Как называется интерфейс используемый в windows 7 ответ

Мы продолжаем цикл, посвященный новым возможностям Windows 7. В этой статье мы познакомимся с особенностями интерфейса Aero и с наиболее важными сочетаниями клавиш для быстрого доступа к различным часто используемым функциям Windоws 7, а также узнаем, какие новые приложения включены в эту систему и какие изменения произошли с уже знакомыми стандартными утилитами — проигрывателем Windows Media, калькулятором, WordPad, Paint.

⇡#Интерфейс Aero

Строго говоря, интерфейс Aero не является нововведением Windows 7, так как впервые он был представлен еще пользователям Windows Vista. Однако именно с выпуском Windows 7 эта технология стала доступной для большинства пользователей. Причин тому можно назвать несколько. Во-первых, за время, которое прошло с момента появления Aero в Windows Vista, и до начала продаж Windows 7 компьютеры стали мощнее, поэтому поработать с новым интерфейсом в новой версии операционной системы от Microsoft сможет гораздо большее число людей. Во-вторых, производительность Windows 7 значительно выше, чем Windows Vista, что также способствует росту популярности Aero.

Само слово Aero не имеет никакого отношения к области воздухоплавания. На самом деле, это аббревиатура английских слов: Authentic, Energetic, Reflective, Open (подлинный, энергичный, отражающий и открытый). Интерфейс Aero включает в себя следующий набор функций:

• Aero Glass — использование эффекта матового стекла по отношению к заголовкам и различным панелям открытых окон. При использовании этого эффекта, за окном запущенного приложения могут проступать размытые очертания обоев рабочего стола или рисунок следующего открытого окна.
• Активные эскизы — миниатюрные изображения открытых окон, с помощью которых возможна удобная и быстрая навигация между открытыми окнами. Активные эскизы могут показываться при работе с панелью задач или при переключении между окнами с помощью клавиатуры.
• Windows Flip и Windows Flip 3D — усовершенствованные инструменты для наглядного переключения между открытыми окнами. Отличие между ними состоит только в оформлении: Windows Flip 3D имитирует объемное перемещение окон, в то время как Windows Flip показывает все открытые окна сразу в виде плоских изображений.
• Aero Snap — удобный инструмент привязки окна приложения к краю экрана монитора.
• Aero Shake — функция, с помощью которой можно свернуть все неактивные приложения движением мыши. Для ее использования нужно захватить заголовок окна и немного «встряхнуть».
• Aero Peek — целый комплекс разных эффектов, которые облегчают работу с панелью задач.

Стоит отметить, что последние три функции — Aero Shake, Aero Peek и Aero Snap — были недоступны пользователям Windows Vista, они добавлены только в Windows 7. Как видим, Aero в Windows 7 — это не только «украшательства», как могут подумать отдельные пользователи, но и удобный способ управления открытыми приложениями. Рассмотрим использование новых функций подробнее.

⇡#Функция Aero Shake

Aero Shake дает возможность быстро сворачивать или разворачивать все открытые окна приложений. Если захватить мышью заголовок окна и «потрясти» его, все открытые окна, кроме активного, будут свернуты в область панели задач. Если еще раз проделать эту операцию, окна приложений вернутся в исходное положение. Аналогичный эффект дает сочетание клавиш «Win+Home», которое дает также возможность мгновенно свернуть все открытые окна, кроме активного.

⇡#Функция Aero Snap

При поднесении окна к краю рабочей области монитора происходит автоматическое выравнивание окна. Если окно подносится к верхнему краю, оно разворачивается во весь экран. Если поднести окно к правому или к левому краю, оно займет ровно половину экрана.

⇡#Функция Aero Peek

Эта функция позволяет просматривать миниатюры открытых окон при наведении курсора в область панели задач, а также переключаться между ними простым щелчком мыши. Кроме этого, используя функцию Aero Peek, можно быстро свернуть все окна и увидеть содержимое рабочего стола. Для этого достаточно поднести курсор к крайнему правому краю панели задач. Чтобы увидеть контуры всех открытых окон на рабочем столе, можно также использовать сочетание клавиш «Win+Пробел».

⇡#Включение Aero

Как видите, большую часть красивых эффектов интерфейса Windows 7 обеспечивает технология Aero. Однако многие из этих эффектов по умолчанию могут быть недоступны. Главный критерий, который используется системой для включения функций Aero, — относительно высокая производительность рабочего компьютера. То, что операционная система установилась на данном компьютере, еще не означает, что на нем будут активны все функции интерфейса Aero.

Если у вас отсутствуют красивые «фишки» Aero, вы можете попытаться включить их вручную. Для этого следует выполнить несколько действий. Во-первых, необходимо, чтобы компьютер прошел процедуру тестирования производительности. Открыть окно оценки производительности можно несколькими способами.

Одна из сильных сторон Windows 7 — это удобство интерфейса. Одно и то же действие подчас можно выполнить большим количеством способов, причем, многие из них достаточно просты. Так, например, чтобы открыть окно оценки производительности, можно нажать на клавиатуре сочетание клавиш «Win+Break», после чего на экране появится окно «Просмотр основных сведений о вашем компьютере» (View basic information about your computer). Тут нужно выбрать ссылку «Счетчики и средства производительности» (Performance Information and Tools), после чего нажать кнопку «Оценить компьютер» (Rate Computer).

Открыть то же окно можно и из меню «Пуск». Для этого в поле поиска, размещенном в нижней части меню, достаточно набрать слово «оценка», после чего нажать «Enter».

Процесс определения базового индекса производительности компьютера составляется системой комплексно, методом оценивания различных комплектующих — видеокарты, жесткого диска, процессора, оперативной памяти. Для конечной цифры выбирается самый низкий индекс производительности из всех полученных оценок. Базовый индекс производительности — это показатель мощности текущей конфигурации компьютера, включающий оценку не только аппаратных, но и программных средств. Именно поэтому для получения максимально высокой оценки мы настоятельно рекомендуем вам установить для всех подключенных устройств самые последние версии драйверов.

Максимальное значение базового индекса производительности, которое может получить ваш компьютер, равно 7,9, минимальное — единица. Для того чтобы можно было использовать все эффекты Aero, базовый индекс производительности компьютера должен быть достаточно высоким, а именно — не менее «тройки».

После того как будет вычислен индекс производительности, необходимо выбрать одну из тем оформления Aero. Для этого щелкните правой кнопкой мыши по рабочему столу, выберите пункт «Персонализация» (Personalize), после чего щелкните по одной из тем в разделе «Темы Aero» (Aero Themes). Если индекс производительности выше трех, эффекты можно будет наблюдать.

Если с отображением эффектов Aero все равно возникают проблемы, можно попробовать их решить, используя возможности средства для устранения неполадок. Вызвать его можно из «Панели управления» (Control Panel). В окне «Устранение неполадок» (Troubleshooting) щелкните по ссылке «Отображение настольных эффектов Aero» (Display Aero desktop effects) в разделе «Оформление и персонализация» (Appearance and Personalization), после чего система попытается определить причину возникновения проблем и предложит возможное решение.

⇡#Использование горячих клавиш

Эффективность работы за компьютером во многом зависит от того, насколько быстро можно задействовать тот или иной инструмент. Поэтому знание сочетаний клавиш быстрого доступа к различным функциям Windows 7 позволит заметно сэкономить время, потраченное на выполнение различных задач, а также упростит многие действия в операционной системе. Например, для переключения между открытыми окнами удобно использовать не только привычный для многих «Alt+Tab», но также и сочетание «Win+Tab». Причем во втором случае можно будет наблюдать красивый трехмерный эффект скольжения окон в трехмерном пространстве — Flip 3D.

Стандартное переключение также содержит небольшую «изюминку» — при нажатии «Alt+Tab» на экране появятся миниатюры окон запущенных приложений. Эти изображения обладают тем же свойством, что и миниатюры, появляющиеся над панелью задач — при наведении указателя мыши на одну из миниатюр, на экране отображается содержимое этого окна. Чтобы переключиться в него, достаточно щелкнуть по уменьшенному изображению правой кнопкой мыши.

Горячие клавиши помогут быстро запустить и приложения, расположенные на панели задач. Для запуска этих приложений используйте сочетания клавиш «Win+1», «Win+2», «Win+3», «Win+4» и т.д., причем, номер цифры, которую вы выбираете для запуска приложения, соответствует номеру значка на панели задач. Например, в случае, показанном на рисунке, сочетание клавиш «Win+7» откроет окно браузера Google Chrome.

Еще одна удобная команда предназначена для раскрытия окна на весь экран — одновременное нажатие клавиши Win и «↑» (стрелка вверх). Обратную команду очень легко запомнить — Win и «↓» (стрелка вниз) сворачивают окна. Нажатие клавиши Win и «→» (стрелка вправо) или «Win»+»←» (стрелка влево) позволяет быстро прикреплять окно к краю рабочей области монитора, на половину экрана. Сочетание клавиш в данном случае даже удобнее, чем стандартный метод упорядочивания окон с использованием мыши, о котором мы говорили ранее.

Более того, если вы используете не один, а несколько мониторов, которые отображают разные фрагменты рабочего стола, присоединение окна приложения к «границе» между мониторами методом перетаскивания может не работать. При работе с несколькими дисплеями удобно «перебрасывать» окна приложений с одного экрана на другой с помощью комбинации «Win+Shift+←» (стрелка влево) или «Win+Shift+→» (стрелка вправо).

В новой версии Windows стало очень удобно открывать копию уже запущенного приложения. Для этого нужно щелкнуть кнопкой мыши по кнопке программы на панели задач, удерживая при этом нажатую клавишу «Shift».

⇡#Новые и старые стандартные приложения

Наверное, первое, что захочется сделать, установив новую операционную систему, — заглянуть в меню «Пуск», исследовать набор стандартных утилит, которым «вооружена» Windows 7. На первый взгляд может показаться, что особых изменений не произошло — в перечне предустановленных программ можно увидеть стандартный набор небольших, но полезных приложений, таких как «Калькулятор», Wordpad…. и, конечно же, Paint. Не поленитесь запустить их — большинство хорошо знакомых приложений существенно отличается от тех, с которыми вы работали в предыдущих версиях Windows. А кроме того, в Windows 7 можно обнаружить несколько совершенно новых утилит, которых не было в предыдущих версиях этой операционной системы.

⇡#Обновленный WordPad

Полагаем, что, открыв обновленный текстовый редактор WordPad, многие пользователи на секунду застынут в недоумении. Интерфейс новой версии текстового процессора, интегрированного в Windows 7, очень напоминает внешний вид популярного редактора MS Word.

Теперь он обладает наглядным «ленточным» интерфейс Ribbon, с которым пользователи впервые познакомились в MS Office 2007 и который был взят на вооружение многими разработчиками приложений для Windows. Такой интерфейс сам по себе очень удобен — все инструменты постоянно под рукой у пользователя. Если рабочей области покажется мало, панель инструментов Ribbon можно скрыть. Для этого нужно щелкнуть по одной из вкладок, а затем выбрать команду «Свернуть ленту» (Minimize the ribbon). Чтобы иметь при этом доступ к наиболее важным функциям редактора, нужные инструменты можно вынести на панель быстрого доступа (Quick Access Toolbar). Для этого необходимо щелкнуть правой кнопкой мыши по любому из инструментов на панели Ribbon и выбрать команду «Добавить на панель быстрого доступа» (Add to Quick Access Toolbar).

Число вкладок на панели инструментов WordPad намного меньше, чем в MS Word, что, впрочем, неудивительно — по своим возможностям Word, как и прежде, на две головы выше, чем интегрированный текстовый процессор. Однако если исследовать инструменты на вкладках, можно обнаружить некоторые новые инструменты. Так, WordPad теперь поддерживает выделение текста цветом, предлагает дополнительные варианты для изменения цвета символов, содержит расширенные возможности для работы со списками (можно выбрать один из нескольких вариантов списка, в том числе и нумерованный), поддерживает разрывы строк.

В правом нижнем углу окна WordPad имеется такой же, как в Word, ползунок для масштабирования окна рабочей области. Изменять масштаб в предыдущих версиях можно было, удерживая клавишу «CTRL» и одновременно вращая колесико мыши. Теперь же можно также использовать ползунок. Нажатием на кнопки «-» и «+» можно уменьшать/увеличивать масштаб на 10%.

Новые средства для масштабирования можно обнаружить и на панели Ribbon, если перейти на вкладку «Вид» (View).

Новый WordPad поддерживает открытие и редактирование файлов Office Open XML, созданных в последних версиях Word (они имеют расширение .docx). Кроме этого, теперь с его помощью можно работать с файлами .odt, которые по умолчанию используются для сохранения документов в OpenOffice.org и IBM Lotus Symphony. Отметим, что содержимое этих файлов поддерживается не полностью. Так, если файл содержит сложные элементы форматирования, которые недоступны в WordPad, то при пересохранении файла в этой программе они могут потеряться, о чем текстовый процессор предупреждает пользователя. Поэтому если возникла необходимость отредактировать документ .docx, не стоит перезаписывать его — лучше сохранить отдельной копией.

