After months of beta testing and development by the Microsoft team, the moment has finally arrived. The Windows 7 Release Candidate was leaked today following the release of dozens of builds of the operating system up to that point.

The same Japanese blogger who released screenshots of build 7068 has now released downloadable versions of the 32-bit and 64-bit Windows 7 build 7068.

In the fourth week of April (19-25) of 2009, Microsoft plans to release internal RC-escrow builds (not the same as the public RC) to a smaller group of testers. Then, in the last week of May, Microsoft plans to make a public Release Candidate available.

The Windows 7 Engineering team has posted another set of 27 changes made in the release candidate at the Engineering Blog.

Today the 7057 build of Windows 7 was leaked to the internet for download. New improvements include a stylish logon screen as well as added user account pictures and wallpapers.

Microsoft has released an article detailing thirty-six of the biggest changes in the Windows 7 Release Candidate from the Beta version.