Our MDOP customers have told us that they want to see Windows 7 Support for Microsoft Application Virtualization (App-V) so that they can move ahead with their application testing for enterprise deployments of Windows 7 early on. We heard you loud and clear. Today we are announcing the availability of App-V 4.5 CU1 with support for the Windows 7 Beta.

All subscribers of the Microsoft Desktop Optimization Pack (MDOP) can head on over to Microsoft Connect and register to download the update. This release will have access to the new technology for free as part of their current licenses.

For more information, see this blog post over on the MDOP Blog which also includes roadmap information around App-V 4.6.

MDOP is part of the Windows Optimized Desktop. A few weeks ago, Gavriella Schuster highlighted the value of the Windows Optimized Desktop for businesses and announced specifics for the Windows 7 Enterprise SKU, which is an Optimized Desktop offering. For further guidance of Windows Deployments in your environment, see Gavriella’s blog post on the Windows for your Business Blog here.

Speaking of Virtualization, have you seen Microsoft’s brand new website on Microsoft.com? Check it out.

I hope you have tried out SoftGrid (part of the cool MDOP package) - but, now we gotta start using a new name: "Microsoft Application Virtualization" - or actually "System Center Application Virtualization Management System "…

We all know the Microsoft way of doing this by now: buy the technology/product, start selling with the good old (well known) name, change the name - and some would add: then, as the very last part of the process, change the naming within the code, like "Softricity" folder names, service names etc. (as they often "forget" about this).

Nevertheless a Public Beta version is available for the NEW version 4.5 (most have 4.2 out there I guess). The Beta is available from Microsoft Connect - just sign up and as to participate in the "Application Virtualization 4.5 Public Beta".

You then ask: what’s the new stuff? First of all we of course have a lot of bugfixes, but you also have new and cool functionality worth a lot of nice words - but I’m afraid it’s gonna be another time, sorry.

However, check these links:
Microsoft Application Virtualization 4.5 Beta – What’s New
Microsoft SoftGrid Application Virtualization

 

Hope you will like it!