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Anybody expecting a bevy of new features is likely to be disappointed. Speaking on the Vista blog, Microsoft's corporate vice president for Windows Product Management, Mike Nash reveals the beta will include all fixes released since Service Pack 1, as well as a number of "changes focused on supporting new types of hardware and

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adding support for several emerging standards."

Among these features, SP2 will add Windows Search 4, the Bluetooth 2.1 feature pack with support for the latest standards, and the "ability to record data on to Blu-ray media natively in Windows Vista."

The service pack will also introduce Windows Connect Now, which the company promises will simplify Wi-Fi configuration. There's also support for the exFAT file system.

The beta will initially roll out to Microsoft's Technology Adoption Program customers, with the company claiming a public release will be decided on the feedback received. The service pack will cover both Vista and Server 2008.

The service pack arrives during a busy week for Microsoft, which is due to unveil further details of Windows 7 at its professional developer's conference in LA. We'll be bringing you full coverage from the event, so keep checking back to our special report for all the latest.