Microsoft is preparing to release a test version of Windows Vista Service Pack 1 Release Candidate (RC) to testers sometime during the week of December 1, 2007.

Microsoft had released a preview build of Windows Vista SP1 RC to 15,000 pre-selected testers on November 14, 2007, and this build is currently the only one available to testers. As stated before, current testers (15,000) will get the Windows Vista SP1 RC sometime next week, it has been said by mid-week testers should be given access to the updated release candidate.

In addition, the company also plans to release the Windows Vista Service Pack 1 Release Candidate to the general public by making the build available to those interested …

UPDATE: Windows Live Messenger 9.0 Beta Now Available on Microsoft Connect!!

Microsoft is expected to officially open the beta program for Windows Live Messenger 9.0 this afternoon (or early evening). Windows Live Messenger 9.0 is the next generation of Windows Live Messenger, this release is a "major" release and as such there will be no further interim builds for Windows Live Messenger.

The beta program for Windows Live Messenger is by invitation only and those invitations were sent out last week on Tuesday -Wednesday (the 21st, and 22nd respectively). Currently the program has been limited to 5,000 testers and will later be expanded to a …

In the realm of Windows Live Messenger, Microsoft has already sent out invites to a small group of beta testers to take part in an “early beta” for the forthcoming Windows Live Messenger 9.0. Earlier in the day Friday, November, 23, 2007 several sites had reported that the beta was underway and a few participants had already received the build. Despite the early speculation, the build has not been released to testers as of yet.

UPDATE:
There have been several reports that the beta program has been halted indefinitely (or for a short time) because the feature list was leaked to the web (more below). As always, we will be looking into these reports and …

Microsoft announced earlier this week it’s plans to release a new update (or rather a second update) to Windows Home Server (WHS), this update is scheduled for delivery on Tuesday, November 27, 2007.

Microsoft first posted notice of this update on it’s WHS blog on November 20, 2007.

"The main benefit of the update is that it will improve the remote access experience for Windows Home Server users by providing them with a “trusted SSL certificate” for their home servers. That means customers will be able to access their home server from outside the home more seamlessly, without any security warnings." according to the …

Mozilla foundation recently released the first beta of its popular web browser Firefox, Mozilla Foundation is prominently boasting this release has better security, ease of use and better performance than it’s predecessor.

With Internet browsers, security, ease of use and performance typically top users’ wish lists.

The browser beta boasts clearer and stricter error pages when Firefox encounters an invalid SSL (Secure Sockets Layer) certificate. Extended validation SSL certificate information will be displayed in later versions.

Firefox now automatically checks and disables older, unsecure software versions, and add-ons that are unsecure will be disabled. Additionally, Firefox now respects the Windows Vista systemwide parental …