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Windows 7 Leaked

The upcoming Windows 7 beta -- scheduled to be released this month -- found its way onto the Internet over the holidays.

The upcoming Windows 7 beta -- scheduled to be released this month -- found its way onto the Internet over the holidays.

According to several news reports, the leaked version can currently be fairly easily found on several BitTorrent sites. It is the Beta 1 version, and according to those who have tested the software, including ZDNet's Adrian Kingsley-Hughes, it's "very similar" to the prerelease beta Microsoft gave testers in October.

Many industry watchers predicted that Microsoft would provide early previews of the beta to customers during the holidays. That preview appears not to have happened, although some commenters are wondering whether Microsoft leaked the beta on purpose. Microsoft has not commented on that speculation or the leak itself.

While Microsoft has not said exactly when in January it will release the beta, it is widely believed that the company will distribute it at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) taking place this week in Las Vegas.

About the Author

Becky Nagel serves as vice president of AI for 1105 Media specializing in developing media, events and training for companies around AI and generative AI technology. She also regularly writes and reports on AI news, and is the founding editor of PureAI.com. She's the author of "ChatGPT Prompt 101 Guide for Business Users" and other popular AI resources with a real-world business perspective. She regularly speaks, writes and develops content around AI, generative AI and other business tech. She has a background in Web technology and B2B enterprise technology journalism.

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