As reported today by the IDG News Service, Microsoft has released two new updates for Windows Vista.
However, a Microsoft spokesperson I reached stopped short of saying that these two updates will be part of the upcoming Service Pack 1, or SP1, for Vista. In fact, in her e-mail, the spokesperson would only say that Vista SP1 is due out in beta test form later this year ? but not whether these two updates will be part of that release.
Either way, if you're a Vista user you'll want to get both of them. These are not security patches as we so often see, but are instead fixes for other types of annoying bugs ? some of which users have been bemoaning in online forums since Vista first shipped.
First up is a compatibility update that looks like it's mostly directed towards fixing problems with various graphics drivers. For instance, it fixes a litany of issues such as the screen ceasing to function when you upgrade the video driver, or the screen going blank when you turn off an external display like a projector connected to the computer, or video quality deteriorating when playing some graphics-intensive video games.
It also fixes a few other aggravating bugs, including the printer spooler (software that sends stuff you want to print to your printer in the background while you do something else) ceasing to function, and the Windows Calendar closing unexpectedly in certain circumstances.
Microsoft has also released a performance update for Vista. This is to fix sluggishness in several areas but also to patch a few data corruption problems. For example, when Vista is copying a large file, it may seem to take forever for the "estimated time remaining" to be calculated. Or, when resuming from hibernation, the logon screen may take a long time to appear.
Worse, for those of you who are seriously involved in digital photography, you may experience data loss when editing RAW files created using Canon EOS 1D digital SLR cameras.
There are both 32-bit (x86) and 64-bit versions of both updates available.
You can get these updates manually today from the links above (along with more info). The Microsoft spokesperson said that they will also be available via Windows Update "in the near future," but she wouldn't say when.
Microsoft tracker and blogger Mary Jo Foley ventured a guess that will most likely be next Tuesday which, since it's the second Tuesday of the month, is Microsoft's "Patch Tuesday." I agree that's the most logical deduction.
