So where is Vista Ultimate Extra "DreamScene" ?
Windows Vista Ultimate users began to receive the first set of "Ultimate Extras". But arguably the most anticipated Ultimate Extra was not there -- Windows DreamScene.
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2.2.2007 Dreamscene Preview Ultimate Extra available
Microsoft have just released the 'Dreamscene Preview' Ultimate Extra to users of the Ultimate Edition of Windows Vista.
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13.2.2007 Longhorn Datacenter will have no extra virtualization costs
Today virtualization is expensive for licensing. Microsoft asks people to license every OS installed on virtual machines, even if powered off. But something is changing.
Since the release of Windows Server 2003 R2 Microsoft started approaching a per-use licensing model instead of a per-installation model.
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13.1.2006 50 Extra Cars for NFS Most Wanted + wallpapers
BMW M3 GTR Race # 1, Porcshe 911 Carrera GT2, Corvette C6R, Barbage Truckm COP SUV (Rhino), COP GTO, Minivan, Taxi, Pickup, Cop, Marcedes SL65, Cement Truck, bisher noch nicht getestet, Chevrolet Camaro SS, Pizza Car, BMQ M3 GTR Street, Cop Corvette.
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23.1.2006 34 Vista Ultimate MUI Language packs for Ultimate SP2 via HTTP from MS
Here are the complete links direct from the Microsoft Windows Update server
for 34 MUI language packs for Vista Ultimate with or without SP1 or SP2
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3.7.2009 In progress: Vista updates!
In progress right now is a beta testers chat with MS experts on the future of IE7 and Vista. Here are some parts of the chat that may be interesting to you... more to come shortly:
SamW [MS] (Expert):
Q: [17] When will you release the November CTP? Only 2 days left of November!
A: There will be no CTP for Vista in November because we are targeting for most features to be code-complete by end of December and resources efforts are going towards that effort. We should have a CTP in December before the Christmas holiday. These interim changes have no impact on our general availability target for Windows Vista. We are on track to deliver a high-quality Windows Vista in the 2nd half of 2006.
Paul Donnelly [MS] (Expert):
Q: [54] Can someone clear up what seems to be confusion on the groups over the release of Build 5259? Did it go to selected testers or TAP because date of release and extent seems confused. I notice Mario mentions it today.
A: A specific, small group of partners received access to 5259. It is an IDW build and has not gone through the CTP testing process.
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29.11.2005 New Non-Critical Windows Updates are Available
KB904942 - Install this update to resolve HTTP authentication issues in Windows-based systems that do not appear until Microsoft Internet Explorer 7 is installed.
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1.3.2006 Updates for Windows Vista
Here are new Updates for Windows Vista. (KB942089), (KB942089), (KB940069), (KB940069), (KB943544), (KB943544)..
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25.10.2007 Thirty-Six Updates Later and Counting
Over the Thanksgiving holiday, I refreshed one of my Windows Vista test machines. Oh my, there were so many Windows Updates.
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28.11.2007 Windows 7 Client Updates
Microsoft released several updates for Windows 7 Client.
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26.2.2009 Office 2010 Updates
Here are some updates if you have been following the the Office 2010 blog. Some rumours about Groove and OneNote confirmed.
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14.5.2008 Microsoft Updates Media Center
Microsoft has announced the availability of a new software update for Microsoft Windows XP Media Center Edition 2005 that will provide new entertainment experiences for Media Center Edition customers around the world.
Update Rollup 2 for Windows XP Media Center Edition 2005, will enable customers to stream digital music, videos, photos, and standard and high-definition television and movies from Media Center PCs, to any television in their home via the Xbox 360 gaming system.
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Microsoft Updates IE After Patent Spat
Microsoft on Tuesday made broadly available an Internet Explorer update related to a high-profile patent spat with a start-up backed by the University of California.
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1.3.2006 Internet Explorer 7 and Automatic Updates
Microsoft plans to use its Automatic Updates patch-distribution service to push its stand-alone Internet Explorer 7.0 browser to customers once the product is ready to ship in the fourth quarter of this year.
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26.7.2006 Microsoft security updates for December
On 12 December 2006 Microsoft is planning to release: Security Updates.
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8.12.2006 Microsoft updates Virtual Server
Thanks to odeeee for this article. In hopes of pulling some attention away from Vmware and other vendors, Microsoft is beefing up their virtualization offerings.
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13.6.2007 Microsoft Releases Eight Updates for Vista
This week, Microsoft released some "important" updates for its newest operating system.
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28.6.2007 Updates to Windows Live SkyDrive!
