When Active Desktop became available many moons ago, it allowed us to put jpeg images and webpages on our desktop (previously we were limited to bmp files or solid colors). The next logical step has now been taken. News is coming out of CES about one of the new pieces of Microsoft’s soon to be released Windows Ultimage Extra. Ultimate Extras are extra features that will be released to Vista Ultimate users through Windows Update (won’t be available to users of other versions). The feature is called DeamScene (previously called Windows Desktop Motion), and it allows you to use a .mpeg or .wmv file as your background. There are looping videos that come with, there will be some available from third party vendors, or you can use your own.

This will require an Aero capable video card, which you’d expect most users of Vista Ultimate would already have. If you don’t, DreamScene will still provide some of the tools that Active Desktop did, using images on your desktop, and positioning other items as well. Other features of Ultimate Extras include a version of Texas Holdem, Bit Locker (hard drive encryption), digital content like how-to’s, tips, etc, and finally, access to world-wide languages (35 available).

The Microsoft Windows Vista Ultimate Extras website:
windowsultimate.com/Blogs/Extras/Default.aspx
A video interview is available:
on10.net/Blogs/larry/windows-vista-ultimate-extras/