14 DAY TRIAL // With the first service pack for Windows Vista out of the way almost entirely, except for the distribution via Automatic Updates, Microsoft is focusing on the extremely neglected high end edition of the operating system. Christopher Flores, Director Windows Communications revealed that following the availability of Vista SP1, new Ultimate Extras have been made available to end users. Ultimate Extras is an initiative debuted in early 2007, even before Vista RTM hit the shelves, designed to enhance the Ultimate edition of the latest Windows client with exclusive content.
"If you're running Windows Vista Ultimate and noticed two new Ultimate Extras have shown up on Windows Update - don't worry, your eyes do not deceive! Today we released two new Ultimate Extras: Windows Sound Schemes and Windows DreamScene Content Pack #3. Windows Sound Schemes is a pack of 2 new sound schemes for Windows Vista: Glass and Pearl. And Windows DreamScene Content Pack #3 brings you 3 new DreamScenes for your Windows Vista desktop," Flores stated.
The new Ultimate Extra releases bring little new content for Vista Ultimate users, but at least they manage to provide some sort of indication that Microsoft has not all but killed the project. The Redmond company also released updated Language Packs tailored to Vista SP1. The Multilingual User interfaces for Vista SP1 are exclusive to the Ultimate SKU. The Windows DreamScene Content Pack #3 will offer users three additional nature-inspire animated backgrounds. The new DreamScenes, just as the rest of the Ultimate Extras, work only with the Ultimate edition of Vista.
"The Ultimate Extras Glass Sound Scheme utilizes the same design language and principles as the default Windows Vista sound scheme, however, this set has an additional glassy "edge" that can be heard as a more percussive envelope applied to each of the sounds. (...) The Ultimate Extras Pearl Sound Scheme further extends the intentionally-subtle design attributes of both the Windows Vista default sound scheme and the Ultimate Extras Glass scheme, with less focus on reverberant, sometimes clinking, "glassy" sounds in exchange for a richer, milky, more percussive sonic palate," Microsoft stated.