Windows Feature Pack for Storage beta released to testers

Microsoft is working on a Feature Pack for Storage for Windows XP, Vista, Server 2003 and 2008. The Feature Pack, which is currently in beta, is designed to enable direct support for new storage media and technologies.

The Active Storage Platform enables the Windows platform to restrict access to portable devices (such as USB flash devices) via a certificate or password authentication based on the IEEE 1667 standard specification. The Image Mastering API improves Windows support for Blu-Ray by integrating an optical burning feature in the OS that allows Blu-Ray media to be burned without the need for third-party programs. Microsoft also intends to add support for new form factors such as CCID (Chip/Smart Card Interface Device) and ICCD (Integrated Circuits Card Devices).

No release date for the Feature Pack for Storage 1.0 has been announced. Only registered beta testers have been able to download the software so far.

Microsoft describes Feature Packs as offering "new product features distributed outside of a product release that are typically included in the next full product release". In April, the software giant released a Feature Pack for Windows Vista which improved the operating system's Bluetooth stack.

(djwm)