No Ultimate Extras for Windows 7
Windows Vista Ultimate had an interesting feature touted by Microsoft before it's release, named Extras.
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7.2.2009 Two Windows Vista Ultimate Extras Released
The most complete edition of Windows Vistawith the power, security, and mobility features that you need for work, and all of the entertainment features that you want for fun
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29.1.2007 Windows Vista Ultimate Extras Come Out of Coma
Believe it or not but the Ultimate Extras for the high-end edition of Windows Vista have come out of a coma.
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24.9.2008 Windows Vista Ultimate Extras, Less than 3 days and counting
Microsoft has 2 & 1/2 days left until Summer ends and the first day of fall officially starts. and still no word on what or if anything is happening with Ultimate Extras.
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20.9.2007 Microsoft Launches New Windows Vista Ultimate Extras
Despite no announcement being made on UltimatePC.com, Microsoft have released a new sound scheme and a content pack for Windows DreamScene as part of its Windows Vista Ultimate Extras offerings for customers who purchased the Ultimate edition of Vista.
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22.4.2008 Microsoft to Release Vista Ultimate Extras on Windows 7
Remember Ultimate Extras from Windows Vistas era? Well, it seems like some of those Ultimate Extras are going to make a comeback on Windows 7, but this time in the form of free apps.
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11.11.2009 Windows Vista Ultimate Extras Vanish in Thin Air
Microsoft is mocking users of the Ultimate edition of its Windows Vista operating system with the Windows Ultimate Extras.
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28.8.2007 Download Windows 7 RTM Free Ultimate Extras Games Soon
The Ultimate Extras live to see another day. In all fairness, it will not be the whole of Ultimate Extras that will survive, but just two components, both being games which will be delivered as standalone downloads.
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10.11.2009 Vista Ultimate Extras
One of the major unanswered questions about Windows Vista is what exactly Vista's Ultimate Extras will be.
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7.11.2006 Microsoft apologizes for lack of Ultimate Extras
The team responsible for coming up with add-ons for Microsoft Corp.'s Windows Vista Ultimate reacted to critics today by breaking three months of silence to say that it will finalize one already-released program by the end of summer.
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4.7.2007 Microsoft evades promise of Vista Ultimate Extras
The Microsoft Corp. in January released Vista Ultimate, the priciest version of the company's new operating system, with the promise of additional downloadable "Extras," available only for the top-of-the-line product.
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2.7.2007 Microsoft Answers Vista Ultimate Extras Critics
Microsoft has finally commented on the much criticized Ultimate Extras. When we launched Windows Vista in January 2007, we identified Windows Ultimate Extras as a unique series of add-ons that would be available to Windows Vista Ultimate customers.
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3.7.2007 Vista SP1 tries to hide the Ultimate Extras shame
While many are waiting on Windows Vista SP1 to come along to knock off some of Vistas rough corners, it seems that some at Microsoft will welcome the release too - specifically Microsofts Windows Ultimate group.
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24.9.2007 Microsoft releases new Ultimate Extras - Microsoft Tinker
Microsoft has silently released 3 updates for Windows Ultimate users today.
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23.9.2008 DreamScene + DreamScene Extras
Our members report in Keznews forum the download link to DreamScene and DreamScene.
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6.2.2007 Vista SP1, and then Windows 7, Windows 8 and Non-Windows Midori
2008 saw the release of Windows Vista Service Pack 1, Windows XP Service Pack 3 and Windows Server 2008, but Microsoft's journey on the Windows path is far from over.
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5.8.2008 Windows 7 RC Brings Windows XP Mode Beta and Windows Virtual PC Beta
The Release Candidate of Windows 7 will bring with it the first Beta development milestones for Windows XP Mode and Windows Virtual PC.
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29.4.2009 Windows Reactivator 2.0 - Backup & Restore Activation Status of Windows XP with Windows Reactivator
Every time you reinstall your windows XP you need to reactivate it online using your product key & worst if you lost your Windows XP product key.
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3.6.2009 Windows Vista SP1 vs. Windows Vista RTM vs. Windows XP SP2
Feb 26th, 2008. Principled Technologies has released two Microsoft commissioned reports on Windows Vista SP1 performance. In these tests, Principled Technologies measured responsiveness of Windows Vista SP1 vs. Windows Vista RTM vs. Windows XP SP2 when performing a set of common business and home tasks.
