14 DAY TRIAL // Get ready for a unique source of information focused exclusively on the next iteration of the Windows client. Microsoft might be mute on Windows 7 now, under the new transparency policy imposed by Steven Sinofsky, Senior Vice President, Windows and Windows Live Engineering Group, but the situation will not last. The successor of Windows Vista is right on the verge of getting its own online outlet, namely the Windows 7 blog. It appears that Microsoft is continuing the model of its current Windows client which has enjoyed the benefits delivered via the Windows Vista blog since April 2006.
Details are scarce at this point in time. Microsoft has failed to indicate a deadline for when the Windows 7 blog will go live. But also, most importantly, the company has yet to disclose the actual name of the Windows 7 blog. This because Windows 7 is just the product number, or codename if you will, of the next version of Windows, but not the actual name of Vista's successor. As Windows 7 will evolve through development stages, Microsoft will undoubtedly drop the label based on the product number. In this context, the Windows 7 blog will feature the full name of the operating system.
The Windows Vista blog went live almost a year ahead of the general availability date of the platform. With Sinofsky gagging all Windows 7 details almost to perfection, the blog for the next release of Windows could take a while before it will be made available, most likely very close to the finalization/launch of the platform. Chances are that the Redmond company will grab an entirely new domain as compared to the one hosting the Vista blog which is "windowsvistablog.com," and not stick the Windows 7 blog content under what is available now.
Microsoft is also looking for the right Public Relations Manager to "be an instrumental part of a team that will introduce the world to Windows 7," according to the company, which adds that he/she will "be responsible for developing and managing the execution of the Windows community and blogosphere outreach plans including Web content, community events, and the Windows 7 blog."