This update enhances the junk e-mail filter in Outlook to help provide a higher level of protection against junk e-mail. As part of Microsoft?s ongoing commitment to reducing junk e-mail, periodic updates will be provided to Outlook users. This update is optional and simply provides a more up-to-date definition of messages that are considered to be junk or not junk.

The Guy's at OSNews have been checking out the new build of Internet Explorer that comes with Windows Longhorn 4051.

The new version of Internet Explorer in Longhorn 4051 is version 6.05.4051.0. Even though Longhorn is many years away (if ever!) the folks at Microsoft have realized that people want more from their browser, due to popularity of the competition, ex. Mozilla.

Thanks to creamhackered over at Neowin.net for the info:

In Microsoft Windows XP Service Pack 2, Microsoft is introducing a set of security technologies that will help to improve the ability of Windows XP-based computers to withstand malicious attacks from viruses and worms. The technologies include network protection, memory protection, safer e-mail handling, more secure browsing, and improved computer maintenance.

Just visited microsoft.com and noticed a subtle makeover. I guess MS is getting in a christmas mood. And no, i did not find any new patches ...

Entgegen der üblichen Praxis will Microsoft in dieser Woche keine Patch-Sammlungen für seine Produkte zum Download anbieten. Eine Mitteilung auf der TechNet-Website des Herstellers zufolge gibt es zurzeit kein Sicherheitsloch, das dringend gestopft werden müsse. Im Falle eines Sicherheitsrisikos will Microsoft aber auch außerplanmäßig reagieren und ein Patch etwa für Windows, den Internet Explorer oder andere Programme zum Download anbieten. Aktuell verweist der Hersteller auf die Mitte November bereit gestellten Updates für sein Betriebssystem und das Office-Paket.

Microsoft has an early holiday gift for systems administrators: no monthly security patch release in December.

"It is a happy coincidence, but it is not related to Christmas," says Iain Mulholland, security program manager at Microsoft. "We have made a commitment to release the monthly patch package when we're ready, when we have quality patches. There is simply nothing that has passed the bar yet from a quality perspective for release in December."

In October, Microsoft moved to a monthly cycle for security patches, replacing a system of weekly updates that the company said had become too burdensome and complex for customers. The monthly updates also allow Microsoft to reduce the number of patches by folding multiple vulnerabilities affecting a single platform into one patch.

Source: Techzonez

Full article: PCWorld

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.