Technology as a way of life

Microsoft declared in am official statement that the "Ultimate Extras" feature of Windows Vista Ultimate Edition will not exist in Windows 7.

"Our new approach to planning and building Windows doesn't have the capacity to continue to deliver features outside the regular release cycle. While our core development team is focused on building the next release, our sustained engineering team is focused on updates to existing features. As a result, we don't plan to create Ultimate Extras."

The new concept sounds better because less code will be needed to implement those pretty "useless" features. If you don't have any idea what those features are (were) take a look below.

• Windows DreamScene, a utility that allows videos to be used as desktop backgrounds. DreamScene supports .mpeg and .wmv video formats. During the last week of September 2007, Microsoft released the final version of DreamScene and announced availability of hundreds of animated backgrounds hosted at partner Stardock's Website.
• BitLocker and EFS Enhancements, two tools (Windows BitLocker Drive Preparation Tool and Secure Online Key Backup) that facilitate the use of security features in Windows Vista.
• Hold 'Em Poker Game
• Various MUI language packs, add-ons that allow Windows to be displayed in another language.
• Windows Sound Schemes, three extra sound packs (Ultimate Extras Glass, Pearl & Tinker-based sounds) that can be used instead of the Windows Default sound scheme.
• Microsoft Tinker, a 60 level puzzle game in which the player controls a robot through various mazes and obstacle courses.

The "problem" (if i can call it that) is that the extra features differentiated Vista Ultimate from a less expensive version Home Premium (which costs 60$ less).

Normally if you would upgrade to Windows 7 you could still use the existing Extras right?
WRONG!
Windows Vista Ultimate Extras are quietly removed from your pc during the upgrade to Windows 7, so the people who were foolish enough to pay more $ for some "extra" useless features will see them dissapear during the upgrade.

Anyway as a side note... i don't think there are more than 10 ppl in the world who actually use "DreamScene" or "Tinker" but know knows, i may be wrong...