Friday, August 31, 2007

Get a chance to test the much awaited Windows Vista SP1 Beta

MS is sending out invites for Windows Vista SP1 Beta Preview:

Quote -

We are pleased to offer you an early preview of Microsoft® Windows Vista SP1 by extending this invitation to join the Windows Vista SP1 beta program. Your participation is completely voluntary. Program participants will preview Windows Vista SP1.
If you choose to participate you will have the opportunity to provide Microsoft with feedback as we continue work on this exciting new release. Please note that we have not made the Windows Vista SP1 Beta available on Microsoft Connect. The purpose of this email and survey is to ensure our current Windows Server 2008 beta participants have a first chance at participation. Successful participants will be notified via email when the Windows Vista SP1 Beta is available.
Confirming Your Interest in Participation
1. Go to http://connect.microsoft.com
2. Sign-in using your Connect LiveID credentials.
3. Click on [My Participation] from the left-hand menu.
4. Click on [Windows Server 2008 Beta].
5. Click on Surveys from the left-hand pane.
6. Scroll down and select the "Windows Vista SP1 Beta Opportunity for Windows Server 2008 Beta Participants" survey.
7. Ensure your contact information in your profile is set to "Yes". (Note: The survey is showing a screenshot of the dialog box and is not editable. You must click on the link to go to your profile and edit your contact preferences).
Thank you for your participation and we look forward to hearing what you have to say about the Windows Vista SP1.
Regards,
Microsoft Windows Beta Team


 source: Connect

For me the source is neowin

New site launched for Windows Live Messenger

 The Windows Live Messenger team launched a new site with really cool features with lots of interactive videos

Here is what the official blog reads-

The Messenger team has put together an awesome introductory video for Windows Live Messenger. This video is SO much better than an instruction manual! The onscreen guide walks you through many of the features of Messenger to give new and long-time Messenger users insight into what Messenger can do.

Just take a look at the site here- uk.messenger.imagine-live.com

The Official Blog : Inside Windows Live Messenger

Thursday, August 30, 2007

Microsoft Will Release Windows Vista SP1 Early 2008

Performance, compatibility, and reliability have been among the biggest complaints of Windows Vista users, and the service pack will focus on those three major trouble areas. After dancing around the subject for months, Microsoft finally opened up Wednesday and said it will release the first Service Pack for Windows Vista in the first quarter of 2008 with a wider beta version coming in "a few weeks." 

"We're feeling good about Windows Vista," said David Zipkin, a Microsoft senior product manager for Windows Client, in an interview. He pointed out that among other metrics, Windows Vista had 12 security issues in its first six months compared with Windows XP's 36 during its first six months. "At the same time, we are getting notes back that some people are having not so great experiences." 

Microsoft began testing early pre-beta versions of Vista SP1 and XP SP3 earlier this month with approximately 100 testers, but copies of both quickly began appearing online to the chagrin of Zipkin. Some fixes in the leaks will not appear in the final versions of the updates. "I think it's unfortunate that they were leaked," he said. "At this point in the game, that kind of information can give misdirection and misinformation to our customers."

Source: InformationWeek

Windows XP SP3 Available for Download In two weeks!!!

Microsoft confirmed officially that Windows XP Service Pack 3 will be made available for download in the next couple of weeks. It seems that Microsoft is continuing the practice of releasing the milestones of the first service pack for Windows Vista and the third refresh for Windows XP concomitantly. The Redmond company initially shipped a pre-beta build of Windows XP SP3 concomitantly with the pre-beta version of Windows Vista SP1 in mid July. Up until this point, Microsoft has been dead quiet about the development of XP SP1, with all details