Одно из интересных нововведений WordPad — интеграция с программой Paint. Чтобы вставить в текстовый документ графическое изображение с возможностью его дальнейшего редактирования, можно использовать сочетание клавиш «Ctrl+D» или нажать кнопку «Рисунок Paint» (Paint Drawing) на панели Ribbon. Удобство такой интеграции состоит в том, что созданный в Paint рисунок не нужно сохранять — после закрытия редактора новое изображение будет автоматически вставлено в документ.

⇡#Переработанный Paint

«Ленточный» интерфейс Ribbon присутствует не только в новом WordPad, его также можно увидеть и в программе Paint. Во многом благодаря этому он изменился настолько, что узнать в новой программе старого знакомого практически невозможно.

Как и в WordPad, тут ленту можно сворачивать, увеличивая при этом рабочую область.

В предыдущих версиях Windows графический редактор Paint не выдерживал никакой критики, и единственной категорией пользователей этой программы были дети. Обновленная версия этого приложения также слабо годится для сколько-нибудь серьезной работы, несмотря на то, что некоторые изменения все же произошли. Например, в Paint появилась возможность использовать инструмент для обрезки изображений (Crop). Работает он очень просто — достаточно выделить нужную область на рисунке и нажать соответствующую кнопку на панели Ribbon или воспользоваться сочетанием клавиш «Ctrl+Shift+X».

Другой инструмент, без которого не обходится сегодня ни один графический редактор, — виртуальная кисть. В новой версии Paint имеется небольшая библиотека различных кистей, которые позволяют наносить на изображение штрихи виртуальными кистями с разными профилями.

В программе также увеличен набор фигур, которые можно создавать: помимо многоугольников, в новом редакторе можно использовать различные популярные формы — облако, молнию, звездочку и прочие элементы, превосходно подходящие для создания блок-схем, слайдов презентации и т.д.

В новом Paint улучшены средства для изменения размера изображений. Теперь параметры изменения размера можно указывать в процентах или в пикселях. Улучшены и средства для выделения. Выделяя фрагменты изображения, можно определиться с тем, нужно ли включать в выделение цвет фона. Для этого используется опция «Прозрачное выделение» в меню «Изображение > Выделить».

Новый редактор также содержит ряд дополнительных команд для того, чтобы использовать редактируемое изображение в качестве обоев рабочего стола (по центру рабочего стола, мозаикой или масштабируя рисунок до размеров рабочего стола).

⇡#»Записки» — быстрые напоминания на рабочем столе

Чтобы не забывать о важных вещах, которые необходимо сделать, многие используют клейкие листочки, прикрепляя их на видное место, недалеко от компьютера, часто просто на монитор. В таких записках обычно пишут напоминания о том, что нужно сделать, и в какое время.

Утилита «Записки» (Sticky Notes) дает возможность сэкономить на покупке таких клейких листочков — в Windows 7 можно оставлять на рабочем столе виртуальные записки с сообщениями. Просто выберите утилиту в меню «Пуск», и новая записка тут же отобразится на рабочем столе поверх всех окон. По умолчанию записки желтые, но при желании цвет «листочков» можно менять.

Приложение «Записки» можно использовать для важных заметок, для временных записей (например, чтобы быстро записать чей-то адрес, пока блокнота нет под рукой), а также, если необходимо передать сообщение коллеге по работе, который придет работать на тот же компьютер в ваше отсутствие.

⇡#»Калькулятор»: преобразование величин и другие интересные возможности

Трудно себе представить, как можно сделать этот инструмент для простых вычислений более удобным. И, тем не менее, разработчики Microsoft предприняли попытку доработать эту небольшую, но весьма полезную утилиту.

Начнем с того, что в новой версии калькулятора присутствует не два (как это было в Windows XP), а целых четыре режима работы. К стандартному виду калькулятора и интерфейсу для инженерных вычислений, в Windows 7 добавлены еще два варианта — «Программист» (Programmer) и «Статистика» (Statistics).

В режиме «Программист» калькулятор может выполнять расчеты в разных системах исчисления — двоичной, десятиричной, восьмеричной, шестнадцатиричной. Поэтому работа в этом режиме возможна только с целыми числами.

При переключении в режим «Статистика» калькулятор может использоваться для анализа и обработки статистических данных. В этом режиме можно работать с целыми массивами чисел, например, подсчитывать общую сумму введенных значений, вычислять относительную и абсолютную погрешность и т.д.

В новом калькуляторе есть история предыдущих вычислений. Эта функция будет особенно полезна, если в процессе сложных вычислений вы забудете, на каком этапе вы находитесь. Для ее выключения выберите команду «Журнал» (History) в меню «Вид» (View). История вычислений работает во всех режимах, кроме статистики. Для обычного и инженерного режимов она сохраняется отдельно. Отметим, что историю вычислений можно не только просматривать, но и редактировать. Достаточно щелкнуть по строке с одним из предыдущих вычислений, и появится возможность отредактировать его.

Если новые режимы работы калькулятора и история вычислений — это возможности, которые будут интересны, прежде всего, тем, чья работа связана с цифрами, такие новинки как преобразование величин, подсчет времени между датами и вычисление процентов по ипотеке могут пригодиться в повседневной жизни абсолютно каждому.

Ранее для преобразования величин нужно было использовать утилиты сторонних разработчиков или онлайновые сервисы, теперь же можно обойтись стандартным калькулятором. Включив функцию «Преобразование единиц» (Unit Conversions) в меню «Вид», можно выполнять преобразование единиц времени, мощности, объема, площади, скорости, температуры, энергии, длины, давления, веса и т.д. Использовать новую функцию очень просто: сначала нужно выбрать тип величины, потом указать, из каких единиц и в какие нужно выполнить преобразование, а затем ввести значение.

Если вам нужно узнать, сколько времени прошло между определенными днями, для этого теперь можно использовать функцию «Вычисление даты» (Date calculation), которую также можно обнаружить в меню «Вид». Она работает в двух режимах: в первом при помощи календаря можно указать две даты, интервал между которыми нужно узнать (он будет показан в днях, а также в неделях, месяцах и годах).

Во втором режиме выбирается одна дата, а затем указывается, сколько лет, месяцев и дней к ней нужно добавить (или вычесть), после чего калькулятор выдает результат в виде второй даты.

Новый калькулятор может вычислять величину платежей по ипотеке и по другим кредитам. Если открыть раздел «Ипотека» (Mortgage) в меню «Вид>Листы» (View>Worksheets), можно вычислять величину первоначального и ежемесячных платежей, узнать общую стоимость приобретения, а также определить, за сколько лет вы сможете погасить долг. В том же подменю «Листы» есть средства для вычисления расхода топлива.

⇡#Панель математического ввода: рукописный ввод математических выражений

Эта небольшая, но очень полезная утилита в Windows 7 появилась впервые. Ее предназначение — ручной ввод и распознавание математических выражений (символов, формул, всевозможных функций и уравнений). Такой инструмент особенно полезен для пользователей, которые используют компьютеры с поддержкой функции тачскрин. Небольшая утилита позволяет превратить экран компьютера в наглядное пособие, которое можно использовать при обучении школьников, студентов, проведении презентаций и лекций. Эта программа может заметно сэкономить время, требуемое на набор математических формул, которые содержат большое количество специальных символов. Теперь не нужно вставлять их в строчку по одному, достаточно более или менее разборчиво написать от руки, а программа сама «поймет» написанный текст.

Работает панель математического ввода в режиме реального времени. В поле для ввода пользователь рисует указателем мыши или специальным пером символы, которые распознаются программой в реальном времени, буквально на лету. «Панель математического ввода» поддерживает символы для обозначения векторных выражений, тригонометрических функций, элементов логики, трехмерной аналитической геометрии, любых арифметических вычислений и т.д.

Утилита содержит несколько инструментов для коррекции неправильно введенного или неверно распознанного текста. Например, с помощью инструмента «Отменить» (Undo) можно удалить последний неправильно введенный символ, а если выбрать инструмент «Стереть» (Erase), можно удалить любой из введенных от руки символов. Поскольку алгоритм распознавания рукописного текста не может быть идеальным (согласитесь, мы ведь сами порой смотрим на написанный текст и не можем разобрать чужие каракули), некоторые символы определяются программой ошибочно. Чтобы исправить ситуацию, можно выделить проблемный участок и вызвать контекстное меню программы, в котором «Панель математического ввода» покажет все символы, какие она может «увидеть» в неразборчивом тексте. Пользователь затем сможет выбрать подходящий символ. При помощи кнопки «Вставить» (Insert) можно добавить написанную и распознанную утилитой формулу в текстовый документ MS Word.

⇡#Проигрыватель Windows Media 12: передача данных по сети, и не только

Пользователи Windows познакомились с «Проигрывателем Windows Media» в 1999 году, когда была выпущена обновленная версия Windows 98 — Windows 98 Second Edition (Windows 98 SE). До этого в составе ОС Windows также был проигрыватель, однако тогда он назывался Media Player и был гораздо менее функциональным. С тех пор Microsoft постоянно развивала эту программу, дополняя ее новыми возможностями.

В состав Windows 7 входит двенадцатая версия «Проигрывателя Windows Media», в которой реализовано несколько важных улучшений. Рассмотрим их подробнее.

⇡#Изменения в интерфейсе

Во-первых, можно заметить некоторые изменения в интерфейсе. Тема, используемая по умолчанию, стала намного светлее, некоторые кнопки и элементы панели управления перенесены, однако тем, кто ранее работал с Windows Media Player 11, вряд ли понадобится много времени, чтобы привыкнуть к изменениям.

Пожалуй, одним из наиболее серьезных изменений в интерфейсе является появление двух отдельных режимов работы проигрывателя — «Библиотека» (Library) и «Проигрывается» (Now Playing). В предыдущей версии переключение между этими режимами осуществлялось при помощи кнопок, но в рамках единого окна. Теперь же, при переходе в режим «Проигрывается» все элементы интерфейса, доступные при работе в режиме «Библиотека», исчезают. Находясь в этом режиме, можно увидеть обложку альбома аудиодиска, проигрываемое видео, визуализации, элементы управления плеером. Щелкнув по окну проигрывателя правой кнопкой мыши, можно отобразить текущий список воспроизведения.

Для переключения между режимами используется небольшая кнопка, которая в режиме «Библиотеки» располагается в правом нижнем углу экрана, а в режиме «Проигрывается» — в правом верхнем.

⇡#Новые возможности «Библиотеки»

В режиме «Библиотека» теперь можно быстро переключаться между медиасодержимым разных типов — музыкой, изображениям, видеозаписями, изображениями и записями телепередач. Все типы контента теперь доступны на древовидной панели в левой части окна программы.

Еще одно полезное нововведение, которое можно заметить во время работы в режиме «Библиотека», — предварительное прослушивание треков. Теперь, просматривая списки песен в своей коллекции, можно подвести курсор к названию композиции и затем щелкнуть по ссылке «Предпросмотр» в появившемся всплывающем меню. Программа начнет проигрывать трек, после чего ссылка изменит название на «Пропустить». Каждый щелчок по ней будет запускать воспроизведение файла на 15 секунд вперед. Этого обычно оказывается достаточно для того, чтобы понять, та ли это песня, которую вы пытаетесь найти, или определить, стоит ли включать эту композицию в список воспроизведения. Кроме этого, такую функцию удобно использовать для быстрого прослушивания нового альбома.

⇡#Поддержка панели задач Windows 7

Windows Media Player поддерживает новые возможности панели задач Windows 7. Так, управлять воспроизведением теперь можно даже тогда, когда окно проигрывателя свернуто. Если поднести курсор к кнопке приложения на панели задач, появится всплывающее меню, в котором можно не только увидеть эскиз окна проигрывателя, но и воспользоваться одной из кнопок для управления им — предыдущий трек, воспроизведение/пауза, следующий трек.

Функция Jump Lists новой панели задач в Windows Media Player тоже поддерживается. Щелкнув по иконке программы на панели задач, можно быстро перейти к воспроизведению композиций, которые были прослушаны недавно, а также к тем, которые вы слушаете чаще всего. Кроме этого, есть команды для воспроизведения всех записей из библиотеки и для продолжения проигрывания текущего списка воспроизведения.

⇡#Поддержка дополнительных форматов файлов

Одна из самых больших неприятностей, с которыми сталкиваются пользователи разнообразных медиапроигрывателей, — необходимость установки дополнительных кодеков для воспроизведения файлов того или иного типа. Что касается проигрывателя от Microsoft, то предыдущая его версия в большинстве случаев пыталась автоматически определить, какого кодека недостает, и даже временами сообщала, где его можно скачать. Однако это все равно было неудобно. В двенадцатой версия Windows Media Player разработчики постарались решить эту проблему.

