Windows Ultimate Extras
Encyclopedia
Windows Ultimate Extras are optional features offered to users of Windows Vista
Ultimate Edition
. They are accessible with Windows Update
. Ultimate Extras replace the market role of Microsoft Plus!
, a product sold for prior consumer releases of Microsoft Windows
. Windows Vista Ultimate Edition's successor, Windows 7 Ultimate, does not include Windows Ultimate Extras.
had been criticized for not delivering many useful Extras after the launch of the Vista operating system and its most expensive edition. Some people even questioned whether the Ultimate Extras team was still in existence given a decline in their blog activity. However, on July 2, 2007, in a post on the Windows Ultimate blog they issued a statement that they would be providing 20 more language packs and final version of Windows DreamScene by the end of the summer 2007, as well as more Ultimate Extras "over the next couple years."
Microsoft released the final version of Windows DreamScene on September 25, 2007. Microsoft released two new Extras, including two new DreamScene backgrounds and two sound schemes, on April 22, 2008, almost 8 months after DreamScene's release. Group Shot
was initially announced to be a future Ultimate Extra, but it was eventually downloadable at a Microsoft Research
site for some time.
Since the release of new Ultimate Extras in April 2008, the uproar over Microsoft's lack of providing Extras has died down substantially. One editor called the Ultimate Extras 'useless addons'.
In September 2008, Microsoft released a game via Ultimate Extras called Microsoft Tinker
and an additional DreamScene Content Pack. One reviewer wrote an article about Tinker called the "Best Ultimate Extra so far (although the bar has been set pretty low)".
Windows Vista
Windows Vista is an operating system released in several variations developed by Microsoft for use on personal computers, including home and business desktops, laptops, tablet PCs, and media center PCs...
Ultimate Edition
Windows Vista editions
Windows Vista is available in six different marketing editions. With the exception of Windows Vista Starter, all editions support both 32-bit and 64-bit processor architectures....
. They are accessible with Windows Update
Windows Update
Windows Update is a service provided by Microsoft that provides updates for the Microsoft Windows operating system and its installed components, including Internet Explorer...
. Ultimate Extras replace the market role of Microsoft Plus!
Microsoft Plus!
Microsoft Plus! was a commercial operating system enhancement product by Microsoft. The last edition is the Plus! SuperPack, which includes an assortment of screensavers, themes, and games, as well as multimedia applications...
, a product sold for prior consumer releases of Microsoft Windows
Microsoft Windows
Microsoft Windows is a series of operating systems produced by Microsoft.Microsoft introduced an operating environment named Windows on November 20, 1985 as an add-on to MS-DOS in response to the growing interest in graphical user interfaces . Microsoft Windows came to dominate the world's personal...
. Windows Vista Ultimate Edition's successor, Windows 7 Ultimate, does not include Windows Ultimate Extras.
Released Windows Ultimate Extras
- Windows DreamSceneWindows DreamSceneWindows DreamScene is a utility that allows videos and other optimized animations to be used as desktop wallpapers. It is one of the Windows Ultimate Extras. Prior to its official announcement, DreamScene was rumored to be in creation under the names Motion Desktop and Borealis...
, a utility that allows videos to be used as desktop backgrounds. DreamScene supports .mpeg and .wmv video formats. During the last week of September 2007, Microsoft released the final version of DreamScene. Update packs of additional DreamScenes were released on April 22, 2008, and on September 24, 2008. - BitLockerBitLocker Drive EncryptionBitLocker Drive Encryption is a full disk encryption feature included with the Ultimate and Enterprise editions of Microsoft's Windows Vista and Windows 7 desktop operating systems, as well as the Windows Server 2008 and Windows Server 2008 R2 server platforms. It is designed to protect data by...
and EFSEncrypting File SystemThe Encrypting File System on Microsoft Windows is a feature introduced in version 3.0 of NTFS that provides filesystem-level encryption...
Enhancements, two tools (Windows BitLocker Drive Preparation Tool and Secure Online Key Backup) that facilitate the use of security features in Windows Vista. - Hold 'EmHold 'Em (Windows)Hold 'Em is a card game developed by Mobicore that is available through Windows Ultimate Extras. Hold 'Em is a version of Texas hold 'em. It, along with Microsoft Tinker, will be re-released through Games for Windows as a free download....
Poker Game, a version of Texas hold 'emTexas hold 'emTexas Hold 'em is a variation of the standard card game of poker. The game consists of two cards being dealt face down to each player and then five community cards being placed face-up by the dealer—a series of three then two additional single cards , with...
. - Various MUI language packs, add-ons that allow the user to switch the Windows user interface to another language.
- Windows Sound Schemes, three extra sound packs (Ultimate Extras Glass, Pearl & Tinker-based sounds) that can be used instead of the Windows Default sound scheme released on April 22, 2008 and September 23, 2008.
- Microsoft TinkerMicrosoft TinkerMicrosoft Tinker is a puzzle video game in which the player controls a robot through various mazes and obstacle courses. It was originally released on September 23, 2008 as part of Windows Ultimate Extras, and contained 60 levels including a 20-level tutorial...
, a 60 level puzzle game in which the player controls a robot through various mazes and obstacle courses. Tinker has been later released as a free game through the Games for Windows - LIVE client.
Criticism
Initially MicrosoftMicrosoft
Microsoft Corporation is an American public multinational corporation headquartered in Redmond, Washington, USA that develops, manufactures, licenses, and supports a wide range of products and services predominantly related to computing through its various product divisions...
had been criticized for not delivering many useful Extras after the launch of the Vista operating system and its most expensive edition. Some people even questioned whether the Ultimate Extras team was still in existence given a decline in their blog activity. However, on July 2, 2007, in a post on the Windows Ultimate blog they issued a statement that they would be providing 20 more language packs and final version of Windows DreamScene by the end of the summer 2007, as well as more Ultimate Extras "over the next couple years."
Microsoft released the final version of Windows DreamScene on September 25, 2007. Microsoft released two new Extras, including two new DreamScene backgrounds and two sound schemes, on April 22, 2008, almost 8 months after DreamScene's release. Group Shot
Group Shot
Group Shot is a photo combining program developed by Microsoft Research. Its purpose is to solve the problem of individuals in group photographs that might be doing undesirable things such as looking elsewhere, closing their eyes, not smiling, etc. The principle of Group Shot is that multiple group...
was initially announced to be a future Ultimate Extra, but it was eventually downloadable at a Microsoft Research
Microsoft Research
Microsoft Research is the research division of Microsoft created in 1991 for developing various computer science ideas and integrating them into Microsoft products. It currently employs Turing Award winners C.A.R. Hoare, Butler Lampson, and Charles P...
site for some time.
Since the release of new Ultimate Extras in April 2008, the uproar over Microsoft's lack of providing Extras has died down substantially. One editor called the Ultimate Extras 'useless addons'.
In September 2008, Microsoft released a game via Ultimate Extras called Microsoft Tinker
Microsoft Tinker
Microsoft Tinker is a puzzle video game in which the player controls a robot through various mazes and obstacle courses. It was originally released on September 23, 2008 as part of Windows Ultimate Extras, and contained 60 levels including a 20-level tutorial...
and an additional DreamScene Content Pack. One reviewer wrote an article about Tinker called the "Best Ultimate Extra so far (although the bar has been set pretty low)".