14 DAY TRIAL // Service Pack 2 is the next step in the evolution of Windows 7, now that SP1 has been wrapped up and offered to users worldwide. Microsoft underlined from the get go that SP1 for Windows 7 would be nothing more than a minor upgrade, bringing no new features, and the company certainly lived up to its promise.
Speculation indicated that the software giant had already started building Windows 7 SP2 sometime before SP1 was out the door, and knowing Microsoft this particular rumor is bound to be true.
As is the fact that there will be nothing particularly exhilarant about the second upgrade for Microsoft’s latest Windows client, just as the first time around.
The software giant continues to keep mum on the future of Windows all around, whether we’re talking about Windows 7 or Windows 8.
However, I cannot help but wonder if there will be something more to Windows 7 SP2 compared to SP1.
I have to emphasize that what follows is nothing but speculation on my part, unconfirmed from any sources.
The reason why I’m wondering is that I see Microsoft capable of developing new Windows releases according to a successful pattern, if you will.
And I cannot help but think about Windows Vista SP2, an important upgrade in the sense that it allowed some bits and pieces of the Windows 7 platform to be backported.
Some of Vista SP2 users might remember the Platform Update for Windows Vista, which includes Windows Ribbon and Animation Manager Library; Windows Graphics, Imaging, and XPS Library; Windows Automation API; and Windows Portable Devices Platform – all from Windows 7.
Could Microsoft be planning something similar with Windows 8 and Windows 7 SP2? It of course makes sense, especially as far as the graphics platform is concerned, to have at least some Windows 8 components backported to Windows 7, just as it was the case for Windows 7 and Vista SP2.
I would certainly like to see a Platform Update for Windows 7. How about you?
Windows 7 SP1 RTM and Windows Server 2008 R2 SP1 RTM are available for download here.