On November 26, Microsoft made available for download the promised Visual Studio 2012 Update 1 release.

The update, which includes new features and not just fixes, is one product reflecting a trend happening across the company to deliver versions of key Microsoft products on an accelerated time table.

Microsoft released to manufacturing Visual Studio 2012 in early August of this year. In September, the team announced plans for more rapidly and regularly delivered "updates." The team said Update 1 would be out before the end of calendar 2012 .

Visual Studio 2012 Update 1 includes support for debugging mixed managed/native Windows Store applications; improved ARM debugging for Windows 8 apps; the ability to target XP with C++ applications; new SharePoint 2010 development capabilities and other new features.

Update 1 can be installed from within Visual Studio or downloaded from the Microsoft Web site.

Other Microsoft teams that have said they plan to step up the release-delivery pace include Dynamics CRM, SharePoint and Office 365. The Windows team also is believed to be doing the same, with an interim "Blue" update to Windows 8 expected to arrive by mid-2013 , if the Windows team sticks to its rumored plans.