XP SP2
Until Monday, Microsoft officials had held fast to the company's claim from the spring that the final XP SP2 release would ship in late July. They have also said they are not sure whether they will issue an RC3 beta, which could push the final release date beyond July.
The spokesman reiterated that line Monday, saying it was "again, too soon to say" if there would be a need for a third release candidate.
Microsoft has also pushed back the release of RC2 by several weeks. Earlier this year, the company said to expect it in May.
anandtech.com
news.com.com 5233506.html?tag=nefd.top
Microsoft releases security-minded Windows code
Last modified: June 14, 2004, 4:56 PM PDT
By Ina Fried
Staff Writer, CNET News.com
Microsoft on Monday released what it hopes is a nearly final test version of a security-oriented Windows upgrade.
The company issued Release Candidate 2 of Windows XP Service Pack 2--a mouthful that amounts to a host of improvements designed to make PC users more likely to employ stronger security settings on their machines. Microsoft had been expected to reach the RC2 milestone last month, but apparently ran into some compatibility issues, according to several Windows enthusiast sites.
The delay raised questions about question whether Microsoft will be able to meet its latest timetable, which calls for the final product to be ready by July. The company has said it does not yet know whether a third release candidate will be needed before finalizing the code, a stage known as "released to manufacturing." The first release candidate version was offered in March.
"Windows XP SP2 is entering its final testing stages on its way toward a release this summer," a Microsoft representative wrote in an e-mail.
In addition to the usual collection of bug fixes that typify Microsoft's service packs, Service Pack 2 contains a number of new features. Most of the improvements deal with security, such as a Security Center that provides a view of a PC's key protective settings, as well as an improved firewall and other tweaks.
Work on Service Pack 2 has consumed a far greater amount of resources than the software maker originally intended. Company executives have said that work on SP 2 required the company to pull engineers off of Longhorn--the code name for the next major release of Windows that is not expected until 2006. |