stopped by the Windows Omerta codename Translucency, set in place by Sinofsky.
Now Microsoft has confirmed that the full beta of the service pack for Windows Vista will be available for download via Connect to some 10,000 to 15,000 testers. Additionally, the Redmond company also announced that the first actual beta of Windows XP SP3 will be delivered to all TechNet and Microsoft Developer Network subscribers. The third refresh for XP is planned for limited availability by mid September. At this point in time, Microsoft failed to reveal if a public beta of the service pack will be offered to users, in a manner similar to that of Windows Vista SP1.
However, unlike Vista SP1 which only now had its final availability date confirmed for the first quarter of 2008, Windows XP SP3 was scheduled all along for the first half of the coming year. In mid July, Microsoft delivered to a select pool of testers Windows XP SP3 pre-beta build 5.1.2600.3180 (xpsp.070718-2058). The version was subsequently leaked to peer-to-peer file sharing networks. Microsoft emphasized that the third service pack for Windows XP, as well as the first service pack for Windows Vista, would not impact considerably the users’ experience on each of the two operating systems. Still, XP SP3 is long overdue as Microsoft delayed the product from 2006, to 2007 and then to 2008. The last refresh, for Windows XP, SP2 was made available back in 2004.

source- softpedia

Halo 3 for XBOX released!!!

Halo 3  for Xbox 360 has gone Gold! That means we delivered a final version to our internal certification group that passed all the tests and is now being whisked away to top secret manufacturing locations to be turned into retail versions of the game – and eventually packaged and sent to stores in various cases, tins and cat-helmets. We can’t wait to share it with you guys on September 25th and 26th, but we have to say thanks.

 We have to say thanks to everyone at Bungie who worked so hard to make this the best game we've ever made. We have to say thanks to everyone at Microsoft who helped us make it the best game we ever made. We have to say thanks to our tireless team of artists, designers, engineers, musicians, technicians, writers, directors, producers, thinkers, administrators, ninjas, specialists, gorillas, webmasters and pimps.  We’re a family and we made this game for you, our extended family. We hope you like it. Nobody deserves any more recognition than anyone else, but an extra special thanks goes out anyway, to the test team who got it to this stage, in a pool of their own sweat, tears and blood.
And of course, we wouldn't be here today without the tireless devotion of our fan community - we thank you all as well for supporting Bungie Studios in our never ending quest for World Domination and we look forward to sharing another billion+ hours together on Xbox Live when Halo 3 lands in just  a few short weeks.  The wait is almost over.
We Finished our Fight.  Your fight begins in 27 days. 
Are you ready?

Source- Bungie

Tuesday, August 28, 2007

Windows Home Server Connect Site

With the closing of the Code2Fame Challenge for Windows Home Server, the Connect site has been updated so that beta participants can no longer download the Release Candidate (RC) version of the software.  Beta testers will be able to continue to use the beta product keys they downloaded from the Connect site, but we will not be issuing any more product keys for the RC software.

The System Builder version of Windows Home Server is already available in some countries, with additional countries expected to come online in the coming weeks.  Additionally, a 120-day Evaluation Edition will be orderable from the Windows Home Server product pages for a cost recovery basis to cover shipping and handling in the next 4-6 weeks.

In the future, the Windows Home Server team will continue to use the Connect site for interacting with the Windows Home Server community by releasing  additional items that we want people to get an early look at.  All of the suggestions submitted by the community will continue to exist, as we are busy digging through all of the great ideas as we start planning the next release of Windows Home Server.

Please check back at the Windows Home Server Connect site from time to time to see if there is additional stuff to download and test.  

 

News Source: blogs.technet.com

Monday, August 27, 2007

Sign into Windows Live, MSN, Hotmail & Passport sites with Cardspace

Windows CardSpace is client software that enables users to authenticate to a website or web service using information cards for added security. Information cards contain identity meta data and can be given to a user by an identity provider such as a bank, employer or government or created by the user themselves.
When the user chooses a card, a signed and encrypted security token containing the required information (e.g. name and address, employer’s name and address, or credit limit) is generated by the identity provider that created the card. The user can then decide whether to release this information to the requesting online service. If the user approves, a token is sent on to the third party where the token is processed and the identity information is extracted.

