Since then, there have been many other builds compiled, including 7003, 7004, 7012, 7015, 7016, 7022, 7025, 7028, and 7034. A few of these have leaked, but only one hit public torrent sites. This past weekend, the 32-bit version of build 7022 started to rage across piracy networks. According to the build string (7022.winmain.090115-1850), it was compiled January 15, 2009 at 6:50pm. To put things into perspective, build 7025 was compiled exactly five days later.
Some have asked me if this build is worth downloading and installing, and every time my response is "that depends on how patient you are." I've decided to put together a quick list of things that have changed since build 7000, so users who haven't downloaded the leak can see what those with 7022 have been seeing (beyond just bug fixes and performance tweaks):
* A noticeably faster installation
* A Homegroup is created automatically during installation (no longer asks you if you'd like one
* Taskpane in Windows Explorer (left-hand column) has changed from blue to grayish white
* Control Panel: task pane on the left has been removed and choosing the view is now done in the top right (Category, Large Icons, Small Icons)
* An IE8 RC1 build is included, works slightly faster
* WMP12: a slightly new icon, album art is bigger, and the Library button is now in the top right corner of the now playing window
* Icons: Homegroups has a new one, Paint has a new paste icon (which we've seen in the leaked 7025 screenshots), and jump lists for certain pinned items like Control Panel have icons for every option
* There's a new fade transition effect when you change wallpapers and Windows Explorer animations when moving items have been tweaked
* In Windows Features it is now possible to remove "Media Playback Applications" (Windows DVD Maker, Windows Media Center, and Windows Media Player)
* Two new items in can be added to the Start Menu: Homegroup and Downloads
* Gadgets now work regardless of whether UAC is on or off
Personally I'll be waiting for Microsoft to give out a newer build officially, but 7022 shows that the road to a release candidate has been a smooth one so far.
ArsTechnica