The Microsoft AutoPlay Repair Wizard scans your computer devices to find defective AutoPlay settings, and attempts to fix those it finds.

Supported Operating Systems: Windows Server 2003, Windows XP

Dave Baumann has thrown up a new editorial over at Beyond3D, which looks at what we can expect from Microsoft's next version of DirectX! Here's a byte.

While the next major revision for DirectX is not expected until Longhorn?s launch, Microsoft?s DirectX group has been briefing developers on what?s in store for ?DirectX Next? with presentations at Microsoft Meltdown and other developer conferences.

You may remember our post a while ago stating that Microsoft planned to update their MSN Hotmail site:

It looks as though MSN Hotmail are planning a big upgrade to the functionality and appearance of MSN Hotmail. The icons due to be replaced on Hotmail are identical to those used in Office 2003 and Exchange 2003 Outlook Web Access.

The new features appear to be junk mail related which will ease the pain on those who use Hotmail frequently. The upgrade is due to co-incide with the MSN 9 release. It looks like it's gone smoothly after all, because Microsoft have finally updated the MSN Hotmail website. Screenshots available.

  The Microsoft .NET Compact Framework product team is kicking off a beta program for .NET Compact Framework 1.0 SP2, and is inviting developers to participate. This invitation was posted at MSDN Newsgroups. If you are interested give it a shot...

Read More...

Winbeta.org sends word that they've snagged some screenshots of Microsoft's Longhorn 64-bit version!

Testing of the latest generation of Microsoft's Windows Longhorn Professional 64-bit for AMD build 4051 (yes, the PDC 64-bit release) is yours for the asking - BUT - this release is ONLY for those of you who chose to ride the ragged edge of raw computing muscle, the Ferrari of processors, the Athlon and AlthonFX 64-bit processor clan. Some of us with the effervescent Opteron may also wish to indulge, whilst those of you who are quietly pasturising your Itaniums, don't worry, we won't tell anyone on you...

Microsoft is currently looking for betatesters that want to provide some of their insight for DIFx. Driver Install Frameworks (DIFx) is the latest Microsoft initiative in the evolution of driver install technologies and tools that began with the incorporation of Plug and Play into Microsoft® Windows® 95. The goal of the Driver Install Frameworks initiative is to provide the infrastructure and tools to make device and driver installation "just work." Users should find drivers and devices easier to diagnose and be confident that drivers can be uninstalled or rolled back if needed. For vendors, it should be easier to create quality driver packages, integrate value-add software, and brand the install experience leveraging standard Windows mechanisms and tools. It is also important to ensure that driver packages are correct and safe.

Thanks to Neowin.net we have the latest build of MSN Messenger version 6.1 Build 203!.

Flirt, banter, gossip, or just catch up without saying a word.

On screen conversations that are more instant than e-mail and more discreet than phone calls.

Take the bite out of winter with these cool, exclusive Windows Media Player 9 Series skins. Chill out with "Frostbite" or spice things up with "Gingerbread Man" or "Gingerbread Woman."

Thanks to Neowin.net we have the latest build of MSN Messenger version 6.1 Build 202!.

Flirt, banter, gossip, or just catch up without saying a word.

On screen conversations that are more instant than e-mail and more discreet than phone calls.

Microsoft has released a few new security updates for their Office based products.

Read More for the full list!

Microsoft has posted a new cumulative security update for it's web browser software Internet Explorer version 5.01 SP2 up to version 6 SP1. All Windows operating system versions need to be patched. Again this is a cumulative update that includes the functionality of all the previously-released updates for Internet Explorer 5.01, Internet Explorer 5.5, and Internet Explorer 6.0. Additionally, it eliminates the following five newly-discovered vulnerabilities:

Internet Explorer 6 SP1 Update: Internet Explorer May Close When You Leave the Pointer on the Text in the DHTML Editor: This update resolves an issue when in the DHTML editor of Microsoft Internet Explorer 6 Service Pack 1 (SP1), when the text in the DHTML editor is a link, and the pointer is at the end of the link text, Internet Explorer may unexpectedly close (crash) when you try to exit the page. Read more...

Microsoft has released an update for Microsoft Office 2003. This update fixes a problem that occurs when you try to open or to save a Microsoft Office PowerPoint 2003 file, a Microsoft Office Word 2003 file, or a Microsoft Office Excel 2003 file that includes an OfficeArt shape that was previously modified and saved in an earlier version of Microsoft Office. When a PowerPoint 2003 file, a Word 2003 file, or a Excel 2003 file is opened in an earlier version of Office, empty "complex" properties may be introduced into the file and a bit may be changed in the file record that describes these properties.

Paul Thurrott over at WinInfo has thrown up a look at what you're going to get when Microsoft release service pack 2 for windows XP early next year.

Windows XP Service Pack 2 (SP2) is still due in the first half of 2004, but Microsoft this week revealed exactly what's going into the oft-delayed collection of security patches. XP SP2 will ship with all XP security features enabled by default (what a concept), meaning that the Internet Connection Firewall (ICF) will be on, and the Windows Messenger service will be off.

Outlook 2003 Add-in: Video Email
Use a Web camera to easily send and reply with a video email to your friends and family with just two clicks on the Video Email for Outlook 2003. Outlook 2003 Add-in: Personal Folders Backup
Backing up your Microsoft Outlook information is quicker and easier with the Personal Folders Backup feature. Personal Folders Backup creates backup copies of your .PST files at regular intervals, in Outlook 2000 and later versions, making it easy to keep all of your Outlook folders safely backed up.

This update provides support for Wireless Protected Access, a new standards-based wireless security solution developed by the Wi-Fi Alliance. WPA is intended to replace the existing Wired Equivalent Privacy (WEP) standard, offering much more robust methods of encryption and authentication and resulting in a new level of protection for customers taking advantage of the wireless features of Windows XP.

Discover how Windows XP Service Pack 2 (SP2) will improve Windows XP-based computers? ability to withstand malicious attacks from viruses and worms. With Windows XP Service Pack 2 (SP2), Microsoft is introducing a set of security technologies that include: Network protection, Memory protection, Safer email and Safer browsing.

Wegen Problemen mit Patches hat Microsoft heute 3 Sicherheitspatches aktualisiert. Wobei neben Windows XP diesmal auch Windows 2000 und alle anderen Betriebssysteme betroffen sind. Bei den alten Versionen kann es zu unerwünschten Abstürzen und Bluescreens kommen. Leider werden die neuen Patches nicht mehr im Downloadcenter angezeigt und müssen daher manuell integriert werden, falls vorher bereits die fehlerhaften eingespielt worden sind. Microsoft Security Bulletin MS03-042 nur für Windows 2000
Microsoft Security Bulletin MS03-043
Microsoft Security Bulletin MS03-045
Quelle: HW-Labs

The latest release for the X-Box is also a non-gaming release. Xbox Music Mixer is a Karaoke add-on to the gaming console, available for $40 and including a microphone, Microsoft hopes to appeal to more mainstream consumers than just hardcore gamers.
Another feature in the karaoke add-on is a picture viewer that enables pictures to be copied from a pc to the x-box and creating slideshows.
Perhaps this will be particular popular in Japan, given their affinity for karaoke bars? ;)

news.com.com

Your Computer Stops Responding (Hangs) When You Try to Bring It out of Standby or out of Hibernation by Using a USB Device ( KB 826959) Description:
This setup program installs Microsoft USB 1.0 / 2.0 upgrade files for Windows XP Home & Professional with Service Pack 1. It fixes an issue where the computer may lock up when trying to bring it out of standby or out of hibernation with external USB devices attached. Read More For more informations and download