Sorry I wasn't able to tell you earlier, I didn't want to scoop the flash that just went out. Below is the official announcement sent via a WHQL news flash and will be sent via the WHQL news next week.

 WLK 1.2 Release Announcement

We are pleased to announce the release of Windows Logo Kit (WLK) 1.2. You can download WLK 1.2 from Microsoft Connect (www.connect.microsoft.com) now.

WLK 1.2:

·         Synchronizes logo tests with the new logo requirements that take effect June 1, 2008, as part of the new Windows Logo Program (WLP) 2008.

·         Includes the new Display Hybrid Graphics logo program and the new Server Virtualization Validation Program (SVVP).

·         Further improves the quality of Driver Test Manager (DTM) and the quality of the logo tests.

Windows Quality Online Services (Winqual) will accept submission from WLK 1.2 beginning immediately—including the new Display Hybrid Graphics logo program. You must use WLK 1.2 for all submissions beginning June 9, 2008. In addition, Winqual will not accept any submission for the new SVVP program until June 1, 2008.

New Validation Programs

·         Display Hybrid Graphics

·         Server Virtualization Validation Program

New Tests to Validate New Windows Logo Program 2008 Requirements

·         Audio: Fidelity Test will now run on capture endpoints in addition to render endpoints.

·         Video Capture: Blink Audio and Video Capture and Control Test now includes new tests to validate that USB video capture devices comply with the USB video class specifications STREAM-0008 and STREAM-0053.

Note: The preceding new tests were not included as previews in WLK 1.1. Therefore, we will still accept any submission before August 1, 2008 that fails these tests.

In addition to these new tests this kit also contains the preview tests which were released in WLK 1.1.  See the WLK 1.1 release announcement for details.  The preview tests included in WLK 1.1 are now required in WLK 1.2.

New Features

·         A new No-INF option is enabled for the Unclassified program. This will allow hardware partners to use the WLK for quality assurance purposes when validating Unclassified devices which use in-box drivers.  For details and instructions on how to use this new No-INF option, see the WLK 1.2 release notes.

Support Information

·         This release is fully supported by Microsoft Customer Support Services (CSS) and Windows Quality Online Services (Winqual) for logo submissions on Windows XP, Windows Server 2003, Windows Vista, Windows Vista SP1, and Windows Server 2008. Note that Windows Vista submissions require Windows Vista SP1 beginning June 9, 2008.

·         Winqual will accept logo submission from WLK 1.2 beginning immediately. Winqual will require WLK 1.2 for all logo submissions beginning June 9, 2008.

·         Winqual will accept SVVP submissions beginning June 1, 2008.

Obviously we've missed our April 1 target date for WLK 1.2.  We are taking a little extra time because we've checked in a bunch of fixes to tests over the last few weeks.  I expect we'll be done with validation by the end of the week.  We'll build the final doc set, do mastering and media creation/validation over the weekend and start pushing out to Connect early next week.  Long story short, you should see WLK 1.2 on Connect by the middle of next week, end of the week at the latest.  I'll post the release announcement here as soon as it's available for download.

As you're aware we were planning to release a beta of our next kit, WLK 1.2 "Boston" last week.  Obviously that didn't happen.  There is quite a bit of overhead that goes along with releasing a public beta build. We took a close look at what had changed and made the determination that it wasn't worth the effort.  The new tests are as follows...

·         Audio: Fidelity test will now run on capture endpoints instead of just render endpoints.

·         Video capture: Blink Audio and Video Capture and Control Test: new tests to validate USB video capture devices are compliant with USB video class specification per STREAM-0008 and STREAM-0053.

So, no beta drop.  We will still do a drop at escrow entry, WLK 1.2 "Boston" RC.  This will happen the week of March 17.  We’ll post the RTM build the week of March 31.

Also, there is a new blog you may want to check out.  Our doc team has started a blog.  It seems to be WDK focused at this time but given that team also writes the WLK docs you may find it interesting and useful.

As you will see in the WHQL News later today, the WLK 1.1 SP has been posted to Microsoft Connect.  Below is the official release announcement.  You may be wondering what is up with the 1.2 release.  Recall that we were supposed to have a preview "beta" release of 1.2 on Feb. 1.  Attempting to release both the 1.2 preview and the 1.1 SP proved to be more than we could accomplish simulatenously. The 1.2 preview release candidate is being validated now.  Assuming everything goes as expected we will likely have the 1.2 preview on Connect early next week. 

Keep in mind that most of the new tests for new WLP '08 requirements are in the WLK 1.1. The new tests added to 1.2 are the following.

With all of the releases we've had, WLK, OS, WLP, it can be difficult to answer the question, which kit should I use.  These statements should make it simple...

·         Either WLK 1.0.c or WLK 1.1 may be used for XP, Server 2003, and Vista RTM submissions.

·         WLK 1.1 must be used for Server 2008 and Windows Vista SP1 submissions.

·         WLK 1.1 may be used for XP, Server 2003, and Vista RTM submissions.

·         All Windows Vista submissions must use Windows Vista SP1 90 days after Windows Vista SP1 RTM.

·         WLK 1.2 will be released April 1, 2008 and may be used for submissions with all Oss immediately on release.

·         On June1, 2008, WLK 1.2 is required and all previous kits are retired.

WLK 1.1 was posted to connect with Vista SP1 RC1 and Server 2008 RC1 last night.  The official announcement is below and will be in Monday's edition of the WHQL news.

