Windows Phone Thoughts: Longhorn Beta Doubtful This Year

"Microsoft's efforts to bolster security in Windows XP will likely delay the release of a widespread test version of its forthcoming operating system until next year, Microsoft's top executives told CNET News.com. Microsoft had said it planned to ship the test version of Longhorn, a major update to the company's Windows operating system, this summer. The company has reassigned a large number of developers working on Longhorn to build updates to the existing versions of Windows to bolster security, said Jim Allchin, vice president of Microsoft's platforms group."

Since most of us are Windows users, the coming of Longhorn is a pretty big deal. I'm not terribly surprised to hear that a beta won't be coming out this year, and in truth, I'm happy to see them focusing on hardening the security in Windows XP rather than saying "Screw it, let's just work on the NEXT big thing...". Windows XP is a solid OS, and I'd rather wait for Longhorn to be done right rather than getting a half-baked OS.