Windows XP SP2 is one of the most widely-anticipated service packs from Microsoft in a long time, if not ever. Designed to address many of the security concerns in previous versions, it offers some serious changes in the firewall and Windows Update in addition to introducing some new features.
The guys over at Ars Technica have put SP2 Beta under the microscope to see what Microsoft has been up to in the nearly 1-1/2 years since SP1 was released.