Windows Vista

Windows Vista (codenamed Longhorn) is an operating system by Microsoft for use on personal computers, including home and business desktops, laptops, tablet PCs and media center PCs. Development was completed on 8 November 2006, and over the following three months, it was released in stages to computer hardware and software manufacturers, business customers and retail channels. On 30 January 2007, it was released worldwide and was made available for purchase and download from Microsoft's website. The release of Windows Vista came more than five years after the introduction of its predecessor, Windows XP, the longest time span between successive releases of Microsoft Windows desktop operating systems. It was succeeded by Windows 7, which was released to manufacturing on 22 July 2009 and released worldwide for retail on 22 October 2009.

New features of Windows Vista include an updated graphical user interface and visual style dubbed Aero, a new search component called Windows Search, redesigned networking, audio, print and display sub-systems, and new multimedia tools including Windows DVD Maker. Vista aimed to increase the level of communication between machines on a home network, using peer-to-peer technology to simplify sharing files and media between computers and devices. Windows Vista included version 3.0 of the .NET Framework, allowing software developers to write applications without traditional Windows APIs.

Windows Vista editions

Windows Vista, a major release of the Microsoft Windows operating system, was available in six different product editions (Starter, Home Basic, Home Premium, Business, Enterprise, and Ultimate). On September 5, 2006, Microsoft announced the USD pricing for editions available through retail channels. Editions sold at retail were available in both Full and Upgrade versions, and would later feature integration with Service Pack 1.

Microsoft characterizes the packaging for the retail editions of Windows Vista as "designed to be user-friendly, […] a small, hard, plastic container designed to protect the software inside for life-long use." The packaging opens sideways to reveal the Windows Vista DVD suspended in a clear plastic case. The Windows Vista disc itself uses a holographic design similar to the discs that Microsoft has produced since Windows 98.

With the exception of Windows Vista Starter, all editions support both 32-bit (x86) and 64-bit (x64) processor architectures. Microsoft ceased retail copies of Windows Vista in October 2010.

Games for Windows

Games for Windows is a discontinued brand owned by Microsoft and introduced in 2006 to coincide with the release of the Windows Vista operating system. The brand itself represents a standardized technical certification program and online service for Windows games, bringing a measure of regulation to the PC game market in much the same way that console manufacturers regulate their platforms. The branding program was open to both first-party and third-party publishers.

Games for Windows was promoted through convention kiosks and through other forums as early as 2005. The promotional push culminated in a deal with Ziff Davis Media to rename the Computer Gaming World magazine to Games for Windows: The Official Magazine. The first GFW issue was published for November 2006. In 2008, Ziff Davis announced that the magazine would cease to be published, though online content would still be updated and maintained.

In 2013, Microsoft announced that Xbox PC Marketplace would cease operations, which would result in the discontinuation of the Games for Windows brand. In spite of this announcement, the company stated that content previously purchased could still be accessed via the Games for Windows – Live client software.

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Types of Home Window Tinting in Delray Beach

ACCESSWIRE 21 Mar 2025
UV window tint ... They are a Select Pro dealer, using only Vista window film, which is the highest quality in the industry and has a 100% lifetime transferable warranty against peeling, cracking, and bubbling ... About Home Window Tint ... Home Window Tint.
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Apple’s Windows Vista moment? Analyst flags troubling trends with Vision Pro and Siri

Live Mint 20 Mar 2025
Technology analyst Benedict Evans questions Apple's recent product execution, citing the Vision Pro headset launch and Siri updates delays as signs of a potential shift in innovation. He compares these challenges to Microsoft's Windows Vista era ....
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Windows 11 will soon let you know why your PC hardware sucks

The Verge 19 Mar 2025
Microsoft is working on a new feature in Windows 11 that will help explain how less RAM or a weaker GPU might affect your PC performance ... Microsoft used to use a score to determine your PC hardware, starting with Windows Vista.
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Tips for Saving Money on Home Window Tinting in Coral Springs, Fla., and Beyond

ACCESSWIRE 19 Mar 2025
Home Window Tint shares industry insight on savings ... They are a Select Pro dealer using Vista window film, which is the best quality in the industry and has a 100% lifetime transferable warranty ... About Home Window Tint ... Home Window Tint.
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Gorgeous’ Alaska Eatery Named ‘Most Beautiful Restaurant’ In The State

Independent Newsgroup 16 Mar 2025
Overview of Seven Glaciers. Seven Glaciers is named after the seven stunning glaciers visible from its mountaintop location ... Once inside, guests are treated to an elegant atmosphere with expansive windows that frame the breathtaking vistas outside.
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Frank Sinatra’s Hollywood crash pad, and Marilyn Monroe’s alleged JFK love nest, sold together for $5M

New York Post 07 Mar 2025
This Hollywood home is its own kind of celebrity ... Kennedy’s secret hideaway ... 21 ... Its large windows and surrounding vistas can be glimpsed in TV shows like “Mad Men,” and “Californication,” as well as movies like “Dreamgirls,” and “Transformers.”.
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What is BitLocker?

Computer Weekly 04 Mar 2025
Although BitLocker first debuted with Windows Vista in 2006, beginning with Windows 10 version 1511, Microsoft updated BitLocker, introducing new encryption algorithms, expanded Group Policy settings, ...
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