Windows Vista Service Pack 1 RC is now available through Windows Update.
Experience the WU based Vista SP1 installation by following 4 simple steps. Windows Vista SP1 RC distributed through Windows Update will be applicable to Windows Vista machines that are running on any of the 36 languages supported by Vista RTM.
Today sp1 ships. hurray. It’s not up there yet but should be later today.
Looking down the list of fixes, here are some that caught my eye (read the whitepaper for the full list):
Office Online Downloads (SP1 will be available here)
The new Microsoft Download Center is going to be fully functional with Silverlight.
Silverlight is the next generation of .NET based media experiences. More information on Silverlight can be found over at it’s homepage.
When initially loading the website, you will be promt to install Silverlight. You have to have Silverlight installed to view the new download center. Apparently BETA participants are being invited randomly from the Microsoft Connect website. The design is very sleek, and sexy I should add. Other than that, the current download links on the BETA website forward you back to the current Download Center.
Hope to hear some official word on this BETA soon, in the mean time check it out!
The Wait for Visual Studio 2008 is Over
On Monday, Nov. 19, Microsoft announced that Visual Studio 2008 and the .NET Framework 3.5 were released to manufacturing (RTM). With more than 250 new features,Visual Studio 2008 includes significant enhancements in every edition, including Visual Studio Express and Visual Studio Team System. Developers of all levels – from hobbyists to enterprise development teams – now have a consistent, secure and reliable solution for developing applications for the latest platforms: the Web, Windows Vista, Windows Server 2008, the 2007 Office system, and beyond.
MSDN Subscribers: Get Visual Studio 2008 Now
For a good startup, get the Free Visual Studio 2008 Express Editions
Or get the free 90 days trial for VS2008 Team Suite Edition, which can be converted to full version with a key.
Don’t forget the MSDN Library for Visual Studio 2008.
14 vulnerabilities in the FLAC file format that affect a huge range of media players on every supported operating system (Windows, Mac OS, Linux, Unix, BSD, Solaris, and even some hardware players are vulnerable).
A number of vulnerable apps that use the open source libavcodec audio codec library, which in turn relies on the flawed libFLAC library. These vulnerabilities could allow a person of ill will to trojanize FLAC files that could compromise your computer if they are played on a vulnerable media player. eEye worked with US-CERT to notify vulnerable vendors.
Click for more on Multiple FLAC Vulnerabilities Affect Every OS »
Also fixes flaws that made researchers call the firewall ‘a mess’
Apple Inc. today issued the first update for Leopard, its three-week-old operating system. The update fixes a wide range of out-the-gate bugs and patches three security-related design flaws in the revamped firewall.
The update to Mac OS X 10.5.1 includes changes to a host of Leopard features, including some that have given early adopters fits, such as a gaffe that cripples some software, including Skype, when the firewall is set to the most flexible option. It also tackles problems formatting drives before they can be used with Time Machine, the integrated backup and restore software.
The November security updates fix the so-called URI problem, a critical Windows bug that has been exploited by online criminals.
Microsoft has released its November security updates, fixing a critical Windows bug that has been exploited by online criminals.
Microsoft released just two security updates this month, but security experts say that IT staff will want to install both of them as quickly as possible. The MS07-061 update is particularly critical because the flaw it repairs has been seen in Web-based attack code, said Amol Sarwate, manager of Qualys’s vulnerability research lab. “This was a zero day [flaw] that was being used in the wild by hackers,” he said
Click for more on Patch Tuesday: Microsoft Fixes Critical Windows Bug »
And of course, it’s absolutely free and can be totally anonymous
The iTunes Store allows you to buy songs, albums, videos, audiobooks, movies, TV Shows, etc. For me, the best thing is, over 65,000 podcast to twiddle around and, grab those nice album covers for my music collection.
All looks great but before all these bells and whistles, you’ll need to create an iTunes Store account, with a credit card/paypal account or gift card. The account itself is free as long as you don’t make any purchase(and can still enjoy those freebies).
So here is the way for those don’t have credit card/paypal or just want more privacy:
1. Get a free iTunes gift code
Click for more on HowTo: Create iTunes Store Account without Credit Card/Paypal »
Hurry, free anti-spyware protection from ZoneAlarm, a $29.99 value. Promotion runs till Nov 14th 5pm PST.
Check Point® Software Technologies Ltd. (Nasdaq:CHKP - News), the worldwide leader in securing the Internet, is today advising PC users to immediately update their Microsoft Windows operating systems, Internet Explorer 7 browser and all security programs to thwart new vulnerabilities that may allow a hacker to gain control of a PC. The company also announced a special 24-hour promotion whereby consumers can download ZoneAlarm Anti-Spyware, a $29.95 value, for free at http://www.zonealarm.com/patchtuesday .
For the next 24-hours, Check Point will give away ZoneAlarm Anti-Spyware free of charge. Users must provide a valid email address (one product per email address). The offer expires at 7 a.m. PST 5 pm PST on Wednesday, Nov. 14. The company also is currently offering a free download of its brand-new ZoneAlarm ForceField virtual browser, another layer of protection available to consumers.
Click for more on Free ZoneAlarm Anti-Spyware for 24-Hours »
Grab it before it gone