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28.2.2008 Windows 7, Windows 8, Windows 9 1 Billion and Counting
Is Windows dead? Or, at least, is this the beginning of the end for Microsoft's proprietary operating system?
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15.9.2008 Week in Microsoft: Windows 7, Windows 8, Windows 9
This week in Microsoft, we covered 128-bit support possibly coming to Windows 8 and Windows 9, Windows 7, Windows Mobile 6.5, Bill Gates, Office 2010 Starter, Microsoft MVP status, Windows Live Hotmail, the EU, and Microsoft Security Essentials.
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10.10.2009 Windows Vista Build 5231 and Windows Media Player 11 Leaks!
Windows Vista Build 5231 has leaked to the web. The new build is said to include Windows Media Player 11 included. View the screenshots below! This is a Main branch build that was released on September 12th, 2005 at 8:20PM.
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Windows Vista SP1 and Windows XP SP3: Official Release Dates
A French website, PC Inpact, has posted the official Microsoft product change request forms for Vista SP1 and Windows XP SP3.
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6.2.2008 Download Free Windows Vista and Windows XP SP2 Straight from Microsoft
Via the Internet Explorer Application Compatibility VPC Image. That's right! Microsoft is offering access to free downloads of Windows Vista and Windows XP SP2.
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6.3.2008 Windows Vista SP1 outperforms Windows XP SP2 in file copy
"Its interesting that people seem to think that Vista under performs in every area of the system which is quite an incorrect perception.
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27.5.2008 Windows Fiji Has RTMd as Windows Media Center TV Pack 2008
Microsoft officially confirmed that Windows Fiji has been released to manufacturing.
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18.7.2008 Windows 7 Beta Doesn't Play Nice with Windows Azure Cloud OS Tools
The promise for Windows 7 is that it will deliver an evolution when it will come down to stretching into the Cloud compared to its precursor, Windows Vista.
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16.1.2009 Internet Explorer 8 MUI packs for Windows XP, Windows Server 03
As detailed in our previous blog post, the following Internet Explorer MUI packs shipped today.
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17.5.2009 Windows Home Server Power Pack 3 Beta adds Windows 7 support
Microsoft announced the release of Windows Home Server Power Pack 3 Beta, along with news that it will feature Windows 7 support.
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20.7.2009 Check for RAM Error or Defect in Windows 7 and Vista with Windows Memory Diagnostic
Memory or RAM is one of the most important electronic hardware component on a computer systems, not only in term of speed or clock frequency and size, but also the reliability of hardware ecosystem of the RAM sticks or memory modules and its subsystem.
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1.10.2009No Ultimate Extras for Windows 7
Windows Vista Ultimate had an interesting feature touted by Microsoft before it's release, named Extras. This was intended to be an added extra
for the paying the hefty price of Ultimate, to give some bonuses to those who paid for it. Unfortunately, Microsoft didn't plan it very well, and
included very few with in the release of Vista Ultimate. This led Microsoft to publicy apologizing over the matter, and to this day not a great number
have been released. This led people to wonder about Windows 7 Ultimate. Would it feature Extras, or would Microsoft not worry about them this time
around?
Read full story.....
neowin.net -
07.02.2009Microsoft Launches New Windows Vista Ultimate Extras
Despite no announcement being made on UltimatePC.com, Microsoft have released a new sound scheme and a content pack for Windows DreamScene as part of
its Windows Vista Ultimate Extras offerings for customers who purchased the Ultimate edition of Vista.
After installing the sound pack
customers get Ultimate Extras Pearl and Glass sound schemes and additional Windows DreamScene Content.
For those who have been waiting for
Ultimate Extras perhaps this is a sign that more is to come from the software giant.
neowin.net -
23.04.2008New Windows Ultimate Extras Now Available
Chris Flores: Today we are excited to announce that 3 new Windows Ultimate Extras are now available for installation via Windows Update! This is
the 6th wave of Ultimate Extras released by Microsoft exclusively for Windows Vista Ultimate users. Users will find the following Ultimate Extras
waiting to be installed:
Microsoft ® Tinker (TM): Microsoft Tinker is a casual game that provides players with short
puzzle game play sessions set in a warm, calming environment.
Ultimate Extras Sounds from Microsoft Tinker: Based on the
positive feedback we received from the release of additional Windows Sound Schemes in April, we've integrated the unique audio sounds from Microsoft
Tinker into a new sound scheme.
Windows ® DreamScene (TM) Content Pack #4 Windows DreamScene Content Pack #4 which
adds three additional nature-setting Windows DreamScenes.
