28 Oct 2008 11:23
User Account Control
Windows 7 lets you tune just how often you'll see UAC prompts, giving you the option of a much less chatty system. If you do get a UAC dialogue, you'll find it gives you more information, helping you make more informed decisions, rather than just clicking 'OK'.
Gadgets
Like Vista, Windows 7 supports information display Gadgets. Unlike Vista, there's no memory- and space-hungry Sidebar host — instead, Gadgets display in the desktop. That means there needs to be a quick way of showing them, and the beta will use the lower right screen corner to make all desktop windows transparent.
Jump Lists
Jump Lists work from either the task bar or the Start menu. As well as listing recent files, they can also be used to present users with a list of common tasks. Media Player's Jump List includes frequent and recent tracks, as well as a set of mini-player controls.
Shared Themes
If you want to personalise your computers, Windows 7's new themes tool will help you bring together key elements — including background pictures, screen colours and sounds. It's a simple tool, and once you've built a theme you can package it up and share it with friends and colleagues.
HomeGroups
Adding a machine to a home network is easy enough. If a network isn't already in place, Windows 7 will prompt you to create a new network — along with file, folder and printer shares. Other machines will need a password to connect to the network, sharing folders into Windows 7 libraries.
Libraries
Libraries are an important new feature in Windows 7, as you can use them to collate folders from across a hard disk (or even several hard disks). Need more space for photos? Create a new folder on an external hard disk and then add it to a photos library, where its contents will be displayed and indexed.
Wireless connections
Windows 7's new wireless connection tools finally let you manage your wireless connection directly from the task bar, choosing the wireless network you want to use with one-click connections. You'll be prompted for network passwords and redirected to log-on web pages if necessary.
Shared search
Windows 7's shared search tools let you run search queries across several folders at once — and several machines. You're not limited to files and folders, either: the shared search tools can also query SharePoint indexes, simplifying the task of working with enterprise content-management tools.
PowerShell scripting
Windows 7 will bundle Microsoft's PowerShell systems management scripting environment. Using PowerShell 2.0, you'll get access to an integrated script development, test and runtime environment. Administrators will be able to use this to control other Windows 7 machines, as well as Windows Server 2008 systems.
Solution Center
Windows 7's Solution Center is a one-stop shop for finding and fixing problems. Issues are rated and colour-coded, letting you prioritise responses. Applications can leave messages for users, and Windows 7 will help you find appropriate settings. The Solution Center also handles security issues and system maintenance reports and requests. According to Microsoft's Windows 7 Reviewers Guide, the PDC build's Solution Center will be rebranded as the Action Center in future builds.
Story URL: http://reviews.zdnet.co.uk/software/os/0,1000001098,39532956,00.htm
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