IE 8 beta, Vista SP1 by year's end?

Microsoft usually takes its own cool time releasing updates to its market-dominating Internet Explorer browser, so the latest rumor comes as a surprise: Microsoft will allegedly release a beta of IE8 before the year is out, according to TheHotfix.net. What's more, Windows Vista Service Pack 1 also will supposedly ship alongside the IE8 beta, ending months of speculation as to whether the company would ever offer a service pack. Keep in mind, this is a completely unsubstantiated rumor at this point but, golly, wouldn't it be nice?

For more on the rumor:
- see this post at TheHotfix.net