Microsoft issues new RC of Vista SP2

While the world and its dog eagerly awaits Windows 7, Microsoft still has another service pack for Vista waiting in the wings. Service Pack 2 is now into its release candidate phase, and Redmond has made an "escrow" version (the name reminds me of dodgy eBay deals, but never mind) available to certain testers.

Over on ZDNet US, Mary Jo Foley got her hands on the email that accompanied the 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."

Apparently today (Friday) is the day on or after which those testers - you know who you are, and if you don't, you're not - should download the RC.

Sadly, no word yet on when SP2 itself will be coming out, but the escrow version seems to indicate a release pretty soon - certainly prior to Windows 7. If there is an SP3 to follow, it would probably come out after Windows 7 makes its full appearance.