Today, the Live team has announced a practical use of this authentication method by introducing beta support to sign into Windows Live, MSN, Hotmail & Passport sites using a Windows Cardspace.
If you are using Windows Vista which has in built Cardspace support, visit Windows LiveID Information Card management page to create self signed information cards. Windows XP and 2003 users will need to download and install Microsoft .Net Framework 3.0 with cardspace support which the website would prompt anyway if it is not detected.
After creating your first information card, you will see the choice of Password or Information Card when you visit any Windows Live enabled website or service on the Internet.

source- neowin

Microsoft Tool "Steals" Yahoo and Google Email Accounts and Brings Them to Windows Live Hotmail

Microsoft unveiled a new online-based tool designed to "steal" email accounts from rivals Yahoo and Google and converted them to its own Windows Live Hotmail. But TrueSwitch is by no means limited just to Yahoo and Gmail. The fact of the matter is that TrueSwitch also supports accounts from the following providers: AOL, Comcast, Juno, Mac, Netzero, sbcglobal, Verizon, and Q. Additionally, Microsoft has not left out its own email services, offering support for Hotmail, MSN and Windows Live Hotmail accounts. Essentially, TrueSwitch will enable any new user of Windows Live Hotmail to move all of his data from an account with one of the providers supported to the newly overhauled Microsoft email service. According to the Redmond company, the web utility was introduced as a consequence of customer feedback.
"We’ve listened to our customers who told us that switching e-mail accounts isn’t easy. Say you’ve recently opened a new account with Windows Live Hotmail. Chances are you’ve got a ton of contacts and old e-mails sitting in another account that you wish you could easily move over. You also want to give your contacts a shout to let them know that they should reach you at your new Hotmail address. All this sounds like a bunch of work," explained Grace Wardhana, Windows Live Hotmail Senior Product Manager. TrueSwitch even supports the migration of Yahoo and Gmail bookmarks to Windows Live Hpotmail.
TrueSwitch will move all your email addresses from the old account to the new Windows Live Hotmail location, and will even provide the users with the option of notifying everyone of the fact that they switched providers. Wardhana revealed that you can "copy your e-mail history, copy your address book, notify contacts of your e-mail address [and that] all you need is a Windows Live Hotmail account. You can even use this for Hotmail to Hotmail account transfers as well as the upcoming live.com accounts when they become available. I used it to consolidate my accounts – it’s great to see all my e-mail and contacts in one place now! The TrueSwitch service is now live in the US, with more countries to follow in the next couple of months."

Link- https://secure5.trueswitch.com/winlive/navigate.serv

source- Softpedia

New Build of Vista SP1 Beta Available(to Testers) Version 6.0.6001.166

Microsoft is in full throttle with the evolution of Windows Vista Service Pack 1. Having released the first wave of pre-beta builds to a select pool of testers in mid July, the Redmond company is hard at work on the development of the operating system’s first refresh.
A clear indication of this is the fact that a new build of Windows Vista SP1 has shipped to testers. Microsoft however is still mute on the subject and under Sinofsky’s Windows Omerta, codename Translucency. At this point in time the Redmond company failed to officially confirm the new release of Vista SP1. Still, it seems that the fresh stage of the service pack is still in pre-beta phase, and the company delivered no indication pointing to when it plans to move Vista SP1 into beta.
The latest Vista SP1 beta release is build 6.0.6001.16633 (longhorn.070803-1655), according to Mary Jo Foley. Outside of the build number there is actually very scarce information available about this release. Undoubtedly, as the fresh Vista SP1 version will be dropped in the laps of more and more users additional details will leak. The previous release of the service pack made it clear that leaks are inherent, as Windows Omerta is not in effect outside of Redmond. One aspect seems to be clear though, the new pre-beta build of Vista SP1 is a standalone .EXE installer.
With the initial versions of SP1 released to testers Microsoft choose to deliver an ISO containing the entire operating system, with the service pack installed on top. The full build tag of the first Vista SP1 was 6001.16549.070628-1825. Microsoft had to face not only a feast of information about the 6001.16549 after the July availability but also leaks of the actual pre-beta version of the service pack to torrent trackers. The Company failed to react in any manner to the fact that Vista SP1 6001.16549 was offered for download via peer-to-peer file sharing networks. The only difference is that with the new release, Microsoft scrapped the 3+ GB ISO file in favor of an executable file with the Vista SP1.
Build: 6.0.6001.16633 (longhorn.070803-1655)
Filename: windows6.0-kb936330-x86.exe
Size: 684MB

