 today. The UI is at lockdown after about 1000 changes to the ribbon and a new silver scheme. Anything after this will be bug fixes.

B2TR is compatible with Windows Vista RC1 and comes in 5 languages: English, German, French, Spanish and Japanese. The Technical Refresh will be available for public download at a cost of $1.50. This fee is requested in order for Microsoft to be able to pay for bandwidth and shipping costs.

Improvements expected in this build:

Improved Ribbon (nearly 1000 changes)
Top-left redesign of the programs (File Menu)
Double-click the office button to close the window
Silver color scheme
Redesign of the PowerPoint Home tab
Improvements to default styles for all objects (pictures, tables, charts, SmartArt, headers, footers, etc.)
New Icons for all the products
Usability improvements to the Office menu
Send button in the form in Outlook
Beta 2 customers are expected to receive the update free of charge. A web patch, that is meant to be installed over Beta 2, is expected to be released for these users. The full install can only be used if the current Beta 2 is uninstalled.

View shots of 3 themes

Source: Neowin

Woot! :P

EDIT: Exclusive!!! Office 2007 Beta 2TR has been released! Download of Office 2007 Beta 2TR is free on Office Preview Site

Please note that the Beta 2 Technical Refresh extends the timeline for Microsoft Office Beta 2 use, which you need to install first. The refresh is also recommended if you'd like to use Office 2007 beta in combination with Windows Vista RC1. In addition, it updates Microsoft Office SharePoint Server 2007 for Search with a simple and powerful user interface, making it easier than ever to deploy and manage this core search for your business. Be sure to visit TechNet Beta Central as well, where you will find resources designed to help you get the most out of your evaluation. These include web forums, bug voting, virtual labs, e-learning modules and news and updates.

Woot! This news appeared first on eXPerience the "V"!!!

New iPod Shuffle!

2006-09-12T22:36:00.000-07:00

Just saw this one Apple's site. Apple has released a completely re-designed iPod Shuffle! The new Shuffle is just 1.62 inches long!! and can be clipped to your pocket! I wish I had waited a couple of months to buy this one rather than the previous version of shuffle that I own. Neways, It's cool! :)

Check it out on : iPod shuffle Site

iTunes 7 Released!

2006-09-12T21:47:00.000-07:00

Apple has just released next version of iTunes, iTunes 7. Some of the new features :

"Movies:
Buy Disney films from the iTunes Store and go to the movies without leaving your comfy chair.

Cover Flow:
With Cover Flow, you can flip through your digital music and video collection just as you would CDs.

iPod Games:
Just $4.99 in the iTunes Store, iPod games give you hours of fun.

Download Manager:
Make the most of your time by telling iTunes in what order to download content from the iTunes Store.

iPod Summary:
Get at-a-glance information about everything on your iPod."

Click to Download NOW!

Microsoft Network Monitor 3 beta 2 available to public

2006-09-12T02:49:00.000-07:00

Upcoming Network Monitor 3 will offer several new features and will be an uncapped, free, stand-alone application for Windows XP/2003/Vista/codename Longhorn (both 32 and 64bits):

Real time capture and display of frames
Simultaneous capture on multiple network adapters
Multiple simultaneous capture sessions
Network conversations and a tree view displaying frames by conversation
Enhanced capture/display filtering (with intelli-sense)
A new script-based protocol parser language, and script-based parsers

Read More

Windows Live Search's Beta about to end

2006-09-12T02:45:00.000-07:00

The Redmond software maker is moving its replacement for MSN Search from beta to final. Microsoft also is launching simultaneously the final versions of Windows Live.com and Windows Live Local.

Microsoft will be moving its Web search service – now dubbed Windows Live Search – from beta to final, starting on September 12.
Windows Live Search is the renamed and revamped replacement for MSN Search. Windows Live Search is powering the search on MSN.com, as well as on Windows Live.com – another Live property that Microsoft made available in final form, starting on September 12. Live.com is a customizable home page that users can use for search, as well as to track news, RSS feeds and blogs, images and video.

Read More

The-rDA Live Toolbar Beta

2006-09-11T08:41:00.000-07:00

I've released a test version of The-rDA Live Toolbar. This super-cool toolbar offers you all the important navigation links to The-rDA Live Website, Google Search, Email notifier (Hotmail,Yahoo!,Gmail), Cookie/History/Cache cleaner, Pop-up Blocker, Auto-Update (so you don't have to re-install The-rDA Live Toolbar when it's updated) and Live Messages so you can get all the latest messages regarding The-rDA instantly!

So many features packed into just 694KB!! Supports both Internet Explorer and Firefox! Preview and more info on Download Page. (Includes Uninstaller for easy uninstallation)

Download Now and Stay Live with The-rDA Live Toolbar!

Click To Download

Windows Live Messenger 8.1 Beta Starts

2006-09-10T07:20:00.000-07:00

The Windows Live Messenger 8.1 Beta program has officially started! All accepted participants of the beta program can download build 0064 of WLM 8.1 from MS Connect right now.

Download Windows Live Messenger 8.1 Beta (Testers Only)

Live.com updated!

