Inside Scoop

Download the Visual Studio Team System 2008 Database Edition Power Tools

Microsoft Visual Studio Team System 2008 Database Edition Power Tools is a set of enhancements and tools that complement and improve the user experience of VSTS Database Edition 2008.

Download it now.

General Availability for Windows Vista SP1 Release Candidate

Give Windows Vista SP1 Release Candidate a try. It's now available as a free download for developers, IT Pros, and other tech professionals. There are three ways to get the product.

• Use Windows Update
• Download the standalone packages
• Get it from MSDN Subscriber Downloads

For more information visit the Windows Vista SP1 page in the Windows Vista Developer Center.

Enjoy!
Laurie

Windows Vista SP1 Release Candidate Released to MSDN Subscribers

MSDN Subscribers can now get Windows Vista SP1 Release Candidate on MSDN Subscriber Downloads. In addition, we've published a series of resources about this latest release of Windows Vista on the Windows Vista Developer Center.

Enjoy!

Welcome to the New Visual Studio 2008 Sites on MSDN

To support the Visual Studio 2008 and .NET Framework 3.5 release to manufacturing, we've reorganized the Visual Studio site on MSDN into several developer centers, which provide easy access to the community of your fellow developers and the technical information you need. In addition, we've created product sites that provide the product information you need when considering your options for software development tools. Now you will have easy access to new information for 2008 while still being able to find all the Visual Studio 2005 content on the Visual Studio 2005 Developer Center and Team System Developer Center. 

Here are the new developer centers for Visual Studio 2008:

• Visual Studio 2008 Developer Center
• Team Suite 2008 Developer Center
• Team Foundation Server 2008 Developer Center

Here are the new products sites for Visual Studio 2008:

• Visual Studio 2008 Development System
• Visual Studio 2008
• Visual Studio Team System 2008
• Visual Studio 2008 Extensibility

In the coming weeks, we will be launching new developer centers for Extensibility and the Visual Studio Team System 2008 Team Editions, so stay tuned.

Get Visual Studio 2008

If you're itching to try out Visual Studio 2008, download one of the trial versions. MSDN Subscribers can get it now on MSDN Subscriber Downloads. You can also download the Visual Studio 2008 Express Editions from the new Visual Studio 2008 Express Developer Center.

Enjoy!

Windows Vista Developer Story: Group Policy

A new article in the Windows Vista Developer Story has been published. Learn about Group Policy's new and enhanced features, which extend its capabilities, make it easier to use, and make its application more reliable and efficient.

Visit the Windows Vista Developer Story page or go directly to the article.

New and Improved Windows Vista Developer Story

Come and read the new and improved Windows Vista Developer Story. The developer story used to include only abstracts of each article in the MSDN Library, requiring you to download the documentation file to read the complete content. Now we've published the complete articles in the Library for easier browsing. You can, of course, still download the documentation file.

Come back often to the main Windows Vista Developer Story page on the Windows Vista Developer Center to see what's new. 

Enjoy!

Mike Nash Announces Windows Vista SP1 Beta 1

Check out Mike Nash, corporate vice president in charge of Windows client operating systems, on Channel 9 as he discusses the status of Windows Vista and what's new in Windows Vista SP1 Beta 1.

Updated: Top 10 Ways to Light Up Your Windows Vista Apps

Check out the updated article, Top 10 Ways to Light Up Your Windows Vista Apps. The article presents 10 ways you can use new technologies in Windows Vista to enhance your applications and enrich the user experience.

Enjoy!

Plan Now for Windows Vista SP1

Windows Vista SP1 will soon be released as a limited beta. SP1 is an update to Windows Vista that addresses feedback from our customers. In addition to previously released updates, SP1 will contain changes focused on addressing specific reliability and performance issues, supporting new types of hardware, and adding support for several emerging standards.

Get more information for both developers and IT pros on TechNet, including a white paper and support resources.

New Application Compatibility Training Available

The Windows Application Experience SWAT Team has posted it's two-day application compatibility training online. This is the training the team delivers to large enterprise customers. The training covers the most common app compat issues with Windows Vista. If you want to find out more about the SWAT team, check out Chris Jackson's blog.

Download the training.

Find more application compatibility information on the Windows Vista Developer Center's app compat page.

Thanks!
Laurie

Welcome to the Windows Vista Developer Center Inside Scoop

Hello Windows Vista Developers:

My name is Laurie Moloney, and I am the site manager for the Windows Vista Developer Center on MSDN. As a journalist, editor, and online publisher for Microsoft’s developer tools and platforms, I've watched the developer space for many years. To get an idea how long it’s been do you remember when you first had to learn about object-oriented programming? I do. In today’s world of managed code, gadgets, and Aero it seems so long ago.

You may have noticed over the last year or so that the Windows Vista Developer Center has gone through several different design changes. We have been working hard to make the site work for you. The dev center was the pilot site to test the new MSDN user experience. Based on this real-time testing, we created an entirely new look for the MSDN network. In May we moved from the familiar blue UX with the navigation on the side to the orange tabs at the top of the page.

Now I need your help. What content would you like to see on the Windows Vista Developer Center? What kind of Vista development do you do—managed or native? And what Vista features would you like to see more information on? I'm always amazed by the smart, creative people who develop applications and how generous they are with their knowledge and insights. Tell me how I can help you do your job more easily.

Thanks!
Laurie