Microsoft is debuting the second round for Service Pack 3 for Windows XP, almost four months since the service pack was released to manufacturing for the XP client at the end of April 2008. Released to the general users at the start of May, Windows XP SP3 is yet again moving to center stage, but in a dimmer limelight, because the new service pack is designed only for the embedded version of XP. In this context, a new Community Technology Preview of XP Embedded SP3 has been released to testers via Microsoft Connect.

"We posted a CTP of Service Pack 3 (SP3) for Windows XP Embedded. This is a rollup of hot fixes and security updates Microsoft has released since the RTM of Service Pack 2. SP3 also includes select out-of-band features and enhancements. SP3 provides a new baseline for customers deploying Windows XP Embedded," revealed Shayna Begun, a program manager in the Vertical Industry and Embedded Windows (VIEW) team at Microsoft.

But in addition to the third service pack for Windows XP Embedded, Microsoft has also been hammering away at the upcoming Windows Embedded Standard 2009, planned for availability by the end of 2008. The Windows Embedded Standard team (formerly referred to as the Windows XP Embedded team) released the CTP of Windows Embedded Standard 2009 to Connect. As far as the Windows XP client goes, SP3 was the final service pack refresh of the operating system, although Extended Support will continue until 2014.

"The CTP Refresh includes an improved setup experience and migration support from previous versions of Windows XP Embedded. Additionally, it now includes .NET 3.5, additional device drivers, System Center Configuration Manager (SCCM) Client Prereq Macro, and various other updates based on direct customer feedback," added Mike Hall, Microsoft software architect.