The latest details and version release dates for Windows Vista Service Pack 2 are up on Tech ARP. The latest patch for the troubled Vista OS also applies to Windows Server 2008 bringing it up to Release 2. Microsoft is rushing SP2 out in hopes that consumers will buy Vista rather than waiting for the imminent Windows 7 release.

Personally I don’t have too much trouble with Vista. Once it’s lobotomized, it’s really not all that bad. Of course you’ll want to be extra vigilant with your spyware, adware, and virus programs, but I guess that’s the price you pay for the right to admin your own system.

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Word is out that Microsoft is developing a camera  to bring motion sensitive controls to the Xbox 360. The camera uses 3D technology for more accurate control than previous cameras. Unlike the Wii, the camera would allow hands free control using gestures of the hands, legs, and head.

Supposedly the official announcement may come as early as E3. Of course Microsoft has declined to confirm or deny these rumors. You can read the full article in the Wall Street Journal.

Developing motion sensitive controls  is a natural step towards cashing in on the growing market of casual gamers. I don’t think that anyone can deny that graphics on the 360 are superior by far to the Wii. It’s been my experience that many flashy Wii titles eventually sit on the shelf collecting dust as casual gamers learn to appreciate more complex games; kind of like trading in twinkies for steak. Hopefully in the end Microsoft can do its part to convert the casual gamers of the world.

If your looking for a good reason to play the Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen videogame, listen up. Composers Steve Jablonsky and Bobby Tahouri are collaborating with electronica artists Julien-K on the soundtrack. These musical masters have put the excitement in several familiar movie and videogame soundtracks.

You’ve probably heard Jablonski’s work on both the latest Transformers live action movies. If you haven’t seen them, you may have listened to his hard driving score while beating down the Locust Hordes in Gears of War 2. Tahouri worked on the Iron Man film soundtrack and Julien-K was featured on the 2007 Transformers movie with their track “Technical Difficulties.”

More details on these artists and the Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen videogame follow the break.

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Just when gamers thought they had squeezed all the goodness from Gears of War 2, Epic Games targets players on All Fronts. This GW2 collection includes all previously released DLC; the Combustible, Flashback, and Snowblind map packs; and introduces the new Dark Corners map pack.

Dark Corners offers multi-player fans seven fresh battlegrounds to test their mettle. The bundle also includes a chapter cut from the original GW2 taking players back to Locust Hollow with Mutt and Dom. Throw in a poster, a custom Xbox Live theme, and a strategy guide and you’ve got a fairly good buy for your hard earned cash. One last enticement is a preview of “Road to Ruin,” the latest project from the man formerly known as “Cliffy B.” Seriously is there a symbol for that? Whatever you want to call him, Cliff Bleszinski rocks the gaming world.

Look for the Gears of War 2: All Fronts Collection to hit retailers July 28th. You can lay out a cool $19.99 for the bundle or purchase just the Dark Corners map pack for 1,600 Microsoft Points on the Xbox Live marketplace.

Details on the new Dark Corners maps follow the break.

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Everyone knows that there’s a lot of illicit material on the internet. Everyone also knows that there a lot of enforcement efforts directed at finding the PCs that are the source for this type of content.

As you may or may not know, this has resulted in a number of criminals storing things they want to keep hidden on their XBox hard drives. According to authorities, this includes a fair amount of child pornography.

You see, the original XBox hard drive has always been able to be modified to make the console act like a PC. Interestingly, there’s no physical evidence this has been done. With current forensics software, investigators cannot examine the bit by bit information stored on the XBox hard drive, meaning that it stays hidden.

In an effort to alleviate this issue, David Collins, a computer scientist at Sam Houston State University, has created a tool that allows authorities to find these hidden files. The program, known as XFT, is the first ever developed for forensic technicians to read XBoxes. Not only does the tool read the information, it record the investigation as it takes place, and allows the recording to be replayed in court.

