Another build of SP3 has hit the streets for adventuresome beta testers given access to the goods. In addition to over a thousand old, private or all-new hotfixes, SP3 brings new features to XP’s table after all:
* New Windows Product Activation model: no need to enter product key during setup. Thank God for that!
* Network Access Protection modules and policies have been brought to XP after being one of the more-well-received features in Windows Vista. You can read more about NAP here.
* New Microsoft Kernel Mode Cryptographic Module – the Windows XP SP3 kernel now includes an entire module that provides easy access to multiple cryptographic algorithms and is available for use in kernel-mode drivers and services.
* New “Black Hole Router” detection – Windows XP SP3 can detect and protect against rogue routers that are discarding data.
Things are looking good for the OS that valiantly refuses to die, and that makes me wryly happy inside.
Articles RSS