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Microsoft sends Vista SP2 invites - beta release in 4 weeks

ImageThanks to a tipster Neowin has learned Microsoft has started sending Vista SP2 and Windows Server 2008 SP2 invites to select testers.

Earlier this week it was revealed the company will release SP2 before Windows 7. Microsoft recently put a placeholder online for the upcoming betas of Windows Vista SP2 and Windows Server 2008 SP2.

Microsoft will include Windows Search 4 in Vista SP2 along with Bluetooth wireless support (including latest BT 2.1 fixes), support for the new VIA 64-bit CPU and additional application compatibility updates.

For Windows Server 2008 SP2, Microsoft will include Backwards compatibility with Terminal Services licensing keys, improved manageability features with DFS/FRS console, and Storage Resource Manager, print server and spooler performance improvements for printers in Windows Vista and Server 2008 and improved error reporting in DFSR to help identify incorrectly configured deployments which lead to failed replication.

Both builds are "anticipated" to be released within the next four weeks.

Source: Neowin

 
Symantec shows Microsoft how to do UAC

ImageSecurity company Symantec has released a tool that helps to make Vista’s UAC (User Account Control) feature clearer and less of a pain to use.

Norton UAC Tool (which, I will warn you right from the start is currently in beta) is a replacement to the UAC prompts that you normally see. It has two usability-related features to offer:

It offers a “Don’t ask me again” feature so that the next time you carry out a certain action there’s no UAC prompt displayed

It gives you more information about what’s triggered a UAC prompt. Specifically:

  • Whether the app is digitally signed (and if so, who it is signed by)
  • Whether the component resides in a protected directory

Before installing this tool, read the Norton UAC Tool FAQ carefully.

Also be aware that since this is a beta product, it might introduce vulnerabilities to your system. With that in mind I’d keep this tool off critical systems (or systems connected to critical systems).

Still, it shows that the UAC mechanism can be improved upon, and that a few small tweaks can make the mechanism much more user-friendly.

Source: ZDNet

View source for screenshots.

 

 
IE8 Beta 2 Released

ImageWith several days to spare before its self-imposed deadline, Microsoft Corp. today launched the second beta version of its upcoming Internet Explorer 8 (IE8) browser but would not commit to a ship date for the final version.

Today's preview includes several new features introduced since March's Beta 1 debut, but only two of them haven't been openly discussed already, said James Pratt, a senior product manager in the IE development team.

Much like the revamped location bar that Mozilla Corp. added to Firefox 3.0 -- which it calls the "Awesome Bar" -- IE8's address field now can be used to search for previously-visited sites by typing in words or phrases.

The other feature he stressed in Beta 2 -- search suggestions -- has also been held until today, Pratt said. "We've introduced a way to search more quickly," he said, pointing to search bar, which now that lets search-engine and Web site developers add more functionality to searches. Pratt demonstrated a search using Amazon.com Inc.'s engine in IE8 Beta 2 that provided not only item results from the online store, but also artwork, such as album-cover art for CDs, as well as prices.

Download: Microsoft

Source: Computer World

 

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iVista Project

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