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KB article 933360 posted: August 2007 cumulative time zone and DST updates for Windows

Relatest to changes in Daylight Saving Time (or as some still refer to it: Daylight Savings Time), a quick note to let you know…


In case you missed my previous post on the latest Daylight Saving Time and Time Zone update, the August 2007 cumulative time zone update for Microsoft Windows operating systems is posted (see KB 933360):


















Article ID : 933360
Last Review : August 7, 2007
Revision : 3.0

Important This update supersedes and replaces update KB931836, released in January 2007. This update also includes additional time zone changes that were signed in to law after update KB931836 was created. Customers who have already deployed update KB931836 should evaluate whether any of the five specific time zone changes that are addressed in the update described by this Microsoft Knowledge Base (KB) article merit deploying this update immediately. If systems are not directly affected, you can schedule deployment at the next available opportunity. We recommend that all customers standardize on the most current Windows cumulative time zone update to guarantee the consistency of the time zone database on all systems.

Important Before you apply the update that is described by this article, be aware of potential issues that may affect Microsoft Office Outlook.

For more information about these issues, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:
931667 (http://support.microsoft.com/kb/931667/) How to address the daylight saving time changes in 2007 by using the Time Zone Data Update Tool for Microsoft Office Outlook

Important If you are running Microsoft Exchange Server in an Information Technology (IT) environment, you must take additional measures to guarantee the correct operation of Exchange Server.

For more informationabout the Exchange daylight saving time (DST) update, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:
926666 (http://support.microsoft.com/kb/926666/) Update for daylight saving time changes in 2007 for Exchange 2003 Service Pack 2




The update that this article describes changes the time zone data to account for daylight saving time changes in several countries, as outlined. This update also includes other DST-related changes, time zone-related changes, and settings-related changes. Some of these changes will occur in 2007. Some of these changes have occurred since the products that are listed in the “Applies To” section were originally released. The update that this article describes is a cumulative update rollup that includes all the changes that were previously released in Microsoft Knowledge Base (KB) articles 928388 and 929120. This update also describes some additional changes since the last cumulative update in Microsoft Knowledge Base article 928388 and 931836.

Just to clarify, I received a mail today noting that a couple of people weren’t clear on the time zones added to this update, and whether or not time zones added in past KBs (931836) were included in the update.

 

Yes, this includes the TZ releases for countries, territories and provinces previously impacted and updated (such as Newfoundland):  it’s a cumulative update that also includes the updates from prior OS updates, including KB 931836, I believe. This from KB 933360

  


Updates from the previous cumulative Windows time zone update


The following changes have been made since the previous Windows cumulative time zone update, described in KB931836:




















Caucasus Standard Time
Changes display name to Caucasus Standard Time as cities in the previous display name have separate time zones, and removes DST settings.



Armenian Standard Time
Creates a new time zone for Armenia to better align with different DST changes in the Caucasus Region.



New Zealand Standard Time
Adjusts DST start and end dates according to changes signed in to law after the prior cumulative time zone update was created (February 2007).



GTB Standard Time
Correct the display name for GTB Standard Time on Windows Server 2003 SP2 to include Bucharest.



Jordan Standard Time
Adjusts DST start and end times and dates according to changes signed in to law after the prior cumulative time zone update was created (February 2007).



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Windows Vista, Windows XP Service Pack Previews Released, and I’m looking forward to both

A quick break for lunch and I saw this come across the news…



Windows Vista, Windows XP Service Pack Previews Released


IDG News Service – August 07, 2007



“Microsoft confirmed Tuesday that it released preview code for both XP SP3 but still would not say directly when the updates to each OS [Windows XP Service Pack 3 and Windows Vista SP1] will be released in their final versions.


“While Microsoft said it will have a beta of Vista SP1 available “sometime this year,” it won’t commit to a more firm date or speculate when the final release will be available. Some insiders had expected a beta to be available by now, though one has yet to materialize. As for Windows XP SP3, Microsoft said it is shooting for the first half of next year but called that date “preliminary” and declined to disclose more details.


“A third service pack for XP, which has been in the works for some time, may seem a moot point now that Vista has been available to consumers for about seven months and to business users for nine. However, there are many XP users, particularly business customers, that would find a third service pack for the OS valuable, said Samir Bhavnani, a research director at Current Analysis West.”


