14 DAY TRIAL // Microsoft has expanded the list of applications compatible or incompatible with Windows 7 to no less than 27,466 items.
This is the number of apps featured by the last update of the Windows 7 Application Compatibility List for IT Professionals, which is now available for download.
As was the case with all previous releases of the Windows 7 Application Compatibility List, the resource is up for grabs through the Microsoft Download Center, free of charge.
The Office Excel-based spreadsheet can be leveraged by all users, not just by IT pros, despite of its official label.
Customers will find that the software listed by the Redmond company falls under a number of categories, including: Compatible, Compatible – Windows 7 Logo, Free update required, Paid update required, Future compatibility, Not compatible and No information available.
The Windows 7 Application Compatibility List is continually being updated by Microsoft, and this is just the latest refresh. Since some customers have already upgraded to Service Pack 1 or are considering deploying SP1, they can assume that the list also covers Windows 7 SP1.
Microsoft is currently hard at work on Windows 8, the next major iteration of the Windows client.
The first taste of Windows 8 will most probably be offered to the public around the company’s upcoming BUILD Windows conference for developers, scheduled for mid-September 2011.
In the past, Microsoft has urged customers to move ahead with any Windows 7 upgrade plans and not to wait for Windows 8.
More importantly, the software giant has stressed that Windows 8 preserves existing software investments. This qualifies as a guarantee from Microsoft that the existing software which is compatible with Windows 7 today will also play nice with Windows 8 when it comes out.
Windows 8’s general availability deadline has yet to be announced, but the operating system is expected to hit store shelves in 2012.
Windows 7 Service Pack 1 (SP1) RTM Build 7601.17514.101119-1850 and Windows Server 2008 R2 Service Pack 1 (SP1) RTM are available for download here.
Windows 7 RTM Enterprise 90-Day Evaluation is available for download here.