Microsoft today revealed the official name of the successor to Windows XP, long referred to as Longhorn, a name inspired by a bar in the Whistler ski area.

The software giant has settled on Windows Vista.

“Vista” is evocative of clear and distant views, and partly alludes to the Avalon graphical subsystem. The interface overhaul is expected to narrow the gap between Windows and Mac’s lauded GUI as well as harness the power of 3D graphics accelerators.

Vista’s official page, while sparse, already contains clues as to the message behind the product push.

Aside from the “bringing clarity to your world” tagline, the site suggests that security and flexibility are two of the main selling points. RSS integration, XML-friendly underpinnings and an upgraded networking model are among many of the features that have seeped into the OS during its development.

On August 3rd, the company is planning the release of Beta 1. Another beta is expected in 2006 before Vista’s official launch.

Posted by Dablu in Operating Systems