Most of the changes introduced in the service pack will be invisible to computer users. The update incorporates numerous bug patches and security fixes already released by Microsoft. People can also retrieve these fixes manually or via Windows XP's automatic update feature. Service Pack 1 also consolidates previously released OS updates and adds some new ones, such as USB 2.0 device drivers and the .Net Framework, which is essential for Windows XP to support Microsoft's .Net Web services strategy. The service pack also introduces a new version of Windows Messenger, Microsoft's instant messaging client. Some software pirates could be in for a surprise. Microsoft is using the operating system's Product Activation feature to clamp down on the majority of Windows XP piracy. The feature locks software to the hardware; this design allegedly cuts down on piracy. Product IDs stolen through Microsoft's volume licensing program accounts for about 90 percent of the Windows XP piracy, according to Microsoft. The Service Pack won't install on the Windows XP copies using a stolen number. Microsoft made a similar move with its Office XP Service Pack 2, which the company released last week. The update will not install on some pirated copies of the software suite. Microsoft estimates that about half of the 300 million copies of Office in use are pirated. Antitrust tweaks
The Windows XP update is unique because it adds a new control for setting default middleware -- such as Web browser and media player software -- as required by Microsoft's pending antitrust settlement with the Justice Department and nine of the 18 states that sued the company. Consumers may find that the new middleware control has little effect on middleware already installed on their PCs, however. Developers of software programs for Windows XP must "register" middleware with the updated OS to use the new middleware control, according to Microsoft. And software makers, such as America Online, say that the only way to do that is either to update existing software or wait for their new releases. AOL's current software will not work with the new middleware control, company spokesman Andrew Weinstein said. That's largely because "the software code (from Microsoft) was not made available to any software developer until a couple of months ago," he said. Other than that, he added, existing versions of AOL's software will work with Windows XP and Service Pack 1. Weinstein said consumers will have to wait for future releases of the company's software to use the middleware control. AOL Time Warner is currently testing AOL 8 and Netscape 7, both of which are expected to support the new middleware feature. People who use the Opera browser also may have to wait for an update to that program to support the new middleware control. "We have to do some work," Opera chief executive Jon S. von Tetzchner said. "If we need to register (in Windows XP in) a new way, we will find out how to do that. Microsoft does not have a tendency to contact us and tell us how to do things." RealNetworks said an upcoming version of its RealOne media player will register with the middleware control, but existing versions will not. MusicMatch, which makes programs for creating and organising digital music, said version 7.2 of its software will work with the new middleware control. The software is available from the company's Web site. MusicMatch estimates that about 25 percent of its customers use Windows XP. The new middleware control lets PC makers or consumers hide -- but not remove -- access to five Microsoft middleware programs: Internet Explorer, Windows Media Player, Windows Messenger, Outlook Express and Microsoft's version of the Java Virtual machine. The new control also lets PC makers and consumers set the defaults for middleware programs, whether they are from Microsoft or from third parties. Consumers upgrading Windows XP with the service pack will find the new control as the fourth option of "Add or Remove Programs", which is located in the operating system's control panel. The three choices -- "Microsoft Windows", "Non-Microsoft" and "Custom" -- allow a person to instantly reset all the middleware defaults. The "Microsoft Windows" option sets the software giant's own middleware as the default. "Non-Microsoft" lets a person switch to middleware from other companies. "Custom" is used to mix and match Microsoft and non-Microsoft middleware as the default programs. New PCs will contain a fourth option, "Computer Manufacturer Configuration", which restores the middleware settings to the defaults that come on the system. For example, Dell Computer and Gateway ship MusicMatch on their PCs, which could be set as the default using the new control. Neither company would discuss its plans ahead of Microsoft release of the service pack. Microsoft earlier disclosed technical information known as application programming interfaces (APIs) contained within Windows XP. That disclosure was necessary before the software maker could release the Windows XP update, according to the terms of a proposed settlement of the company's antitrust case, which a federal judge still must approve.
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