Новая версия проигрывателя поддерживает большее число форматов файлов. Так, WPM теперь может воспроизводить аудиофайлы AAC, видеофайлы H.264, DivX и Xvid без необходимости установки дополнительных кодеков.

Поддержка новых форматов означает не только то, что Windows Media Player без проблем проиграет большинство файлов, найденных пользователем на просторах интернета, но и то, что новая версия может воспроизводить большую часть медиаконтента iTunes (поддержка не распространяется на треки, защищенные DRM). Более того, приверженцы устройство от Apple теперь могут работать с библиотекой iTunes непосредственно из Windows Media Player. При первом запуске проигрыватель сам находит уже имеющиеся на компьютере библиотеки iTunes и дает пользователю возможность не только просматривать/прослушивать ее содержимое, но и редактировать его.

⇡#Трансляция потоковых медиаданных по локальной сети

Одно из самых заметных нововведений Windows Media Player 12 — функция «Воспроизвести на» (Play To). Благодаря ей, можно осуществлять потоковое вещание на другой компьютер домашней сети или на другое совместимое устройство, поддерживающее стандарт DLNA (Digital Living Network Alliance). Это может быть телевизор, стереосистема, игровая приставка и т.д.

Функции «Воспроизвести на» можно найти массу полезных применений. Предположим, в вашей домашней сети есть HTPC (домашний кинотеатр, созданный на основе компьютера), у которого не очень большой объем жесткого диска. С другой стороны, в той же сети есть компьютер с несколькими жесткими дисками достаточного объема, на котором вы храните медиасодержимое. Используя функцию «Воспроизвести на», вы можете открыть Windows Media Player 12 на этом ПК, найти в медиабиблиотеке фильм и посмотреть его на домашнем кинотеатре.

При этом на устройстве, которое принимает данные, не требуется никакая дополнительная настройка, так как управление воспроизведением может полностью осуществляться на том компьютере, откуда ведется передача данных. В специальном окне можно переходить к следующему треку, останавливать воспроизведение, изменять уровень громкости. Для включения функции удаленного управления нужно установить флажок «Разрешить удаленное управление проигрывателем» (Allow remote control of my Player) в меню «Поток» (Stream).

Если устройство не поддерживает формат передаваемого по сети файла, Windows Media Player 12 «на лету» выполнит преобразование в поддерживаемый формат. Каждое устройство, на которое осуществляется передача данных, имеет собственный список воспроизведения и управляется из отдельного небольшого окошка.

Для включения потоковой передачи данных установите флажок «Включить потоковую передачу мультимедиа в домашней группе» (Turn on media streaming with HomeGroup) в меню «Поток». После этого необходимо выбрать название для своей библиотеки мультимедиа — именно по этому названию библиотека будет идентифицироваться для других ПК в сети.

Затем можно просмотреть список всех компьютеров, подключенных к локальной сети, и определиться с тем, на какие из них будет разрешена передача данных. Рядом с названием каждого компьютера есть ссылка «Настроить» (Customize), щелкнув по которой можно задать собственные параметры доступности библиотеки мультимедиа для этого устройства. В частности, может быть полезной возможность фильтрации содержимого по рейтингу, которую можно использовать, чтобы запретить доступ к некоторым файлам из медиабиблиотеки с компьютера ребенка.

Упростить настройку потоковой передачи данных можно, активировав функцию «Автоматически разрешать устройствам воспроизводить мое мультимедиа» (Automatically allow devices to play my media) в меню «Поток».

Библиотеки, к которым был открыт доступ, автоматически отобразятся на панели навигации Windows Media Player на устройствах в локальной сети. Если этого не произошло, можно настроить их отображение вручную. Для этого выберите команду «Настроить область переходов» (Customize navigation pane) в меню «Упорядочить» (Organize). Далее выберите в списке пункт «Другие библиотеки» (Other Libraries), установите флажок «Показать другие библиотеки» (Show Other Libraries) и выберите те библиотеки, которые необходимо отобразить. После этого с содержимым удаленной библиотеки можно работать точно так же, как с контентом, который хранится на вашем ПК.

⇡#Потоковая передача мультимедиа через интернет

Windows Media Player 12 не только дает возможность организовывать потоковое вещание в пределах локальной сети, но и позволяет передавать любые мультимедиа-файлы через интернет. Благодаря этой возможности, можно, например, прослушивать файлы, хранящиеся на домашнем компьютере, с работы или с ноутбука, находясь в дороге. Функция удаленной потоковой передачи мультимедиа доступна не во всех версиях Windows 7 — работать с ней могут лишь владельцы редакций «Домашняя расширенная», «Профессиональная» и «Максимальная». Причем, Windows 7 должна быть установлена и на том компьютере, с которого ведется передача данных, и на том, на который они передаются.

Для включения этой возможности нужно установить флажок «Разрешить доступ через интернет к домашней библиотеке мультимедиа» (Allow Internet access to home media) в меню «Поток».

Также необходимо обеспечить безопасность доступа к домашней библиотеке. Для этого в следующем окне нужно выбрать вариант «Привязать сетевое удостоверение» (Link an Online ID) и связать учетную запись Windows 7 на текущем компьютере с учетной записью в сервисе Windows Live (в дальнейшем планируется также поддержка других сервисов, таких как Google, OpenID и Facebook*). Выполнить «привязку» необходимо на каждом компьютере.

После выполнения необходимой настройки удаленные библиотеки будут отображены на панели навигации, и к ним можно будет получать доступ точно так же, как к информации на своем ПК.

⇡#***

Конечно же, список стандартных приложений, которые доступны пользователям Windows 7, не исчерпывается теми программами, о которых мы рассказали в этой части обзора. Некоторые из них настолько многофункциональны, что заслуживают отдельного внимания. В следующий раз мы расскажем о том, какие изменения произошли в одном из самых главных приложений Windows 7 — в файловом менеджере «Проводник».

Все о Windows 7:

• Скрытый потенциал Windows 7: куда ведет «Проводник»?
• Скрытый потенциал Windows 7: ставим новые «окна»
• Windows 7: отныне и повсеместно

* Внесена в перечень общественных объединений и религиозных организаций, в отношении которых судом принято вступившее в законную силу решение о ликвидации или запрете деятельности по основаниям, предусмотренным Федеральным законом от 25.07.2002 № 114-ФЗ «О противодействии экстремистской деятельности».

Some of the new features included in Windows 7 are advancements in touch, speech^[1] and handwriting recognition, support for virtual hard disks, support for additional file formats, improved performance on multi-core processors,^[2] improved boot performance, and kernel improvements.

Shell and user interface[edit]

Windows 7 retains the Windows Aero graphical user interface and visual style introduced in its predecessor, Windows Vista, but many areas have seen enhancements. Unlike Windows Vista, window borders and the taskbar do not turn opaque when a window is maximized while Windows Aero is active; instead, they remain translucent.

Desktop[edit]

Themes[edit]

Support for themes has been extended in Windows 7.^[3] In addition to providing options to customize colors of window chrome and other aspects of the interface including the desktop background, icons, mouse cursors, and sound schemes, the operating system also includes a native desktop slideshow feature. A new theme pack extension has been introduced, .themepack, which is essentially a collection of cabinet files that consist of theme resources including background images, color preferences, desktop icons, mouse cursors, and sound schemes.^[4] The new theme extension simplifies sharing of themes and can also display desktop wallpapers via RSS feeds provided by the Windows RSS Platform.^[4] Microsoft provides additional themes for free through its website.^[3]

The default theme in Windows 7 consists of a single desktop wallpaper named «Harmony» and the default desktop icons, mouse cursors, and sound scheme introduced in Windows Vista; however, none of the desktop backgrounds included with Windows Vista are present in Windows 7. New themes include Architecture, Characters, Landscapes, Nature, and Scenes, and an additional country-specific theme that is determined based on the defined locale when the operating system is installed; although only the theme for a user’s home country is displayed within the user interface, the files for all of these other country-specific themes are included in the operating system.^[5] All themes included in Windows 7—excluding the default theme—include six wallpaper images.^[3] A number of new sound schemes (each associated with an included theme) have also been introduced: Afternoon, Calligraphy, Characters, Cityscape, Delta, Festival, Garden, Heritage, Landscape, Quirky, Raga, Savana, and Sonata.^[6][7] Themes may introduce their own custom sounds, which can be used with others themes as well.^[8]

Desktop Slideshow[edit]

Windows 7 introduces a desktop slideshow feature that periodically changes the desktop wallpaper based on a user-defined interval; the change is accompanied by a smooth fade transition with a duration that can be customized via the Windows Registry.^[9] The desktop slideshow feature supports local images and images obtained via RSS.^[10][11]

Gadgets[edit]

With Windows Vista, Microsoft introduced gadgets to display information such as image slideshows and RSS feeds on the user’s desktop; the gadgets could optionally be displayed on a sidebar docked to a side of the screen.^[13] In Windows 7, the sidebar has been removed, but gadgets can still be placed on the desktop.^[13] Gadgets can be brought to the foreground on top of active applications by pressing ⊞ Win+G.^[13] Several new features for gadgets are introduced, including new desktop context menu options to access gadgets and hide all active gadgets; high DPI support; and a feature that can automatically rearrange a gadget based on the position of other gadgets.^[13][14] Additional new features include cached gadget content; optimizations for touch-based devices; and a gadget for Windows Media Center.^[13]

Gadgets are more closely integrated with Windows Explorer, but the gadgets themselves continue to operate in a single sidebar.exe process, unlike in Windows Vista where gadgets could operate in multiple sidebar.exe processes. Active gadgets can also be hidden via a new desktop menu option; Microsoft has stated that this option can result in power-saving benefits.^[14]

Branding and customization[edit]

For original equipment manufacturers and enterprises, Windows 7 natively supports the ability to customize the wallpaper that is displayed during user login. Because the settings to change the wallpaper are available via the Windows Registry, users can also customize this wallpaper.^[15] Options to customize the appearance of interface lighting and shadows are also available.^[16]

Windows Explorer[edit]

Libraries[edit]

Windows Explorer in Windows 7 supports file libraries that aggregate content from various locations – including shared folders on networked systems if the shared folder has been indexed by the host system – and present them in a unified view. The libraries hide the actual location the file is stored in. Searching in a library automatically federates the query to the remote systems, in addition to searching on the local system, so that files on the remote systems are also searched. Unlike search folders, Libraries are backed by a physical location which allows files to be saved in the Libraries. Such files are transparently saved in the backing physical folder. The default save location for a library may be configured by the user, as can the default view layout for each library. Libraries are generally stored in the Libraries special folder, which allows them to be displayed on the navigation pane.

By default, a new user account in Windows 7 contains four libraries for different file types: Documents, Music, Pictures, and Videos. They are configured to include the user’s profile folders for these respective file types, as well as the computer’s corresponding Public folders. The Public folder also contains a hidden Recorded TV library that appears in the Windows Explorer sidepane when TV is set up in Media Center for the first time.

In addition to aggregating multiple storage locations, Libraries enable Arrangement Views and Search Filter Suggestions. Arrangement Views allow you to pivot your view of the library’s contents based on metadata. For example, selecting the «By Month» view in the Pictures library will display photos in stacks, where each stack represents a month of photos based on the date they were taken. In the Music library, the «By Artist» view will display stacks of albums from the artists in your collection, and browsing into an artist stack will then display the relevant albums.

Search Filter Suggestions are a new feature of the Windows 7 Explorer’s search box. When the user clicks in the search box, a menu shows up below it showing recent searches as well as suggested Advanced Query Syntax filters that the user can type. When one is selected (or typed in manually), the menu will update to show the possible values to filter by for that property, and this list is based on the current location and other parts of the query already typed. For example, selecting the «tags» filter or typing «tags:» into the search box will display the list of possible tag values which will return search results.

Arrangement Views and Search Filter Suggestions are database-backed features which require that all locations in the Library be indexed by the Windows Search service. Local disk locations must be indexed by the local indexer, and Windows Explorer will automatically add locations to the indexing scope when they are included in a library. Remote locations can be indexed by the indexer on another Windows 7 machine, on a Windows machine running Windows Search 4 (such as Windows Vista or Windows Home Server), or on another device that implements the MS-WSP remote query protocol.^[17]

Federated search[edit]

Windows Explorer also supports federating search to external data sources, such as custom databases or web services, that are exposed over the web and described via an OpenSearch definition. The federated location description (called a Search Connector) is provided as an .osdx file. Once installed, the data source becomes queryable directly from Windows Explorer. Windows Explorer features, such as previews and thumbnails, work with the results of a federated search as well.

