Windows Ballena

Windows Ballena was a codename for a successor to Windows Blackcomb. It was never launched for public and general availability. It was developed from August 2000 until March 2009, due to the project being cancelled. It is often considered to be the very start of the Windows 10 development cycle.
== History ==
Windows Ballena was planned at the same time as Windows Honeycomb. According to Microsoft, "Windows Honeycomb will be a major update and intermediate successor of Windows Blackcomb and part of the "Windows Blackcomb family, and Windows Ballena will be the successor of Windows Blackcomb and even the successor of Windows Honeycomb." The development started in August 2000. It was developed using the Windows Server 2000 source code, and then using the Windows XP and Windows Blackcomb source code. It also would support more architectures, including ARM and PowerPC processors, and would be focused on desktop computers, mobile devices, consoles, (planned for Xbox, PlayStation 2, Nintendo Gamecube, Game Boy Advance, and the Sega Dreamcast. It was also planned to be used as the operating system for the Xbox 360, but the version for Xbox 360 was also cancelled) and touch screens at the same time. The concept was also used in Windows 10. It was cancelled in March 2009, due to a few builds being shown by a user illegally. The betas were taken down and no more builds have been showcased. Following the cancelation, Microsoft shifted their focus to Windows XP, Server 2003, Vista, Server 2008, Server 2008 R2, and 7.
== Origin of the name ==
Ballena in Spanish means whale.
== New features ==
Note that some were also announced for Longhorn and some of them had to be reworked.
* More Microsoft Passport Network Integration (Now you can login onto your computer with a Microsoft Passport)
* Internet Explorer 7
* WinXFS (An improved version of WinFS)
* Touch and voice detection improvements
* ActiveSync preinstalled
* Outlook Express replaced by Windows Internet Mail
* Windows Media Center preinstalled on the more complete editions
* Windows Preinstallation Environment (Installation used on Windows Vista and newer versions)
* A new theme called "Windows Glass" is that this theme brings transparency to Windows Borders, start menu, taskbar and adds some effects and Glass transparency that would later be renamed to Aero by Longhorn build 4015 (main)
* Windows Peek (More later called Aero Peek)
* Windows Shake (More later called Aero Shake)
* Windows Gadgets
* Windows Cut Screen (For cutting and taking screenshots)
* New "My Contacts" folder
* New icons
* Microsoft Network Services and programs (More later replaced by the Windows Live Essentials suite)
* Microsoft Office Cloud Services (More later called Office 365 and converted to pay program)
* Windows Flip (On Windows Vista presented as Flip 3D)
* Windows Games (On Windows 8 called XBOX Live Games)
* Windows Camera
* Windows Multi-platform Executable Program (WMPEP) program format to replace Windows.exe programs (That concept was also used in Windows 10, with the UWP apps)
== Build List ==
Only one prototype has been leaked, but there are others known to exist.
=== Milestone 1 ===
Build 2255 was released on August 3, 2000, for internal testing, but it was leaked on October 1, 2000, by a group called the LSBA or the Liberian Systems and Beta Archive.
Changes:
* The version number has been updated to 7.0.
* The Segoe UI Font family was added, but not enabled by default.
* The Windows 2000 wallpaper was replaced by Windows Longhorn Milestone 3 Bliss without its logo, but with the label "shhh... let's not leak our hard work"
* Some programs have been updated.
* Internet Explorer 6.5 has been added but as an early Beta
* Outlook Express 6.5 has been added but as an early Beta
* Windows Camera (Hidden by default)
Still very similar to Windows 2000 with a few Whistler and Longhorn elements placed in certain spots.
Category:Fictional Windows versions