Microsoft has released two new Windows Vista Ultimate Extras. Windows Vista has been out for over a year, and so far Microsoft has released remarkably few Extras. The company initially promised that Extras would be special applications available to Vista Ultimate users that would help set the premium version of the operating system apart from cheaper versions. But Microsoft has been rather slow to deliver.

Today, users can download a new content pack for DreamScene, an animated desktop background application. There are also two new sound schemes called Glass and Pearl. Reading their descriptions is a bit like reading the description of a fine wine, so if you want to know what they sound like, you'll probably just have to download the packs yourself. Or you can listen to an audio demo created by Long Zheng of istartedsomething.

In other news, Microsoft has also released 18 updated language packs for Windows Vista, which should show up via Windows Update.

It's been a busy week here at Download Squad headquarters. And we assume you've had a busy week too. So if you've fallen behind on your tech news, here are a few things you might have missed during the week ending September 29th, 2007.

Download Squad interviews Evan Jones of 360desktop - Video

Ever get the feeling that there's just not enough space for all the shortcuts, temporary files, and widgets you need to live a contended life? 360desktop lets you use a panoramic photo as a desktop background. Since panoramic photos don't fit too well on a 1024 x 768 pixel monitor, 360desktop creates more virtual desktop space by letting you scroll beyond the edge of your monitor.

Is the Nokia N800 really an iPhone killer? - Video

Download Squad's Ted Wallingford has been spending some quality time with his Nokia N800, and he has the video to prove it. Sure, the N800 isn't technically a phone like the iPhone, but put that puppy near a Wi-Fi hot spot, fire up the VoIP and anything's possible.

Dear Facebook: May I have my life back please? - DLS commentary

Download Squad's Gordon Finlayson has a few questions about Facebook developers. So he sent e-mails to a handful of said developers. And he was labeled a spammer, his account was banned, and Facebook lawyers told him the immortal soul of his firstborn child was now theres. OK, we made the last part up. But Finlayson does have some interesting thoughts on Facebook's over-aggressive anti-spam policy.

Dev Chair: Keep sharp, stay valuable

Resident developer Alex Hung offers up some valuable advice for honing your skills even when your current job is far too easy for you. Only the strong survive, and one day you're going to be looking for another job. So why not contribute to open source projects, take evening classes, or actually show your bosses that there might be a better way of doing things.

ZoneAlarm ForceField protects your browsing session - DLS interview

Most of the threats to our computers come from the web. So while firewalls, anti-virus, and anti-spyware applications are great, sometimes what you really need is a way to protect your browsing session. At least, that's the premise behind ZoneAlarm's latest security offering.

Preview of Nero 8 - DLS interview

Nero is set to release the latest version of its popular CD/DVD burning suite next week. We got a chance to ask Nero technical director Craig Campbell a few questions about what sets Nero 8 apart from Nero 7. In a nutshell: a few performance enhancements and a whole bunch of visual tweaks.

Here are a few more of our most popular articles from the week:

• DreamScene animated desktop for Windows Vista launches
• Facebook IM launching soon
• Is Gmail getting a facelift?
• Windows extends XP sales
• Excel can't do math (unles 850*77.1=100,000)

One of the things that separates Windows Vista Ultimate from the versions of Vista with names like "Home Premium" and Business are "Ultimate Extras," like DreamScene, because you know, everyone needs an animated desktop on their PC.

But if visual candy is your thing, after spending most of the year in public beta, DreamScene was officially pushed out the door today. Microsoft has also partnered with Stardock to release a series of new DreamScene desktops. You can also convert your own videos into desktops.

There's no real word on any differences between the full version of DreamScene and the public beta. Let us know if you've installed both versions and notice any changes.

Some of the biggest differences between Windows Vista Home Premium and Windows Vista Ultimate have to do with encryption, security, and data backups. But there are also a few useless but fun visual effects that you don't get in cheaper versions of Vista. For example, DreamScene is only available in Vista Ultimate.

DreamScene lets you run a movie in a constant loop on your desktop and looks pretty friggin cool, while sucking up your PC's resources.



Pretty nice looking, right? But probably not worth dropping the money on a Vista upgrade. Well, now you don't have to. If you're willing to much around with your windows system files, you can install a patched version of DreamScene that will let you run animated backgrounds on any version of Windows Vista, even Vista Basic.

[via CyberNet]