Miscellaneous shell enhancements[edit]

Windows Explorer has received numerous minor enhancements that improve its overall functionality. The Explorer’s search box and the address bar can be resized. Folders such as those on the desktop or user profile folders can be hidden in the navigation pane to reduce clutter. A new Content view is added, which shows thumbnails and metadata together. A new button to toggle the Preview Pane has been added to the toolbar. The button to create a new folder has been moved from the Organize menu and onto the toolbar. List view provides more space between items than in Windows Vista. Finally, storage space consumption bars that were only present for hard disks in Windows Vista are now shown for removable storage devices.

Other areas of the shell have also received similar fine-tunings: Progress bars and overlay icons may now appear on an application’s button on the taskbar to better alert the user of the status of the application or the work in progress. File types for which property handlers or iFilters are installed are re-indexed by default. Previously, adding submenus to shell context menus or customizing the context menu’s behavior for a certain folder was only possible by installing a form of plug-in known as shell extensions. In Windows 7 however, computer-savvy users can do so by editing Windows Registry and/or desktop.ini files.^[18][19] Additionally, a new shell API was introduced designed to simplify the writing of context menu shell extensions by software developers.^[20][21]

Windows 7 includes native support for burning ISO files. The functionality is available when a user selects the Burn disc image option within the context menu of an ISO file. Support for disc image verification is also included. In previous versions of Windows, users were required to install third-party software to burn ISO images.^[22]

[edit]

The start button now has a fade-in highlight effect when the user hovers over it with the mouse cursor. The right column of the Start menu is now prominently the Aero Glass color; in Windows Vista, it was predominantly black regardless of the color in use.

Windows 7’s Start menu retains the two-column layout of its predecessors, with several functional changes:

• Documents, Music, and Pictures now link to their respective Libraries
• Jump Lists are presented in the Start Menu via a guillemet; when the user moves the mouse cursor over the guillemet or presses the → arrow key, the right-hand side of the Start menu is widened and replaced with the application’s Jump List.
• New links include Devices and Printers (a new Device Manager), Downloads, HomeGroup, Recorded TV, and Videos
• Search has been updated to display results for Control Panel category keywords, federated searches, HomeGroup locations, Libraries, network shares, and Sticky Notes
• Search results now group items in groups of three, and users can click a group to open Windows Explorer to see additional items that match the criteria
• The iconographic Shut Down button of Windows Vista has been replaced with a text link to indicate the action that will be taken when the button is clicked; the default action is now configurable through Taskbar and Start Menu Properties.

Group Policy settings for Windows Explorer provide the ability for administrators of an Active Directory domain to add up to five Internet Web sites and five additional «search connectors» to the Search Results view in the Start menu. The links, which appear at the bottom of the pane, allow the search to be executed again on the selected web site or search connector. Microsoft suggests that network administrators could use this feature to enable searching of corporate Intranets or an internal SharePoint server.^[23]

Taskbar[edit]

The Windows Taskbar has seen its most significant revision since its introduction in Windows 95 and combines the previous Quick Launch functionality with open application window icons. The taskbar is now rendered as an Aero glass element whose color can be changed via the Personalization Control Panel. It is 10 pixels taller than in Windows Vista to accommodate touch screen input and a new larger default icon size (although a smaller taskbar size is available), as well as maintain proportion to newer high resolution monitor modes.^[24] Running applications are denoted by a border frame around the icon. Within this border, a color effect (dependent on the predominant color of the icon) that follows the mouse cursor also indicates the opened status of the application. The glass taskbar is more translucent than in Windows Vista. Taskbar buttons show icons by default, not application titles, unless they are set to ‘not combine’, or ‘combine when taskbar is full.’ In this case, only icons are shown when the application is not running. Programs running or pinned on the taskbar can be rearranged. Items in the notification area can also be rearranged.

Pinned applications[edit]

The Quick Launch toolbar has been removed from the default configuration, but may be easily added.^[25] The Windows 7 taskbar is more application-oriented than window-oriented, and therefore doesn’t show window titles (these are shown when an application icon is clicked or hovered over). Applications can now be pinned to the taskbar allowing the user instant access to the applications they commonly use. There are a few ways to pin applications to the taskbar. Icons can be dragged and dropped onto the taskbar, or the application’s icon can be right-clicked to pin it to the taskbar.

Thumbnail previews[edit]

Thumbnail previews which were introduced in Windows Vista have been expanded to not only preview the windows opened by the application in a small-sized thumbnail view, but to also interact with them. The user can close any window opened by clicking the X on the corresponding thumbnail preview. The name of the window is also shown in the thumbnail preview. A «peek» at the window is obtained by hovering over the thumbnail preview. Peeking brings up only the window of the thumbnail preview over which the mouse cursor hovers, and turns any other windows on the desktop transparent. This also works for tabs in Internet Explorer: individual tabs may be peeked at in the thumbnail previews. Thumbnail previews integrate Thumbnail Toolbars^[26] which can control the application from the thumbnail previews themselves. For example, if Windows Media Player is opened and the mouse cursor is hovering on the application icon, the thumbnail preview will allow the user the ability to Play, Stop, and Play Next/Previous track without having to switch to the Windows Media Player window.

Jump lists[edit]

Jump lists are menu options available by right-clicking a taskbar icon or holding the left mouse button and sliding towards the center of the desktop on an icon. Each application has a jump list corresponding to its features, Microsoft Word’s displaying recently opened documents; Windows Media Player’s recent tracks and playlists; frequently opened directories in Windows Explorer; Internet Explorer’s recent browsing history and options for opening new tabs or starting InPrivate Browsing; Windows Live Messenger’s common tasks such as instant messaging, signing off, and changing online status. Third-party software can add custom actions through a dedicated API. Up to 10 menu items may appear on a list, partially customizable by user. Frequently used files and folders can be pinned by the user as to not get usurped from the list if others are opened more frequently.^[27][28]

Task progress[edit]

Progress bar in taskbar’s tasks allows users to know the progress of a task without switching to the pending window.^[29] Task progress is used in Windows Explorer, Internet Explorer and third-party software.

Notification area[edit]

The notification area has been redesigned; the standard Volume, Network, Power and Action Center status icons are present, but no other application icons are shown unless the user has chosen them to be shown. A new «Notification Area Icons» control panel has been added which replaces the «Customize Notification Icons» dialog box in the «Taskbar and Start Menu Properties» window first introduced in Windows XP. In addition to being able to configure whether the application icons are shown, the ability to hide each application’s notification balloons has been added. The user can then view the notifications at a later time.

A triangle to the left of the visible notification icons displays the hidden notification icons. Unlike Windows Vista and Windows XP, the hidden icons are displayed in a window above the taskbar, instead of on the taskbar. Icons can be dragged between this window and the notification area.

Aero Peek[edit]

In previous versions of Windows, the taskbar ended with the notification area on the right-hand side. Windows 7, however, introduces a show desktop button on the far right side of the taskbar which can initiate an Aero Peek feature that makes all open windows translucent when hovered over by a mouse cursor. Clicking this button shows the desktop, and clicking it again brings all windows to focus. The new button replaces the show desktop shortcut located in the Quick Launch toolbar in previous versions of Windows.^[30]

On touch-based devices, Aero Peek can be initiated by pressing and holding the show desktop button; touching the button itself shows the desktop. The button also increases in width to accommodate being pressed by a finger.^[31]

Window management mouse gestures[edit]

Aero Snap[edit]

Windows can be dragged to the top of the screen to maximize them and dragged away to restore them. Dragging a window to the left or right of the screen makes it take up half the screen, allowing the user to tile two windows next to each other. Also, resizing the window to the bottom of the screen or its top will extend the window to full height but retain its width.^[32] These features can be disabled via the Ease of Access Center if users do not wish the windows to automatically resize.^[33]

Aero Shake[edit]

Aero Shake allows users to clear up any clutter on their screen by shaking (dragging back and forth) a window of their choice with the mouse. All other windows will minimize, while the window the user shook stays active on the screen.^[34] When the window is shaken again, all previously minimized windows are restored, similar to desktop preview.

Keyboard shortcuts[edit]

A variety of new keyboard shortcuts have been introduced.^{[35][36]
[37]}

Global keyboard shortcuts:

• ⊞ Win+Space bar operates as a keyboard shortcut for Aero Peek.
• ⊞ Win+↑ maximizes the current window.
• ⊞ Win+↓ if current window is maximized, restores it; otherwise minimizes current window.
• ⊞ Win+⇧ Shift+↑ makes upper and lower edge of current window nearly touch the upper and lower edge of the Windows desktop environment, respectively.
• ⊞ Win+⇧ Shift+↓ restores the original size of the current window.
• ⊞ Win+← snaps the current window to the left edge of the screen.
• ⊞ Win+→ snaps the current window to the right half of the screen.
• ⊞ Win+⇧ Shift+← and ⊞ Win+⇧ Shift+→ move the current window to the left or right display.
• ⊞ Win++ functions as zoom in command wherever applicable.
• ⊞ Win+− functions as zoom out command wherever applicable.
• ⊞ Win+ESC turn off zoom once enabled.
• ⊞ Win+Home operates as a keyboard shortcut for Aero Shake.
• ⊞ Win+P Opens Connect to a Network Projector, which has been updated from previous versions of Windows, and allows one to dictate where the desktop is displayed: on the main monitor, an external display, both; or allows one to display two independent desktops on two separate monitors.

Taskbar:

• Shift + Click, or Middle click starts a new instance of the application, regardless of whether it’s already running.
• Ctrl + Shift + Click starts a new instance with Administrator privileges; by default, a User Account Control prompt will be displayed.
• Shift + Right-click (or right-clicking the program’s thumbnail) shows the titlebar’s context menu which, by default, contains «Restore», «Move», «Size», «Maximize», «Minimize» and «Close» commands. If the icon being clicked on is a grouped icon, a specialized context menu with «Restore All», «Minimize All», and «Close All» commands is shown.
• Ctrl + Click on a grouped icon cycles between the windows (or tabs) in the group.

Font management[edit]

The user interface for font management has been overhauled in Windows 7. As with Windows Vista, the collection of installed fonts is displayed in a Windows Explorer window, but fonts that originate from the same font family appear as icons that are represented as stacks that display font previews within the interface. Windows 7 also introduces the option to hide installed fonts; certain fonts are automatically removed from view based on a user’s regional settings.^[38] An option to manually hide installed fonts is also available. Hidden fonts remain installed but are not enumerated when an application asks for a list of available fonts, thus reducing the amount of fonts to scroll through within the interface and also reducing memory usage.^[39] Windows 7 includes over 40 new fonts,^[40] including a new «Gabriola» font.^[39][41]

The dialog box for fonts in Windows 7 has also been updated to display font previews within the interface, which allows users to preview fonts before selecting them. Previous versions of windows only displayed the name of the font.^[42][43]

The ClearType Text Tuner which was previously available as a Microsoft Powertoy for earlier Windows versions has been integrated into, and updated for Windows 7.

Microsoft would later backport Windows 8 Emoji features to Windows 7.^[44]

Devices[edit]

There are two major new user interface components for device management in Windows 7, «Devices and Printers» and «Device Stage». Both of these are integrated with Windows Explorer, and together provide a simplified view of what devices are connected to the computer, and what capabilities they support.

Devices and Printers[edit]

Devices and Printers is a new Control Panel interface that is directly accessible from the Start menu. Unlike the Device Manager Control Panel applet, which is still present, the icons shown on the Devices and Printers screen are limited to components of the system that a non-expert user will recognize as plug-in devices. For example, an external monitor connected to the system will be displayed as a device, but the internal monitor on a laptop will not. Device-specific features are available through the context menu for each device; an external monitor’s context menu, for example, provides a link to the «Display Settings» control panel.

This new Control Panel applet also replaces the «Printers» window in prior versions of Windows; common printer operations such as setting the default printer, installing or removing printers, and configuring properties such as paper size are done through this control panel.

Windows 7 and Server 2008 R2 introduce print driver isolation, which improves the reliability of the print spooler by running printer drivers in a separate process to the spooler service. If a third party print driver fails while isolated, it does not impact other drivers or the print spooler service.

Device Stage[edit]

Device Stage provides a centralized location for an externally connected multi-function device to present its functionality to the user. When a device such as a portable music player is connected to the system, the device appears as an icon on the task bar, as well as in Windows Explorer.

