Whether or not Microsoft has actually gone as far as Build 7048 with the development of Windows 7 remains unconfirmed through the company's official channels, however, information available in the wild, along with leaked screenshots of the build, seem to indicate the validity of such a scenario. Still, given the controversy that has marked Windows 7 Build 7048, including the initial fake reports that were killed by Steven Sinofsky, senior vice president, Windows and Windows Live Engineering Group, the new info, including the screenshots, have to be taken with a grain of salt.

Fact is that Windows 7 Build 6.1.7048.0.winmain.090219-1845 indicates that it was compiled on February 19, 2009, with Sinofsky denying that Build 7046 had been compiled just a day later. Sinofsky revealing that Microsoft had not even wrapped Windows 7 Build 7046 on February 20 makes it hard to attest for Build 7048, a superseding development milestone, being signed-off just a day earlier. Still, WinFuture has posted various screenshots of Windows 7 Build 7048 featuring consistent changes compared to Beta Build 7000.

Microsoft has overhauled yet again the Start Menu orb animation. On mouse over, the sphere now glows differently from its behavior in previous test releases of Win 7. The visual glowing effect is more subtle and refined compared to what past Windows 7 development milestones brought to the table. And in fact the new style of the Start orb is less crude than it was before, and gives the feeling of Microsoft touching up the graphical user interface for the Release Candidate stage.

One missing element from the screenshots is the Send Feedback link, which was glued to every default Windows 7 Beta and even post-Beta program as well as in locations throughout the operating system via Windows Explorer. Such a move from Microsoft could indicate that the Redmond company wants to cut back the amount of tester input generated via the Send Feedback link with the release Candidate of Windows 7.

Additional changes introduced in Windows 7 Build 7048 are reportedly related to the SKU options. Users will now have the possibility of installing the Professional edition of the platform, with the screenshots belonging to the Enterprise flavor of Win 7. On top of this, Calculator, Paint and Notes now have new icons, and Microsoft has also delivered Aero Peek via Alt+Tab in Windows 7 Build 7048.