These past couple of months since our last release, we asked ourselves, What can we do to make SkyDrive even better? The most obvious answer is something that our users have asked us to do: give out more storage. Were excited to announce that were doubling everyones storage to 1 GB!
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13.10.2007 Many Windows Users Get Unwanted Updates
What better gift could Apple ask for with the launch of its "Leopard" Mac OS X v. 10.5? How about a PR disaster surrounding Windows?
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27.10.2007 It's Not Ultimate Enough
Windows Vista Ultimate users looking for "extras" shouldn't wait on Microsoft.
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9.7.2007 Security Updates for IE7 and Vista Beta 1 Available Now
Security updates for Internet Explorer 7 Beta 1 and Internet Explorer in Windows Vista Beta 1 are now available from the Windows Vista/IE 7 beta downloads page on the Connect site. Direct links to these updates are also provided below. These security updates resolve a vulnerability in IE 7 Beta 1 and IE in Windows Vista Beta 1 that has already been addressed for released/supported versions of Internet Explorer by Microsoft Security Bulletin MS05-052.
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Microsoft Security Updates: December 2005
Microsoft has just posted their security patch builletin for the month of December. As usual all required patches for your PC can be found on
Windows Update.
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13.12.2005 Microsoft Security Updates: February 2006
Microsoft has just posted their security patch builletin for the month of February. As usual all required patches for your PC can be found on
Microsoft Update. Here's a brief summary of the six major patches released this month:
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16.2.2006 Reports: IE 7 Crashes While Accessing Windows Updates
Some users of Internet Explorer 7's beta are reporting problems accessing crucial update sites, but Microsoft denies any system-wide glitch.
Some users of Internet Explorer 7's beta are reporting problems accessing the crucial Windows Update and Microsoft Update sites, but Microsoft denied any system-wide glitch.
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20.2.2006 Microsoft Security Updates: January 2007
Microsoft has just posted their security patch bulletin for the month of January. As usual, all required patches for your PC can be caught using Windows Update or Microsoft Update.
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9.1.2007 Microsoft Releases First Batch of Updates for Vista
Microsoft has made the first batch of updates for Vista available via the built-in Windows Update client. If you don't see the 22 updates, manually "Check for updates".
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30.1.2007 Microsoft Security Updates: March 2007
Microsoft has just posted their security patch bulletin for the month of March. There are no updates to worry about this month, so all you sysadmins out there can rest easy.
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14.3.2007 Updated List of updates for Vista SP1
This guy Aaron Tiensivu keeps a VERY good list of non-critical Vista updates and this looks like it could be part of SP1.
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14.6.2007 Microsoft to release six security updates next week
Microsoft will release six groups of security patches next week, including three critical updates for Windows and Excel users.
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6.7.2007 Microsoft Plans Nine Security Updates for Next Week
Security Patches include six critical updates for Windows, Office, Internet Explorer, and the company's Visual Basic development software.
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10.8.2007Windows Vista 'DreamScene' Available
Microsoft on Wednesday made
available a beta of the second
"Ultimate Extra" for
Windows Vista, which is
available for download free of
charge for those who purchased
the Ultimate Edition of the
new operating system. Called
DreamScene, the extra lets
users put videos as their
desktop background...
betanews.com -
16.02.2007Dreamscene Preview Ultimate Extra available
Microsoft have just released
the 'Dreamscene Preview'
Ultimate Extra to users of the
Ultimate Edition of Windows
Vista. Dreamscene, which was
revealed at CES 2007, was
missing from the lineup of
extras at the launch of Vista,
as it needed further work.
This preview release allows
Ultimate Edition users to see
what the final technology will
be like once the final version
is released to the public.
Your desktop
background comes to life with
Windows DreamScene. When you
download this Ultimate Extra,
you can select a video for
your desktop background the
same way you select a
stationary picture. You can
choose one of the high-quality
looping videos that we've
included, or use a video from
a company that produces
content for DreamScene. You
can even use your own video as
a background.
To
download Dreamscene, click the
Windows Update or Ultimate
Extras shortcut on your start
menu, and click the 'Check
for new updates' link.
neowin.net -
14.02.2007Microsoft 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 -
11.11.2009No 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 -
07.02.2009Remaining Ultimate Extra Language Packs Released
We are pleased to announce the release of the remaining 19 languages packs for Windows Vista Ultimate. This Ultimate Extras release brings the total
number of language packs for use with Windows Vista Multilingual User Interface Pack (MUI) to 35. Windows Vista Ultimate enables users install
multiple languages on their system and quickly switch between them by associating a system language with their login name.
