MSN Web Messenger lets you talk online and in real-time with friends and family using just a web browser! Use it on any shared computer - at school, at work, at a friend's house or anywhere you can't install the MSN Messenger software.

We have informed you earlier that MSN Messenger 7.0 is in development as we speak and we're expecting information about new features soon. But we think that one of our messers, Roy, might have captured a first and exclusive screenshot of Microsoft's next version IM client.

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3DChips-fr.com reports if you connect yourselves to the site Windows Update, you will realize that Microsoft has just put online V5 which had been already accessible to beta testers for several weeks, heralding the launching of the Service Pack 2 of Windows XP.

From games to the desktop itself, 3D graphics will be everywhere in the new Windows Longhorn OS. ExtremeTech got a sneak peek at the new Windows Graphics Foundation (WGF) architecture that will make it happen.

This update resolves several newly discovered public vulnerabilities. Each vulnerability is documented in this bulletin in its own Vulnerability Details section. If a user is logged on with administrative privileges, an attacker who successfully exploited the most severe of these vulnerabilities could take complete control of an affected system, including installing programs; viewing, changing, or deleting data; or creating new accounts with full privileges. Users whose accounts are configured to have fewer privileges on the system would be at less risk than users who operate with administrative privileges

A new build of Windows Media Player 10 is making it's rounds via the IRC channels. This new build, 3615, was ripped from Windows Media Center 2005 RC0 Build 2160.

Microsoft have published Office 2003 SP1 this morning to OfficeUpdate. It was widely expected that Microsoft would release this small update at the end of Summer and without the usual fanfare of service packs. The update (17meg) contains significant security enhancements, in addition to stability and performance improvements. SP1 will update Access 2003, Access 2003 Runtime, Excel 2003, FrontPage 2003, Outlook 2003, PowerPoint 2003, Publisher 2003, Word 2003, Office 2003 Web Components and Office XP Web Components. SP1 also includes many performance and feature enhancements for InfoPath 2003.

This download provides the DirectX 9.0c end-user multi-languaged redistributable that developers can include with their product. The redistributable license agreement covers the terms under which developers may use the Redistributable. For full details please review the DirectX SDK EULA.txt and DirectX Redist.txt files located in the license directory.

What happens when you become one of the richest companies in the world? When you have so much cash in reserve that you can no longer spend it or invest it wisely? That was the dilemma facing Microsoft. With $60 Billion in its cash hoard, it just became too much for Bill Gates and crew to handle. This unwieldy treasure trove was the reason Microsoft announced a plan this week to give a one time dividend payout of $32 Billion to its shareholders. But was it the right solution? Was it the best solution? Microsoft may be traveling down the wrong road.

Yes, MSN is about to release an online version of its popular Instant Messaging service, reports Mess with MSN Messenger. This means you will be able to chat with your contacts using just a web browser on any computer (at school, at work, at a friend's house or anywhere you can't install the MSN Messenger software). Much like and probably as Microsoft's reaction to the currently available third party services like WBMSN and eMessenger (more about web MSN IM here.

Windows Server 2003 build 1218 is now available for download as a torrent file. Build 1218 includes new support for: IIS-specific settings, Audit policy settings, Additional registry values, Group Policy-based deployment of SCW-generated security policies, Inclusion of security INF templates and many others. Download is Here

Thanks to my good friend Tom Warren over at Neowin.net for the heads up!

A new build of Windows Server 2003 SP1 has been released to beta testers this evening. It seems springboard is now becoming a part of Server 2003 finally. There is a major update to the Security Configuration Wizard (SCW) in this release. Among the improvements: Click above link for more Info!

I've had a few emails from you guy's asking for the Windows XP SP2 build 2162 express Installer! So here it is - thanks to I Am Not A Geek

This is the express installer which will NOT upgrade previous builds of SP2. This is only good for people that have not yet installed SP2. I have a guide here showing you how to uninstall your previous build of SP2. This package has DirectX 9.0C and all the goodies you've read about in my two previews

Windows XP SP2 2162 has been just released and we've snagged ourselves a nice link. Download at your own risk if you are interested in beta testing.

When you are playing content from a network source, Microsoft Windows Media Player 9 Series may quit unexpectedly (crash) if Windows Media Player briefly loses the network connection and then tries to reconnect.

(New)Cumulative Security Update for Outlook Express 5.5 SP2 (KB823353), 7/9/2004
Download size: 840 KB
A vulnerability exists in Outlook Express that could allow an attacker to cause Outlook Express to fail. You can help protect your computer by installing this update. After you install this update you may need to restart your computer. Details...
Applies to: Windows 2000 SP3, Windows 2000 SP4

Thanks to my good friend Tom Warren over at Neowin.net for the heads up!

According to a post from the Windows Update Beta Team a new build of Windows XP SP2 will be released soon via the Windows Update V5 site. This build includes many fixes for reported issues. The build may be installed on Windows XP RTM, SP1, SP2 RC1 build 2096, or SP2 RC2 build 2149. Installing the new SP2 build onto any other SP2 build is not supported.

Seems some of you are still looking for DirectX 9.0C to download! as the FarCry v1.2 patch will be out on monday! for you guy's head this way to I Am Not A Geek.

This has been ripped out of one of the latest SP2 builds. Anybody that wants to get their hands on this without having to install SP2 will want to follow these directions. I've decided to put these up for anybody that was wanting them but having trouble getting their hands on them through other sources.

Adodb.stream provides a method for reading and writing files on a hard drive. This by-design functionality is sometimes used by web applications. However, when combined with known security vulnerabilities in Microsoft Internet Explorer, it could allow an internet web site to execute script from the Local Machine Zone (LMZ). This occurs because the ADODB.Stream object allows access to the hard drive when hosted within Internet Explorer.

Try Out the All New Windows XP Game Advisor! Windows XP users now have a start-to-finish solution that makes it easy to find the most interesting games for your PC and determine if your PC can play them. Look at screenshots, watch trailers, try a free demo and then order the game online -- all with the knowledge that your PC is ready to play.