05-24-2002
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TechSpot Evangelist
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Location: Glasgow, Scotland
Member since: Feb 2002, 6,504 posts
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Service Pack 1 for XP to include major changes
Quote:
[SIZE=4]XP makeover highlights antitrust tweaks [/SIZE]
By Joe Wilcox
Staff Writer, CNET News.com
May 23, 2002, 9:00 PM PT
Microsoft is finalizing a major makeover for Windows XP that's intended to make it easier for consumers to choose third-party software over Microsoft's own products.
Within the next few weeks, the software giant plans to begin testing Service Pack 1 for Windows XP, the first major update to the operating system, which was launched in October.
Some of the more significant changes, such as those allowing consumers and PC makers to override Microsoft's default products, are a direct response to the continuing antitrust case against the Redmond, Wash.-based company.
The service pack will ship this summer to PC makers and will be available as a free download from the company's Web site. As previously reported, the service pack will contain bug fixes, tweaks and compatibility updates, as have similar releases for previous versions of Windows.
Microsoft executives this week said that other new changes in Service Pack 1 will comply with a November settlement that Microsoft agreed upon with the Justice Department and nine states. Nine other states and the District of Columbia are continuing with the antitrust litigation. U.S. District Judge Colleen Kollar-Kotelly, who is overseeing the remedy portion of the trial, has not yet approved the settlement.
Among the changes is a new control that will allow PC makers or consumers to replace Microsoft software with third-party applications from Microsoft's competitors, such as AOL Time Warner and RealNetworks.
Under the Justice Department settlement, Microsoft must allow consumers or PC makers to hide user access to five pieces of so-called middleware: Internet Explorer, Outlook Express, Windows Media Player, Windows Messenger and Microsoft's version of the Java Virtual Machine.
Once the service pack is installed, a new icon will be visible on Windows XP's Program Menu, under "Windows Update" for setting program access and defaults. On new PCs, the icon will also be displayed on the Start Menu. The "Set Programs Access and Defaults" control also will appear as the fourth option under the Windows Control Panel.
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source: http://news.com.com/2100-1001-922066.html
(More info in article.)
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XP service pack 3