Microsoft Tinker was developed for Microsoft as an Ultimate
Extra by our Partner
Fuel Industries.
Windows Ultimate Extras are only for Windows Vista Ultimate users and designed to add to their Windows experience. We will be
shipping new Windows Ultimate Extras in the near future and will post additional information here on the blog when that occurs.
winbeta.org -
24.09.2008Microsoft says more Vista Ultimate add-ons are in the pipeline
Windows users who shelled out
extra to get the
top-of-the-line Vista Ultimate
SKU, your requests for an
update have been answered.
Microsoft hasnt abandoned its
promise to get more of the
expected downloadable add-ons
to Ultimate to you, after all.
Microsoft
posted an
update on the whereabouts
to the Vista Team Blog on July
2:
The
(Ultimate Extras) team
recognizes that theyve been
dark for some time on the
topic of Ultimate Extras, but
want to go on record that they
plan to deliver pending
DreamScene and Language Pack
Extras by summers end, and
expect to disclose a schedule
of further Extras releases
after that milestone,
blogged Vista Product Manager
Nick White.
No word
on what the further Extras
might include. So dont bother
asking.
winbeta.org -
02.07.2007Microsoft Offers First Vista Ultimate Extras
Shortly before the operating
systems' launch Monday night,
Microsoft posted the first of
what it expects to be many
added extras for consumers
that have purchased its
top-of-the-line version of
Windows Vista, dubbed
"Ultimate."..
betanews.com -
31.01.2007Ultimate Extras, Two Weeks and Counting
We are in the final two weeks of summer and still no word on what or if anything is happening with Ultimate Extras.
The Ultimate
Extra blog still hasn't been updated since July 2nd when it said it intended to deliver DreamScene and the Language Packs by the end of
summer.
We intend to ship Windows DreamScene and the remaining 20 Language Packs by the end of the summer. We will not ship the last two Extras
showcased in January (Windows DreamScene and the remaining 20 Language Packs) until they meet the high quality bar required by our enthusiastic
customersand we believe that we can achieve that bar by the end of this summer.
I don't know about you, but I am beginning to think they
won't make it.
winbeta.org -
08.09.2007MISSING: Vista Ultimate Language Packs
If you thought the Ultimate Extras situation couldnt get any worse, then you have much to learn young Jedi, because rock bottom is only an illusion.
It appears that what was left of the Ultimate Extras - 16 language packs (I know, they are counted as extras) - have now been sucked into the void of
unknown.
Whether this is a widespread technical glitch or intentional symptom as a result of upgrades to the backend in
preparations for more and better Ultimate Extras remains to be speculated. Even if all my moneys on a technical glitch, there is still a quantum
chance the Ultimate Extras team will deliver on their latest promise to ship the final version of DreamScenes and the remaining 20 Language Packs
before the end of summer (September).
However for those of you who are in need of their language fix, a Channel9 member has
kindly posted the language pack
download links directly
from the Windows Update servers.
winbeta.org -
28.08.2007The Ultimate con
Long Zheng: Even if the
Windows Ultimate team has fled to the International Date Line,
summer is officially over. Normally I wouldnt care what season it is in the northern hemisphere but today it proves this team is incapable delivering
anything and should never be trusted again.
Two months ago, after weeks of
pressuring for answers, Microsofts Windows
Ultimate group director Barry Goffe
finally
spoke out about the missing Windows Vista Ultimate Extras. As implied throughout most marketing materials including the
official website and even Window
Vistas own control panel, Ultimate Extras were suppose to be frequent and free premium products and services delivered to the customers who wanted it
all. And the truth is, customers are getting near to nothing. Although realistically not everyones equally upset at the lack of extras, some argue it
wasnt part of their choice to buy Vista Ultimate, which is fine but that doesnt help the people who did.
winbeta.org -
23.09.2007RIP Ultimate Extras
Adrian Kingsley-Hughes: Back in
September of last year I wrote a piece about
how the Windows Ultimate Extras window from the RTM version of Windows Vista differed from the pre-release SP1 code that was floating about at the
time. Is Microsoft going to do right by Windows Vista Ultimate customers and start handing over the goodies or not? Looking at SP1, it seems that
Windows Ultimate Extras as good as dead.
