Microsoft set to release Longhorn beta next month

SINCE 2002, Microsoft and its chief Bill Gates have been talking about the next Windows release code-named Longhorn. Every year its release is predicted for the next year, and every year that debut is put off for another.

Finally, Longhorn's release is approaching. Microsoft announced that the beta, or the "test version" of Longhorn, will be available next month with wide public dissemination in October 2006.

This is significant because the operating system entails a major upgrade to market leading Windows XP, including new versions of Windows, Windows server, .NET, MSN, Microsoft Office, as well as enhanced security and other products. Longhorn's most salient features will be Avalon, a graphics tool; Indigo, Web services and e-mail functions; and WinFS (Future Storage).