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Windows 7 Taskbar Peek

Windows 7 is nearly upon us, and with it we can all look forward to new and better features.  Microsoft spent the last two years listening to consumer opinion and feedback and have genuinely put it to good use, streamlining and tweaking their operating system in what is sure to be an outstanding improvement.

Let’s start with the everyday tasks and interface.  Windows 7 introduces a new taskbar with more customization options, and better visibility.  You can now place any application in the taskbar that you need to access frequently and quickly. When you hover over the chosen items you are treated to an expanded thumbnail as well as a full screen preview with an option to bring it to the foreground.  The taskbar also includes “Jump Lists” of favorite documents and recently viewed files within each application.  You can even add commonly used operations such as “play all music” or “compose new email”.

The desktop itself is also getting a rather nice upgrade.  One of the new additions called “Snaps” lets you drag a window to the left or right hand side of the screen at which point it fills the entire half.  Do the same on the opposite side and you have an easy way to compare two windows.  Another feature lets you turn all of your on screen windows transparent allowing you to find items on your desktop more easily.  Still need more?  If you want to single out one window, simply grab it by the top and give it a shake.  All of your other windows will minimize to the taskbar. Give it another shake and they repopulate the screen.  Windows 7 has even implemented touch controls onscreen if your device supports it.

The excellent search features introduced in Windows Vista have thankfully returned with added functionality.  Located in the Start menu, Windows Search helps you locate documents, applications, media, and more.  Just start typing and Windows 7 finds matches in real time.  You can search by title, content, the date that a photo was taken, the album that a song belongs to, and more.  The results will be conveniently organized in a single view using separate areas for each file type or program.  Internet Explorer’s search function has also been improved to allow an instant list of relevant websites based on your query, which is guided by your recently visited and favorite sites.

Another new and useful feature is called Device Stage.  This window will allow you to manage all connected devices from a single graphic location, whether a mouse, printer, camera, etc.  Better yet, if the manufacturer of the device supports Device Stage, data such as number of pictures remaining or other useful information may be displayed.

Now let’s talk a little about networks.  Windows 7 makes it easier than ever to consolidate files and information across multiple computers.  HomeGroup kicks in when your first Windows 7 computer is added to the network.  Instead of emailing a file from machine to machine or using a flash drive to transfer documents, you can instantly find and share files between all of your computers as if you were accessing one hard drive.  In other words, you can store photos on one machine, music and videos on another, and still access both from all of your machines.  You can even share one printer for the entire network.  Windows 7 also makes it simple to locate and choose which network to connect to with VAN (View Available Network) options.

Windows 7 has been designed to be faster, more responsive, and easier to use than any version that has come before.  You can start up, resume, and shut down in a fraction of the time.  Microsoft has also made working with the operating system more convenient with the new Action Center. You can decide how Windows will notify you when settings change, recover more quickly from problems, and get built in help from Windows when issues do occur.  Notifications will also be less intrusive to reduce interruptions in your workflow.  The Action Center will store all of your alerts for you to address at your own pace.  You also get better battery life on laptops, and power saving features like adaptive display brightness, more efficient DVD playback, and better management of processing power.

Historically when any operating system receives an upgrade there are naturally a certain amount of compatibility problems.  Microsoft is addressing this by working with many of its partners to insure a smooth transition to the next Windows experience.  Be sure to look for the “Compatible with Windows 7” logo on new products and applications.  With the Professional and Ultimate editions, you will even be able to run some Windows XP productivity and business software (requires additional Microsoft software, available free-of-charge by download).

Now for the fun stuff.  The new and improved Windows Media Center puts TV, music, pictures, and video right at your fingertips.  With a TV tuner device (sold separately) you can record and watch television right on your PC.  Windows can manage a guide for both standard and high definition programs, which includes advanced scroll features to find what you’re looking for fast.  All of the media stored on your machine can be accessed locally or remotely from any other Windows 7 computer connected to the Internet.  With the new “Play To” feature you can also send music to an enabled device such as your network connected stereo or XBOX 360.  Windows 7 will convert the media into a format that can be played on the device automatically.  You can then manage, play, and stop, right from your PC. 

You can round out your Windows 7 package with Windows Live Essentials.  It’s free and provides some functions that were available in previous versions of Windows.  The online service provides digital photo posting, Movie Maker, multiple email account management, instant chat with IM, and built-in security features to keep you and your family safe.  You can also connect seamlessly with services such as Windows Live Hotmail, Facebook, Flickr, Twitter, and others.  Windows 7 turns your computer into a hub for both entertainment and productivity, capable of delivering content around the house or wherever the day takes you.

For more information on Windows 7 please visit http://www.microsoft.com/windows/windows-7/