Microsoft Corporation has already started sending out invitations to a select group of beta testers for a small private beta of the next-generation of Windows Live Messenger (version 9.0). The company has been working on this new version of Windows Live Messenger for some time now.

A little background on Windows Live Messenger

Since Microsoft made the change to Windows Live Messenger (formerly MSN Messenger), the company has released three versions of Windows Live Messenger (WLM) first of which was Windows Live Messenger 8.0 the first version under the new Windows Live moniker.

Whilst, Windows Live Messenger 8.0 was considered to be a "major" …

At Microsoft TechEd IT forum 2007, Microsoft updated an audience of more than 5,000 IT professionals on the development of Windows Server 2008 and a new virtualization offering.

As Microsoft nears the final stages of development for Windows Server 2008 and the February 27, 2008, worldwide launch event, Microsoft detailed packaging, pricing and licensing information for Windows Server 2008. Also, Microsoft detailed the new server virtualization technology, Hyper-V (formerly codenamed “Viridian”). In addition, Microsoft also revealed it’s plans to deliver a stand-alone virtualization server named Microsoft Hyper-V Server. Among the announcements made at TechEd 2007, the company also outlined a complimentary program, called the Server Virtualization Validation Program (SVV) …

Microsoft has delivered yet another test build of Windows Vista Service Pack 1 (SP1) to testers. On November 14, the new build designated as the Windows Vista SP1 RC Preview  went out to a slightly larger group of testers. Microsoft first delivered a public beta of Windows Vista SP1 available to 12,000 testers in September.

The new RC Preview build can be downloaded by invited testers from Microsoft’s private Connect test site. Microsoft has progressively been making builds of Vista SP1 available to testers since earlier this spring.

Microsoft recently posted a note to MSDN two weeks ago announcing the availability of a Vista SP1 beta, but later removed …

Microsoft first announced its plans for Centro back in September 2005, and stated at that time it would be based on the Longhorn (Windows Server 2008) version of Windows Server as well as the latest version of Exchange, which was formerly known by its code-name "Exchange 12". Microsoft stated this week that Windows Server "Centro" will also contain additional security and management tools, and the product will be aimed at businesses with 50 to 250 PCs.

When Microsoft ships test versions of its Operating Systems or any software product they all have code-names, they are code-names like Longhorn, Office 12, Centro, and more recently Windows …

As you know Windows Vista comes with the Windows Sidebar, which is one my favorite new features of Windows Vista. Over time I have collected or rather downloaded several Sidebar Gadgets and out the numerous gadgets I have downloaded I would like to let you know what my top 10 gadgets are and tell you what they do. This will be a continuing series, as I have numerous "Favorites" in my sidebar gadget collection, here is just a taste of my favorite gadgets.

So without further delay let me tell you what my favorite gadgets are.

1.  Media Player (Designed by Jonathan Abbott)

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