Microsoft's big developer conference began today. Stardock is there to hear about the latest news coming from the conference.

The highlights so far:

• Microsoft is calling their next API WinFX (yea, we're not terribly happy about that). There's Win16, Win32, and now WinFX.
• The new version of Windows has a new UI called "Aero". The most visible part of it is "Sidebar". If you want something like that today, download DesktopX 2 http://www.desktopx.net which includes a Longhorn sidebar object.
• Avalon is being demoed last time we checked in.

More coming...