Windows 7 ships with high-resolution images of a number of popular devices, and is capable of connecting to the Internet to download images of devices it doesn’t recognize. Opening the icon presents a window that displays actions relevant to that device. Screenshots of the technology presented by Microsoft suggest that a mobile phone could offer options for two-way synchronization, configuring ring-tones, copying pictures and videos, managing the device in Windows Media Player, and using Windows Explorer to navigate through the device.^[45] Other device status information such as free memory and battery life can also be shown. The actual per-device functionality is defined via XML files that are downloaded when the device is first connected to the computer, or are provided by the manufacturer on an installation disc.^[46]

Mobility enhancements[edit]

Multi-touch support[edit]

Hilton Locke, who worked on the Tablet PC team at Microsoft, reported on December 11, 2007 that Windows 7 will have new touch features on devices supporting multi-touch. An overview and demonstration of the multi-touch capabilities, including a virtual piano program, a mapping and directions program and a touch-aware version of Microsoft Paint, was given at the All Things Digital Conference on May 27, 2008; a video of the multi-touch capabilities was made available on the web later the same day.^[47]

Sensors[edit]

Windows 7 introduces native support for sensors, including accelerometer sensors, ambient light sensors, and location-based sensors;^[48] the operating system also provides a unified driver model for sensor devices.^[49] A notable use of this technology in Windows 7 is the operating system’s adaptive display brightness feature, which automatically adjusts the brightness of a compatible computer’s display based on environmental light conditions and factors.^[50] Gadgets developed for Windows 7 can also display location-based information.^[51] Applications for certain sensor capabilities can be developed without the requisite hardware.^[52]

Because data acquired by some sensors can be considered personally identifiable information, all sensors are disabled by default in Windows 7, and an account in Windows 7 requires administrative permissions to enable a sensor. Sensors also require user consent to share location data.^[49]

Power management[edit]

Battery notification messages[edit]

Unlike previous versions of Windows, Windows 7 is able to report when a laptop battery is in need of a replacement. The operating system works with design capabilities present in modern laptop batteries to report this information.^[53]

Hibernation improvements[edit]

The powercfg command enables the customization of the hibernation file size. By default, Windows 7 automatically sets the size of the hibernation file to 75% of a computer’s total physical memory. The operating system also compresses the contents of memory during the hibernate process to minimize the possibility that the contents exceeds the default size of the hibernation file.^[54]

Power analysis and reporting[edit]

Windows 7 introduces a new /Energy parameter for the powercfg command, which generates an HTML report of a computer’s energy efficiency and displays information related to devices or settings.^[55]

USB suspension[edit]

Windows 7 can individually suspend USB hubs and supports selective suspend for all in-box USB class drivers.^[56]

Graphics[edit]

DirectX[edit]

• Direct3D 11 is included with Windows 7. It is a strict super-set of Direct3D 10.1, which was introduced in Windows Vista Service Pack 1 and Windows Server 2008.
• Direct2D and DirectWrite, new hardware-accelerated vector graphics and font rendering APIs built on top of Direct3D 10 that are intended to replace GDI/GDI+ for screen-oriented native-code graphics and text drawing. They can be used from managed applications with the Windows API Code Pack
• Windows Advanced Rasterization Platform (WARP), a software rasterizer component for DirectX that provides all of the capabilities of Direct3D 10.0 and 10.1 in software.^[57]
• DirectX Video Acceleration-High Definition (DXVA-HD)^[58]

Direct3D 11, Direct2D, DirectWrite, DXGI 1.1, WARP and several other components are currently available for Windows Vista SP2 and Windows Server 2008 SP2 by installing the Platform Update for Windows Vista.^[59]

Desktop Window Manager[edit]

First introduced in Windows Vista, the Desktop Window Manager (DWM) in Windows 7 has been updated to use version 10.1 of Direct3D API, and its performance has been improved significantly.^[60]

The Desktop Window Manager still requires at least a Direct3D 9-capable video card (supported with new D3D10_FEATURE_LEVEL_9_n^[61] device type introduced with the Direct3D 11 runtime).

With a video driver conforming to Windows Display Driver Model v1.1, DXGI kernel in Windows 7 provides 2D hardware acceleration to APIs such as GDI, Direct2D and DirectWrite (though GDI+ was not updated to use this functionality). This allows DWM to use significantly lower amounts of system memory, which do not grow regardless of how many windows are opened, like it was in Windows Vista.^[62] Systems equipped with a WDDM 1.0 video card will operate in the same fashion as in Windows Vista, using software-only rendering.

The Desktop Window Manager in Windows 7 also adds support for systems using multiple heterogeneous graphics cards from different vendors.^[63]

Other changes[edit]

Support for color depths of 30 and 48 bits is included, along with the wide color gamut scRGB (which for HDMI 1.3 can be converted and output as xvYCC). The video modes supported in Windows 7 are 16-bit sRGB, 24-bit sRGB, 30-bit sRGB, 30-bit with extended color gamut sRGB, and 48-bit scRGB.^[64][65]

Each user of Windows 7 and Server 2008 R2 has individual DPI settings, rather than the machine having a single setting as in previous versions of Windows. DPI settings can be changed by logging on and off, without needing to restart.^[66]

File system[edit]

Solid state drives[edit]

Over time, several technologies have been incorporated into subsequent versions of Windows to improve the performance of the operating system on traditional hard disk drives (HDD) with rotating platters. Since Solid state drives (SSD) differ from mechanical HDDs in some key areas (no moving parts, write amplification, limited number of erase cycles allowed for reliable operation), it is beneficial to disable certain optimizations and add others, specifically for SSDs.

Windows 7 incorporates many engineering changes to reduce the frequency of writes and flushes, which benefit SSDs in particular since each write operation wears the flash memory.

Windows 7 also makes use of the TRIM command. If supported by the SSD (not implemented on early devices), this optimizes when erase cycles are performed, reducing the need to erase blocks before each write and increasing write performance.

Several tools and techniques that were implemented in the past to reduce the impact of the rotational latency of traditional HDDs, most notably disk defragmentation, SuperFetch, ReadyBoost, and application launch prefetching, involve reorganizing (rewriting) the data on the platters. Since SSDs have no moving platters, this reorganization has no advantages, and may instead shorten the life of the solid state memory. Therefore, these tools are by default disabled on SSDs in Windows 7, except for some early generation SSDs that might still benefit.

Finally, partitions made with Windows 7’s partition-creating tools are created with the SSD’s alignment needs in mind, avoiding unwanted systematic write amplification.^[67]

Virtual hard disks[edit]

The Enterprise and Ultimate editions of Windows 7 incorporate support for the Virtual Hard Disk (VHD) file format. VHD files can be mounted as drives, created, and booted from, in the same way as WIM files.^[68] Furthermore, an installed version of Windows 7 can be booted and run from a VHD drive, even on non-virtual hardware, thereby providing a new way to multi boot Windows. Some features such as hibernation and BitLocker are not available when booting from VHD.

Disk partitioning[edit]

By default, a computer’s disk is partitioned into two partitions: one of limited size for booting, BitLocker and running the Windows Recovery Environment and the second with the operating system and user files.^[69]

Removable media[edit]

Windows 7 has also seen improvements to the Safely Remove Hardware menu, including the ability to eject just one camera card at the same time (from a single hub) and retain the ports for future use without reboot; and the labels of removable media are now also listed, rather than just the drive letter.^[70] Windows Explorer now by default only shows memory card reader ports in My Computer if they contain a card.^[70]

BitLocker to Go[edit]

BitLocker brings encryption support to removable disks such as USB drives. Such devices can be protected by a passphrase, a recovery key, or be automatically unlocked on a computer.^[71]

Boot performance[edit]

According to data gathered from the Microsoft Customer Experience Improvement Program (CEIP), 35% of Vista SP1 installations boot up in 30 seconds or less. The more lengthy boot times on the remainder of the machines are mainly due to some services or programs that are loaded but are not required when the system is first started. Microsoft’s Mike Fortin, a distinguished engineer on the Windows team, noted in August 2008 that Microsoft has set aside a team to work solely on the issue, and that team aims to «significantly increase the number of systems that experience very good boot times». They «focused very hard on increasing parallelism of driver initialization». Also, Microsoft aims to «dramatically reduce» the number of system services, along with their demands on processors, storage, and memory.^[72]

Kernel and scheduling improvements[edit]

User-mode scheduler[edit]

The 64-bit versions of Windows 7 and Server 2008 R2 introduce a user-mode scheduling framework.^[73] On Microsoft Windows operating systems, scheduling of threads inside a process is handled by the kernel, ntoskrnl.exe. While for most applications this is sufficient, applications with large concurrent threading requirements, such as a database server, can benefit from having a thread scheduler in-process. This is because the kernel no longer needs to be involved in context switches between threads, and it obviates the need for a thread pool mechanism, as threads can be created and destroyed much more quickly when no kernel context switches are required.^[74]

Prior to Windows 7, Windows used a one-to-one user thread to kernel-thread relationship.^[75][76] It was of course always possible to cobble together a rough many-to-one user-scheduler (with user-level timer interrupts) but if a system call was blocked on any one of the user threads, it would block the kernel thread and accordingly block all other user threads on the same scheduler.^[74] A many-to-one model could not take full advantage of symmetric multiprocessing.

With Windows 7’s user-mode scheduling, a program may configure one or more kernel threads as a scheduler supplied by a programming language library (one per logical processor desired) and then create a user-mode thread pool from which these UMS can draw. The kernel maintains a list of outstanding system calls which allows the UMS to continue running without blocking the kernel thread. This configuration can be used as either many-to-one or many-to-many.

There are several benefits to a user mode scheduler. Context switching in User Mode can be faster. UMS also introduces cooperative multitasking. Having customizable scheduler also gives more control over thread execution.^[77]

Memory management and CPU parallelism[edit]

• The memory manager is optimized to mitigate the problem of total memory consumption in the event of excessive cached read operations, which occurred on earlier releases of 64-bit Windows.^[78]

• Support for up to 256 logical processors^[79]
• Fewer hardware locks and greater parallelism^[80]
• Timer coalescing: modern processors and chipsets can switch to very low power usage levels while the CPU is idle. In order to reduce the number of times the CPU enters and exits idle states, Windows 7 introduces the concept of «timer coalescing»; multiple applications or device drivers which perform actions on a regular basis can be set to occur at once, instead of each action being performed on their own schedule. This facility is available in both kernel mode, via the KeSetCoalesableTimer API (which would be used in place of KeSetTimerEx), and in user mode with the SetWaitableTimerEx Windows API call (which replaces SetWaitableTimer).^[81]

Multimedia[edit]

Windows Media Center[edit]

Windows Media Center in Windows 7 has retained much of the design and feel of its predecessor, but with a variety of user interface shortcuts and browsing capabilities.^[82] Playback of H.264 video both locally and through a Media Center Extender (including the Xbox 360) is supported.

Some notable enhancements in Windows 7 Media Center include a new mini guide, a new scrub bar, the option to color code the guide by show type, and internet content that is more tightly integrated with regular TV via the guide. All Windows 7 versions now support up to four tuners of each type (QAM, ATSC, CableCARD, NTSC, etc.).

When browsing the media library, items that don’t have album art are shown in a range of foreground and background color combinations instead of using white text on a blue background. When the left or right remote control buttons are held down to browse the library quickly, a two-letter prefix of the current album name is prominently shown as a visual aid. The Picture Library includes new slideshow capabilities, and individual pictures can be rated.

Also, while browsing a media library, a new column appears at the top named «Shared.» This allows users to access shared media libraries on other Media Center PCs from directly within Media Center.

For television support, the Windows Media Center «TV Pack» released by Microsoft in 2008 is incorporated into Windows Media Center. This includes support for CableCARD and North American (ATSC) clear QAM tuners, as well as creating lists of favorite stations.^[83]

A gadget for Windows Media Center is also included.^[13]

Format support[edit]

Windows 7 includes AVI, WAV, AAC/ADTS file media sinks to read the respective formats,^[84] an MPEG-4 file source to read MP4, M4A, M4V, MP4V MOV and 3GP container formats^[85] and an MPEG-4 file sink to output to MP4 format.^[86] Windows 7 also includes a media source to read MPEG transport stream/BDAV MPEG-2 transport stream (M2TS, MTS, M2T and AVCHD) files.^{[citation needed]}

Transcoding (encoding) support is not exposed through any built-in Windows application but codecs are included as Media Foundation Transforms (MFTs).^[84] In addition to Windows Media Audio and Windows Media Video encoders and decoders, and ASF file sink and file source introduced in Windows Vista,^[84] Windows 7 includes an H.264 encoder with Baseline profile level 3 and Main profile support^[87] and an AAC Low Complexity (AAC-LC) profile encoder.^[88]

For playback of various media formats, Windows 7 also introduces an H.264 decoder with Baseline, Main, and High profiles support, up to level 5.1,^[89] AAC-LC and HE-AAC v1 (SBR) multichannel, HE-AAC v2 (PS) stereo decoders,^[90] MPEG-4 Part 2 Simple Profile and Advanced Simple Profile decoders^[91] which includes decoding popular codec implementations such as DivX, Xvid and Nero Digital as well as MJPEG^[84] and DV^[92] MFT decoders for AVI. Windows Media Player 12 uses the built-in Media Foundation codecs to play these formats by default.

