Microsoft Tuesday released the next beta version of Windows Server 2008 that adds options for installing Microsoft's newest Web server. The Community Technology Preview (CTP), which is Microsoft's lingo for its release cycle of beta software, is available to MSDN subscribers, TechNet subscribers and Connect customers.

This is the first CTP since Windows Server 2008 Beta 3 was released in April. Microsoft officials say 200,000 copies of Beta 3 have been downloaded. With the new CTP, Internet Information Server (IIS) 7.0 is now an installation option under the Server Core feature of the server.

Server Core is made up of the Windows kernel and a set of infrastructure "roles", which install only the components needed for any of eight specific functions: Active Directory, Active Directory Lightweight Directory Services, DHCP, DNS, File, Print, Windows Media Services and Windows Server Virtualization (when it ships).

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View: Windows Server 2008 Homepage
Source: MSFN

Experience the web, Apple style, with Safari: the fastest, easiest-to-use web browser in the world. With its simple, elegant interface, Safari gets out of your way and lets you enjoy the web, up to 2 times faster than Internet Explorer.

The fastest web browser on any platform, Safari loads pages up to 2 times faster than Internet Explorer 7 and up to 1.6 times faster than Firefox 2. And it executes JavaScript up to 2.8 times faster than Internet Explorer 7 and up to 1.6 times faster than Firefox 2. What does all that mean for you? Less time loading pages and more time enjoying them.

Changelog:

- Latest security updates
- Improved stability
- Fixes for text display, non-English systems, and start-up times

Download: Safari 3.0.2 Beta
View: Safari Homepage
Source: MSFN

I just received an update for WLM 8.5 Beta, I reviewed the update history and it shows the following:

This update is being used to test how microsoft Updates are distributed for Windows Live Messenger. While there are no actual changes to Messenger at this time, it's important for Messenger Beta testers to receive this update. Thanks for helping test Messenger!

IE7Pro is a must have add-on for Internet Explorer, which includes a lot of features and tweaks to make your IE friendlier, more useful, secure and customizable. IE7Pro includes Tabbed Browsing Management, AD Blocker, Flash Block, Super Drag Drop, Crash Recovery, Proxy Switcher, Mouse Gesture, Tab History Browser, Web Accelerator, User Agent Switcher, Webpage Capturer, Greasemonkey like User Scripts platform, User Plug-ins, Spell Check and many more power packed features. You can customize not just Internet Explorer, but even your favorite website according to your need and taste using IE7Pro.

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Mozilla programmers are rewriting a lot of the Firefox code for the upcoming version release of the open-source browser, according to the head of product security at Mozilla. Most of the components in the current version of Firefox are being touched, said Window Snyder, "chief security something-or-other" at Mozilla. She added that programmers are replacing a lot of older code to increase performance, make the code base more modular and handle new security threats, like phishing and malicious Web sites.

"As we're doing this, we're considering security features and trying to minimize security issues," said Snyder in an interview with InformationWeek. "The Web browser has always been an entry point into the system, so it's been considered a critical application. The environment changes so we need to adapt."

Snyder noted that some components that are written in native code are being rewritten in managed code to reduce memory management flaws, like buffer overflow vulnerabilities. Managed code executes in a virtual machine, so there is less space for memory management issues to occur.

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Source: InformationWeek via MSFN

With Vista Codec Package installed, you won't need to install any other codec or filter. Many user suggested default settings are implemented. It does not contain a media player. It does not associates filetypes. With this package installed you will be able to use any media player (limited only by the players capabilities) to play DVD's, movies and video clips of any format. Streaming video (real and quicktime) is supported in web browsers. Visit the homepage to get a 64bitAddon which enables xvid, divx and DVD playback in Vista's MediaCenter.

Download: Vista Codec Package v4.4.6 (Freeware)
View: More Information | Changelog
Source: MSFN

DivX is offering Divx Pro for free just today. Head over to here to download and request your free serial.

View: DivX Homepage
Source: Flexbeta

Paint.NET is free image editing and photo manipulation software designed to be used on computers that run Windows XP SP2, Vista and Server 2003. It supports layers, unlimited undo, special effects, and a wide variety of useful and powerful tools.

Changelog:

- Fixed: Pasting an image from Office 2003 applications now works (e.g. Excel 2003 graphs).
- Fixed: Some dialogs were not indicating which command button was the default. These buttons now have a highlight to indicate which one will be activated if the user presses Enter or Space.
- Fixed: Some minor keyboard navigation issues with task dialogs
- Fixed: Performance issue with the File->Acquire submenu taking a long time to appear
- Fixed: Window activation issue when the Print wizard was finished / closed
- Fixed: Crash when there was 1 image open and the user pressed Ctrl+Q and then Ctrl+W
- Fixed: Minor performance issue if the user had 1 modified image open and then canceled the "Save changes?" dialog
- Fixed: Misbehaving filetype factory implementations (plugins) will no longer cause a crash

Download: Paint.NET 3.08
Source: Flexbeta

With MSN Messenger you can chat online instantly in real time with friends, family and colleagues. It's faster than e-mail, more discreet than a phone call. Chat using a webcam, send text messages to mobile phones, and express yourself instantly online in real time with new, cool emoticons.

MSN Messenger looks like you! Sign in with your own picture, create your own emoticons, and represent yourself with new, cool backgrounds!

Download: Windows Live Messenger 8.5.1235
Source: MSFN

At the Mix'07 conference in Las Vegas-Microsoft's annual event for web designers and developers-the spotlight has largely been on Microsoft's Silverlight platform, formerly known as Windows Presentation Foundation/Everywhere. Silverlight is a set of tools for developing rich, Flash-like web applications. Less talk has focused around the web browser that will provide the primary user interface for all this new technology. On the Internet Explorer blog, Chris Wilson hinted at some of the things that might be coming in IE 8, while declining to give specific details.

While details may be lacking, the structure of the conferences planned for Mix'07 gives a few hints. Improvements in RSS, CSS, and AJAX support are all being given high priority. It is also widely speculated that IE 8 will include support for microformats, small tags embedded in HTML code that can be interpreted in various ways by software, such as calendar events or contact information.

Microformat support is scheduled for Firefox 3, so IE 8 will have to include them in order to keep up. The new version may also include more options for user interface customization, as that was one of the biggest criticisms of IE 7, and one which the developers often blamed on lack of time.

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Source: Ars Technica via MSFN