OK, time for a little trip down memory lane. Heres what the Windows Vista Ultimate
screen looks like for Windows Vista Ultimate RTM...
winbeta.org -
08.02.2008Microsoft Responds to 'Ultimate Extras' Complaints
With a rather lackluster list
of the so-called "Ultimate
Extras," Microsoft took
the step of assuring its user
base that it still remained
committed to the idea on
Monday...
betanews.com -
03.07.2007More Vista Ultimate Addons Are In The Pipeline
Windows users who shelled out
extra to get the
top-of-the-line Vista Ultimate
SKU, your requests for an
update have been answered.
Microsoft hasn't abandoned
its promise to get more of the
expected downloadable add-ons
to Ultimate to you after all!
Microsoft
posted an update on the
whereabouts to the Vista Team
Blog on July 2:
"The (Ultimate
Extras) team recognizes that
they've been dark for some
time on the topic of Ultimate
Extras, but want to go on
record that they plan to
deliver pending DreamScene and
Language Pack Extras by
summer's end, and expect to
disclose a schedule of further
Extras releases after that
milestone" blogged Vista
Product Manager Nick White.
What
these 'further Extras' may
include is sadly still
unknown...
jcxp.net -
03.07.2007Let There Be Extras!
After months and months without seeing any updates to the so called "cutting-edge programs", "innovative services" and "unique publications"
that we like to call Ultimate Extras, users finally received a shred of hope for the long forgotten feature after the final version of Windows
DreamScene appeared on Windows Update for those running Windows Vista Ultimate edition.
In the past months, Ultimate Extras have
undergone mass criticism from users and the media due to the slow development and lack of releases. Ultimate Extras are considered the selling point
for many, and are what encouraged many to dish out the extra $200 for the all-in-one, Ultimate, version. However, Extras turned out to be nothing but
a series of disappointments. A mere four extras had been released since Vista's release, and users have been all but impressed,
some have gone as far as to say they were conned.
Today,
the gears are finally in motion after the Ultimate Extras team announced the release of the final version of Windows DreamScene. The final release now
includes a total of eight "DreamScenes", three of which are new to today's release.
jcxp.net -
26.09.2007Where are the Extras?
Some people may have noticed that the
Windows Ultimate Extra Language packs went missing over the weekend, many suspected a prelude to new updated Extras. Turns out
it was in internal Microsoft process change that inadvertently caused the currently offered language packs to be withdrawn. They have resolved the
issue put the language packs back up and the contents have not been changed...here is a little more detail.
On Friday 24 August, an internal
process change inadvertently caused the current versions of the Windows Vista language packs offered as Ultimate Extras to be withdrawn earlier than
normal in preparation for release of new updates to these language packs. This situation has since been resolved and the language packs are once more
available to Windows Vista Ultimate customers via Windows Update. The content of the language packs themselves has not been changed.
Finer points
Validation of these language packs is handled in the same manner as security updates.
- If they are
accessed directly from Microsoft.com Download Center, then validation is required to download.
- If they are accessed via the Windows
Update control panel, then validation is required before updates will appear.
- If Automatic Update (AU) is enabled in Windows Update,
then all of these updates will install automatically. There is no validation on AU.
Clock is still
ticking on Ultimate Extras... winbeta.org -
30.08.2007Ultimate Extras, Where are you?
It has been over three months
since we last saw anything
from the Ultimate Extra team.
Intially this was offered by
Microsoft as one of the big
value adds to the Ultimate
version of Windows Vista, but
to date I can't say they have
delivered that much value.
DreamScene was sweet but
lasted only a few hours,
Holdem was fun again only a
half usable thing since it
wasn't network capable, the
Bitlocker tool was useful for
some....
So what is
up guys, have you gone on an
extended vacation? Are we not
going to see any more Extras?
Is Microsoft out of ideas for
what to offer? Anyone else
disappointed in this so far?
winbeta.org -
14.06.2007Why Microsoft must abandon Vista to save itself
While Vista was originally touted by Microsoft as the operating system savior we've all been waiting for, it has turned out to be one of the biggest
blunders in technology. With a host of issues that are inexcusable and features that are taken from the Mac OS X and Linux playbook, Microsoft has
once again lost sight of what we really want.
As we're more than aware, Vista Ultimate comes at a premium. For an additional
$160 over the Premium SKU price, Ultimate gives you a complete backup and restore option, BitLocker Drive encryption, the ever so popular Windows Fax
& Scan, and the "Ultimate Extras." But what started with a promise of "Extras" by summer, quickly turned into an apology from Microsoft and the
eventual release of DreamScene and Windows Hold 'Em (among others) today. And while each of the "Extras" runs just fine, Microsoft's "Extras"
blunder is just another reason why the company must abandon Vista before it's too late.