Windows 7 also updates the DirectShow filters introduced in Windows Vista for playback of MPEG-2 and Dolby Digital to decode H.264, AAC, HE-AAC v1 and v2^[93] and Dolby Digital Plus^[94] (including downmixing to Dolby Digital).

Security[edit]

Action Center, formerly Windows Security Center, now encompasses both security and maintenance. It was called Windows Health Center and Windows Solution Center in earlier builds.^{[citation needed]}

A new user interface for User Account Control has been introduced, which provides the ability to select four different levels of notifications, one of these notification settings, Default, is new to Windows 7.^[95] Geo-tracking capabilities are also available in Windows 7. The feature will be disabled by default. When enabled the user will only have limited control as to which applications can track their location.^[96]

The Encrypting File System supports Elliptic-curve cryptographic algorithms (ECC) in Windows 7. For backward compatibility with previous releases of Windows, Windows 7 supports a mixed-mode operation of ECC and RSA algorithms. EFS self-signed certificates, when using ECC, will use 256-bit key by default. EFS can be configured to use 1K/2k/4k/8k/16k-bit keys when using self-signed RSA certificates, or 256/384/512-bit keys when using ECC certificates.

In Windows Vista, the Protected User-Mode Audio (PUMA) content protection facilities are only available to applications that are running in a Protected Media Path environment. Because only the Media Foundation application programming interface could interact with this environment, a media player application had to be designed to use Media Foundation. In Windows 7, this restriction is lifted.^[97] PUMA also incorporates stricter enforcement of «Copy Never» bits when using Serial Copy Management System (SCMS) copy protection over an S/PDIF connection, as well as with High-bandwidth Digital Content Protection (HDCP) over HDMI connections.

Biometrics[edit]

Windows 7 includes the new Windows Biometric Framework.^[98] This framework consists of a set of components that standardizes the use of fingerprint biometric devices. In prior releases of Microsoft Windows, biometric hardware device manufacturers were required to provide a complete stack of software to support their device, including device drivers, software development kits, and support applications. Microsoft noted in a white paper on the Windows Biometric Framework that the proliferation of these proprietary stacks resulted in compatibility issues, compromised the quality and reliability of the system, and made servicing and maintenance more difficult. By incorporating the core biometric functionality into the operating system, Microsoft aims to bring biometric device support on par with other classes of devices.

A new Control Panel called Biometric Device Control Panel is included which provides an interface for deleting stored biometrics information, troubleshooting, and enabling or disabling the types of logins that are allowed using biometrics. Biometrics configuration can also be configured using Group Policy settings.

Networking[edit]

• DirectAccess, a VPN tunnel technology based on IPv6 and IPsec. DirectAccess requires domain-joined machines, Windows Server 2008 R2 on the DirectAccess server, at least Windows Server 2008 domain controllers and a PKI to issue authentication certificates.^[99]
• BranchCache, a WAN optimization technology.^[100]
• The Bluetooth stack includes improvements introduced in the Windows Vista Feature Pack for Wireless, namely, Bluetooth 2.1+EDR support and remote wake from S3 or S4 support for self-powered Bluetooth modules.^[101]
• NDIS 6.20^[102] (Network Driver Interface Specification)
• WWAN (Mobile broadband) support (driver model based on NDIS miniport driver for CDMA and GSM device interfaces, Connection Manager support and Mobile Broadband COM and COM Interop API).
• Wireless Hosted Network capabilities: The Windows 7 wireless LAN service supports two new functions – Virtual Wi-Fi, that allows a single wireless network adapter to act like two client devices,^[103] or a software-based wireless access point (SoftAP) to act as both a wireless hotspot in infrastructure mode and a wireless client at the same time.^[104] This feature is not exposed through the GUI; however the Virtual WiFi Miniport adapter can be installed and enabled for wireless adapters with drivers that support a hosted network by using the command netsh wlan set hostednetwork mode=allow «ssid=<network SSID>» «key=<wlan security key>» keyusage=persistent|temporary at an elevated command prompt.^[105] The wireless SoftAP can afterwards be started using the command netsh wlan start hostednetwork. Windows 7 also supports WPA2-PSK/AES security for the hosted network, but DNS resolution for clients requires it to be used with Internet Connection Sharing or a similar feature.
• SMB 2.1, which includes minor performance enhancements over SMB2, such as a new opportunistic locking mechanism.^[106]
• RDP 7.0^[107]
• Background Intelligent Transfer Service 4.0^[108]

HomeGroup[edit]

Alongside the workgroup system used by previous versions, Windows 7 adds a new ad hoc home networking system known as HomeGroup. The system uses a password to join computers into the group, and allows users’ libraries, along with individual files and folders, to be shared between multiple computers. Only computers running Windows 7 to Windows 10 version 1709 can create or join a HomeGroup;^[109][110] however, users can make files and printers shared in a HomeGroup accessible to Windows XP and Windows Vista through a separate account, dedicated to sharing HomeGroup content, that uses traditional Windows sharing.^[111] HomeGroup support was deprecated in Windows 10^[112] and has been removed from Windows 10 version 1803 and later.^{[113][114][115]}

HomeGroup as a concept is very similar to a feature slated for Windows Vista, known as Castle, which would have made it possible to have an identification service for all members on the network, without a centralized server.

HomeGroup is created in response to the need for a simple sharing model for inexperienced users who need to share files without wrestling with user accounts, Security descriptors and share permissions.^[116] To that end, Microsoft previously created Simple File Sharing mode in Windows XP that, once enabled, caused all connected computers to be authenticated as Guest. Under this model, either a certain file or folder was shared with anyone who connects to the network (even unauthorized parties who are in range of the wireless network) or was not shared at all.^[117] In a HomeGroup, however:

1. Communication between HomeGroup computers is encrypted with a pre-shared password.^[116]
2. A certain file or folder can be shared with the entire HomeGroup (anyone who joins) or a certain person only.^[116]
3. HomeGroup computers can also be a member of a Windows domain or Windows workgroup at the same time and take advantage of those file sharing mechanisms.^[118]
4. Only computers that support HomeGroup (Windows 7 to Windows 10 version 1709) can join the network.^[109][118]

Windows Firewall[edit]

Windows 7 adds support for multiple firewall profiles. The Windows Firewall in Windows Vista dynamically changes which network traffic is allowed or blocked based on the location of the computer (based on which network it is connected to). This approach falls short if the computer is connected to more than one network at the same time (as for a computer with both an Ethernet and a wireless interface). In this case, Vista applies the profile that is more secure to all network connections. This is often not desirable; Windows 7 resolves this by being able to apply a separate firewall profile to each network connection.

DNSSEC[edit]

Windows 7 and Windows Server 2008 R2 introduce support for Domain Name System Security Extensions (DNSSEC),^[119] a set of specifications for securing certain kinds of information provided by the Domain Name System (DNS) as used on Internet Protocol (IP) networks. DNSSEC employs digital signatures to ensure the authenticity of DNS data received from a DNS server, which protect against DNS cache poisoning attacks.

Management features[edit]

Windows 7 contains Windows PowerShell 2.0 out-of-the-box, which is also available as a download to install on older platforms:^[120]

• Windows Troubleshooting Platform
• Windows PowerShell Integrated Scripting Environment
• PowerShell Remoting

Other new management features include:

• AppLocker (a set of Group Policy settings that evolved from Software Restriction Policies, to restrict which applications can run on a corporate network, including the ability to restrict based on the application’s version number or publisher)
• Group Policy Preferences (also available as a download for Windows XP and Windows Vista).
• The Windows Automation API (also available as a download for Windows XP and Windows Vista).

Upgraded components[edit]

Windows 7 includes Internet Explorer 8,^[121] .NET Framework 3.5 SP1,^[122] Internet Information Services (IIS) 7.5,^[123] Windows Installer 5.0 and a standalone XPS Viewer.^[124][125] Paint, Calculator, Resource Monitor, on-screen keyboard, and WordPad have also been updated.

Paint and WordPad feature a Ribbon interface similar to the one introduced in Office 2007, with both sporting several new features. WordPad supports Office Open XML and ODF file formats.^[126]

Calculator has been rewritten, with multiline capabilities including Programmer and Statistics modes, unit conversion, and date calculations. Calculator was also given a graphical facelift, the first since Windows 95 in 1995 and Windows NT 4.0 in 1996.

Sticky Notes of Windows XP Tablet PC Edition 2002 and the similar Sticky Notes Gadget introduced in Windows Vista have been replaced with a new Sticky Notes application that supports new Windows 7 taskbar features — a thumbnail preview of a stack representing all minimized notes, and Jump Lists on the taskbar and Start menu to create a New Note — and full-text-based search in the Windows Shell through an IFilter and protocol handler for all notes. Real-time stylus (both pen and touch input) is also supported.^[127]

Resource Monitor includes an improved RAM usage display and supports display of TCP/IP ports being listened to, filtering processes using networking, filtering processes with disk activity and listing and searching process handles (e.g. files used by a process) and loaded modules (files required by an executable file, e.g. DLL files).

Microsoft Magnifier, an accessibility utility for low vision users has been dramatically improved. Magnifier now supports the full screen zoom feature, whereas previous Windows versions had the Magnifier attached to the top of the screen in a dock layout. The new full screen feature is enabled by default, however, it requires Windows Aero for the advantage of the full screen zoom feature. If Windows is set to the Windows 7 Basic, Windows Classic, or High Contrast themes, Magnifier will still function like it did in Windows Vista and earlier.

Windows Installer 5.0 supports installing and configuring Windows Services,^[128] and provides developers with more control over setting permissions during software installation.^[129] Neither of these features will be available for prior versions of Windows; custom actions to support these features will continue to be required for Windows Installer packages that need to implement these features.

Other features[edit]

• Windows 7 improves the Tablet PC Input Panel to make faster corrections using new gestures, supports text prediction in the soft keyboard and introduces a new Math Input Panel for inputting math into programs that support MathML.^[130] It recognizes handwritten math expressions and formulas. Additional language support for handwriting recognition can be gained by installing the respective MUI pack for that language (also called language pack).
• Windows 7 introduces a new Problem Steps Recorder tool that enables users to record their interaction with software for analysis and support. The feature can be used to replicate a problem to show support when and where a problem occurred.^[131]
• As opposed to the blank start-up screen in Windows Vista, Windows 7’s start-up screen consists of an animation featuring four colored light balls (one red, one yellow, one green, and one blue). They twirl around for a few seconds and then merge to form a glowing Windows logo. This only occurs on displays with a vertical resolution of 768 pixels or higher, as the animation is 1024×768. Any screen with a resolution below this displays the same startup screen that Vista used.
• The Starter Edition of Windows 7 can run an unlimited number of applications, compared to only 3 in Windows Vista Starter. Microsoft had initially intended to ship Windows 7 Starter Edition with this limitation, but announced after the release of the Release Candidate that this restriction would not be imposed in the final release.^[132]

• For developers, Windows 7 includes a new networking API with support for building SOAP-based web services in native code (as opposed to .NET-based WCF web services),^[133] new features to shorten application install times, reduced UAC prompts, simplified development of installation packages,^[134] and improved globalization support through a new Extended Linguistic Services API.^[135]
• If an application crashes twice in a row, Windows 7 will automatically attempt to apply a shim. If an application fails to install a similar self-correcting fix, a tool that asks some questions about the application launches.^[136]
• Windows 7 includes an optional TIFF IFilter that enables indexing of TIFF documents by reading them with optical character recognition (OCR), thus making their text content searchable. TIFF iFilter supports Adobe TIFF Revision 6.0 specifications and four compression schemes: LZW, JPEG, CCITT v4, CCITT v6^[137]
• The Windows Console now adheres to the current Windows theme, instead of showing controls from the Windows Classic theme.
• Games Internet Spades, Internet Backgammon and Internet Checkers, which were removed from Windows Vista, were restored in Windows 7.
• Users can disable many more Windows components than was possible in Windows Vista. The new components which can now be disabled include: Handwriting Recognition, Internet Explorer, Windows DVD Maker, Windows Fax and Scan, Windows Gadget Platform Windows Media Center, Windows Media Player, Windows Search, and the XPS Viewer (with its services).^[138]
• Windows XP Mode is a fully functioning copy of 32-bit Windows XP Professional SP3 running in a virtual machine in Windows Virtual PC (as opposed to Hyper-V) running on top of Windows 7. Through the use of the RDP protocol, it allows applications incompatible with Windows 7 to be run on the underlying Windows XP virtual machine, but still to appear to be part of the Windows 7 desktop,^[139] thereby sharing the native Start Menu of Windows 7 as well as participating in file type associations. It is not distributed with Windows 7 media, but is offered as a free download to users of the Professional, Enterprise and Ultimate editions from Microsoft’s web site. Users of Home Premium who want Windows XP functionality on their systems can download Windows Virtual PC free of charge, but must provide their own licensed copy of Windows XP. XP Mode is intended for consumers rather than enterprises, as it offers no central management capabilities. Microsoft Enterprise Desktop Virtualization (Med-V) is available for the enterprise market.
• Native support for Hyper-V virtual machines through the inclusion of VMBus integration drivers.^[140]
• AVCHD camera support and Universal Video Class 1.1
• Protected Broadcast Driver Architecture (PBDA) for TV tuner cards, first implemented in Windows Media Center TV Pack 2008 for Windows Vista.
• Multi-function devices and Device Containers: Prior to Windows 7, every device attached to the system was treated as a single functional end-point, known as a devnode, that has a set of capabilities and a «status». While this is appropriate for single-function devices (such as a keyboard or scanner), it does not accurately represent multi-function devices such as a combined printer, fax machine, and scanner, or web-cams with a built-in microphone. In Windows 7, the drivers and status information for multi-function device can be grouped together as a single «Device Container», which is presented to the user in the new «Devices and Printers» Control Panel as a single unit. This capability is provided by a new Plug and Play property, ContainerID, which is a Globally Unique Identifier that is different for every instance of a physical device. The Container ID can be embedded within the device by the manufacturer, or created by Windows and associated with each devnode when it is first connected to the computer. In order to ensure the uniqueness of the generated Container ID, Windows will attempt to use information unique to the device, such as a MAC address or USB serial number. Devices connected to the computer via USB, IEEE 1394 (FireWire), eSATA, PCI Express, Bluetooth, and Windows Rally’s PnP-X support can make use of Device Containers.^[141]

