Today we released Beta 1 of the next version of Visual Studio and .NET framework, code named “Orcas”.   Here are some key resources for Visual Studio "Orcas":

• Download Visual Studio “Orcas” or the Express Editions
• Visual Studio “Orcas” MSDN developer center
• Read the overview of Visual Studio “Orcas” White Paper

Please keep in mind that this is an early release of Visual Studio and you are encouraged to install "Orcas" on a secondary machine or in a virtual machine.  If you have any feedback on Visual Studio and the .NET Framework "Orcas", then please share your feedback in the connect site.   You can also find MSDN forums for several of the new Orcas features here.

The release candidate 1 for the .NET Framework 3.0 is now available!  You can download the components for the RC1 here:

• .NET Framework 3.0 Runtime Components RC1
• Windows SDK for Vista RC1 and the .NET Framework 3.0 RC1
• Visual Studio 2005 Extensions for Windows Workflow Foundation (WF RC5)

The Readme for RC1 is available here. 

There is also a go-live license available for the release candidate.  You can find more information about the license and sign the online go-live license here.  

Please note:   The Visual Studio "Orcas" development tools for the .NET Framework 3.0 Release Candidate 1 have not been released yet.  We will update this post with a link to the tools when they are available. 

Update: 

The Visual Studio "Orcas" CTP - Tools for .NET Framework 3.0 RC1 are now available.   These tools provide the Visual Studio project templates for WPF and WCF. 

The online documentation for the Windows SDK for Vista RC1 and the .NET Framework 3.0 RC1 is also now available.    Here are the direct links to the documentation for the .NET Framework 3.0 technologies:

• Windows CardSpace
• Windows Communication Foundation
• Windows Presentation Foundation
• Windows Workflow Foundation

NetFx3.com is a new developer community that focuses on the four new technologies included in the Microsoft .NET Framework 3.0 (the technologies formerly known as WinFx):

• Windows Communication Foundation 
• Windows Presentation Foundation
• Windows Workflow Foundation 
• Windows CardSpace 
  

NetFx3.com is based in part on the feedback we received for the WindowsWorkflow.net and WindowsCommunication.net sites that were launched.  The Windows Workflow Foundation and Windows Communication Foundation sites are now represented as “sub-communities” within NetFx3.com.  We have also created new sub-communities for Windows Presentation Foundation and Windows CardSpace, so that the four new pillars of the .NET Framework 3.0 are fully represented in this site.   

The site has been designed to aggregate information on the .NET Framework 3.0 technologies from product team and community bloggers, MSDN forums, and Channel 9.  You can easily find and share samples, code snippets, and other resources.  

Please browse the site, download some samples, and share your feedback.  We really want to hear how we can improve this site and provide the demos, samples, and resources that you need to develop application using the .NET Framework 3.0.  

Finally, the launch of this site is just the begining.  We have several exciting features and improvements planned for the next few months.   The best way to stay up to date on the news related to the .NET Framework 3.0 is to subscribe to the NetFx3 News Feed