With Windows 7 out the door we already know Microsoft immediately starts work on the servicing of Windows 7. Engineers are now hard at work at creating hot fixes for application compatibility and ironing out any bug reports they receive. The same process occurs for every version of Windows once it has been classed released to manufacturing (RTM).
Notorious for leaking Windows 7 builds during the beta phase, Wzor has provided some early information on the Windows 7 SP1 beta. According to Wzor a beta of Windows 7 SP1 will be released in January 2010 and the schedule is two beta releases and two release candidate releases. Wzor believes SP1 will be ready for OEMs during the Summer months (June/July/August) of 2010 with end users applying the update in the Autumn (September/October/November).
Wzor has released an image of what it claims to be an internal folder structure for the SP1 builds of Windows 7. If Wzor’s reports are accurate then we could see a beta of Windows 7 SP1 debut to the public around the same time as CES next year.
According to Microsoft blogger Steve Clayton, Microsoft Wave “is a cool new site from our UK team that is something we’ve long been without – a cool site that isn’t trying to sell anything, simply showing the breadth of cool technology that Microsoft is involved in.”
At the South By South West Interactive Festival (SXSWi 2009), Erik Klimczak, Creative Director at Clarity Consulting, which creates interactive applications for Microsoft Surface said that the updated version of Microsoft’s surface touch-screen table, featuring high-definition cameras and a higher resolution display could be expected within a year. However this was not confirmed by the Microsoft’s User Experience Evangelist for Surface who was present at the same event.
Microsoft is also working on the second generation of Surface dubbed SecondLight which adds a second dimension to Microsoft Surface and allows images to be projected above the table top. This would allow the Surface to overlay secondary images above those on the screen such as satellite imagery over a street map, or more detailed contextual data on top of images. It will also have infrared sensors that can interpret gestures and movements without having to touch the screen. SecondLight could be expected in 2 to 3 years according to Joe Olsen, CEO of design firm, Phenomblue. The project is still in R&D stage as of now.
Below is a video of Microsoft Secondlight which was demonstrated at the PDC 2008
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