Now, I know some of you may want to scream about your privacy for your files, but in my opinion, anything that shows that these people are not actually gamers is fine with me. Don’t we have enough of a black eye with the general public? I think so. What we don’t need is for investigators to find a child pornographer storing files on his XBox, and publish news referring to him as a gamer.

What do you think?

The Forge is one of those features that you wouldn’t naturally include in a console shooter but as the portion of the Halo 3 community who are not spending their time cussing while “p0wning n00bs” or griefing their own teammates on Orbital will tell you Forges’ map redecorating functionality allows for some pretty awesome redesigned Halo 3 combat maps.

To commemorate the growth of the Forge Cafe community over at Bungie.net, a collection of folks interested in taking the tools and sharing tips tricks and creations with each other, hitting its inaugural 75 member mark the organizers have announced their first map making challenge/contest.

Members of the Forge Cafe community can compete to create a themed Halo playground. Seriously a playground built up like a theme park using the tools, items and environments of the established maps. The map design contest is not centered around a playable experience however, merely an aesthetic goal of making a map in Forge that will allow players to see the fun of an Adventureland setting. Details of the contest and a link to the Forge Cafe can be found after the jump.

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Xbox LIVE’s Major Nelson has sent out the good word that Formal Wear for your avatar is here. If you’re celebrating a special occasion or just going for that killer look, there are several choices for both male and female avatars. Express your personal style with these new costume pieces.

For the gentlemen we have
Blue Tuxedo (save that one for prom season)
Black Tuxedo
Shirt with Cummerbund
Black Trilby
Bowler Hat

For the ladies we have:
Elegant Ball Gown
Little Black Dress
Formal Trouser Suit
Elegant Watch
Red 60’s Shades
Strappy High Heels
Platform Shoes

Look for the gold stars in your Avatar Editor to find these new items. Thanks for the heads up Major Nelson.

A class action suit against Microsoft in regards to the Xbox 360 scratching discs if the consoles is tilted had some the documents presented in court unsealed and the contents revealed that Microsoft knew of the problem but pushed the console out the door anyway.

The document contains a quote from Microsoft Programmer Hiroo Umeno, that states:

“This is … information that we as a team, optical disc drive team, knew about. When we first discovered the problem in September or October (2005), when we got a first report of disc movement, we knew this is what’s causing the problem.”

Because of this, Microsoft sent some engineers out in the field to “investigate complaints that the Xbox 360 was routinely scratching discs during demonstrations” at retail stores. This is when Microsoft admitted that if tilted, discs inside became “unchucked” and subsequently would collide with the drive’s optical pickup unit. This would lead to deep circular gouges on the discs. In light of this news, Microsoft considered three different possibilities of fixed the problem, but decided against all three because all three would cost the company too much money.

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If you’re looking for a little something to brighten up your holiday party, Microsoft is offering up Christmas and Hanukkah DLC for the LIPS karaoke game. All of these holiday favorites, with just two exceptions, are by the original classic artists that most people associate them with.

The original version of “Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer” performed by Gene Autry, “Rockin’ Around The Christmas Tree” as performed by Brenda Lee, Burl Ives’ “A Holly Jolly Christmas,” “Hanukkah Blessings” as performed by Barenaked Ladies and “Santa Baby,” the Kylie Minogue version are downloadable for 160 MS points. “The Christmas Song (Merry Christmas To You)” as performed by Nat King Cole and “White Christmas” as performed by Bing Crosby ring in at 180 MS points each. These holiday favorites are now available on Xbox LIVE for all regions except India, Japan and Korea.

A little bit about my own experience with LIPS follows the break.
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Major Nelson Has confirmed the VGA announcement and Gears of War 2 Combustible Map Packs are up on Xbox LIVE. Availability is set to all XBL zones except Germany and Japan.

These three maps; Flood, Gold Rush, and Fuel Station; are a hefty 800 MS points. The Combustible Map Pack Trailer featuring content highlights is free only as Gold exclusive offer. You can view the trailer below courtesy of FileFront before investing a chunk of change that big. Details on each of the Gears of War 2 Combustible Maps follow the break.

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