Windows Vista Ultimate Extras Vanish in Thin Air

Microsoft is mocking users of the Ultimate edition of its Windows Vista operating system with the Windows Ultimate Extras. Back in January 2007, Microsoft applauded Windows ultimate Extras as a collection of unique content designed to integrate seamlessly with the high-end edition of its latest Windows operating system. At that time, the Windows project was still under the lead of Jim Allchin, (Former) Co-President, Platforms & Services Division, and had failed to taste the bitter Windows Omerta codename Translucency imposed by Steven Sinofsky, Senior Vice President, Windows and Windows Live Engineering Group.

And in no aspect did Microsoft fail Ultimate users more than with the delivery of DreamScene and the Language Packs. In fact, seven months after the commercial availability of Windows Vista, the Redmond company is yet to finalize DreamScene or to make available the Language Packs.

"We intend to ship Windows DreamScene and the remaining 20 Language Packs by the end of the summer. We will not ship the last two Extras showcased in January (Windows DreamScene and the remaining 20 Language Packs) until they meet the high quality bar required by our enthusiastic customers-and we believe that we can achieve that bar by the end of this summer," revealed Barry Goffe, Director, Windows Vista Ultimate Microsoft back in early July.

I don't know what Goffe meant by the intention to "ship" DreamScene and the undelivered language packs, but Microsoft actually pulled the original content associated with the Multilingual User Interface (MUI) feature of Windows Vista Ultimate from Windows Update. If you still want them, the download links have been posted over at Channel 9. But this could mean a couple of things. Either Microsoft has discontinued the language packs altogether, or the company is getting ready to unveil the remaining Extras. However, Redmond is paved with nothing but good intentions, as far as Ultimate Extras are concerned.

"We also intend to deliver additional Extras in the future. In addition to Windows DreamScene and the remaining Language Packs, we plan to ship a collection of additional Windows Ultimate Extras over the next couple years that we are confident will delight our passionate Windows Vista Ultimate customers. We cannot identify dates or provide details at this time-but once we ship Windows DreamScene and the remaining Language Packs, we will provide more information about the next Extras," Goffe added in July.