MSDN Subscribers got a surprise today! The WinFS (Windows File System) Beta 1 was made available to MSDN Subscribers, today. The release will enable developers to start work on WinFS?s capabilities. According to several press reports today, WinFS will be made available to PDC (Professional Developer Conference) attendes. The final version of WinFS will be released a few months after Windows Vista ships. The RTM (Release to Manufacturing) of WinFS will include support for both Windows Vista and probably Windows XP. WinFS will be available as a download add-in for the .NET Compact Framework.

WinFS Beta 1 weighs in at 76MB.

WinFS Beta 1 is currently only available to MSDN Subscribers, and probably will be available to PDC Attendes.

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