Longhorn is Microsoft's codename (for a full list see Microsoft codenames) for the next version of its Windows operating system, to follow on from Windows XP SP3 [1] and Windows Server 2003. It was originally expected to ship sometime early in 2006 as a minor step between Whistler and Windows Blackcomb (Longhorn is a name of a sports bar at the Whistler-Blackcomb ski resort).
Gradually, Longhorn assimilated many important new features and technologies of Blackcomb. On August 27, 2004, Microsoft announced that they are delaying release of WinFS so that Longhorn could be released in "a reasonable timeframe" (mid- to end of 2006). Two beta versions have been planned, the first expected to debut in Q2 2005 and the second in Q4 2005, with release candidates to be released throughout 2006.
Longhorn is currently available as a preview release available to Microsoft Developer Network (MSDN) subscribers, and at select Microsoft developer conferences. The preview release is classified as an alpha or "pre-alpha" version at the moment, and as such its performance and feature sets are not necessarily representative of the release product. As with many products (including all Windows releases since 98) it has since been leaked onto popular file sharing networks.
Technologies
Microsoft labels the key new technologies as "The Pillars of Longhorn," which are:
It is worth noting that Avalon, Indigo, and WinFX are technologies that will be made available to Windows XP and Windows Server 2003 as well, and are therefore not technologies to be exclusive to Longhorn, but rather developed in time for the Longhorn release, to be incorporated in that operating system. This doesn't imply coming visual changes to these operating systems though, as Aero will still be exclusive to Longhorn. The reason for backporting these technologies is to allow an easier introduction to these technologies to developers and end users.
March 26th Microsoft released a Community Preview featuring both Avalon and Indigo to enable developers to experiment with the new technologies without running the Alpha version of Longhorn. Due to many requests it was released to the general public and is available at Microsoft's website [2].
Delayed until future release
- WinFS (short for either Windows Future Storage or Windows File System): a combined relational database and filesystem, based on the next version of SQL Server (codenamed Yukon). Working on top of NTFS, it will provide abilities to represent objects and their relationships, rather than just a hierarchy of files and folders. The removal of WinFS from Windows Longhorn was announced in August 2004, and is expected to be released as an update to Longhorn, entering beta stages at about the same time as Longhorn is released, but also will be ported to Windows XP to help end users along with the transition phase to Longhorn.
Features
Additionally, Longhorn will include many other new features:
- a completely re-designed user interface, code-named Aero. The new interface is intended to be cleaner and more aesthetically pleasing than previous Windows interfaces. The most visible addition to the interface is the sidebar, an area at the side of the screen consisting of tiles which display dynamic information about whatever window is currently in the foreground, which is essentially an extension of the "system tray" on the Windows task bar.
- a new command-line interface called MSH, and codenamed Monad. It combines the Unix pipes and filters philosophy with that of object-oriented programming.
- full support for the "NX" (No-Execute) feature of processors. This feature, present in AMD's AMD64 architecture, as well as Intel's EM64T Architecture, can flag certain parts of memory as containing data instead of executable code, which prevents overflow errors from resulting in arbitrary code execution. This should not be confused with trusted computing facilities provided by a so-called Fritz-chip.
- built-in DVD recording capabilities, including Mt. Rainier support.
- a new installation program that will install Longhorn in about 15 minutes (which is present in alpha build 4074 of Windows Longhorn).
System requirements
Graphics requirements are defined in relation to three different desktop experiences.
Aero Glass experience
This graphics mode includes support for 3D graphics, animation and visual special effects that delivers the richest experience possible in Longhorn. Consequently, this graphics mode requires the following:
Although this may appear expensive by today's standards, it is likely that such a configuration will be entry-level or lower by Longhorn's release in 2006-2007.
Aero experience
This graphics mode delivers the minimum hardware acceleration for the Longhorn user experience and is the minimum required for new systems.
- Windows XP Driver Model (Longhorn Display Driver Model is recommended)
- At least 32 MB graphics memory
- Support at least 32 bits per pixel
- Support 3D hardware acceleration with capabilities equal to DirectX 9
- A graphics card that uses AGP 4X or PCI Express 8-lane bus
Classic experience
This graphics mode is equivalent to the user experience in Windows 2000. In this mode, Longhorn uses software rendering to display graphics instead of a graphics card. If the system running Longhorn does not meet the hardware requirements for Aero or Aero Glass, this mode will be used.
References
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