Windows Media Player 11 offers great new ways to store and enjoy all of your digital media. It's easier than ever to access all of your music, video, pictures, and recorded TV on your computer. Play it, view it, organize it, and sync it to a portable device for enjoying on the go, or share with devices around your home - all from one place. Windows Media Player 11 is designed to work with all versions of Windows XP with Service Pack 2, including Windows XP Home Edition N and Windows XP Professional N.

An anonymous tipster sent in a direct link to the Zune software so that anyone can download and use it?even if you don?t have a Zune! I?m not sure where they found it or how long it has been available but I didn?t see a link on the Zune.net site.

In the third part of my Windows Vista review, I examine your various options for installing Windows Vista, and run through the clean install process, comparing it to that of Windows XP.

Windows Defender is a free program that helps you stay productive by protecting your computer against pop-ups, slow performance and security threats caused by spyware and other potentially unwanted software.

Microsoft SQL Server 2005 Express Edition is a free, easy-to-use, lightweight version of SQL Server 2005. It is fast and easy to learn, allowing you to quickly develop and deploy dynamic data-driven applications.

The Sysinternals web site was created in 1996 by Mark Russinovich and Bryce Cogswell to host their advanced system utilities and technical information and Microsoft acquired Sysinternals in July, 2006. Whether you?re an IT Pro or a developer, you?ll find Sysinternals utilities to help you manage, troubleshoot and diagnose your Windows systems and applications.

In Part 1 of my epic Windows Vista review, I reflect on the past five years and try to put Microsoft's latest and greatest operating system in perspective.

Interested in seeing how the final version of Windows Vista looks? Check out this exhaustive set of screenshots of the RTM version of Windows Vista!

When it comes to upgrade options for Vista, there are plenty of ads out there, but what is sorely lacking is a place you can go to just get the facts. In my search, it seems there are plenty of websites that speculate about the upgrade options, and even more websites that are complaining about one Vista feature or another.

The Microsoft® .NET Framework version 3.0 redistributable package installs the common language runtime and associated files required to run applications developed to target the .NET Framework 3.0.

Network Analyzer for Windows Mobile runs network utilities (e.g., ping and ipconfig) on a Windows Mobile powered device. Network Analyzer for Windows Mobile facilitates the troubleshooting of network connectivity issues.

Windows Live Local for Outlook adds maps, routes, traffic updates, driving directions, and travel time to your Microsoft Office Outlook meeting requests. See maps in road, aerial, bird?s eye view,* and amazing 3D view*!

Virtual Earth 3D brings you another step closer to knowing "what it is like out there". You can search, browse, and organize local information viewed in three dimensions, just the way it exists in the real world. This enables you to more effectively find the data that is relevant to you, making Live Maps more useful than ever. Even better -- it's just plain fun!

Here's a quickie screenshot gallery showing off the RTM version of Office 2007. The first part of my Office 2007 review will be available later today.

Microsoft is investigating public reports of a vulnerability in the XMLHTTP 4.0 ActiveX Control, part of Microsoft XML Core Services 4.0 on Windows. We are aware of limited attacks that are attempting to use the reported vulnerability.

I?m very pleased to let you know you this morning (or afternoon, or evening, depending on where you are when you read this) that the Windows division has revised the retail license terms for Windows Vista in a significant way. Namely, the terms regarding license-to-device assignment of the retail product (including Home Basic, Home Premium, Business and Ultimate) now read as follows:

We currently planning on giving away 1000 free copies of Windows Vista and Microsoft Office 2007 - the final, released versions - as soon as they're available. However, before you bite my arm off, there are a few caveats:

Ian Moulster's blog

Microsoft has released a new theme for Windows XP that is black and resembles the Vista style. Its name you ask? Zune.

Neowin.net

Internet Explorer 7 has been designed to make everyday tasks easier, provide dynamic security protection and improve the development platform and manageability. End user improvements include a streamlined interface, tabbed browsing, printing advances, improved search functionality, instant feeds (RSS), dynamic security protection, and more.

This Windows Embedded CE 6.0 180 day evaluation toolkit gives you powerful tools for building a broad range of small foot print devices that need a componentized, real-time operating system.