Saturday, August 25, 2007

Windows Live/Hot Mail Migration tool

It takes just three quick steps to copy all your important e-mail and addresses from your other e-mail accounts into your Windows Live™ Hotmail® account. You can even select to notify everyone about your new e-mail address.

We’ve listened to our customers who told us that switching e-mail accounts isn’t easy. Say you’ve recently opened a new account with Windows Live Hotmail. Chances are you’ve got a ton of contacts and old e-mails sitting in another account that you wish you could easily move over.
You also want to give your contacts a shout to let them know that they should reach you at your new Hotmail address. All this sounds like a bunch of work. Well, we’ve got good news. With TrueSwitch, you can now do all of these time-consuming tasks with just a few easy clicks.
1.      Copy your e-mail history
2.      Copy your address book
3.      Notify contacts of your e-mail address All you need is a Windows Live Hotmail account.
Please try TrueSwitch and let us know what you think. You can even use this for Hotmail to Hotmail account transfers as well as the upcoming live.com accounts when they become available. I used it to consolidate my accounts – it’s great to see all my e-mail and contacts in one place now! The TrueSwitch service is now live in the US, with more countries to follow in the next couple of months.  
Supports accounts from the following providers: Gmail, Yahoo, AOL, Comcast, Juno, Mac, Netzero, sbcglobal, Verizon, and Q.
Try it now! https://secure5.trueswitch.com/winlive/
Source: mailcall.spaces.live.com

Thursday, August 23, 2007

Nokia and Microsoft to Deliver Windows Live Services to Millions of Mobile Customers

Nokia, the world’s largest mobile device manufacturer, and Microsoft Corp., a global leader in online communications and communities, have joined together to provide customers with a new suite of Windows Live™ services specifically designed for Nokia devices.

Starting today, Nokia customers in 11 countries with compatible S60 devices can download the new suite enabling access to Windows Live Hotmail®, Windows Live Messenger, Windows Live Contacts and Windows Live Spaces. Starting next year, customers who purchase compatible Nokia Series 40 handsets will also have access to these popular Windows Live services.

Nokia and Microsoft are empowering the “mobile lifestyle” by providing mobile customers with easy access to their world of online relationships, information and interests. By enabling access to Windows Live services on both the Nokia S60 and Series 40 platforms using standard Web services protocols, our mutual customers will have the power to seamlessly move between contacts, e-mail, messenger, phone calls, text messaging, camera, gallery and browsing, all in an integrated way.

Source- Microsoft PressPass

Microsoft announces the new SideWinder Mouse

Microsoft's legendary SideWinder line is back, with a new mouse announced this morning at the Games Convention in Liepzig, Germany. The SideWinder Mouse has been designed from the ground up for superior gaming performance, and is brimming with top-end features:

  • A "macro record" button, for binding a string of commands to a single button
  • Five other buttons that can be mapped to your choice of function
  • Removable weights for perfect balance
  • A "quick turn" function, enabling you to spin on the spot with a touch of a button
  • On-the-fly DPI switching, as already seen in Microsoft's Habu Razr: click a button to choose between three sensitivity levels
  • A built-in LCD screen that shows the DPI setting and macro record icons
  • Changeable feet, so it'll glide perfectly over any surface
  • A dedicated Game Explorer button, giving instant access to the Games Explorer in Windows Vista.

