| Gates launches "third decade of Windows computing," touts teeny tablet |
Apr. 26, 2005
 In a wide-ranging keynote address at the Windows Hardware Engineering Conference (WinHEC) yesterday, Microsoft chairman and chief software architect Bill Gates outlined the company's vision for the third decade of Windows computing. 64-bit computing, together with the newest versions of Windows, will ignite the "most promising era yet of industrywide innovation," Gates predicted.
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Gates began by tracing the evolution of the Windows-based PC from a stand-alone "box" in the den to a range of connected devices in sizes and shapes never imagined two decades ago. Since the debut of Windows 1.0 in the fall of 1985, Gates explained, the PC has been transformed from a single-purpose machine for technology enthusiasts into an entertainment and productivity hub for people of all ages and interests, both at home and at work.
"The next decade will bring about a new wave of innovation in the technology industry through the increased security, greater reliability and faster performance enabled by 64-bit computing and continued advances in Windows," Gates said. "'Longhorn' and the new x64-bit versions of Windows are the best foundation for a new generation of faster, more powerful hardware and software that expands the possibilities for computing and transforms the way we work and play."
x64 -- more power, better security
Gates announced the general availability of Microsoft Windows XP Professional x64 Edition and Windows Server 2003 x64 Editions, and offered a glimpse at the opportunities created for software and hardware developers by these faster, more-secure and more-powerful operating systems.
The new x64 versions of Windows will take advantage of 64-bit architecture advances that help block some of the most destructive worms and exploits of recent years, he claimed. According to a Microsoft statement, users of x64 Windows can expect to see "dramatic improvement" with processor-intensive applications, such as video editing and gaming, and when managing their growing stockpiles of email, photos, and other files on most PCs.
The incredible shrinking Tablet PC
 | Microsoft's Ultra-mobile Tablet PC concept
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Gates urged hardware makers to embrace some of the latest innovations in mobile PC technologies to create a "more natural PC experience" and provide easier access to information, as well as to differentiate their products.
He highlighted next-generation mobile Tablet PC features and hardware designs from Taiwan-based manufacturers Acer and ASUSTeK, and showed a prototype of an "ultra-mobile" Tablet PC slated for release in the 2007 timeframe. With its 7-inch-wide screen, the ultra-mobile device makes the PC "more personal," offers multiple modes of natural interaction, and is always connected, according to Gates.
Microsoft and hardware makers are displaying many of these and other technologies that take advantage of "Longhorn" functionality in the exhibit area at WinHEC.
"Longhorn" looms
Gates focused much of his attention on the next generation of the Windows operating system, codenamed Longhorn. The first beta release of Longhorn is currently planned for this summer, and the initial public release is now expected during the last quarter of 2006.
Longhorn will offer "dramatic enhancements" to the fundamentals of computing, according to Gates. Microsoft lists the following planned fundamental changes that will be included in the Longhorn release: - Security -- Integrated anti-malware will help shield PCs and their users from adware, spyware, "phishing" scams and other threats. Protected user accounts will greatly reduce the threat to systems without affecting productivity, while a more secure startup process will help protect data and ensure that a PC running Longhorn hasn't been tampered with.
- Deployment -- A single code base and hardware abstraction layer for all versions and languages will make desktop engineering easier. Image-based setup will replace manual installation of programs, while new tools and services will help large organizations greatly simplify operating system deployment to desktops.
- Manageability -- Integrated "hot patching" technology will enable system administrators to update systems without rebooting the PC. These features, along with better automation and remote administration tools, will let administrators better handle daily desktop management tasks.
Gates also illustrated how Longhorn is expected to make data more accessible and easy to act on, such as: - Visualization -- Folders and icons graphically depict their actual content, providing live snapshots of the document to help users intuitively understand the state and contents.
- Intuitive organization -- Documents can be created or organized, based on metadata, in terms of their authors, subjects or keywords -- or by artist, song title or album for music, for example.
- Advanced document technology -- A set of advanced document technologies includes a cross-platform, open XML document format that allows users to easily create, share, print and archive documents. These "fixed layout" documents can be viewed or printed without the application in which they were created, while maintaining their full color and graphical properties.
Getting ready for Longhorn
Finally, Gates outlined a range of investments and programs to help hardware makers take advantage of Longhorn's innovations. These programs include: - "Longhorn-Ready" PC Program -- Microsoft announced guidance for hardware requirements for future "Longhorn-Ready" PCs. These hardware requirements include a modern CPU, 512 MB of RAM and Longhorn Display Driver-capable graphics.
- "Longhorn Logo" Program -- will designate products that are not only compatible with Longhorn but take advantage of new Longhorn capabilities. The new "premium" level logo will differentiate partner products with the clear, trusted promise of a "great Longhorn computing experience" and will be supported by Microsoft's marketing activities. The "standard" level identifies products that meet baseline standards for compatibility, reliability and security, similar to the current Designed for Windows XP program.
Door prizes
Attendees of WinHEC are also being given a "developer preview" copy of Longhorn, "designed to accelerate development of hardware device drivers for the new operating system," according to Microsoft.
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