Microsoft has released another Community Technology Preview of their SQL Server 2005 Express Edition.

SQL Server 2005 Express Edition (SQL Server Express) is the next version of MSDE 2000. It is a free, easy-to-use, lightweight version of Microsoft SQL Server 2005. To obtain additional information about SQL Server Express, visit SQL Server Express on MSDN.

A free database management tool for SQL Server 2005 Express Edition is also available.

The security updates for April 2005 include several high-priority updates for Microsoft Windows and Microsoft Internet Explorer, a component of Windows. If you have any of the software listed on this page installed on your computer, you should install the related update

The Microsoft Office Downloads site hosts free* updates that you can download to increase the security, stability, and performance of your Office products. The following new updates are now available:

Discover an awesome collection of free new tools for the Tablet PC in my Experience Pack for Tablet PC review!

Paul Thurrott Windows SuperSite

In my review of MSN Messenger 7.0, I examine new features like full-screen video conversations, Winks, Nudges, and Contact Cards!

Paul Thurrott Windows SuperSite

Paul Thurrot reviews the new Microsoft Experience Pack for Tablet PC, with a lot of new cool apps like Ink Desktop, Ink Art, Media Transfer, etc. Here's the full MS Experience Pack review.

When I pointed my browser to Windows Update I expected to see trusty ol' V5 (Windows Update Version 5) but was presented with V6 instead. It's important to note that I haven't done anything fancy with my computer and I confirmed this with another Neowin reporter before writing this, and the same happened to him. He got V6.

NeoWin.net

Well, I had the pleasure this weekend of getting a copy of Windows XP 64 bit and giving it a run. For those of you who do not know, MS has taken WinXP Pro to the next level releasing Windows XP 64 bit last week. In this article, I'm going to take a first look at what it brings to the table and what you can expect to see once you get your hands on a copy.

WinXPcentral

Thanks to Softpedia.com for the Heads up!

Microsoft has never released a service pack for Windows98 SE. But I made a Service Pack for Windows98 SE users. It contains all Windows98 SE updates from WindowsUpdate site and more.

Microsoft has released a few updates recently. We collected it all and posted a Roundup for you.

NGOHQ.com

The Microsoft Application Compatibility Toolkit (ACT) version 4.0 for Windows XP, including Service Pack 2, and Windows Server 2003 contains the tools and documentation you need to evaluate and mitigate application compatibility issues before deploying on these platforms. Tools include the latest versions of the Microsoft Application Analyzer that simplifies application inventory and compatibility reporting, the Internet Explorer Compatibility Evaluator that assists testers in locating compatibility issues with Internet Explorer on Windows XP Service Pack 2, and the Compatibility Administrator that provides access to the necessary compatibility fixes to support legacy applications in Windows.

The April 2005 Update of the Microsoft DirectX SDK is finally here.

REDMOND, Wash. -- March 30, 2005 -- Microsoft Corp. today released to manufacturing Microsoft® Windows Server? 2003 Service Pack 1 (SP1).

After you install Windows XP Service Pack 2, some 1394 devices (such as digital cameras that use S400 speed) may not perform as expected.

When you try to convert your video production in Adobe Premiere Pro to an MPEG-2 (Moving Pictures Experts Group 2) format, the .mp2 file is not converted, and either Adobe Premiere Pro or your Microsoft Windows XP-based computer may stop responding.

Microsoft is planning to block all hotlinks, Winks and Dynamic Display Pictures from being sent or received for a testing period starting today until Thursday 31st.

Neowin

Windows Messenger allows real-time communication with other contacts who are using instant messaging (IM) services including those provided by the Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) as offered by Microsoft Office Live Communications Server. Windows Messenger also provides connectivity to the Microsoft .NET Messenger service and is the IM client of choice for businesses in managed environments. Read everything at the link!

Indigo and Avalon are the codenames for two strategic developer technologies that Microsoft plans to ship in 2006 as part of the Windows "Longhorn" operating system. In addition, Microsoft is making these technologies available on Windows XP and Windows Server 2003. The Indigo and Avalon Community Technology Preview (CTP) enables developers to experiment with early builds of these technologies, get acquainted with the development experience, and provide Microsoft with feedback.

This afternoon we were treated to an interesting Microsoft TechNet chat session on networking in Windows Longhorn. The session provided a great overview of what we can expect from the Longhorn networking team come this May. Longhorn will introduce us to a completely redesigned and harmonized IPv4/IPv6 protocol stack.

NeoWin.net

The Windows Server Update Services (WSUS) Open Evaluation Program (OEP) lets you evaluate the Release Candidate of WSUS in a non-production environment. This version is not supported and can be used in a test environment only.