It's wired - no chance of missing a vital shot thanks to a tricky wireless signal - but it comes with a cable anchor, so the cable is weighed down on the desk and you don't have to worry about hauling it throught the mass of cabling lurking behind your gaming rig.

That would be just about every excuse for losing at Quake busted in one single product, and it's all wrapped up in a black-and-red chassis with metal switches that should perfectly complement the pimped-out, blue-lit gaming rig without looking too out of place next to a slightly more normal PC. It's out on September 27th, and will be $79.95 in the US; we'll update this when the UK price is confirmed.

source- Windows Vista Magazine

Wednesday, August 22, 2007

Microsoft Messenger for Mac 6.0.3

Messenger for Mac 6.0.3 makes it easy to take advantage of the full power of instant messaging, and it is a Universal application built to run on both PowerPC-based and Intel-based Macs. If you encountered a sign-in issue with Messenger for Mac 6.0, you should upgrade to Messenger for Mac 6.0.3.
By using Messenger for Mac, users can:

  • Chat with Yahoo! Messenger contacts
  • Add a status message that your personal contacts can see
  • Share what you are listening to in iTunes with your personal contacts
  • Create, send, and receive custom emoticons with personal contacts
  • Send and receive custom animated emoticons with personal contacts
  • Search for conversation histories using Spotlight
  • Check the spelling in your instant messages

By using Messenger for Mac, you can see when your friends, family, coworkers, and associates at other companies are online and then communicate with them instantly. Messenger for Mac offers two types of communication services — a personal account and a corporate account.
A personal account works with the Windows Live Messenger service. Contacts that you add to your personal account include friends and family members. Instant message conversations with users are not limited to users who have Messenger for Mac installed on their computers. You can also have instant message conversations with users who have other instant messaging services, such as Yahoo! Messenger.
A corporate account uses the Microsoft Office Live Communications Server service. Contacts that you add to your corporate account include coworkers who are in the same company as you and associates at other companies. Instant message conversations with other corporate account users are not limited to corporate users who have Messenger for Mac installed on their computers. With the federation features enabled on Live Communications Server, users can also have instant message conversations with users who have other instant messaging services, such as AOL Instant Messenger (AIM), Yahoo! Messenger, and iChat users who are signed in with AOL accounts.
Messenger for Mac 6.0.3 includes improved performance during file transfers and improvements to Kerberos authentication. It also introduces support for the Danish, Finnish, and Norwegian languages.

Download here- Microsoft Messenger for Mac 6.0.3

Microsoft released Windows Vista pre-SP1 wireless authentication rollup hotfix

5 issues relating to wireless authentication are fixed with this (non public!) hotfix.
1. IEEE 802.1X authentication that is based on Virtual Local Area Network (VLAN) switching may fail.
2. In a wireless profile, the information about the Extensible Authentication Protocol (EAP) method that is selected in a user interface may be incorrect.
3. A wireless profile that an independent hardware vendor (IHV) provides may be corrupted after you use the wireless profile user interface to edit the profile. When this problem occurs, you may receive an error message that Windows Explorer has crashed.
4. Every time that you roam to a different wireless access point, you are prompted to provide a user credential. This problem occurs even if you have saved the user credential.
5. You registered a Protected Extensible Authentication Protocol (PEAP) method that the IHV provided. When you try to authenticate against an Internet Authentication Service (IAS) server, the server may reject the authentication, and the IAS server may send an error message that the authentication has failed. The Onex.dll file crashes when this problem occurs.
So non public? but wait, you can now email MS support to get this hotfix via email. Be sure to state that you are from the USA, otherwise Microsoft does not think you are worthy to get this fix that easy, you have to waste more time on a call to your local MS support.

