Microsoft has confirmed that a new updates for users of the Windows 7 beta is coming next week while also adding that a Release Candidate (RC) for the upcoming Service Pack 2 of Windows Vista is being sent out to a few testers.
Windows 7 manager Brandon LeBlanc noted that on February 24th, five test updates would be released which “will allow us to test and verify our ability to deliver and mange the updating of Windows 7”.
LeBlanc did add however that the new updates would not fix any bugs but instead would simply “replace system files with the same version of the file currently on the system”.
The updates will need to be added manually through Windows Updates.
Vista SP2 RC, build 6002.16670.090130, was recently released to Microsoft Connect testers and should soon find its way to a larger range of beta testers.
When the SP2 eventually hits, it will encompass all previous updates and patches for the OS and will include 691 hotfixes, adds the source.
Result for: beta test
Search engine giant Google released its Chrome web browser in early September. As expected the browser was released as a beta version but what was definitely not expected just happened. After three months of beta test development Google has released an official stable version 1.0.154.36 of Chrome.
Approximately 100 days, 10 million downloads and 14 updates. That is the Chrome beta in a nutshell. The latest update improves the stability, speed of start up and JavaScript processing as well as overall performance.
The new stable version also improves the bookmark features - you are now able to easily import and export bookmarks to and from your Google Chrome.
Chrome will be updated frequently in the future as well. Upcoming updates will add form prefilling, browser extension and RSS support as well as Linux and Mac OS X versions of the browser.
Result for: beta test
According to the Nokia N-Gage website, users of the N81 mobile phone are now able to download the oft-delayed N-Gage mobile games platform as an open beta test.
The platform will allow mobile gamers to link up for multiplayer games and social elements in the same way Xbox Live does for Xbox 360 users.
The company says they are in the final stage before “full-scale deployment” and that the stage means increasing the user base.
For the beta, only the N81 and N 81 8GB are supported, as long as they are connected via service plans that support GPRS or have an accessible Wi-Fi connection. The company did note that the Chinese model of the phone is incompatible.
The games available now during the beta test are: Creatures of the Deep, Space Impact: Kappa Base, Block Breaker Deluxe and System Rush Evolution. 13 more titles will be released after full launch including FIFA 08, Brothers in Arms and The Sims: Pets.
