The Microsoft Assessment and Planning Toolkit team blog has posted that the new version of MAP toolkit is compatible with Windows 7.
Here is what the blogpost reads
Due to popular demand of the Windows 7 Beta Program, our team has just released a new version of the Microsoft Assessment and Planning (MAP) Toolkit 3.2 (Build 2315) that now gives you the newly-added capability of running this MAP Toolkit on Windows 7 Beta machines.
We previously block the installation of the MAP Toolkit 3.2 on "beta versions" of any operating system.  Build 2315 …

Today Microsoft has unveiled the Windows 7 and Windows Server 2008 R2 Ecosystem Readiness Program designed to help Independent Hardware Vendors (IHVs), Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs), developers, Independent Software Vendors (ISVs) and Original Device Manufacturers (ODMs) achieve compatibility and innovation with Windows 7.
The program provides partners with access to Windows 7 and Windows Server 2008 R2 beta builds, development and test toolkits, technical documents and application testing labs through Microsoft Connect. Software partners can join by going to: www.msdn.com/windows.
Meanwhile hardware partners can go to the Windows Hardware Developer Central …

Damien Reynolds of Neowin.net has posted information regarding downloading and installing Windows 7 updates from the Microsoft Connect web site, no matter whether what we’re running the Windows 7 Ultimate Beta, the Windows 7 Home Premium Beta, or Windows 7 Server Beta.
These are some of the updates provided on the Microsoft Connect Site:

Windows 7 Beta Critical WMP and WMC Critical Update – KB961367
Windows 7 and Server 2008 R2 Beta Preliminary Release Notes
Windows 7 Beta (7000-0-081212-1400) SDK and Symbols
Windows 7 Beta (7000-0-081212-1400) WDK
Windows 7 Beta (7000-0-081212-1400) …

Microsoft executives say one of the lessons they’ve learned from Windows Vista is that notebook PCs have very different requirements than desktop PCs, and that adjustments reflecting this new understanding will be evident in Windows 7.
In a recent interview with Channelweb.com, Mike Nash, corporate vice president of Windows Product Management, said that in its development of Windows 7, Microsoft paid close attention to the transitions that notebooks go through between home and work usage, and how these transitions affected Vista notebook performance.
"We used to treat notebooks as …

Chinese site pcbeta.com has posted some of the screenshots of Windows 7 beta build 7025.The build number is written as 7025.0.x86fre.winmain.09120-1850 which states that the build was created on the 20th Jan 2009 and also the main thing is that this beta version has Internet Explorer 8 RC 1 installed in it.Also the build expires on 2nd July 2009
Here are the screenshots-

Incoming search terms for the article:windows explorer 8

If you are still feeling patriotic and are using Windows 7 then you can check out Paul Thurrott’s new Washington D.C. theme pack for Windows 7. He has made the theme using several photos he took on a trip to D.C. back in August 2007. Photos include the Washington Monument, the Lincoln Memorial, the White House, and more.

Paul has offered it up as a free download from several different locations including the following:

Download Paul’s D.C. theme (Box.net)
Download Paul’s D.C. theme (SkyDrive)
Download Paul’s D.C. theme (ZIP, SkyDrive) …

Brandon LeBlanc, has posted a blog post, updating the dates and deadlines for the broad availability of Windows 7 Beta. Though if you are a TechNet or MSDN Subscriber this doesn’t apply to you and you would continue to enjoy the download till the beta ends!
The entire blog post can be read HERE.
Here are the main points from the site
The shutdown of general availability for the Windows 7 Beta will occur in 3 phases over the course of the next few weeks:

Starting January 27th, the Windows 7 page will …

Big changes have happened for certifying your application for Windows 7 and Windows Server 2008 R2.
The testing of the software by Microsoft,for Windows 7 compatibility(required for Windows Vista) is no longer required. Instead, the software  programmers can carry out the tests themselves.Participation in the program is free.This is to ensure that the Windows 7 compatibility logo can be used for all future applications developed for the operating system .
The same is valid for Windows Server 2008 R2.
Here is the extract from the MSDN Blog
Cookbook, Guide Can Assist …

According to the MSDN Up North blog the deadline to download Windows 7 beta from the Windows 7 official site has been extended to 10th Feb 2009 which was earlier 25th Jan.So all those who haven’t downloaded Windows 7 just go ahead and download it from here,you would definitely feel the difference between this version and the previous versions of Windows.

Brian Keller,a Technical Evangelist for Microsoft Visual Studio Team System has written a good review to install Windows 7 beta Virtual PC 2007 SP1.
Here is what the page reads-
If you have a spare test machine that supports the system requirements then I highly recommend installing the beta on your test machine. But if not, one way to mitigate the risks of using pre-release software is to use virtualization technology such as Microsoft Virtual PC 2007.
Creating a Windows 7 Beta 1 virtual image (aka virtual machine) is fairly similar to the …