 News Source: blog.tiensivu.com

Tuesday, August 21, 2007

Microsoft Windows Mobile Device Center 6.1 for Windows Vista released

The Windows Mobile Device Center enables you to set up new partnerships, synchronize content and manage music, pictures and video with Windows Mobile powered devices (Windows Mobile 2003 or later). The Windows Mobile Device Center combines an efficient business-data synchronization platform with a compelling user experience. The Windows Mobile Device Center helps you to quickly set up new partnerships, synchronize business-critical information such as e-mail, contacts and calendar appointments, easily manage your synchronization settings, and transfer business documents between your device and PC.

This new version of the Windows Mobile Device Center contains key improvements and new features to support Windows Mobile 6 devices. The Windows Mobile Device Center 6.1 is only supported on Windows Vista.

Key updates in Windows Mobile Device Center 6.1 include:

  • Windows Mobile 6 feature support
  • Information Rights Management activation - Automatically configure the Windows    Mobile  6 device to open IRM-protected documents and files
  • HTML mail – Set up your Windows Mobile 6 device to sync HTML-formatted mail
  • Certificate Enrollment - Acquire certificates through the PC the Windows Mobile 6 device is currently connected to
  • Allow data connections on the Windows Mobile 6 device when connected to the PC
  • File synchronization for smartphones – Synchronize files with your Windows Mobile 6 devices, including both touch screen and non-touch screen devices
  • Automatic device authentication - Connect the Windows Mobile device to the PC without the need to enter the device-lock PIN every time upon connect
  • Product Registration - Register your Windows Mobile device and get connected to information and offers available for your device

Windows Mobile Device Center 6.1 is fully compatible with Windows Mobile 2003 devices and later.
Basic connectivity support for Windows Embedded CE 4.2, 5.0, Pocket PC 2002, and Smartphone 2002 devices - Connect over USB and serial, use desktop passthrough using the PC’s internet connection, and file browse.

Download the 32 bit version here and 64 bit here

Tuesday, August 14, 2007

Windows Live Hotmail Gets an update

 The Windows Live Hotmail hasn't seen any update for a while since the launch of Windows Live Hotmail in May, however they've just launched a small but feature-packed update. As well as offering free accounts the new storage size of 5GB, paying customers (Hotmail Plus or MSN Premium) now get 10GB.

The Hotmail team has posted full list of changes on their blog among them here are some of the important changes

  • Improved contact management lets you merge duplicate contacts. This is a personal favorite, so nice work by the Contacts team.

  • Auto-away messages, useful for when you go on holiday

  • Account forwarding, so now you can forward your Hotmail account to Gmail or Yahoo. Why you'd want to do that I don't know ;)

  • And ofcourse the increase in storage capacity from 2 GB to 5 GB for free users and to 10 GB for premium users

    As usual these updates will not be rolled out immediately.They will be rolled out in parts and we will keep U updated on the latest updates being rolled out!!! 

Windows Live Hotmail Blog

Source- Liveside

Wednesday, August 8, 2007

Official Updates for improving Vista Compatibility Performance reliability

SInce last week there were lots of buzz about these packs as they were released internally and were available unofficially over the net and later many sites had to remove the links as they wer illegal to distribute.

Now they have been released officially. Get them here:

An update is available that improves the compatibility and reliability of Windows Vista : (938194)

