Of course, it’s only a “Technology Preview” at the moment, but I’m sure some programming geeks are busying about creating fancy programs for us all to drool over when the final version arrives.

From the Microsoft download page:

“Avalon" is the code name for Microsoft’s unified presentation subsystem for Windows. It consists of a display engine and a managed-code framework. “Avalon” unifies how Windows creates, displays, and manipulates documents, media, and user interface. This enables developers and designers to create visually-stunning, differentiated user experiences that improve customer connection. When it ships, scheduled for 2006, “Avalon” will be available on Windows XP, Windows Server 2003 and all future releases of the Windows operating system. When delivered, “Avalon” will become Microsoft’s strategic user interface (UI) technology. The “Avalon” Community Technology Preview (CTP) became available to the MSDN members in November of 2004. It is our pleasure to release the same build to the general public in response to numerous requests.

From the November news.com.com article:

Avalon was originally envisioned as a core feature of Longhorn, the next version of Windows. It will still be a part of that operating system, but it will also be made available as an add-on for users of Windows XP and Windows Server 2003.

Avalon is a key part of Windows’ future, but it is something the average computer user will never touch directly. Instead, it’s an improved method of dealing with graphics, designed to let developers write snazzier-looking applications.

Needless to say of course, this software is not meant for general useage, and in fact it may not even work anything like the final version does. Your computer may in fact explode into firey chunks of plastic and steel if you try to use it (as per the standard disclaimer clauses, of course), but that’s not stopping me from downloading it to see what the fuss is all about.