Rumor that new UI coming to Windows 7!

[Blend 54]

During the development of Windows Server 2008, I was told by project manager Alex Hinrichs that Microsoft had completely changed the way it developed Windows. Thanks to the componentization of the underlying OS, it was no longer necessary to "fork" the Windows build tree so that different parts of the product team could develop their own parts of the OS in isolation. These teams would utilize "virtual build labs" where they checked in their code, tested it, and ensured that it was ready before pushing it into the main build, or winmain.

Forking is bad because changes made on all branches have to be folded back into the main "trunk" build at some point, and that can be time consuming and error-prone. But apparently, the Windows client team has gone back to the old way of doing things. While no one outside of the company can really say why they've done so, we can guess--and yes, it's just a guess--that it has to do with timing: Microsoft is barreling towards a late 2009 release for its next OS, Windows 7, and it needs to ensure that it hits its ship targets. So recently, the team forked its build tree to accommodate separate RC (release candidate) and RTM (release to manufacturing) branches. The RC branch follows the existing 70xx build numbers, while the RTM branch has jumped to 71xx. These builds are kept in lockstep, so that build 7106, shown here, corresponds to RC build 7076.

There are rumors, too, that a new UI is coming and it may make sense for Microsoft to hold on to that UI for the RTM builds, so that it has one last surprise to offer up to its eager fans. Indeed, the smartest thing Microsoft has done with Windows 7, in many ways, is keep the drama high by playing things close to the vest. That said, our first RTM-level build, build 7106, doesn't really offer anything in the way of revelation. (A newer build, 7107, has also leaked recently, and we can expect more to come in the days ahead.

PT... he could be right with his connections. That would be great, I want a more different look than Vista

[craz]

I don't always agree with PT but he does have his connections within MS. I would trust him with this rumor.

A brand new UI might be over-exaggerated I think because like i said in my post, MS put a lot of work to fine-tune the current UI to just get a new one in. I would assume some minor tweaks to the current theme or a new theme that's darker that sets it apart from Vista because right now, Windows 7 still looks a bit similar to Vista. Would be nice to have a new separate look :D

[david]

I'm not too fond with what he says sometimes but PT does have his connections within MS.

A brand new UI might be over-exaggerated I think because like i said in my post, MS put a lot of work to fine-tune the current UI to just get a new one in. I would assume some minor tweaks to the current theme or a new theme that's darker that sets it apart from Vista because right now, Windows 7 still looks a bit similar to Vista. Would be nice to have a new separate look :D

A whole new theme would be awesome . But Aero just came out and still needs its 15 seconds of fame.

[reichs435]

I like Paul. He's usually really good on everything that he posts. I trust what he says.

[WinterWolf]

I So have my fingers crossed. Toes too if i can manage that. :D

[jammy11e]

I think the superbar is abit too vista like, maybe a new UI would be great, i seen a screenshot of i assume was a photoshop job of a Windows 7 interface recently, and it scared me :o

[win7-demon]

Maybe a new UI won't be a bad thing, lets face it Windows 7 is too much like vista in appearance.

So i'm all for it if it happens.

[WinterWolf]

I agree, It's like microsoft took a step backwards when it comes to the UI of windows 7. I think the UI should be more Interactive, More 3D I guess. Remember that video they had of the WinFS feature a while back? you can look it up on youtube. That was some pretty neat stuff.

[win7-demon]

Also lets not forget the Media Center UI i think that a it should be allowed by default, that the UI can be changed by the user, without the need to use thrid party programs or as i do hack the sytem files.

Just a thought.

[jammy11e]

Yeah, i remember the video for the original Longhorn back in 2003 where there was animated logons and everything, i would love to see some stuff like that come into play.