Microsoft's arduous, oft delayed journey to mecca del RTM has finally been completed with the release this morning of Windows XP Service Pack 2.

Build # 2180 is stamped boldly on the shiny new badge adorning their latest efforts to update the rapidly aging Windows XP and keep some interest alive in their on-going Operating System endeavours till Windows Longhorn debuts sometime in 2006.

Build # 2180 is 266.1MB in size for the English version.

Currently the build is available to beta testers only via Windowsbeta, however it is scheduled to be rolled out to other distribution mediums over the next few days.

We're going to test this build out thoroughly and will report back with more information shortly...

Windows XP was released originally back in 2001.

The rapidly changing landscape of computing with the huge explosion of high-speed internet access has meant a radical new approach to security is necessary.

Though growth in connectivity to the internet has been a significant boost for anti-virus and security companies, they now face increasing pressure as Microsoft does as they have done in so many other software markets, simply include their own version of a product for free with their Operating System, kill the competition and then abruptly give up on innovating said product.

Let's hope that Microsoft Firewall does NOT allow their own products to 'Call Home' despite the firewall being turned on. This we will test comprehensively.

Microsoft has devoted hundreds of years worth of man-hours to engineering this build which has had a significant drain on other product development cycles. The mirage that is Longhorn Beta 1 may now start to become a little more discernable now that the many software engineers seconded from Longhorn to XP SP2 can now return to pushing the envelope that is Windows as we currently know it.

출처 : Winbeta.org