Windows Vista SP1 is set to hit the market in early 2008 and there are some cool new features, along with the inclusion of hotfixes.  Some of these new features are:

• Secure Sockets Tunneling Protocol (SSTP) allows for easier setup of VPN connections due to the way it works with firewalls, NAT devices etc….
• Bitlocker Drive Encryption has been enhanced to support encrypting additional volumes besides the current limitation on the C: volume.  It will also support three factor authentication (i.e. TPM + Pin + Dongle)
• Disk Defragmenter has also been improved to give administrators additional control over what and when volumes get defragmented with the scheduler
• Support for Extensible Firmware Interface (EFI) booting on x64 based machines
• Support for the ExFAT file format used in flash memory
• Support for SD-Advanced DMA
• Improved network diagnostics
• Performance improvements

We will be covering some of these as the release date gets closer……

For users who downloaded the VPC of VS2008 Beta 2 from MSDN, please be noted that the VPCs will expire on Nov 1st, instead of March 15, 2008 as announced originally.

It is best that you start to backup and move your Team Foundation Server data to an alternative source. For instructions on how to move, please refer to the article http://msdn2.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ms404879(vs.90).aspx from the MSDN Library.

Some FAQ you might have:

FAQ

Q. Will my data be available after November 1, 2007?A.This is still being researched, however, currently the understanding is that customers will NOT be able to access their date after November 1^st unless the data is moved to an alternate installation location.

Q. Can I reset my system date to re-enable the OS image?A.Again there is still research being done, however, from the current understanding of the problem resetting the system date back DOES NOT re-enable the OS image.

Microsoft might have just got the Mediaroom party started four months ago, but already dozens of providers around the world are drinking the kool-aid and having a good time. The much anticipated XBOX 360 integration is also crashing in any day now, but Microsoft’s got one last party trick, called the “Mediaroom Personal Server”.

On the generously detailed Microsoft Support Lifecycle’s portal, where it lists the support availability dates for all previous, current and upcoming Microsoft products, features an entry for “Mediaroom Personal Server“. The general availability date provided is “12/29/2007″.

Okay, I have to admit, I have no idea what the Mediaroom Personal Server is. But thanks to Microsoft’s ingenious naming conventions, you can’t be too far off with a guess either. It is definitely a consumer-orientated software or device bundle, much like Windows Home Server, which serves as an aggregator and hub for your Mediaroom devices.

Some of the scenarios I can think of with a ‘personal media server’ includes letting you rip and store your DVDs for instant access, let you subscribe to vidcasts which it will automatically download and archive, or even just

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