MUI is
particularly useful in multilingual homes where multiple people use a single computer and choose different languages for their primary use. People who
wish to learn a new language will also find MUI to be a particularly useful feature. We are aware of a very large number of customers who have
purchased Ultimate for this feature specifically and are gratified that these customers can now realize the full benefit of Windows Vista Ultimate.
The languages we are adding today are as follows...
winbeta.org -
24.10.2007Where 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 -
30.08.2007Stardock to announce DeskScapes 2.0 Vista Ultimate Extras going the Way of the Dodo
Long Zheng:
Windows Ultimate Extras is losing value faster than
the US dollar as one of the few extras is soon to be superseded by a free third-party application that works not only on Vista Ultimate, but Home
Premium and Business versions as well. That extra would be
DreamScene, that third party would
be
Stardock and that application would be
DeskScapes 2.0. Those grumpy looking people in the corner would be
Ultimate Extra advocates.
Tomorrow, Stardock will announce
DeskScapes 2.0 the second version of its desktop background visualiser tool for Windows Vista. Formerly DeskScapes was an
extension to the DreamScene extra, allowing for dynamic generated Dreams on top of just the motion videos allowed by DreamScene itself. Now, both
formats will be supported by DeskScapes 2.0 without the requirements for DreamScene or Vista Ultimate.
winbeta.org -
13.11.2007Windows DreamScene coming soon on Ultimate
Windows Vista Ultimate users
began to receive the first set
of "Ultimate Extras". But
arguably the most anticipated
Ultimate Extra was not there
-- Windows DreamScene.
Windows client
director, Jeff Putt has
confirmed that this extra will
not be available in its final
form immediately after launch.
However, a technology preview
may be coming soon for Windows
Vista Ultimate users who want
to give it a try.
Windows DreamScene enables
users to use looping
high-definition video content
(MPEG, WMV) as an animated
wallpaper. Thanks to the new
3D accelerated desktop in
Windows Vista, the animated
wallpaper uses virtually no
CPU (just a little for
decoding the video).
Microsoft demonstrated
Windows DreamScene yesterday
at the launch event which
showed Windows DreamScene
using an animated wallpaper
created by
Stardock
. The wallpaper they showed
will be available exclusively
at Neowin.net's partner site,
WinCustomize
.com, in February.
More information on
public availability for
Windows Vista Ultimate users
is expected soon.
neowin.net -
30.01.2007Ultimate 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 -
14.06.2007Microsoft 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 and Lenovo announce Ultimate Academic PC
Microsoft and Lenovo today have announced a partnership to offer college students high end laptops, under a promotion named "Ultimate Academic
Personal Computer promotion". These laptop PCs are specifically designed for college students. These models come from Lenovo's ThinkPad lineup
and are preloaded with Windows Vista Ultimate and Microsoft Office Ultimate 2007. So if you are a struggling college student like myself, the program
offers the following models: ThinkPad T400. The 14-inch widescreen laptop gives users powerful processing functionality, a host of wireless
connectivity options and multimedia features essential for college students. Lenovo also builds in a roll cage to give the laptop extra durability to
meet the rigors of academic life. ThinkPad R500.
Read full story.....
neowin.net -
03.03.2009New 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 -
24.09.2008Let 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 -
26.09.2007More 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 -
03.07.2007Microsoft 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 -
02.07.2007Windows 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 talks about Office
2007 Ultimate
For those who don't know
about it yet, Microsoft Office
2007 Ultimate Edition is, as
Ultimate Edition, a sum of
every features of the product.
The actual Ultimate edition
contains the following
products:
-Word
-Excel
-PowerPoint
-Outlook
-Publisher
-OneNote
-Groove
-Access
-InfoPath
But
all those features have a
price, which is already
mentioned: 679 US$. We
currently don't know if it
will offer special services
like those that will be
available to Windows Vista
Ultimate Edition users.
..
jcxp.net -
27.05.2006Ultimate 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 -
08.09.2007Disappearance Of Vista Language Packs
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.
jcxp.net - 30.08.2007
Windows DreamScene Content Pack Released
Today another Windows Vista
Ultimate Extra was released to
Windows Update: a Windows
DreamScene Content Pack.
The pack
contains four new DreamScene
videos:
-
A field of thistle, with a bee
gathering pollen
-
The rushing water of a forest
stream
- A
streetlamp reflected in a
puddle, with softly falling
rain
- Orange wisps
flowing in a
computer-generated scene
The
videos are only available to
those Vista Ultimate users who
have installed the Windows
DreamScene Preview. If you've
got the DreamScene Preview
installed, check for Windows
Updates to get the DreamScene
Content Pack.
jcxp.net - 14.03.2007
