Microsoft releases first Windows Vista Feature Pack
section: microsoft, for your questions: KezNews forum, 18.4.2008
So I guess this is what you call teaching an old dog new tricks. A couple of days ago Microsoft released a new update for Windows Vista that adds additional wireless support and functionality to the operating system through a “feature pack”.
Specifically it adds support for Bluetooth 2.1, a new “Unified Pairing” interface as well as “Windows Connect Now” updates and can only be installed on Vista SP1.
This is interesting to me not because any of the features above, but because up until now, the client version of Windows has never had “feature packs”. We have hotfixes, security patches, service packs and rollups, but not feature packs. What are they?
Upon a little investigation (Google Search, first search), it’s apparent feature packs are quite abundant for Windows Server. To be exact, there are 16 feature packs for Windows Server 2003 which adds a variety of functionality to the server. In essence, they provide new features to an existing operating system as a standalone update. Someone smarter than me might have came to that conclusion just by looking at the name and I envy you.
Nevertheless I ponder if this is just a one-off solution or a sign of things to come. Traditionally these sort of updates would have been included in service packs, probably because they don’t want users waking up one day finding all sorts of major changes have been silently installed via the automatic update systems. On the other hand, service packs are becoming less frequent and that results in new technology support to fall behind between (long) Windows releases.
This update in particular in itself is something out-of-the-ordinary. For example I’ve never known a Windows update in the past to change user interface, maybe even as far as to say it’s not “allowed”.
As a geek who lives on the bleeding edge of technology, this is exciting for Windows. How much of a role will feature packs play? We’ll have to wait and see I guess.
Update: The Microsoft terminology page describes feature packs as “new product functionality that is first distributed outside the context of a product release and that is typically included in the next full product release.”
source:
support.microsoft.com
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Comments(4)
neowin is receiving reports that microsoft has released codename "albany" to beta
testers. while details remain scarce, we do have a copy of albany installed, and have
discovered a little bit about what it is. it appears to be a collection of pieces of
software from microsoft, such as office home and student and windows live onecare,
available on a subscription basis, possibly the start of microsoft moving to a "software
as a service" sales model.
the subscription also promises free updates, but it
is unclear right now if that means major updates, or the updates users who own the full
versions of the product receive on a monthly basis. in addition, microsoft has promised a
free subscription, when the beta ends, to the first 200 beta testers who install the
software.
included with the package are: windows live onecare, microsoft office
home and student, and office live workspace, plus windows live messenger, windows live
mail, and windows live photo gallery.
the installation takes "about 20
minutes", and includes a software center of sorts, once installed, which allows you to
launch the products included.
screenshots:
[img]http://www.speedy-b.net/pics/files/0uee66rmlbg5y32xxyo3.jpg[/img]
[img]http://www.speedy-b.net/pics/files/sq726ya69y9gjksd4he.jpg[/img]
[img]http://www.speedy-b.net/pics/files/3wwlq97qn3yc8e8ktcla.jpg[/img]
[img]http://www.speedy-b.net/pics/files/tevgcxm577p08pt3k5mc.jpg[/img]
[img]http://www.speedy-b.net/pics/files/0tr9qbcif6sa7pylfds5.jpg[/img]
from
microsoft: "albany" is the codename for a new all-in-one subscription service of
essential security and software consumers told us were most important to them. in one easy
install, "albany" gives you windows live onecare security and performance tools,
microsoft office home and student 2007, and windows live communication and sharing tools,
plus an easy way to connect to microsoft office live workspace.
i read about this elsewhere on the net:
basically for years (been beta tested in
other countries) ms has been experimenting with treating their os, liveonecare, and even
office on a permanent subscription basis. what it means is that they can make more money,
plus, they drive home the point that you dont own anything microsoft, you are merely
leasing it under their terms. this of course gives them more control, they make more
money, which is what makes them feel superior and less paranoid about their users. if you
dont pay, you go away, youre cutoff. additionally before you could subscibe you must
provide more information to microsoft about your identity, this empowers them. microsoft
wants total control. period. time to go open source people. linux, apple, reactos, open
office, anything. steve ballmer kiss my
mouse, i wont surrender or subscribe to any
of this, ever.
you both realize this "feature pack" has nothing to do with albany... correct?
i am sorry for being a dumbass :(
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Microsoft releases "Albany" to beta testers
By Zero on 19.04.2008 - 04:04