• Windows 7 will also contain a new FireWire (IEEE 1394) stack that fully supports IEEE 1394b with S800, S1600 and S3200 data rates.^[142][143]

• The ability to join a domain offline.^[144]
• Service Control Manager in conjunction with the Windows Task Scheduler supports trigger-start services.^[145]

See also[edit]

• New features by Windows version:
  • XP
  • Vista
  • 7
  • 8
  • 10
  • 11
• Removed features by Windows version:
  • XP
  • Vista
  • 7
  • 8
  • 10
  • 11

References[edit]

External links[edit]

• What’s New in Windows 7 for IT Pros (RC)
• Windows 7 Support

Some of the new features included in Windows 7 are advancements in touch, speech^[1] and handwriting recognition, support for virtual hard disks, support for additional file formats, improved performance on multi-core processors,^[2] improved boot performance, and kernel improvements.

Shell and user interface[edit]

Windows 7 retains the Windows Aero graphical user interface and visual style introduced in its predecessor, Windows Vista, but many areas have seen enhancements. Unlike Windows Vista, window borders and the taskbar do not turn opaque when a window is maximized while Windows Aero is active; instead, they remain translucent.

Desktop[edit]

Themes[edit]

Support for themes has been extended in Windows 7.^[3] In addition to providing options to customize colors of window chrome and other aspects of the interface including the desktop background, icons, mouse cursors, and sound schemes, the operating system also includes a native desktop slideshow feature. A new theme pack extension has been introduced, .themepack, which is essentially a collection of cabinet files that consist of theme resources including background images, color preferences, desktop icons, mouse cursors, and sound schemes.^[4] The new theme extension simplifies sharing of themes and can also display desktop wallpapers via RSS feeds provided by the Windows RSS Platform.^[4] Microsoft provides additional themes for free through its website.^[3]

The default theme in Windows 7 consists of a single desktop wallpaper named «Harmony» and the default desktop icons, mouse cursors, and sound scheme introduced in Windows Vista; however, none of the desktop backgrounds included with Windows Vista are present in Windows 7. New themes include Architecture, Characters, Landscapes, Nature, and Scenes, and an additional country-specific theme that is determined based on the defined locale when the operating system is installed; although only the theme for a user’s home country is displayed within the user interface, the files for all of these other country-specific themes are included in the operating system.^[5] All themes included in Windows 7—excluding the default theme—include six wallpaper images.^[3] A number of new sound schemes (each associated with an included theme) have also been introduced: Afternoon, Calligraphy, Characters, Cityscape, Delta, Festival, Garden, Heritage, Landscape, Quirky, Raga, Savana, and Sonata.^[6][7] Themes may introduce their own custom sounds, which can be used with others themes as well.^[8]

Desktop Slideshow[edit]

Windows 7 introduces a desktop slideshow feature that periodically changes the desktop wallpaper based on a user-defined interval; the change is accompanied by a smooth fade transition with a duration that can be customized via the Windows Registry.^[9] The desktop slideshow feature supports local images and images obtained via RSS.^[10][11]

Gadgets[edit]

With Windows Vista, Microsoft introduced gadgets to display information such as image slideshows and RSS feeds on the user’s desktop; the gadgets could optionally be displayed on a sidebar docked to a side of the screen.^[13] In Windows 7, the sidebar has been removed, but gadgets can still be placed on the desktop.^[13] Gadgets can be brought to the foreground on top of active applications by pressing ⊞ Win+G.^[13] Several new features for gadgets are introduced, including new desktop context menu options to access gadgets and hide all active gadgets; high DPI support; and a feature that can automatically rearrange a gadget based on the position of other gadgets.^[13][14] Additional new features include cached gadget content; optimizations for touch-based devices; and a gadget for Windows Media Center.^[13]

Gadgets are more closely integrated with Windows Explorer, but the gadgets themselves continue to operate in a single sidebar.exe process, unlike in Windows Vista where gadgets could operate in multiple sidebar.exe processes. Active gadgets can also be hidden via a new desktop menu option; Microsoft has stated that this option can result in power-saving benefits.^[14]

Branding and customization[edit]

For original equipment manufacturers and enterprises, Windows 7 natively supports the ability to customize the wallpaper that is displayed during user login. Because the settings to change the wallpaper are available via the Windows Registry, users can also customize this wallpaper.^[15] Options to customize the appearance of interface lighting and shadows are also available.^[16]

Windows Explorer[edit]

Libraries[edit]

Windows Explorer in Windows 7 supports file libraries that aggregate content from various locations – including shared folders on networked systems if the shared folder has been indexed by the host system – and present them in a unified view. The libraries hide the actual location the file is stored in. Searching in a library automatically federates the query to the remote systems, in addition to searching on the local system, so that files on the remote systems are also searched. Unlike search folders, Libraries are backed by a physical location which allows files to be saved in the Libraries. Such files are transparently saved in the backing physical folder. The default save location for a library may be configured by the user, as can the default view layout for each library. Libraries are generally stored in the Libraries special folder, which allows them to be displayed on the navigation pane.

By default, a new user account in Windows 7 contains four libraries for different file types: Documents, Music, Pictures, and Videos. They are configured to include the user’s profile folders for these respective file types, as well as the computer’s corresponding Public folders. The Public folder also contains a hidden Recorded TV library that appears in the Windows Explorer sidepane when TV is set up in Media Center for the first time.

In addition to aggregating multiple storage locations, Libraries enable Arrangement Views and Search Filter Suggestions. Arrangement Views allow you to pivot your view of the library’s contents based on metadata. For example, selecting the «By Month» view in the Pictures library will display photos in stacks, where each stack represents a month of photos based on the date they were taken. In the Music library, the «By Artist» view will display stacks of albums from the artists in your collection, and browsing into an artist stack will then display the relevant albums.

Search Filter Suggestions are a new feature of the Windows 7 Explorer’s search box. When the user clicks in the search box, a menu shows up below it showing recent searches as well as suggested Advanced Query Syntax filters that the user can type. When one is selected (or typed in manually), the menu will update to show the possible values to filter by for that property, and this list is based on the current location and other parts of the query already typed. For example, selecting the «tags» filter or typing «tags:» into the search box will display the list of possible tag values which will return search results.

Arrangement Views and Search Filter Suggestions are database-backed features which require that all locations in the Library be indexed by the Windows Search service. Local disk locations must be indexed by the local indexer, and Windows Explorer will automatically add locations to the indexing scope when they are included in a library. Remote locations can be indexed by the indexer on another Windows 7 machine, on a Windows machine running Windows Search 4 (such as Windows Vista or Windows Home Server), or on another device that implements the MS-WSP remote query protocol.^[17]

Federated search[edit]

Windows Explorer also supports federating search to external data sources, such as custom databases or web services, that are exposed over the web and described via an OpenSearch definition. The federated location description (called a Search Connector) is provided as an .osdx file. Once installed, the data source becomes queryable directly from Windows Explorer. Windows Explorer features, such as previews and thumbnails, work with the results of a federated search as well.

Miscellaneous shell enhancements[edit]

Windows Explorer has received numerous minor enhancements that improve its overall functionality. The Explorer’s search box and the address bar can be resized. Folders such as those on the desktop or user profile folders can be hidden in the navigation pane to reduce clutter. A new Content view is added, which shows thumbnails and metadata together. A new button to toggle the Preview Pane has been added to the toolbar. The button to create a new folder has been moved from the Organize menu and onto the toolbar. List view provides more space between items than in Windows Vista. Finally, storage space consumption bars that were only present for hard disks in Windows Vista are now shown for removable storage devices.

Other areas of the shell have also received similar fine-tunings: Progress bars and overlay icons may now appear on an application’s button on the taskbar to better alert the user of the status of the application or the work in progress. File types for which property handlers or iFilters are installed are re-indexed by default. Previously, adding submenus to shell context menus or customizing the context menu’s behavior for a certain folder was only possible by installing a form of plug-in known as shell extensions. In Windows 7 however, computer-savvy users can do so by editing Windows Registry and/or desktop.ini files.^[18][19] Additionally, a new shell API was introduced designed to simplify the writing of context menu shell extensions by software developers.^[20][21]

Windows 7 includes native support for burning ISO files. The functionality is available when a user selects the Burn disc image option within the context menu of an ISO file. Support for disc image verification is also included. In previous versions of Windows, users were required to install third-party software to burn ISO images.^[22]

[edit]

The start button now has a fade-in highlight effect when the user hovers over it with the mouse cursor. The right column of the Start menu is now prominently the Aero Glass color; in Windows Vista, it was predominantly black regardless of the color in use.

Windows 7’s Start menu retains the two-column layout of its predecessors, with several functional changes:

• Documents, Music, and Pictures now link to their respective Libraries
• Jump Lists are presented in the Start Menu via a guillemet; when the user moves the mouse cursor over the guillemet or presses the → arrow key, the right-hand side of the Start menu is widened and replaced with the application’s Jump List.
• New links include Devices and Printers (a new Device Manager), Downloads, HomeGroup, Recorded TV, and Videos
• Search has been updated to display results for Control Panel category keywords, federated searches, HomeGroup locations, Libraries, network shares, and Sticky Notes
• Search results now group items in groups of three, and users can click a group to open Windows Explorer to see additional items that match the criteria
• The iconographic Shut Down button of Windows Vista has been replaced with a text link to indicate the action that will be taken when the button is clicked; the default action is now configurable through Taskbar and Start Menu Properties.

Group Policy settings for Windows Explorer provide the ability for administrators of an Active Directory domain to add up to five Internet Web sites and five additional «search connectors» to the Search Results view in the Start menu. The links, which appear at the bottom of the pane, allow the search to be executed again on the selected web site or search connector. Microsoft suggests that network administrators could use this feature to enable searching of corporate Intranets or an internal SharePoint server.^[23]

Taskbar[edit]

The Windows Taskbar has seen its most significant revision since its introduction in Windows 95 and combines the previous Quick Launch functionality with open application window icons. The taskbar is now rendered as an Aero glass element whose color can be changed via the Personalization Control Panel. It is 10 pixels taller than in Windows Vista to accommodate touch screen input and a new larger default icon size (although a smaller taskbar size is available), as well as maintain proportion to newer high resolution monitor modes.^[24] Running applications are denoted by a border frame around the icon. Within this border, a color effect (dependent on the predominant color of the icon) that follows the mouse cursor also indicates the opened status of the application. The glass taskbar is more translucent than in Windows Vista. Taskbar buttons show icons by default, not application titles, unless they are set to ‘not combine’, or ‘combine when taskbar is full.’ In this case, only icons are shown when the application is not running. Programs running or pinned on the taskbar can be rearranged. Items in the notification area can also be rearranged.

Pinned applications[edit]

The Quick Launch toolbar has been removed from the default configuration, but may be easily added.^[25] The Windows 7 taskbar is more application-oriented than window-oriented, and therefore doesn’t show window titles (these are shown when an application icon is clicked or hovered over). Applications can now be pinned to the taskbar allowing the user instant access to the applications they commonly use. There are a few ways to pin applications to the taskbar. Icons can be dragged and dropped onto the taskbar, or the application’s icon can be right-clicked to pin it to the taskbar.

