Microsoft still hasn't announced a release date for the first Windows 7 Service Pack, but apparently it can't be too far off judging by a recently leaked version of the code. Technology blog GeekSmack was able to get hold of a copy of a Windows 7 SP1 beta build and posted some pictures to prove it. Marked 6.1.7601.16537.amd64fre.win7.100327-0053, it appears the file was compiled very recently, on March 27, using an AMD 64-bit system.


Installation reportedly went much faster in comparison with Vista service packs, but other than that not many changes are immediately apparent. Among the handful of new features expected is an updated Remote Desktop client that takes advantage of a new remote access platform known as RemoteFX, and an addition to Windows Server 2008 R2 called "Dynamic Memory," which allows virtual machine memory to be configured on the fly.

Other than mostly minor updates, along with the usual inclusion of previous patches and hotfixes, many are also hoping that Microsoft bakes in native support for USB 3.0 as well as newer versions of Bluetooth and Wi-Fi. The final version of Windows 7 Service Pack 1 is expected to land sometime in September of this year, with a beta build in June.