The first indication that Microsoft
should abandon Vista is...
winbeta.org -
27.09.2007Microsoft releases new Ultimate Extras - Microsoft Tinker
Microsoft has silently released 3 updates for Windows Ultimate users today.
Microsoft Tinker, Ultimate Extra sounds from Microsoft Tinker
and Windows DreamScene Content Pack #4 are all available on Windows Update now.
Microsoft Tinker is a puzzle based game where players get a
set amount of moves to move a robot around a puzzle and solve the level. The DreamScene content pack adds some new high definition videos for use on
the desktop and the sound pack allows you to set your sound scheme to that of Microsoft Tinker.
Previously, Microsoft
released a set of extras back in April and promised more offerings in the future. Like the update in April there has been no official announcement
that these extras have been released on UltimatePC.com or Microsoft's main site.
neowin.net -
24.09.2008Microsoft set to release Vista Ultimate Extra games - free
Remember Vista Ultimate Extras? Well they are back according to Paul Thurrott, but this time they will be released for free in the form of two games,
Microsoft Tinker and Hold 'Em. Microsoft's failed Vista Ultimate Extras were a big promise from the company of "cutting-edge programs,
innovative services and unique publications." At least they were in Vista RTM, by the time Vista SP1 was rolled out nearly all references to Vista
Ultimate Extras were removed (shown below). Blogger Long Zheng called them the "ultimate con" at the time and in hindsight he was right. Microsoft
made several promises of more extras which resulted in the company launching UltimatePC.com which now redirects to the Vista home-page.
Read full story.....
neowin.net -
11.11.2009Windows Vista Ultimate Extras, Less than 3 days and counting
Microsoft has 2 & 1/2 days left until Summer ends and the first day of fall officially starts. and still no word on what or if anything is happening
with Ultimate Extras.
The Ultimate Extra blog still hasn't been updated
since July 2nd when it said it intended to deliver DreamScene and the Language Packs by the end of summer.
"We intend to ship Windows
DreamScene and the remaining 20 Language Packs by the end of the summer. We will not ship the last two Extras showcased in January (Windows DreamScene
and the remaining 20 Language Packs) until they meet the high quality bar required by our enthusiastic customers-and we believe that we can achieve
that bar by the end of this summer".
I don't know about you, but I am beginning to think they won't make it. It's a real shame that a
huge corporation fails to keep its Software users up-to-date on whats going on with the development of the extras.
neowin.net -
20.09.2007Windows Vista Ultimate and WSUS
Just a quick one this time
<"We've heard that one
before" I hear you cry!>
about Windows Vista Ultimate
and WSUS. What is WSUS I hear
you ask? Well, it stands for
Windows
Server Update Services and
essentially, allows
administrators to deploy
updates across a network, so
instead of all the users on
your network navigating to
Windows Update and downloading
the updates separately, just
download them once, and
distribute using WSUS.
The reason for the
post is that WSUS currently
does not allow Windows Vista
Ultimate Extras to be
distributed via WSUS. Not
good. A view which is backed
up by Erik Neuenschwander, who
works in the Ultimate Extras
team here at Microsoft
"That's not a good situation
for customers, so we plan to
improve it. The Ultimate team
is working with Windows Update
to revise the Extras to be
offered to WSUS"
Erik goes on to say "We cut
support for WSUS at launch to
reduce the test burden, and
because we didn't think many
WSUS environments would deploy
Ultimate. We're hearing that
we were wrong, so all the Wave
Zero Extras will be offered to
WSUS later this year."
neowin.net -
19.04.2007Microsoft Launches UltimatePC.com - Ultimate Extras?
Microsoft has provided an update for its Vista Ultimate plans.
UltimatePC.com is a new
website where Microsoft is hosting "blueprints" of the best PCs available and exactly what you can achieve with them. Although the domain name was
transferred
last October, Microsoft has only decided to make use of it now.
A small section of the site is "ultimate exclusives".
According to Microsoft these are not replacing Ultimate Extras. The reason given for the poor amount of extras is the high amount of testing and
quality required for them to ship. I would love to see Microsoft simply release powertoys like they did with XP. In Vista you are not even able to
right click a picture and resize it quickly without using 3rd party software. Extras like the XP powertoys are similar to what people expect.
winbeta.org -
05.03.2008
