More details here: http://go.microsoft.com/?linkid=6899949

What's new

  • Sparse Columns and Column Sets
  • SQL Server PowerShell Provider and Cmdlets
  • Compressed Storage of Tables and Indexes
  • Filtered Indexes and Statistics
  • SQL Server Management Studio Enhancements (Improved Database Engine Query Editor IntelliSense, Service Broker Nodes in Object Explorer,
  • Enhanced SQL Server Management Studio Object Explorer)
  • Enhanced Parallel Query Processing on Partitioned Objects
  • Policy-Based Management Enhancements
  • Policy-Based Management (formerly the Declarative Management Framework)
  • SQL Server Audit
  • Backup Compression Enhancements (limit CPU usage using Resource Governor)
  • iFTS - Integrated Full-Text Search
  • T-SQL CONVERT function allows conversions between binary and character hexadecimal values.
  • OPTIMIZE FOR Query Hint Option Includes UNKNOWN Variable Value
  • INSERT… EXECUTE Against Linked Servers
  • SSIS - New Debug Dump Files
  • SSIS - Package Upgrade
  • Reporting Services - new Gauge data region
  • Reporting Services - integration of Tablix data region into Report Designer within SQL Server Business Intelligence Development Studio
  • Service Broked - Updated Runtime Diagnostic Utility (ssbdiagnose can be used to analyze running conversations for errors)
  • Service Broker Elements in Object Explorer (Conversation priorities, Properties for existing items etc)
  • Service Broker - New Activation Tutorial
  • Service Broker - New System Monitor Counters (Activation Errors Total, Corrupted Messages Total, Dequeued TransmissionQ Msgs/sec, Dropped Messages Total, and Enqueued TransmissionQ Msgs/sec)

New Samples and Sample Databases

SQL Server 2008 February CTP Bug Bash (XBOX 360, XBOX Arcade, XBOX Elite)