Microsoft updates Windows Vista beta

Microsoft has released a new version of its Windows Vista beta code that sheds some light on how the software giant plans to improve networking and PC manageability in this next major release of its OS.

Microsoft released its first beta version of Windows Vista in July and then followed up with a CTP (Community Technology Preview) update at its Professional Developers Conference last month. With this third release, the company has focused on features that would matter the most to technical users, said Mike Burk, product manager for the Windows client team at Microsoft.

New diagnostic software will be capable of detecting and resolving problems in the computer's memory or on the hard drive. For example, it will be capable of warning users whenever the hard drive begins to show signs of failing, Burk said.

Also new is a feature called Network Center, which allows users to store and manage their network settings in one centralized location. The new Internet Explorer code will expose Vista testers to some new browser features, including Quick Tabs, which displays thumbnail versions of tabbed pages in a single window, and Tab Groups, a feature that allows users to save a set of tabbed pages into a single group within the browser's Favorites list.