ED#106 : Windows Vista Service Pack 2's Latest Release Schedule

We have news of the upcoming Service Pack 2 for Windows Vista! Microsoft is doing their best to rush out Service Pack 2 for Windows Vista so there will be additional incentive for folks to upgrade to Window Vista now, instead of waiting for Windows 7. So the latest schedule should come as no surprise.

A confidential source has revealed that Microsoft will deliver a Release Candidate in February, 2009 with the final SP2 binary scheduled for RTM (Release To Manufacturing) in April, 2009.

As always, do remember that when Microsoft announces that a product is RTM, it doesn't mean you will be able to download it right away. RTM merely means it is "released to manufacturing", including OEMs. Actual public release will be sometime later. Release to web (RTW) will also occur sometime after RTM.

ED#107 : Latest Details On Windows Vista Service Pack 2

Just one day after our confidential source revealed the rough dates for the release of Service Pack 2 for Windows Vista, we have details of what's really part of the new Service Pack 2 and how it will be released. Let's take a look!

What Is Service Pack 2?

Service Pack 2 is a single service pack which will update both Windows Vista and Windows Server 2008 products. In addition to previously released updates, it will include support for new types of hardware and several emerging standards.

What's New In Windows Vista SP2?

- Adds Windows Search 4.0 for faster and improved relevancy in searches.
- Contains the Bluetooth® 2.1 Feature Pack supporting the most recent specification for Bluetooth Technology.
- Ability to record data on to Blu-Ray™ media natively in Windows Vista.
- Adds Windows Connect Now (WCN) to simplify Wi-Fi Configuration.
E- nables the exFAT file system to support Coordinated Universal Time (UTC) timestamps, which allows correct file synchronization across time zones.

What's New In Windows Server 2008 SP2?

- Adds Microsoft® Hyper-V™ Server release to manufacturing (RTM).
- Power profile changes yielded a 10% improvement.
 

When Can We Expect SP2 To RTM?

- Wave 0 will RTM in H1 2009. For the actual release dates Microsoft is gunning for, click here.
- Wave 1 will be released six (6) weeks after Wave 0.

Language Version Schedule

- Wave 0 : English, French, German, Spanish and Japanese
- Wave 1 : All remaining lanaguage versions

Next Update

Microsoft will provide additional information on Service Pack 2 in February 2009.