What’s New in Windows 7

Introduction

Windows 7 is the next version of Windows Client Operating system after Windows Vista.

In Jan/2009 the first beta of Windows 7 was released to public.

Windows 7 builds on the Windows Vista® & Windows 2008 operating systems to improve security, reliability, networking and user experience while focusing on preserving application and device compatibility.

Infrastructure

·         DirectAccess : Allows access to corporate network for remote users without initiating VPN connection. This works in conjunction with Windows Server 2008 R2.

·         Search Federation : The windows search functionality will be able to search beyond the local files. Web Applications, Sharepoint Sites and other data stores on corporate network can be enabled to be searched from Windows 7.

·          ‘BitLocker to Go’ : Provides data protection for removable storage devices such as USB flash drives.

·         AppLocker : Ability to control what is allowed to run in the desktop.

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User Experience

·         Taskbar : Ability to set order of icons and full-screen previews

 

 

·         Internet Explorer 8 to be part of Windows 7.

·         Touch Screen: Better designed for touch screen functionality.

·         Handwriting recognition support improves across application.

·         Problem Steps Recorder : A screen capture tool that record a series of actions. It tracks mouse & keyboard and captures screenshots. It saves the whole thing to a ZIP file, containing an HTML-based slide show of the steps.

Development

·         New UI Automation Client COM APIs similar to earlier managed APIs.

·         XPS Document API so that any kind of applications can use the XPS document features. Till now they were available to only WPF developers.

·         Direct3D10 : An end-to-end 3D graphics solution, enabling developers to target a single API that works on a variety of software and hardware configurations.

·         High Color : set of capabilities that enable the rendering of content beyond 8 bits. These capabilities include:

o    The ability to display content wider than Srgb gamut(s).

o    The ability to display content with higher precision.

o    The ability to display content with High Dynamic Range.

·         Direct2D API : hardware-accelerated, immediate-mode 2-D graphics API that provides high performance and high quality rendering for 2-D geometry, bitmaps, and text. The Direct2D API is designed to interoperate well with developers existing code that uses GDI, GDI+, or Direct3D.

·         DirectWrite : New addition to the DirectX family of APIs. DirectWrite uses OpenType fonts and ClearType rendering to enhance the text experience provided by Win32 applications.

·         Windows Scenic : a collection of new user interface APIs for Win32 applications.

·         Scenic Animation : COM API for developing UI animations like transitions, storyboard etc.

·         Scenic Ribbon : a new UI command system built with Windows Scenic as a modern alternative to layered menus, toolbars, and task panes.

·         Windows Sensor and Location Platform : The Windows Sensor and Location platform provides a standard way for device manufacturers to expose sensor devices to software developers and consumers, while providing developers with a standardized application programming interface (API) for working with sensors and sensor data.

Hardware Requirements

These are the Microsoft minimum hardware recommendations for systems that will be running the Windows 7 Beta. These recommendations are specific to the beta release and are subject to change:

Processor         : 1 GHz 32-bit or 64-bit processor

Memory           : 1 GB of system memory

Hard drive        : 16 GB of available disk space

Video card        : Support for DirectX 9 graphics with 128MB memory (in order to enable Aero theme)

 

Note: Some product features of Windows 7, such as the ability to watch and record live TV or navigation through the use of “touch”, may require advanced or additional hardware.