2006-09-10T07:14:00.000-07:00

Windows Live team has updated live.com with a few changes. Though not major changes, they are quite noteworthy:

Responsiveness
User flow changes
Search page changes
New gadgets
Direct URLs to personalized page and search
Accessibility and Other changes

View detailed information on Live.com

Microsoft Expression Interactive Designer September CTP released!

2006-09-07T06:14:00.000-07:00

Microsoft has released September 2006 CTP of Expression Interactive Designer. It is a professional design tool used to create engaging, rich user interfaces for desktop and Web applications. This new release targets Microsoft .NET Framework 3.0 RC1. To help Microsoft improve Expression Interactive Designer, join Microsoft Connect to provide feedback.

Download Microsoft Expression Interactive Designer September 2006 CTP.

Microsoft runs out of Product Keys for Vista

2006-09-07T02:54:00.000-07:00

It seems that Microsoft Windows Vista beta developers have ran out of Product keys for testers :P ! According to a post made on Private Connect Website (viewable only to Private Testers):

"We are currently out of additional keys for package "5342 and Up Ultimate". We will have more keys available for download within 72 hours. Please do NOT send mail to MCHelp or LHBeta regarding this issue."

Google Image Labeler

2006-09-06T23:13:00.000-07:00

Help Google improve the relevance of Image Search by labeling the images! I found it kinda addictive, it's cool to know that you contributed to Google in some way :P lolz. Well, click here to label images!

I've scored 4400 points till now :P

Cheers!

Windows Vista RC1 available for public download!!

2006-09-06T20:55:00.000-07:00

The moment you've all been waiting for!! Windows Vista RC1, the one that was released to testers a few days back, can now be downloaded by anyone and everyone! However, according to Microsoft: "Windows Vista RC1 is available for participants of the Windows Vista Customer Preview Program. Please go to the Customer Preview Program website to register and receive a Product Key, which is required to install and activate the software."

For Akamai Download Manager:

Download Windows Vista RC1 x32 - 2.5GB
Download Windows Vista RC1 x64 - 3.6GB

For your browser's default download manager:

Download Windows Vista RC1 x32
Download Windows Vista RC1 x64

How to get the key?

Cheers!! Woooohooooo!

EDIT: If the above download links won't work or if they download a silly 1KB file, click this to download it from MS Vista download page.

Windows Live Essentials released!

2006-09-06T10:59:00.000-07:00

Microsoft released today a beta version of its Windows Live Essentials service to all beta-testers that subscribed to the beta program. For those who do not know, Windows Live Essentials aims to provide a simple way for users to use the most important Windows Live Services: Windows Live Messenger, Windows Live Mail desktop, Windows Live Mail, Windows Live Spaces and Windows Live Dashboard being the included products as of yet.

Those invited can visit Windows Live Essentials by clicking this.(Only viewable on Internet Explorer 6.)

Microsoft Windows Vista Upgrade Advisor RC

2006-09-06T10:11:00.000-07:00

This is quite old, but still... Microsoft Windows Vista Upgrade Advisor helps you find out if your Windows XP based PC can run Windows Vista. This small software tool will scan your computer and create an easy-to-understand report of all known system, device, and program compatibility issues, and recommend ways to resolve them. Upgrade Advisor can also help you choose the edition of Windows Vista that best fits the way you want to use your computer.

Download Microsoft Windows Vista Upgrade Advisor RC

Important release notes for Windows Vista RC1

2006-09-06T07:40:00.000-07:00

These post-installation notes for Windows Vista RC1 provide important information you should know prior to deploying and using the Microsoft Windows Vista(TM) operating system, including known issues. You should familiarize yourself with all of the known issues listed here prior to installing the software. Download these notes by clicking here

Microsoft announces new Vista CPP Program

2006-09-05T20:57:00.000-07:00

Microsoft has just announced that, as opposite to previous announcements it made about it, it will expand the Customer Preview Program to a broader audience in time for the release of the first Release Candidate. Estimates currently are that 5 million customers will get their hands on it through this new program!

Now that we're expanding the Windows Vista Customer Preview Program, an even broader audience will get to experience just how much Windows Vista has to offer, said Mike Sievert, corporate vice president for Windows Client Marketing at Microsoft. The expansion of the CPP program really sends a strong message to the industry and our customers: the time to prepare for Windows Vista has arrived.

Swiched to Blogger Beta!

2006-09-05T20:51:00.000-07:00

I switched to Blogger Beta last night. I like the simplicity and more options provided by the new interface of Dashboard... and for the first time I can post blog entries on Blogger from Opera! :D

Cheers!

PS: I like the new templates!!

Windows Live Wire

2006-09-05T09:59:00.000-07:00

According to ideas.live.com -> "Imagine a single page where you can find product news, articles, blog postings and even add your own comments about Windows Live"

I'm still not sure what this is...just found it today on ideas.live.com. Has some cool interface and pretty good animation effects.. what's Microsoft thinking :P ?

Windows Vista Pre-RC1 available for public download!

2006-08-29T01:21:00.000-07:00

Microsoft has quietly released Build 5536 (Pre RC1) for public download. But hurry! This build is only avaliable for download to first 100,000 downloaders!

Note: This is 2.5 GB x86 version of Pre-RC1. x64 version of this build will not be released according to sources. This build can only be installed by those who have a valid Beta 2 key, since there is no new key for this build.

Download Windows Vista Pre-RC1 Build 5536