On Dec 6th Microsoft announced the release to manufacturing of Windows Server™ 2003 R2. Based on Microsoft^® Windows Server 2003 with Service Pack 1, Windows Server 2003 R2 delivers new capabilities and value for customers in the areas of branch-office management, identity and access management, virtualization, data storage and Web platform technologies. The product will be generally available to customers within 60 days.

“Windows Server 2003 R2 builds on the proven reliability and security of Windows Server 2003 and introduces new functionality and benefits in key workloads and scenarios,” said Bob Muglia, senior vice president of Server and Tools at Microsoft. “R2 presents our customers with an array of new ways to reduce cost and complexity, boost end-user productivity, and increase the strategic value of their IT systems.”

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In a statement by Microsoft’s Corporate Vice President of the Windows Core Operating System Development Division, Amitabh Srivastava, the company is accelerating the development of features for their Windows Vista operating system. Originally, Microsoft stated that the second beta of the future desktop OS was to be released in the 4th Quarter of 2005.“ The company released the first beta of the OS on July 27. Microsoft is still on track to make Windows Vista generally available in the second half of 2006”, said Srivastava. The upcoming beta will now be provided in early 2006. It will include the complete features for the product.

“In September, Microsoft began releasing to the public more interim builds, or CTPs (Community Technology Previews), of Windows Vista rather than the previous cycle of two beta releases in an effort to get more feedback on the product. The company had originally planned to do those monthly, but is changing that to a more quality-based release schedule rather than one based on the calendar,” reports the IDG News Service.
  
Feedback on CTPs has been greatly appreciated by Microsoft, and the company is planning to release a December CTP before the holidays. The November CTP was limited to participants of the Microsoft Technology Adoption Program. This concerns many developers who have become expectant of a monthly shipment as they make plans for their products to release with Vista.

Via The ServerSide.Net

 

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SQL 2005 Service Manager