Despite the success of the Windows 7 beta, which got leaked before it was officially released and had several deadline extensions, Microsoft isn’t exactly sitting still. The beta build, with build number 7000, was built on December 12th, 2008, so that leaves enough room between then and now for several newer builds. One such build got leaked this weekend, and it contains some minor changes compared to the beta build.
Several newer builds have been confirmed, namely 7003, 7004, 7012, 7015, 7016, and the leaked 7025, with the last one obviously being the newest; it was built on January 20th (at 18:50, if you’re that interested). According to Ars Technica, it contains several bug fixes, as well as a number of visual changes in applications like Paint and Windows Media Player. It also comes with an updated build of Internet Explorer 8, and the screenshots over at PCBETA show quicklaunch – but don’t be fooled, quicklaunch can be enabled on Windows 7 beta as well through a registry hack. For legacy reasons, Windows 7 still contains the quicklaunch folder (I’m guessing some installation programs complained about the lack of the folder).
The 7025 build can be obtained by the way of the pirate, but you might as well keep on using the stable and well-tested beta until Microsoft releases the Windows 7 release candidate somewhere between now and release-to-manufacturing, scheduled for late 2009 or early 2010.
for those of us using up to date beta’s that were NOT pirated I can say this; MS is constantly compiling new builds with fixes and enhancement, some are to test features, others are to fix bugs. This is also far frmo being the last beta, as others have speculated. Right now there is 2 or so recompiles per week with fixes and a higher beta number. Though for what its worth, those attending the MS developers converence in San Fransisco Feb 23rd will be getting this version on disc.
Sorry but the fact what someone run a build script or fixed a bug is not a news.
Are you going to inform us also about Linux kernel builds?
Or maybe we should publish here diffs of Windows and Linux specification?
(this probably will be more interesting)
In case you haven’t noticed, it’s a horrendously SLOW news day today. I mean, I had to make a frakking item about a series of videos showing Alaska landscapes.
It’s just one of those days.
Edited 2009-01-28 19:21 UTC
Tracking Linux kernel builds wouldn’t make sense because then you’d have to track all major distributions.
It would make more sense to track the source release distributions. For example, I would like OSnews to once in a while announce Linux kernel minor version source update releases for example when 2.6.28.2 was released. But its no big deal.
Regarding the pirated builds of windows, this is just a phase. Eventually, things will cool down with windows 7 and I hope Microsoft will try to limit the number of illegal pirated leaks especially since Windows 7 does seem to be an improvement.
Is Windows 7 like a muse for you? I know people who haven’t shown this level of enthusiasm for the upcoming birth of their child.
I tried build 7000 and, honestly, it felt like Vista with a fresh paint job and some of the rough edges filed down (which is a good thing). I can see how Windows 7 will be an extremely important release to the dominant operating system in existence.
But a story ‘Front Page’ blurb about a leaked internal build…it’s a stretch. (Personally, I think the Russian national OS story could’ve started some interesting conversations with a properly baited ‘My Take’)
Now, I’m not complaining about the job you do or how the site is run or how stories are selected. I’m not gonna complain about how this story seems like a waste of time (I didn’t click the link and I’m on lunch; no harm, no foul ;-)). And honestly, I generally enjoy the story selection.
I truly am just curious why you seem so enthusiastic about Windows 7.
In defence of Thom, this version is faster, more stable, and more “complete” than the beta everyone else is usuaing. it benchmarks better and has an updated IE install among other things.
Windows 7 is being built into a big deal because, well, it is! as the OS that runs on the VAST majority of computer in the world (Windows, not version specific), this incarnation of the OS is a huge deal. The best part is teh stuff that still in the works. There are so many people that dig into Apples docs included in OSX updates to find out about upcomming products and features, so here is a little hint for some fun easter eggs. There are a few features yet to be anounced that have placeholders in the 7000 beta, so far i haven’t heard a single story about anyone finding out about it yet. they are a bit more prominent in this beta though. I hope someone does
… now is it page 1 worthy? 
Edited 2009-01-28 19:21 UTC
I’m still not entirely sold on the particular merits of this item, but I promise not to raise a stink when the story about those easter eggs pops up. 🙂
I may even read the associated link…
It seems that people are all excited that Windows 7 runs faster than Vista. Well, snot on a doorknob runs faster than Vista, and Windows 7 probably runs slower than XP, so why all the enthusiasm? From the perspective of a Windows power user, what is there to get excited about? I’m glad to hear that they’re fixing all of these things that were wrong with Vista, but Vista was entirely underwhelming from the beginning, so will I have any good reasons to switch from XP to 7?
I mean, what kind of new stuff have they done besides the dockable windows, and throwing in the shitty OSX-like dock, thus ruining the taskbar? Will you at least be able to slipstream service packs again?
vista made a lot of technology changes under the hood that were actually good changes. the down side is the user end of those changes was sone very poorly (now that is been fixed). look at windows sever 2008, it is being said to be the best server os from MS to date, and thats by the geek croud and IT pros!
remember when the linux kernel version 2.6 came out, and it was slower than 2.4 for a while? well 2.6 caught up in speed and added a lot of advanced stuff that was good. just like the argument of XP to windows 7.
So how exactly will these ‘under the hood’ changes help to increase my productivity? I know they’ve made some security enhancements, but I’ve never had any security-related issues with XP.
since i dont know what you do I have no idea how anyone would enhance your productivity
tell me how you use your OS and I will tell you your answer.
Now now, easy there. You know it’s against policy here at OSNews to say ill things about Linux.
But Win7 is still going to be a simple service pack for Vista (despite the marketing and fangirls that tries to sell it as ‘all-new-and-better’).
Hyping internal betas is IMHO not very professional for a site calling itself “OS News”. Do we get frontpage articles for every internal build of OSX, every Linux distro version and so on from now own? Or has Microsoft a sponsoring contract for OS News frontpage articles like idiotic performance measurements of internal builds and the like (just have a look at the ridiculous long list of Win7-this-and-that-and-Winnie-the-Poo articles lately).
Completely boring and irrelevant. We’ve seen the hype with Vista and it didn’t make the final product any better ..
Slow news day + the OS 90% of the world’s desktop users use.
Normally, this would’ve been page 2, but the whole deal is that tiering news is done on a day-by-day basis. We’re having a slow day, so page 2 items get front page attention. I’m sorry.
Fair enough. I was a little worried about a ‘Windows 7 BuildN+1’ trend (but only a little).
Thanks and keep up the good work.
I wouldn’t apologise Thom. I was happy to see this news article. I’m sure others would be too.
The merits of promoting it to front page status were reasonable given the slow news day.
Edited 2009-01-29 11:51 UTC
Do you have any problems with Windows 7 stories?
Don’t read, don’t post.
When must the ISO file get to the network & where can I download it first?