Microsoft is releasing XP Service Pack3 today, though you will have to download it yourself – it will become part of automatic updates later in the summer.

Microsoft is playing down the release, damning it with faint praise..

“Windows XP SP3 includes all previously released updates for the operating system, as well as a small number of new additions that should not significantly change the Windows XP experience,”

..as it continues to try and get users to waste money by upgrading to Vista.

UPDATE: SP3 is reported to be causing problems on some systems. I advise you don’t install it at the moment.