WinInsider

At long last, Microsoft has shipped Windows XP Service Pack 2 (SP2). The final build is 2180. In a letter to testers, Microsoft described the final release. "Final testing is complete and at 10:08am [PST] this morning we signed off on build 2180 as Windows XP Service Pack 2, releasing it to manufacturing," the note reads. "The final build will be available to beta sites immediately ... You will find both English and German versions there, [and] Japanese will follow early next week.

Microsoft on Friday wrapped up development on a long-awaited security update to Windows XP, paving the way for businesses and consumers to upgrade in the coming days and months.

The timing of when customers will get the software via the automatic update feature depends on several factors, Microsoft said, including customers' location, how often they're online, their connection speed, and what language version of Windows they use. Those using the English version of Windows will start receiving updates in the next few days, Microsoft said.

Virtual Server 2005 is released to manufacturing, a Microsoft spokesperson said Thursday. RTM marks the final development milestone in the server virtualization software's odyssey from a third-party beta version to an official Microsoft product.

RTM means Microsoft developers are finished writing and testing the code, and that the final build had gone to be packaged and posted or shipped. The precise delivery date is not public, although general availability usually follows RTM by less than two months. "Virtual Server 2005 is still on track to be available broadly to customers this year," the spokesperson said. "We will provide additional information about the product in the near future."

The most eager IT departments contacted by eWEEK.com said they would deploy SP2 only after extensive testing. Others said the update was not a priority or they weren't running Windows XP in the first place. Despite the hype around SP2 and the expected benefits, IT managers said the difficulty of the installation process means they are taking a gradual approach.

This caution is exactly what Microsoft says it has been trying to impress upon customers. "Enterprises should approach their deployment of Windows XP Service Pack 2 with the same rigor as they do any normal operating system software rollouts," said Windows client product manager Janet Gibbons. "We advise testing SP2 in a nonproduction environment and working with Microsoft or its partners to plan its deployment around their networks."

Microsoft has launched a test version of a Web-based MSN Messenger client that allows users to connect to the instant messaging (IM) service without installing a client application. The beta version comes a week after Microsoft accidentally gave a sneak preview of the Web-based IM client. The company removed the pages hosting the Web Messenger on an MSN test Web site after the service attracted attention from MSN Messenger enthusiasts and the media.

A Seattle area judge gave Microsoft the OK this week to purchase Eddie Bauer's corporate campus, which is situated on 20 acres conveniently located right next to Microsoft's Redmond campus. Microsoft will pay Spiegel, Eddie Bauer's parent company, $38 million for the land, which now includes three office buildings that will no doubt have to be renovated or destroyed to match Microsoft's existing campus structures.

Microsoft planned to finalize the code for Windows XP Service Pack 2 (SP2) sometime Wednesday and release it via Microsoft Download Center and MSDN on the Web Thursday, according to internal documents. The plan then called for the company to ship the update to customers via Windows Update beginning August 25, though Automatic Update users will get it immediately upon RTW (Release to Web) on a staggered basis. However, as of Monday night, it's unclear if the company will be able to meet that schedule.

A German financial magazine, WirtschaftsWoche, reported yesterday that Microsoft Chairman Bill Gates said he was interested in buying video-game and console maker Nintendo.

Many Web sites and several news services picked up the report, and Microsoft's public-relations team shifted swiftly into gear for damage control and denial. Its corporate statement was that Microsoft did not comment on "rumors or speculation."

Blogging looks to be the content king in Japan, or so says Redmond, as MSN preps a beta release of its blogging service for Japan only. Expanding its reach into new content services, Microsoft on Wednesday acknowledged that its MSN division will launch a beta of its blogging service next week. However, the new service will be offered only in Japan.

MSN officials said they have no information on when Microsoft plans to broaden the beta to the rest of the world. In addition, MSN also has not said when it plans to offer the service commercially.

Windows enthusiast sites are abuzz this week with rumors that Windows XP Service Pack 2 is minutes to days from release. Formally called Windows XP Service Pack 2 with Advanced Security Technologies, SP2 is Microsoft's major security-related overhaul of its flagship client operating system. After delaying SP2's release for more than a year, Microsoft committed publicly last month to getting the service pack out in August.

Microsoft Australia confused matters accidentally on Tuesday by issuing a statement claiming Windows XP SP2 had been released to manufacturing. The statement was quickly withdrawn and Microsoft declared that SP2 had not been Released to Manufacturing.