New Vista Build (5342)

Recently, Microsoft released a new build of Windows Vista to testers, Build 5342. 5342 included some new stuff, Flexbeta has a bunch of screenshots of the new build. They are really getting the glass look down perfect, with the subtler transparency and reflective surface. The only thing that could be cooler? If Vista used a webcam to literally give windows a reflective surface, based on whatever is in front of the monitor. I really don't like Flip 3D. Don't get me wrong, its cool, and a great way to show off windows (without ripping of Expose'), but if they can't fix the anti-aliasing issues we're seeing on so many systems, then don't ship the feature. Jaggies in Windows is not a good reflection on your operating system. (via Computer Guru has some interesting claims that Microsoft has a few things under wraps it still hasn't revealed. The most striking claim: The glass UI we've been seeing till now isn't Aero Glass, that it is in fact Aero Express With Transparency, and that Aero Glass is being held back. Aero Glass will contain "fully scalable vector based transparencies that take advantage of pixel shading". Other things we can expect, according to him, in this and future builds: a new transparent PNG layer for Aero Express, to pretty it up; a damn-near-perfect firewall; synchronization with Pocket PC 2000, 2002 and 2003, 3D DirectX 10 screensavers. Bug fixes: tooltips going behind the taskbar, fixed icons. Interesting claims, no one seems able to verify them. (via Findory) InsideGoogle blog, offering the latest news and insights about Google and search engines. Visit the