Platform Update for Windows Vista Technologies KB 971644 – updated technologies for Windows Vista SP2 from Windows 7 RTM

Last Updated on Wednesday, 28 October 2009 01:18 Written by Mire_B Wednesday, 28 October 2009 11:29

Windows Vista will receive bits and pieces of Windows 7 via Windows Update (Automatic Updates), Windows Server Update Services and the Microsoft Download Center. But only is Service Pack 2 (SP2) for Vista is already in place. I already told you about the Platform Update for Windows Vista – Beta Download Script (KB971644) a while back. Now the Platform Update for Windows Vista KB 971644 is done and heading to Vista SP2 computers worldwide. The same is valid for the Platform Update for Windows Server 2008 and Windows Server 2008 R2.

Vista SP2 will be enhanced with collections Windows 7 RTM of runtime libraries. Vista SP2’s evolution toward Windows 7 involves: Windows Graphics, Imaging, and XPS Library; Windows Automation API; Windows Portable Devices Platform; Windows Ribbon and Animation Manager Library.

Update for Windows Vista for x64-based Systems (KB971513) – The Windows Automation API library contains the latest version of the Microsoft User Interface Automation (UI Automation) and Microsoft Active Accessibility libraries that are provided in Windows 7.

Update for Windows Vista (KB971512) – The Windows Graphics, Imaging, and XPS Library contain the latest advancements in modern graphics technologies for gaming, multimedia, imaging and printing applications. It includes updates to DirectX, DirectCompute, and XPS Library.

Update for Windows Vista for x64-based Systems (KB971512) – The Windows Graphics, Imaging, and XPS Library contain the latest advancements in modern graphics technologies for gaming, multimedia, imaging and printing applications. It includes updates to DirectX, DirectCompute, and XPS Library.

Update for Windows Vista (KB960362) – The Windows Ribbon and Animation Manager Library contains the Windows Ribbon API, a command framework that enables developers to quickly and easily create rich ribbon experiences in their applications, and the Windows Animation Manager API, an animation framework for managing the scheduling and execution of user interface element animations.

Update for Windows Vista for x64-based Systems (KB960362) – The Windows Ribbon and Animation Manager Library contains the Windows Ribbon API, a command framework that enables developers to quickly and easily create rich ribbon experiences in their applications, and the Windows Animation Manager API, an animation framework for managing the scheduling and execution of user interface element animations.

Update for Windows Vista (KB971513) – The Windows Automation API library contains the latest version of the Microsoft User Interface Automation (UI Automation) and Microsoft Active Accessibility libraries that are provided in Windows 7.

From the Windows Team Blog:

We are announcing the final release of the Platform Update for Windows Vista. The Platform Update for Windows Vista features a set of runtime libraries which add support for new technologies making it easier for developers to develop for Windows 7 and Windows Vista without impacting their users.

The Platform Update for Windows Vista will be available for free via Windows Update, Windows Server Update Services and the Microsoft Download Center. You will need to have Windows Update “recommended settings” enabled in order to automatically receive the update without additional action.

These updates include the following:

• Windows Ribbon and Animation Manager Library: contains the Windows Ribbon API, a command framework that enables developers to quickly and easily create rich ribbon experiences in their applications, and the Windows Animation Manager API, an animation framework for managing the scheduling and execution of user interface element animations.
• Windows Graphics, Imaging, and XPS Library: components for developers to leverage the latest advancements in modern graphics technologies for gaming, multimedia, imaging and printing applications. It includes updates to DirectX to support hardware acceleration for 2D, 3D and text based scenarios; DirectCompute for hardware accelerated parallel computing scenarios; and XPS Library for document printing scenarios.
• Windows Automation API: allows accessibility tools and test automations to access Windows user interface in a consistent way across operating system versions.
• Windows Portable Devices Platform: supplies the infrastructure to standardize data transfers between an application and a portable device, such as a mobile phone, digital camera, or portable media player.

Note that the Windows Automation API will also be made available as a separate download for PCs running Windows XP.

For specific details about the Platform Update for Windows Vista as well as the Platform Update for Windows Server 2008, click here.

By making these libraries broadly available through the Platform Update for Windows Vista, we expect customers will find an increasing number of applications using new features in Windows 7.

From Microsoft Support:

The Platform Update for Windows Server 2008 and the Platform Update for Windows Vista are collections of runtime libraries that make it easy for developers to target a wider customer base.

Notes about the Platform Update for Windows Server 2008

* All the updated technologies in the Platform Update for Windows Server 2008 are already included in Windows Server 2008 R2. The Platform Update for Windows Server 2008 is not required for Windows Server 2008 R2.

* To apply the Platform Update for Windows Server 2008, you must have Windows Server 2008 Service Pack 2 installed.

Notes about the Platform Update for Windows Vista

* All the updated technologies in the Platform Update for Windows Vista are already included in Windows 7. The Platform Update for Windows Vista is not required for Windows 7.

* To apply the Platform Update for Windows Vista, you must have Windows Vista Service Pack 2 installed.

Platform Update for Windows Vista – Beta Download Script (KB971644)

Last Updated on Wednesday, 28 October 2009 11:30 Written by Mire_B Friday, 11 September 2009 02:40

UPDATE: Platform Update for Windows Vista Technologies KB 971644 – updated technologies for Windows Vista SP2 from Windows 7 RTM

Platform Update for Windows Vista download link.

Instructions

1. Save the included script to your computer.

2. Delete “.remove” from the script name and save.

3. Right-Click the script and select the option of “Run as administrator”.

4. The script will set a registry key on your system. This enables Windows Update to offer the Platform Update for Windows Vista.

5. Visit Windows Update and check for updates.

* You may have Important updates or similar downloads to obtain and install first, before you see the Platform Update for Windows Vista listed.

* There are no prerequisite updates for the Platform Update for Windows Vista itself.

* To learn more about how to configure Windows Update to check for updates, see information for Windows Vista or Windows XP.

The Platform Update for Windows Vista is a set of runtime libraries that makes it easy for developers to target both Windows 7 and Windows Vista.

Note All the featured technologies in the Platform Update for Windows Vista are already included in Windows 7 and in Windows Server 2008 R2. The Platform Update for Windows Vista is not needed for Windows 7 or for Windows Server 2008 R2.

Public Beta Program: The Platform Update for Windows Vista

Starting September 10, 2009, customers who are running Windows Vista can participate in a public beta program to obtain the Platform Update for Windows Vista beta. To participate in this public beta program, follow these steps:

1. To download a Platform Update for Windows Vista script, visit the following Microsoft Download Center Web site:

http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyId=081c218f-c845-47d1-b124-71f80bf21638

Note You need this script only during the beta period.

2. Run the script.

3. Download the Platform Update for Windows Vista through Windows Update.

When Will DirectX 11 Be Available for Vista?

Last Updated on Monday, 15 June 2009 01:39 Written by Mire_B Monday, 15 June 2009 01:38

A legitimate question, if nothing else. And from none other than a DirectX team member. There’s also an answer, right from the DirectX Developer blog:

When will DirectX 11 be available for Vista? What is the redistributable vehicle for D3D11, D2D, DirectWrite and when will the RTM redistributable for Vista ship?

The final versions of all of the new DirectX APIs (including D2D, DirectWrite, WARP and D3D11) will ship first with Windows 7, and will be made available on Vista afterwards. We are still in the process of finalizing the dates and the logistics for downlevel – stay tuned to hear more from us.

DirectX 11 will be offered as a standalone download for Windows Vista. Windows XP will continue to be stuck at DX 9 level even after the October 22 launch of Windows 7.