New test version issued for Vista SP2

While the world and its dog awaits Windows 7, Microsoft has another Vista service pack waiting in the wings.

Service Pack 2 is now into its release candidate phase, and Redmond has made an "escrow" version available to certain testers.

ZDNet's Mary Jo Foley got her hands on the e-mail that accompanied this week's news:

We are excited to announce RC-Escrow build as the next milestone release of Windows Vista SP2 / Windows Server 2008, now available for download. This build is available on Windows Update for download and install, or by a number of other package options."

There's no word yet on when SP2 itself will be coming out, but the "escrow" version seems to indicate a release sooner rather than later--certainly prior to Windows 7.

David Meyer of ZDNet UK reported from London.

[Seaspray0]

Any idea of what the SP contains?

[sciontcya]

Yes, more elements that look like Mac OS X.

[Dalkorian]

I was going to say more pieces of w7, but "more elements that look like Mac OS X" says basically the same thing.

[Inconnux]

Isnt it Win7 beta?

[Dalkorian]

No, that's fista SP 3.

[xcal78]

Troll much?

[magicmaster]

I am awaiting Windows 7 Release. Who minds Vista?

[Dalkorian]

Um, the people who were suckered into paying for fista?

[xcal78]

Troll much?