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Microsoft released an interim build of Windows Vista to its usual testers, as well as to100,000 of the participants in its Customer Preview Program, on September 22.
Build 5728 was delivered to testers via TechBeta, TechNet, TAP and MSDN, while the 100,000 CPP participants were chosen at random to get even greater diversity in the feed-back, a Microsoft spokesperson told eWEEK.
The goal of this interim build was to provide technical audiences and application developers an opportunity to test against a more current build of Windows Vista, the spokesperson said.
Microsoft was also looking for new-user feedback on the install and upgrade process and new configurations, the company said.
Build 5728 also includes ongoing fit and finish work based on the feedback Microsoft has received on Vista Release Candidate 1 since its release on September 1.
“Essentially, this build includes a number of specific enhancements and changes, including the ability to turn off start up music, general stability and bug fixing, and performance enhancements,” the spokesperson said.
Microsoft is still shooting for Vista to be available to volume license customers in November, with general availability in January 2007, “although the exact delivery date will be subject to achieving quality metrics based on customer feedback,” the spokesperson said.
But Microsoft and the European Commission are at a standoff over the bundling of security software in Vista, which could result in a shipping delay for the product in Europe.