Updated: ++HOT++Windows 7 RC1 Branch Build7048 now also 32 Bit

[riso]

Update: Now some new pic's included!.

Update: x86 32 Bit ready for download
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See this article:
http://shared014.nextfactory.nl/windows7/smf/index.php?topic=307.msg792#new
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Keys:
6JKV2-QPB8H-RQ893-FW7TM-PBJ73
TQ32R-WFBDM-GFHD2-QGVMH-3P9GC
GG4MQ-MGK72-HVXFW-KHCRF-KW6KY
4HJRK-X6Q28-HWRFY-WDYHJ-K8HDH
QXV7B-K78W2-QGPR6-9FWH9-KGMM7
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News has come down the grapevine that Microsoft has already branched off winmain and started compiling RC1 branch builds, no doubt preparing for the public release of Windows 7 RC.  This tells me that Microsoft is far ahead of schedule with Windows 7 development and are going full speed ahead to get this release polished up and done.

This news has come to us in the form of a build tag which sports the typical naming scheme for milestone branch builds.  7048.winmain_win7rc1.090211-1625 is the tag.  As you can see, this build was compiled on February 11th 2009 at 4:25 PM.  On one hand it is good to see Microsoft moving this quickly with the development of Windows 7, but on the other it is a little concerning.  Microsoft have only officially released one build (7000) which went to beta testers and the public alike.  One build is not enough to gather enough feedback to move ahead this quickly IMO.  Windows is a far more complex piece of software than Office and I hope Mr. Sinofsky can learn that before this beta cycle is over.
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Send feedback link is removed from Desktop:

Beta testers (and the public) will likely see RC1 within the next month or two and then likely will not see anything until Microsoft declare Windows 7 to be RTM, thus making the technical beta utterly USELESS.  I am a part of the Windows 7 beta and I am not pleased with what I am seeing.  There is no incentive to testing anymore, anything we get the public gets, so can someone remind me why I’m on the techbeta?  We have gotten no new builds, our feedback is not being taken seriously, etc…  Granted they have the public testing and they are getting BOATLOADS of SQM data, but that simply isn’t enough.  That won’t fix rogue usability issues, or odd app incompatibility issues, or driver issues etc…  So if anyone from the beta team reads this, please rethink your strategy and think about releasing some more builds for testing.  It can’t hurt, it can only help the end product.
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Icons are changed:

So anyway, I know I drifted off into a bit of a rant but I feel the above needed to be said, and hopefully this feedback is taken seriously by the Windows team (hey there’s a chance, it’s not like we’re dealing with the Windows Live team, those people don’t know the meaning of the word feedback).
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Internet explorer 8 Uninstall:

riso
17 February
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Remote Desktop:


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This is not yet the RC Build:

[riso]

Update:
Build 7041 Not 7048!
Regarding an article about the first build in the release candidate branch, Geeksmack has now gone back on their original findings about a build 7048 and said the build they were really referring to was 7041.

Geeksmack writes:

When we said that build 7048.winmain_win7rc1.090211-1625 was compiled, we meant build 7041.winmain.090211-xxxx. We are unsure of the exact time that the build was compiled, but it was compiled on February 11th, and, according to the build tag, this isn’t in the RC branch of builds.

ArsTechnica reported that their sources had confirmed that a build 7048 is nonexistent.

ArsTechnica writes:

I have confirmed with a Microsoft employee that build 7048 does not yet exist, and that development on the RC branch has not yet started.

According to them, the latest build is a build 7046 which was just compiled on the 17th. This build is not yet a part of the release candidate branch. The latest build we have screenshots of is still build 7032
More to follow....

[riso]

Update:
21 Feb, 2009

Windows 7 RC to be available on 10th April 2009

After all the rumors and buzz about the Windows 7 build 7048,then being declared that it actually doesn’t exist, the Microsoft’s Steven Sinofsky here is what he wrote:

Recently we’ve seen people talk about RC Builds. 
First, all builds since the beta are RC builds since by definition that is the next milestone. 
But by far the most humorous element has been that the build numbers blogged about are higher than our current build. 
Today’s build is 7046, but it hasn’t completed yet 

The guys at neowin states that Windows 7 RC would be released on 10th April 2009 contrary to what winfuture.de reported about it’s release on February 27 to the technet and MSDN subscribers.
Here is what they wrote about this issue:

At this time, Windows 7 RC is internally being tested and the official release date is set for April 10, 2009.
The Windows team is right on schedule with development, and if there are no significant problems over the next few weeks the April 10, 2009 release date will remain in tact.

riso

[anykey]

...This tells me that Microsoft is far ahead of schedule with Windows 7 development ...On one hand it is good to see Microsoft moving this quickly with the development of Windows 7, but on the other it is a little concerning...Beta testers (and the public) will likely see RC1 within the next month ...thus making the technical beta utterly USELESS.  I am a part of the Windows 7 beta and I am not pleased with what I am seeing.  There is no incentive to testing anymore, ....I feel the above needed to be said, and hopefully this feedback is taken seriously by the Windows team.riso
17 February

You are quite correct riso.
I have seen similar comments made by other folk. What's the point of further testing.
MS are not listening.They will say they are. And then go on to give an example that is not related to the point being made.
What you said needed to be aired, yet I fear the Seven team have already made decisions and will carry on regardless of your views and with total Reckless Disregard.

[javajolt]

MS always makes it appear they are listening to the buying public, but ALWAYS do what they want.

I feel certain that since Vista was such an abysmal project and then trying to cover it up with the Mojave Experiment, MS needs to do all it can to save face.

There is still lots of talk here in the Silicon Valley, that our good friends at Google are working on an OS, however it is talk, no leaked screenshots. but the talk is there.  I guess time will tell on that one.

I am ready for the RTM of Win7, and would have paid for it the second time I started it, whereas I was ready to reformat my HDD after the Vista debauchel.

Just my 2 cents

[sceadwe]

I agree with jj. Microsoft tends to be little misleading and likes to make us think they are listening. But I will give them the benefit of the doubt because windows 7 is best thing they have come out with since XP SP2.  I am excited and looking forward to the RC.

sceadwe

[madindehead]

Ok. Yes, Microsoft might be far ahead with builds etc. But havn't they already included some things in the RC that people have complained about/made comments on?