Windows 7 is declared as the successor to Windows Vista and is pegged to be faster and easier to use. It is scheduled for launch by end of 2009 or by the early 2010. The company recently issued its pre-beta code to the developers at PDC event. The demo version displayed the touch and multi-touch abilities of the operating system.
The operating system will supposedly support refined Vista Kernel and will address many problems like UAC or others. But what is new in this operating system that is forcing Microsoft to bet so high on this operating system.
The very first new feature on the list is new Taskbar. The feature is pitched in as user friendly that allows the users to preview all the open windows at the hover of mouse. The buttons for launching the applications are skipped, instead the developers has switched over to install icon in taskbar. It makes easier to let know how many documents are open and to switch amongst them easily.
The next feature is the “Jump Lists.” Using this feature allows the users to access application controls and options at right click. It has relinquished text for icons and has the new “jump lists” of application controls and options that are accessible using right click. The jump lists provides updated lists of recently worked-on documents or often visited websites without first having to open Microsoft Word or an Internet browser.
The enhanced version of operating system has even missed out some features that were present in Vista including Calendar, Windows Mail, Movie Maker, Contacts and Photo Gallery, which will now be available for free download from the Microsoft website.
The next feature that is also interesting is the addition of self-diagnostic abilities to Windows 7. The developers have added abilities to Windows 7 to treat a variety of common mills, along the lines of the troubleshooting wizards scattered throughout Vista. In Windows 7 troubleshooters are scripted in PowerShell to make them more helpful for IT staff. The feature keeps a record of activities done by the user to rectify a problem before calling IT staff at client side.
The operating system is also designed to reduce the number of security alerts. Windows 7 will let users choose to see fewer alerts and warnings from their computers as contradictory to Vista where users were irked of getting rampant notifications due to UAC.
To organize the things in a better manner, developers have introduced the concept of “New Libraries.” The new feature automatically collects similar files scattered across PCs on a home network and displays them together in a single folder. It can be compared to the concept of virtual folders. The default Libraries are for Documents, Downloads, Music, Pictures, and Videos.
A new feature, Device Stage makes connecting cameras, printers and home networks faster and easier. It is one-stop point to manage and gather information for devices from mobile phones to printers to digital music players.
Even the software giant has introduced a drastic change in terms of new innovative feature “TouchScreen.” It will allow users to select folders and control programs without using a mouse, responses to gestures.
The other thing that has been specifically taken care in designing new operating system is to end the need of any hardware upgrade. Also, the company has placed its most widely used Microsoft Office suite in cloud.
With all such new features, the company hopes to launch this operating system by 2010 or end of 2009.May be, the new operating system delivers all what it promises and do not repeat teh legacy of Vista's starting days.