Due for release on October 22, 2009 (almost there..), Windows 7 promises to be a whole lot more spectacular than Windows Vista was compared to XP. Microsoft has tried to make everything more efficient, more accessible and just cooler than anything they ever created.
We’ll see…
Here’s a short list of the most prominent features Windows 7 will offer:
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1. Windows Touch, multitouch support
Finally it’s here: no more static one-finger touch screens and one-cursor systems. Windows Touch promises a revolution in touch-based computer-use with multitouch support. This means programs can be designed in a complete new way for way more efficient and faster use.
2. Windows Search
And here it is: a Windows search-engine that works! It’s what they promise anyway.
Windows Search should be working just like your regular internet search-engine like Google (or should I mention Bing..) and offers a comprehensive way to look for files on your own pc or network. The results are then displayed just like your search-results on the internet.
3. Desktop enhancements, Snap, Peek and Shake
I’ll let Bill do the talking for this one:
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Snap
Snap is a quick (and fun) new way to resize open windows, simply by dragging them to the edges of your screen.
Depending on where you drag a window, you can make it expand vertically, take up the entire screen, or appear side-by-side with another window. Snap makes reading, organizing, and comparing windows a…well, you get the picture.
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Aero Peek
Peek gives you the power of X-ray vision, so you can peer past all your open windows straight to the Windows 7 desktop. Simply point to the right edge of the taskbar—and watch open windows instantly turn transparent, revealing all your hidden icons and gadgets.
To quickly reveal a buried window, point to its taskbar thumbnail. Now only that window shows on the desktop.
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Aero Shake
Ever need to cut through a cluttered desktop and quickly focus on a single window? Just click a pane and give your mouse a shake. Voila! Every open window except that one instantly disappears. Jiggle again—and your windows are back. (Who says the old mouse can’t learn a new trick?)
Here’s a video showing all three of these features with a desktop filled with windows:
4. Jump List, frequently used programs
Nothing more than a tool that shows your frequently used programs/files concerning active programs in your taskbar. Nifty though:
5. Enhanced Taskbar
…in Windows 7 you can “pin” favorite programs anywhere on the taskbar for easy access. Not crazy about the icon lineup? Now you can rearrange them any way you like by clicking and dragging. Finally, there are new ways to preview windows. Point to a taskbar icon to see a thumbnail preview of open files or programs. Then, move your mouse over a thumbnail to preview the window full-screen. You can even close windows from the thumbnail previews—a big time saver.