WLK 1.1 Release Announcement

We are pleased to announce the release of the Windows Logo Kit (WLK) 1.1 to support the Windows Server 2008 and Windows Vista SP1 logo programs. This release replaces all previous releases of the WLK as the preferred kit for all currently active logo programs.

WLK 1.1 may be used to qualify devices and drivers for all current logo programs. Submissions for Windows Server 2008 or Windows Vista SP1 must be made using WLK 1.1. Partners may continue using WLK 1.0.c for Windows XP, Windows Server 2003 and Windows Vista only.

New Logo Programs in the 1.1 Release

· Windows Server 2008 systems

· Windows Server 2008 devices

· Previously logo’d motherboard

· Windows Home Server

· Network Attached Storage (NAS)

· Storage adapter that implements non-volatile cache

New Preview Tests in the 1.1 Release for future logo requirements

· Premium DX10 Graphics Validation: requirement = Graphics-0020

· Optical Logo Test: requirement = Storage-0013

· Piton logo test: requirement = Storage-0005

· Ethernet – NDISTest 6.5 (MPE): requirement = Network-0040

· WLAN – NDISTest 6.5 (MPE): requirement = Network-0023

New Required Tests in the 1.1 release for existing logo requirements

· Storage Imports Test (Logo): requirement = Storage-0002

· Storage query property test: requirement = Storage-0002

· Check Resources 32 & 64 bit: requirement = Graphics-0020

· WGF Shader 4.x – NoControlFlow 10.1 (32-bit & (64-bit): requirement = Graphics-0020

· WGF Shader 4.x – ControlFlow 10.1 (32-bit) & (64-bit): requirement = Graphics-0020

· Present Validation 2 – Present: requirement = Graphics-0020

· Present Validation 2 – GammaRamp: requirement = Graphics-0020

· Present Validation 2 – ColorConvertion: requirement = Graphics-0020

· WGF Blend 10.1: requirement = Graphics-0020

· Ethernet-NDISTest 6.5 (Premium): requirement = Network-0004

· WSDMon Printer Verification Test: requirement = Imaging-0004

New Features

· New, more robust log upload mechanism ensures the logs are always uploaded to the controller. This addresses a top support issue.

· New, more robust setup engine that improves the user experience and allows users to select which logo kits get installed.

· Separate kits for Print, Network, Storage, Display and Systems.

o Enables users to install just the content they need.

o Lays the foundation to ship updates to content independent of the Driver Test Manager (DTM).

· Enabled end-to-end Driver Verifier coverage against all drivers for Common Scenario Stress with IO, Disable Enable with IO & Sleep and Stress with IO.

Support Information

· This release is fully supported by Microsoft Customer Support Services (CSS) and Winqual for logo submissions on Windows XP, Windows Server 2003, Windows Vista, Windows Vista SP1 and Windows Server 2008.

· This release is required for all logo submission on Windows Vista SP1 and Windows Server 2008.

· Preview tests in this release are supported via the Microsoft Connect website.

Last week we posted the final preview build for WLK 1.1 to Connect.  This is the last opportunity to make sure everything is working.  We'll release this kit with Server 2008 RC1 and will begin accepting logo submissions for all programs from 1.1 at that time.

The Windows Logo Program team puts on LogoFest events at strategic times throughout the year.  These are highly valuable events on a number of levels.  For our hardware partners it's a great opportunity to be right on the Microsoft campus while you're doing the testing required to certify your device.  Should you run into a problem with a specific test it's highly likely you'll be talking fact-to-face with the person who wrote that test later the same day.  For me specifically it's a great usability lab.  The opportunity to see 30 of our partners doing the same thing at the same time just makes the pain points in the tools blatantly obvious.  Most of the improvements you'll see coming in the DTM over the next 12 months are a direct result of working with partners at these events.  It's also a fantastic opportunity to build business relationships that will pay dividends for years to come.

The team also brings in experts to present on different topics.  Now, for the first time to my knowledge, all of that content has been published free on WHDC.  Check it out.

We've been working with Microsoft Research to use their machine translation technology to translate the WLK help docs into different languages.  Today I'm looking through my referrals and I found this URL.  Actually, I'm not sure what language that is, but check out http://translate.google.com/.  I can put in any English word or phrase and have it translated or I can put in a URL and have the whole web site translated.  Cool!  Of course, I have no idea how good the translation is, if you read one of these languages let me know.

Arabic

Simplified Chinese

Traditional Chinese

German

Japanese

Korean

Spanish

Here are a couple of the things that are being done to raise awareness about the Windows Logo Program.  I found coach to be quite entertaining.

• http://www.productsofchampions.com/
• http://www.road2greatness.com/

Yesterday we posted a new build of WLK 1.1 to Connect.  This is our lockdown entry build so there will be no additional features or tests from this point forward, only bug fixes.  Enjoy.

Here's a long overdue update on the coming releases from the Windows Logo Kit.

• A preview of the 1.1 release is currently on Connect. WLK 1.1 will be the first kit which supports Server 2008 logos.  It will also support all other current logo programs.  The 1.1 WLK is scheduled to RTM November 17.  Also, 1.1 will be required for Server 2008 logos.  For all other logos you may continue to use 1.0.c or you may use 1.1.
• In January of next year we'll have a service pack for 1.1. 
• In February we'll have a preview release of the next version of the WLK, currently code named "Boston."  The preview release will be your first opportunity to see the new tests for the Windows Logo Program 2008 refresh. 
• WLK "Boston" will RTM in April.  You may begin using it for logo as soon as it releases.  Starting June 1, 2008 all logo submission must be done from WLK "Boston."