Moot point? Don’t think so. 


I am running Windows XP and Windows Vista at home (along with Office 2003 and 2007), and I have machines that will continue to run XP even after Vista SP1 is released. This not an issue of faith in our new OS, but being practical Ias I have written here previously, we have older client machines at home that run XP, namely older PCs with smaller than currently average memory footprints and hard drives. These are PCs that our kids are happy to use for various games (many running under Win98 compatibility mode!), and one of the computers I use at home is running XP SP2 (Media Center Edition, acually) along side two PCs running versions of Vista.


At the office all machines in my office are running Windows Vista Enterprise edition. At some point my PCs at home will be retired and we’ll move them to a new Vista PC, but at home for me it is not a sprint to Vista. 


Is more info needed on these updates? Sure, IMHO.  And it will come.


There are many millions of customers in the same situation, looking to Microsoft to release another free update for Windows XP that offers offers improved security and the features touted in Windowsx XP SP2: protection against viruses, hackers, and worms, and features like Windows Firewall, Pop-up Blocker for Internet Explorer, and Windows Security Center.


Of interest:


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Of interest: Virgin America kicks off their business in the States

Dan Reed of USA Today (that venerable daily) that Virgin America kicks off their business in the States

“The Virgin brand, he says, is “synonymous with value, style, a little bit of fun, irreverence and caring deeply” for customers and employees.”

Not to mention that it has Richard Branson’s wit, reparté, enthusiasm and attention to the customer’s overall experience.

I can say that next to Singapore Airlines, I’ve not encountered another international carrier that matches Virgin Atlantic’s attention to customer service. Or irreverence.

IMHO, I hope that the limit for foreign investors doesn’t keep Branson out of the promotion of the venture. (Virgin America is a licensee of the ubiquitous Virgin brand rather than a direct subsidiary.) On the topic…

“Ash, president of InterVistas-ga2 Consulting in Washington, D.C., says Branson “doesn’t fly hot-air balloons around the world because he likes to fly balloons, or appear in TV reality shows because he’s a big reality-show buff. He does it because it’s the best free advertising in the world.” The team of industry veterans running Virgin America “will do well to listen to him.”

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MCP asks: Will you upgrade to Vista or are you waiting for “Windows 7”?

A quick post between meetings… in their current poll MCPmag.com asks readers (IT managers and network administrators… perhaps you, too) the question: will you be…



“Upgrading to Vista or waiting for “Windows 7”?


You can choose one of the following answers:



  • I’ll eventually upgrade to Vista.

  • I’ve already upgraded to Vista.

  • Skipping Vista and going straight to Windows 7.

  • Not even considering Windows 7.

  • I’ll stick with XP as long as I can.

  • I’ve already moved on to a non-MS OS.  

So far a little more than 100 people have taken the poll.


Tags: Windows VistaWindows Vista tips 

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It’s official: Microsoft lowers the retail price on Xbox 360 consoles

As previously speculated, MSNBC reports that Microsoft will cut the retail price on the Xbox 360 by $50 – that’s for the model with a 20GB hard drive.



“The company said its most popular console, which comes with a 20-gigabyte hard drive, will cost $349. A basic console without a hard drive or wireless controllers will retail for $279, $20 less than its current price, while the Xbox 360 Elite, a black version with a 120-gigabyte hard drive and high-definition video support, will drop $50 to $449.


The official press release is on xbox.com here.



“Microsoft today kicked off the greatest holiday lineup in videogame history by announcing it will reduce the retail price of Xbox 360™ by $50 beginning August 8 at United States retailers nationwide. Soon to follow, Electronic Arts Inc. (EA) will release its blockbuster video game title Madden NFL 08 on August 14. This important mass-appeal franchise was the top-selling game of 2006 and is the top-selling franchise of the past 10 years. Only Xbox 360 offers a console for all interests and budgets.


“… Xbox 360 Core System now has an estimated retail price of $279.99… [and the] 120GB hard drive, Xbox 360 Elite will be priced at $449.99. The Xbox 360 Halo 3 Special Edition Console [with 20GB hard drive] will hit store shelves in September with a price of $399.99.”