April 25, 2005

Coverage of the first day of the Windows Hardware Engineering Conference (WinHEC 2005) is now hitting the web. First, there's a video of Bill Gates' keynote speech. In the keynote, Bill Gates focused on the power of 64-bit hardware and software, security, SQL Server 2005, Tablet PCs, and Longhorn. Several demos were on display, including one of NewTek LightWave 3D running in 64-bit mode, as well as a demo of SQL Server 2005 running in 64-bit mode. Also mentioned was new high availability and clustering functionality to be available in SQL Server 2005. The demo of Longhorn showed off features like transparency, reflections, scalable vector graphics, Avalon web applications, enhanced security and privacy, enhanced reliability and diagnostics, driver discovery and updates, Windows Update enhancements, media enhancements, desktop search and visualization, virtual folders with dynamic views, and the Metro output model. Microsoft Watch provides additional WinHEC coverage of the new Tablet PCs and Metro.

Here are the Links

Bill Gates Keynote Video (300 Kbps)

Bill Gates Keynote Video (100 Kbps)

The Microsoft Watch Tablet PC Article

The Microsoft Watch Metro Article

The CNET Article