It seems like this was already clear but just in case it wasn’t Microsoft has now officially announced on one of its blogs that it’s going to be handing out pre-beta builds of Windows 7, its post-Vista operating system, at its Professional Developers Conference (PDC) in a month.

It’s promising “advances” in the kernel, networking, hardware and devices and the user interface and to discuss the widgetry in-depth. There are also new APIs.

The release will give people the opportunity to place bets on whether Microsoft will meet its 2009/2010 RTM schedule and when the first beta will get out.

Microsoft is also expected to make some cloud noise at the event, which it calls the “software and services PDC.” It’s promising a “comprehensive service platform.” Presumably it means Live Mesh.

Among other things, Microsoft is dropping the built-in Vista applications for e-mail, photo management and movie-making from Windows 7 in favor of applications downloaded from the web.