Microsoft updates Windows Vista beta

Microsoft has released a new update of its Windows Vista beta.

The new version is referred to as build 5472 and marks the first update since Microsoft ended public availability of Windows Vista Beta 2.

The new release is available only to a group of about 500,000 testers who have signed up to the Windows Vista Technical Beta program, Technology Adoption Program (TAP) and Microsoft Developer Network (MSDN).

The update offers performance improvements, bug fixes and feature enhancements that were requested by testers of earlier versions.

Users for instance have to click through fewer windows when controlling user accounts. The new version also improves the responsiveness of the Media Centre features in the software and introduces support for Media Centre Extender technology that allows consumers to access media on their computers through the Xbox 360 or stand alone Extender devices.

Microsoft furthermore released a new pre-release version of its Windows Vista software development kit that allows developers to craft applications for the latest Vista build.

Windows Vista is scheduled for public availability by January 2007. A first release candidate (RC1) has been promised for the third quarter of this year.