XP

Check it out here.

No "real" content yet, just an announcement so far.

The Pro Photo Tools allow you to add, change, and delete common metadata properties for digital photographs. You can place photos on the Live Earth map and then drag them to the right location. The GPS information will be stored back into the photos. If you have a GPS device, can load track route files from the most popular formats (NMEA, GPX, and KML) and see them on the map. Then you can place your photos on the track route. Again, the GPS info will be stored into your file. When you have the right GPS location for your photos, you can automatically generate location info like country, state, city and even street names. Or if you know the location where a picture was taken, you can type it in and get the GPS location information automatically.

Download it from here.

Something interesting I noticed is that it looks like it only supports 32-bit XP and 32-bit Vista with an English locale. I'm curious to see if it will install and/or work under a 64-bit OS.

XP SP3 is a solid release and everyone out there running XP SP2 should install it, especially if you are doing a new install. It is a great way to avoid 100+ updates post install, if you haven't slipstreamed them into your SP2 build already.

Things that could have gone better

#1. They should have released XP SP3 to MSDN and TechNet subscribers on the same day as the RTM announcement. This has potential to turn into a PR problem, especially after how Vista SP1's release was handled. I understand the technical reasons why Vista SP1 was trickled out, but as far as I know, the same situation doesn't exist for Windows XP. It is disturbing how quickly SP3 showed up on Torrent sites.

#2. KB 888111 was originally planned to be included for support for HD Audio but the decision seems to have been reversed. If you are looking to get your HD Audio chipset working with SP3, read this thread. Update: I was looking at an old thread - KB 888111 is included with SP3. Never mind!

#3. FAQ.htm mentions SP2 instead of SP3.

#4. Some setup text files inside the RTM build are still labeled SP3BTA instead of SP3GDR.

With that said, enjoy the updated Remote Desktop Client (RemoteApps!), faster performance, network access protection, crypto updates, 1000+ bug fixes, keyless installs and other little polishes that SP3 has to offer. Don't let these little quirks scare you away.

Snippet from the announcement:
Today we are happy to announce that Windows XP Service Pack 3 (SP3) has released to manufacturing (RTM). Windows XP SP3 bits are now working their way through our manufacturing channels to be available to OEM and Enterprise customers.

We are also in the final stages of preparing for release to the web (i.e. you!) on April 29th, via Windows Update and the Microsoft Download Center. Online documentation for Windows XP SP3, such as Microsoft Knowledge Base articles and the Microsoft TechNet Windows XP TechCenter, will be updated then. For customers who use Windows XP at home, Windows XP SP3 Automatic Update distribution for users at home will begin in early summer.

Read more about it here.

Also noteworthy is that the UAA (HD Audio) hotfix - KB 888111 - is included in the RTM build.

If anyone discovers the build number, please comment here on it!

Update #1: Readers have posted that the build string seems to be 2600.xpsp.080413-2111, which would mean it was built on April 13th and then passed all the QC tests.

Update #2: Build number is 5512.

If you are not offered Vista SP1 from Windows Update, and you are using an Intel WiFi card (typically with model numbers of 4965AGN/4965AG or 3945ABG/3945BG/3965ABG/3965BG), please grab this full generic "reference" driver package from Intel to fix your wireless issues, here. 99.99% of the time, these drivers will work on any laptop or desktop with these chipsets.

Originally spotted here.

In general, if you are running a version of the wireless drivers with a revision date older than 2008, you should install this driver package ASAP. Although it doesn't specifically mention it in the release notes, many little quirks and problems have been resolved, including the Vista SP1 "blocking" issue.

Just to make sure Vista SP1 doesn't get a bad reputation due to this, the "block" was put in place on purpose due to a bug in the wireless driver package, not the OS.

Despite what has been reported, it did not RTM on March 31st. Consider it an early April Fool's joke.