The Release Candidate (RC) version of Visual Studio 2010 has been released by Microsoft and is now available to download publicly. So, you can download and try the both Visual Studio 2010 RC and .NET Framework 4 RC before the release of final version which is expected in the first quarter of 2010.

Microsoft has released the three different versions of their latest Visual Studio release, the names of those versions are as follows:

• Visual Studio 2010 Ultimate
• Visual Studio 2010 Premium
• Visual Studio 2010 Professional

The final version of Microsoft Visual Studio 2010 is expected to release on 22nd of March, 2010.

What’s new in Microsoft Visual Studio 2010

• New prototyping, modeling, and visual design tools enable you to create innovative applications for Windows and the Web
• Create a shared vision as a foundation for creativity with SketchFlow, in Microsoft Expression Studio , and Team Foundation Server
• Take advantage of new opportunities & capabilities offered by multi-core programming and cloud development tools
• Complete all your coding, modeling, testing, debugging, and deployment work without leaving the Visual Studio 2010 environment
• Use existing standards and skills to target a growing number of application types including Microsoft SharePoint and Windows Azure
• Work your way through multi-monitor support, partner extensions, and a new editor
• Use the new IntelliTrace debugger to isolate the point of failure within a recorded application history
• Stay ahead of the curve with proactive project management tools including new reports, dashboards, and planning worksheets
• Know that you’ve built the right application the right way with manual and automated testing tools

What’s new in Microsoft .NET Framework 4

• Added support for Windows 7 multi-touch, ribbon controls, and taskbar extensibility features
• Added support for Surface 2.0 SDK
• New line-of-business controls including charting control, smart edit, data grid, and others that improve the experience for developers who build data centric applications
• Improvements in performance and scalability
• Visual improvements in text clarity, layout pixel snapping, localization, and interoperability
• Performance improvement including better multicore support, background garbage collection, and profiler attach on server
• New memory mapped file and numeric types
• Easier debugging including dump debugging, Watson minidumps, mixed mode debugging for 64 bit and code contracts
• More control over HTML, element IDs and custom CSS that make it much easier to create standards-compliant and SEO-friendly web forms

Download Visual Studio 2010 / .NET Framework 4

Release Candidate of Microsoft Visual Studio 2010 and .NET Framework 4 is now available for download for free. You can download it from the Microsoft Download Center by following the download links given below:

Download Microsoft Visual Studio 2010 RC

Download Microsoft .NET Framework 4 RC