Ballmer Announces Windows 7 Public Beta, Live Essentials

by Chloe Albanesius

LAS VEGAS – Microsoft on Wednesday released the beta version of Windows 7 to developers, and will make it publicly available on Friday, Microsoft chief executive Steve Ballmer said during a keynote at the Consumer Electronics Show.

"I encourage you all to get out and download it," Ballmer said.

The software giant also highlighted two additions to its Halo gaming lineup, including a strategy game that will be available next month.

Meanwhile, Ballmer announced the worldwide availability of Windows Live Essentials, a partnership with Facebook that will link Facebook activity with Windows Live, and a deal with Dell to pre-install Windows Live on all consumer and small business PCs.

"We're on track to deliver the best version of Windows ever," Ballmer said of Windows 7. "We're putting in all the rich ingredients – simplicity and speed – and working hard to get it right and get it ready."

Read Michael Miller's take on Ballmer's keynote.

Ballmer touted the new operating system's faster boot speed, longer battery life, enhanced entertainment experience, and ability to help connect users with a variety of devices and platforms.

Convergence between platforms – in particular the PC, phone, and PC – was a main theme of Ballmer's speech. "Today, much of the stuff we all care about sits in silos" across various platforms, but "increasingly, those barriers are going away and the Internet cloud is connecting all of your devices together seamlessly."

"I believe Windows will remain at the center of peoples' technological solar system," Ballmer said. "It will work across all three screens seamlessly, accept natural import and tie all your info together through the cloud."

That cloud will naturally include Windows Live Essentials, the desktop application side of Windows Live, he said.

Microsoft released a final "refresh" of the Windows Live Essentials beta in mid-December, and that is now available worldwide, including messenger, e-mail, and photo gallery.

"It's final, it's free, and it works on Windows XP, Windows Vista, and the new Windows 7 beta," Ballmer said.

note:

To download Windows 7 Beta, visit Microsoft’s website or you can get there by clicking on this link here. Windows 7 Beta comes in two flavors, 32 bit (x86) and 64 bit (x64). The minimum hardware requirements for Windows 7 are 1 GHz processor, 1 GB RAM (Memory), 16 GB hard drive space, DVD Rom drive and a Video Card that supports DirectX 9 with 128 MB video memory.