This update resolves the following issues:•    The screen may go blank when you try to upgrade the video driver. For more information, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:
932539 The screen may go blank when you try to upgrade the video driver on a Windows Vista-based computer
•    The computer stops responding, and you receive a "Display driver stopped responding and has recovered" error message. You can restart the computer only by pressing the computer's power button.
•    The computer stops responding or restarts unexpectedly when you play video games or perform desktop operations.
•    The Diagnostic Policy Service (DPS) stops responding when the computer is under heavy load or when very little memory is available. This problem prevents diagnostics from working.
•    The screen goes blank after an external display device that is connected to the computer is turned off. For example, this problem may occur when a projector is turned off during a presentation.
•    A computer that has NVIDIA G80 series graphic drivers installed stops responding.
•    Visual appearance issues occur when you play graphics-intensive games.
•    You experience poor playback quality when you play HD DVD disks or Blu-ray disks on a large monitor.
•    Applications that load the Netcfgx.dll component exit unexpectedly.
•    Windows Calendar exits unexpectedly after you create a new appointment, create a new task, and then restart the computer.
•    Internet Connection Sharing stops responding after you upgrade a computer that is running Microsoft Windows XP to Windows Vista and then restart the computer.
•    The Printer Spooler service stops unexpectedly.
•    You receive a "Stop 0x0000009F" error when you put the computer to sleep while a Point-to-Point Protocol (PPP) connection is active. For more information, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:
931671 Error message when you put a Windows Vista-based computer to sleep while a PPP connection is active: "STOP 0x0000009F"

Update for Windows Vista x86-based versions

Update for Windows Vista 64-bit versions

An update is available that improves the performance and reliability of Windows Vista : 938979

This update resolves issues that may affect some Windows Vista-based computers. These issues have been reported by customers who are using the Error Reporting service or Microsoft Customer Support Services.
By applying this update, you can achieve better performance and responsiveness in various scenarios. This update also improves the reliability of Windows Vista.
This update resolves the following issues on a Windows Vista-based computer:•    You experience a long delay when you try to exit the Photos screen saver.
•    A memory leak occurs when you use the Windows Energy screen saver.
•    If User Account Control is disabled on the computer, you cannot install a network printer successfully. This problem occurs if the network printer is hosted by a Windows XP-based or a Windows Server 2003-based computer.
•    When you write data to an AVI file by using the AVIStreamWrite function, the file header of the AVI file is corrupted.
•    When you copy or move a large file, the "estimated time remaining" takes a long time to be calculated and displayed.
•    After you resume the computer from hibernation, it takes a long time to display the logon screen.
•    When you synchronize an offline file to a server, the offline file is corrupted.
•    If you edit an image file that uses the RAW image format, data loss occurs in the image file. This problem occurs if the RAW image is from any of the following digital SLR camera models:    •    Canon EOS 1D
•    Canon EOS 1DS
For more information, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:
932988 Files from a Canon EOD 1D or 1DS camera may be corrupted after you use Windows Photo Gallery, Windows Live Photo Gallery, or Windows Explorer to edit the file metadata in Windows Vista or in Windows XP Service Pack 2
•    After you resume the computer from hibernation, the computer loses its default gateway address.
•    Poor memory management performance occurs.

Update for Windows Vista, 32-bit versions

Update for Windows Vista, 64-bit versions

Upgrading to Windows Live Hotmail can get U free ASUS Laptops!!!

No less than 100 laptops to be given away for free. Enter the sweepstakes  today! 
Microsoft and Asus have joined hands to offer you a chance to win Asus laptops pre-loaded with Windows Vista Ultimate. All you have to do is upgrade your email account from hotmail.com, msn.com or live.com to Windows Live Hotmail. No kidding!
So, what's in store if you're the lucky one? 100 exciting new ASUS laptops including the black ASUS Lamborghini VX2, Ultra-fashionable Pink Leather ASUS S6Fm and U3S Fashion Notebook.

Procedure:

A random drawing will be held on or about September 14, 2007 from all eligible Sweepstakes entries received to award Sweepstakes prizes. The random drawing will be held under the supervision of Promotion Activators, Inc., an independent judging organization, whose decisions are final on matters relating to this Sweepstakes.
The 100 lucky winners from the sweepstakes can choose any one laptop from the above mentioned models. The approximate retail prices for the ASUS Lamborghini VX2, S6Fm & U3S notebooks are $3,058, $2,259 and $1,799 respectively.
To enter the sweepstakes, go here.

source- http://www.laptoplogic.com