Updated: July 11, 2020 (September 6, 2004)

Longhorn Components on Windows Roadmap

As managing vice president, Rob Helm covers Microsoft collaboration and content management. His 25-plus years of experience analyzing Microsoft’s technology... more

A new OS roadmap announced in Sept. 2004 indicates that several features planned for the next Windows client, code-named Longhorn, will be released for current versions of Windows as well. In particular, the WinFX API set, Avalon graphics system, and Indigo messaging system planned for Longhorn will also work on the current OS generation. However, the WinFS file system that was planned for Longhorn has been postponed. These shifts dilute the impact of the Longhorn OS release, but they could attract more corporations to current Windows versions and encourage more developers to evaluate the strategic WinFX API set.

(See the illustration “Windows Roadmap, Sept. 2004“.)

Longhorn Splitting and Shrinking

Announced in 2002 and initially planned for delivery in 2005, the Longhorn OS release has now been substantially reduced in scope, to the benefit of current OSs and Microsoft’s platform strategy as a whole.

New APIs for Graphics, Messaging, Files

Initially, Longhorn promised three major new features:

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