Yes, we all know that Microsoft is working on Vista's successor and will probably release it in 2010. But according to a latest report, the software giant has already shipped an early version of Windows 7, previously code-named Blackcomb Vienna, to key partners and will hopefully release it in the second half of 2009. It's been shipped in x86 and x64 versions, and includes a special ability to handle a heterogeneous graphics system consisting of multiple graphics cards from different vendors.

TG Daily reports that the new version features touchscreen, MinWin (a much smaller kernel of the operating system that takes up only 40 MB of memory), and integrated media center capabilities.

[Via TG Daily]
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