* Astronomy

Microsoft has put together a beta Web site for hosting gadgets that run within the Windows Sidebar. The Gallery enables users to find available gadgets and allows developers to submit their own creations.

Microsoft is accepting feedback and is expected to add more information and RSS feed support. Microsoft also released a beta SDK that provides documentation and examples for those interested in building Windows Live Gadgets for both Live.com and the Windows Sidebar.

Web Link:

Windows Vista Beta 2 has officially been released to testers, via Microsoft's Connect portal. The build number is 5384.4. Windows Server "Longhorn" has also been released to testers. The packages are available for both the x86 and x64 platforms.

The Vista Beta 2 x86 DVD is 3,200.15 MB, and the x64 DVD is 4,109.73 MB. The package contains Ultimate, Home Basic, Home Premium, and Business binaries. As ever, the key used is what determines what SKU you see.

Download (Connect Testers Only)

Do you want to try out Vista?

The Longhorn Transformation Pack version 4 has been released.
The project has updated the name to Vista now. As usual, this will transform your XP OS to have sidebars and see through windows...

Changes in Version 4.0
-Added batch-script blocking detection function (No more transforming with batch problems)
-Added closing explorer.exe to prevent conflicts in Repairing and Uninstalling
-Added Logoff/Shutdown button text removing option
-Added Progress message for Repairing and Uninstalling
-Added repair mode option (to repair only updates files with backing up or all files without backing up)
-Added some Vista 536x wallpapers
-Added un-official Windows Vista sounds by digitalfive.org
-Added Vista.ru's Windows Media Player 11 (codename Eclipse) skin
-Added Vista System Properties dialog
-Added Vista Transformation Pack FAQ (contributed by members in forum)
-Added Windows drive icon
-Fixed font changing bug
-Fixed icons bug in shell32.dll
-Fixed losing updated files after transformation from repairing
-Fixed operating system detection bug in maintenance centre
-Fixed WindowBlinds 5 installation path
-Removed First-Run transformation mode to prevent confusions
-Removed Longhorn and unused stuffs (developed from Lite branch)
-Removed Longhorn SideBar due to discontinued and couple of bugs
-Updated Rebuild Icon Cache program to use Visual Basic 6 Runtime
-Updated Vista Boot Screen to beta 2 inspired
-Updated Vista file processing dialog
-Updated Vista icons to build 5365
-Updated Vista LogonUI to build 5365
-Updated Vista Progress dialog
-Updated Vista Toolbar style options
-Updated Vista tray icons
-Updated visual styles
-Fixed CaptionButton positioning bug in "Aero Style (Vista - Beta 1)"
-Fixed CaptionButton transparency bug in WindowBlinds skin
-Fixed Horizontal shellstyle bug in Beta 2
-Fixed Logoff/Shutdown button alignment in Beta themes and WindowBlinds skin
-Fixed ListviewHeader background
-Fixed PlaceItem positioning bug
-Fixed StartButton bugs
-Fixed TabItem border in WindowBlinds skin
-Fixed UserPicture positioning bug
-Updated Glass border in visual styles WindowBlinds skin (Actual 5342 port)
-Updated ListBox background in WindowBlinds skin
-Updated shellstyles in Beta 2 visual styles with awesome mods!
-Updated StartButton in Beta 2 visual styles
-Updated StartPanel in Beta 2 visual styles
-Updated Shutdown/Logoff button in StartPanel
-Updated TabItem
-Updated ToolBarBackground
-Updated ToolBarButtons
-Updated UserPicture background to common ones

Download: Vista Transformation Pack 4.0
(14.61mb)

Microsoft has just revealed the final Windows Vista Hardware Requirements:

Minimal Specs (Called Vista-Ready PCs):
-800Mhz Processor
-512 MB of RAM
-DirectX 9-Capable Graphics Processor

Recommended Specs (Called Premium-Ready PCs):
-1 Ghz Processor
-128 MB Graphics Memory, numerous other graphics-related requirements
-1 GB System Memory

Microsoft also plans to make an advertisement campaign around those required machines, in order to make people be sure their machine will meet those requirements, and this campaign should be revealed on May 18th, in this case tomorrow.
This announcement was made to prepare the also planned WinHEC release of Windows Vista Beta 2 (Supposedly Build 5384, last known compiled build as of today), which will likely be made public in the days following its release at WinHEC.

These requirements are about what was expected, maybe a little bit below. As previously announced, most PCs sold within last year might be Vista-Ready, though very few fully meet the Premium-Ready requirements.