Milestone 5
(Codename Longhorn)
What MS has told us about Longhorn is actually very little. We do know that SQL is going to play a big part in the files system of the New OS. There will be a SQL database for either the files themselves (inside a database) or just a database for file locations to speed finding them. We also know that security is going to be better as this will be the second OS released after "Trustworthy Computing" got initiated (the first is Windows Server 2003). I am anticipating much of an improvement in security. I have been beta testing SP2 for XP and that is much better. I am expecting LH to be even better. Most of our interaction with the computer itself will be through a form of XAML. Of course there will be a new programming language to go with it called (you guessed it) X#. X# (X "sharp") is based on XAML and is the basis for the next Visual studio (.NET studio was based on C# and .NET). We do not have a final release date yet. We do know that MS seems to be keeping their word on timelines. Some people have gotten to see (legally) the 4051 version of LH that has been around on the net for over 6 months. But that is the "Official" showing of the OS. It does not include Avalon and all the Technologies that we really want to see. It is merely a development version. Actually anyone involved in a software development company can get a free download of Longhorn PDC 4051.Now we are told that Longhorn is going to be delayed until much later. Maybe even for two or three years. We are now expecting Windows XP Reloaded for the next year or so.