As announced last week, Microsoft has released yesterday the first interim of its latest operating system since launching the Beta 2 version. According to Microsoft, the new build released focuses on the global performance of the system and includes additional tweaks. The released simplified the user account dialog interface of the OS, reducing the number of prompts and dialogs. Shutdown and startup speeds were also increased by improvements added to the Windows Media Center feature in Vista. Microsoft specified that the new release is accompanied by an updated software development kit. The SDK aims to offer support to software developers for the creation of applications based on the new release.

The new Windows Vista Beta 2 release, build number 5472 is available to all participants in the Windows Vista Technical Beta program. In addition, Microsoft Developer Network subscribers and some few selected customers of Microsoft's Technology Adoption Program will be able to join in receiving the build. The total number of customers eligible for the Vista interim is approximately 500.000.

The interim is Microsoft's sprint for performance and quality as Release Candidate 1 of Vista is scheduled to hit the market August 31. Mike Burk, Microsoft product manager for Windows Client confirmed the already set dead-lines for Vista, with business release in November and general availability in January 2007, but he also shared Bill Gates' prevision that the final release dates will only be met if Vista has a quality standard that will recommend the OS for launch.