Thumbnail previews[edit]

Thumbnail previews which were introduced in Windows Vista have been expanded to not only preview the windows opened by the application in a small-sized thumbnail view, but to also interact with them. The user can close any window opened by clicking the X on the corresponding thumbnail preview. The name of the window is also shown in the thumbnail preview. A «peek» at the window is obtained by hovering over the thumbnail preview. Peeking brings up only the window of the thumbnail preview over which the mouse cursor hovers, and turns any other windows on the desktop transparent. This also works for tabs in Internet Explorer: individual tabs may be peeked at in the thumbnail previews. Thumbnail previews integrate Thumbnail Toolbars^[26] which can control the application from the thumbnail previews themselves. For example, if Windows Media Player is opened and the mouse cursor is hovering on the application icon, the thumbnail preview will allow the user the ability to Play, Stop, and Play Next/Previous track without having to switch to the Windows Media Player window.

Jump lists[edit]

Jump lists are menu options available by right-clicking a taskbar icon or holding the left mouse button and sliding towards the center of the desktop on an icon. Each application has a jump list corresponding to its features, Microsoft Word’s displaying recently opened documents; Windows Media Player’s recent tracks and playlists; frequently opened directories in Windows Explorer; Internet Explorer’s recent browsing history and options for opening new tabs or starting InPrivate Browsing; Windows Live Messenger’s common tasks such as instant messaging, signing off, and changing online status. Third-party software can add custom actions through a dedicated API. Up to 10 menu items may appear on a list, partially customizable by user. Frequently used files and folders can be pinned by the user as to not get usurped from the list if others are opened more frequently.^[27][28]

Task progress[edit]

Progress bar in taskbar’s tasks allows users to know the progress of a task without switching to the pending window.^[29] Task progress is used in Windows Explorer, Internet Explorer and third-party software.

Notification area[edit]

The notification area has been redesigned; the standard Volume, Network, Power and Action Center status icons are present, but no other application icons are shown unless the user has chosen them to be shown. A new «Notification Area Icons» control panel has been added which replaces the «Customize Notification Icons» dialog box in the «Taskbar and Start Menu Properties» window first introduced in Windows XP. In addition to being able to configure whether the application icons are shown, the ability to hide each application’s notification balloons has been added. The user can then view the notifications at a later time.

A triangle to the left of the visible notification icons displays the hidden notification icons. Unlike Windows Vista and Windows XP, the hidden icons are displayed in a window above the taskbar, instead of on the taskbar. Icons can be dragged between this window and the notification area.

Aero Peek[edit]

In previous versions of Windows, the taskbar ended with the notification area on the right-hand side. Windows 7, however, introduces a show desktop button on the far right side of the taskbar which can initiate an Aero Peek feature that makes all open windows translucent when hovered over by a mouse cursor. Clicking this button shows the desktop, and clicking it again brings all windows to focus. The new button replaces the show desktop shortcut located in the Quick Launch toolbar in previous versions of Windows.^[30]

On touch-based devices, Aero Peek can be initiated by pressing and holding the show desktop button; touching the button itself shows the desktop. The button also increases in width to accommodate being pressed by a finger.^[31]

Window management mouse gestures[edit]

Aero Snap[edit]

Windows can be dragged to the top of the screen to maximize them and dragged away to restore them. Dragging a window to the left or right of the screen makes it take up half the screen, allowing the user to tile two windows next to each other. Also, resizing the window to the bottom of the screen or its top will extend the window to full height but retain its width.^[32] These features can be disabled via the Ease of Access Center if users do not wish the windows to automatically resize.^[33]

Aero Shake[edit]

Aero Shake allows users to clear up any clutter on their screen by shaking (dragging back and forth) a window of their choice with the mouse. All other windows will minimize, while the window the user shook stays active on the screen.^[34] When the window is shaken again, all previously minimized windows are restored, similar to desktop preview.

Keyboard shortcuts[edit]

A variety of new keyboard shortcuts have been introduced.^{[35][36]
[37]}

Global keyboard shortcuts:

• ⊞ Win+Space bar operates as a keyboard shortcut for Aero Peek.
• ⊞ Win+↑ maximizes the current window.
• ⊞ Win+↓ if current window is maximized, restores it; otherwise minimizes current window.
• ⊞ Win+⇧ Shift+↑ makes upper and lower edge of current window nearly touch the upper and lower edge of the Windows desktop environment, respectively.
• ⊞ Win+⇧ Shift+↓ restores the original size of the current window.
• ⊞ Win+← snaps the current window to the left edge of the screen.
• ⊞ Win+→ snaps the current window to the right half of the screen.
• ⊞ Win+⇧ Shift+← and ⊞ Win+⇧ Shift+→ move the current window to the left or right display.
• ⊞ Win++ functions as zoom in command wherever applicable.
• ⊞ Win+− functions as zoom out command wherever applicable.
• ⊞ Win+ESC turn off zoom once enabled.
• ⊞ Win+Home operates as a keyboard shortcut for Aero Shake.
• ⊞ Win+P Opens Connect to a Network Projector, which has been updated from previous versions of Windows, and allows one to dictate where the desktop is displayed: on the main monitor, an external display, both; or allows one to display two independent desktops on two separate monitors.

Taskbar:

• Shift + Click, or Middle click starts a new instance of the application, regardless of whether it’s already running.
• Ctrl + Shift + Click starts a new instance with Administrator privileges; by default, a User Account Control prompt will be displayed.
• Shift + Right-click (or right-clicking the program’s thumbnail) shows the titlebar’s context menu which, by default, contains «Restore», «Move», «Size», «Maximize», «Minimize» and «Close» commands. If the icon being clicked on is a grouped icon, a specialized context menu with «Restore All», «Minimize All», and «Close All» commands is shown.
• Ctrl + Click on a grouped icon cycles between the windows (or tabs) in the group.

Font management[edit]

The user interface for font management has been overhauled in Windows 7. As with Windows Vista, the collection of installed fonts is displayed in a Windows Explorer window, but fonts that originate from the same font family appear as icons that are represented as stacks that display font previews within the interface. Windows 7 also introduces the option to hide installed fonts; certain fonts are automatically removed from view based on a user’s regional settings.^[38] An option to manually hide installed fonts is also available. Hidden fonts remain installed but are not enumerated when an application asks for a list of available fonts, thus reducing the amount of fonts to scroll through within the interface and also reducing memory usage.^[39] Windows 7 includes over 40 new fonts,^[40] including a new «Gabriola» font.^[39][41]

The dialog box for fonts in Windows 7 has also been updated to display font previews within the interface, which allows users to preview fonts before selecting them. Previous versions of windows only displayed the name of the font.^[42][43]

The ClearType Text Tuner which was previously available as a Microsoft Powertoy for earlier Windows versions has been integrated into, and updated for Windows 7.

Microsoft would later backport Windows 8 Emoji features to Windows 7.^[44]

Devices[edit]

There are two major new user interface components for device management in Windows 7, «Devices and Printers» and «Device Stage». Both of these are integrated with Windows Explorer, and together provide a simplified view of what devices are connected to the computer, and what capabilities they support.

Devices and Printers[edit]

Devices and Printers is a new Control Panel interface that is directly accessible from the Start menu. Unlike the Device Manager Control Panel applet, which is still present, the icons shown on the Devices and Printers screen are limited to components of the system that a non-expert user will recognize as plug-in devices. For example, an external monitor connected to the system will be displayed as a device, but the internal monitor on a laptop will not. Device-specific features are available through the context menu for each device; an external monitor’s context menu, for example, provides a link to the «Display Settings» control panel.

This new Control Panel applet also replaces the «Printers» window in prior versions of Windows; common printer operations such as setting the default printer, installing or removing printers, and configuring properties such as paper size are done through this control panel.

Windows 7 and Server 2008 R2 introduce print driver isolation, which improves the reliability of the print spooler by running printer drivers in a separate process to the spooler service. If a third party print driver fails while isolated, it does not impact other drivers or the print spooler service.

Device Stage[edit]

Device Stage provides a centralized location for an externally connected multi-function device to present its functionality to the user. When a device such as a portable music player is connected to the system, the device appears as an icon on the task bar, as well as in Windows Explorer.

Windows 7 ships with high-resolution images of a number of popular devices, and is capable of connecting to the Internet to download images of devices it doesn’t recognize. Opening the icon presents a window that displays actions relevant to that device. Screenshots of the technology presented by Microsoft suggest that a mobile phone could offer options for two-way synchronization, configuring ring-tones, copying pictures and videos, managing the device in Windows Media Player, and using Windows Explorer to navigate through the device.^[45] Other device status information such as free memory and battery life can also be shown. The actual per-device functionality is defined via XML files that are downloaded when the device is first connected to the computer, or are provided by the manufacturer on an installation disc.^[46]

Mobility enhancements[edit]

Multi-touch support[edit]

Hilton Locke, who worked on the Tablet PC team at Microsoft, reported on December 11, 2007 that Windows 7 will have new touch features on devices supporting multi-touch. An overview and demonstration of the multi-touch capabilities, including a virtual piano program, a mapping and directions program and a touch-aware version of Microsoft Paint, was given at the All Things Digital Conference on May 27, 2008; a video of the multi-touch capabilities was made available on the web later the same day.^[47]

Sensors[edit]

Windows 7 introduces native support for sensors, including accelerometer sensors, ambient light sensors, and location-based sensors;^[48] the operating system also provides a unified driver model for sensor devices.^[49] A notable use of this technology in Windows 7 is the operating system’s adaptive display brightness feature, which automatically adjusts the brightness of a compatible computer’s display based on environmental light conditions and factors.^[50] Gadgets developed for Windows 7 can also display location-based information.^[51] Applications for certain sensor capabilities can be developed without the requisite hardware.^[52]

Because data acquired by some sensors can be considered personally identifiable information, all sensors are disabled by default in Windows 7, and an account in Windows 7 requires administrative permissions to enable a sensor. Sensors also require user consent to share location data.^[49]

Power management[edit]

Battery notification messages[edit]

Unlike previous versions of Windows, Windows 7 is able to report when a laptop battery is in need of a replacement. The operating system works with design capabilities present in modern laptop batteries to report this information.^[53]

Hibernation improvements[edit]

The powercfg command enables the customization of the hibernation file size. By default, Windows 7 automatically sets the size of the hibernation file to 75% of a computer’s total physical memory. The operating system also compresses the contents of memory during the hibernate process to minimize the possibility that the contents exceeds the default size of the hibernation file.^[54]

Power analysis and reporting[edit]

Windows 7 introduces a new /Energy parameter for the powercfg command, which generates an HTML report of a computer’s energy efficiency and displays information related to devices or settings.^[55]

USB suspension[edit]

Windows 7 can individually suspend USB hubs and supports selective suspend for all in-box USB class drivers.^[56]

Graphics[edit]

DirectX[edit]

• Direct3D 11 is included with Windows 7. It is a strict super-set of Direct3D 10.1, which was introduced in Windows Vista Service Pack 1 and Windows Server 2008.
• Direct2D and DirectWrite, new hardware-accelerated vector graphics and font rendering APIs built on top of Direct3D 10 that are intended to replace GDI/GDI+ for screen-oriented native-code graphics and text drawing. They can be used from managed applications with the Windows API Code Pack
• Windows Advanced Rasterization Platform (WARP), a software rasterizer component for DirectX that provides all of the capabilities of Direct3D 10.0 and 10.1 in software.^[57]
• DirectX Video Acceleration-High Definition (DXVA-HD)^[58]

Direct3D 11, Direct2D, DirectWrite, DXGI 1.1, WARP and several other components are currently available for Windows Vista SP2 and Windows Server 2008 SP2 by installing the Platform Update for Windows Vista.^[59]

Desktop Window Manager[edit]

First introduced in Windows Vista, the Desktop Window Manager (DWM) in Windows 7 has been updated to use version 10.1 of Direct3D API, and its performance has been improved significantly.^[60]

The Desktop Window Manager still requires at least a Direct3D 9-capable video card (supported with new D3D10_FEATURE_LEVEL_9_n^[61] device type introduced with the Direct3D 11 runtime).

With a video driver conforming to Windows Display Driver Model v1.1, DXGI kernel in Windows 7 provides 2D hardware acceleration to APIs such as GDI, Direct2D and DirectWrite (though GDI+ was not updated to use this functionality). This allows DWM to use significantly lower amounts of system memory, which do not grow regardless of how many windows are opened, like it was in Windows Vista.^[62] Systems equipped with a WDDM 1.0 video card will operate in the same fashion as in Windows Vista, using software-only rendering.

The Desktop Window Manager in Windows 7 also adds support for systems using multiple heterogeneous graphics cards from different vendors.^[63]

Other changes[edit]

Support for color depths of 30 and 48 bits is included, along with the wide color gamut scRGB (which for HDMI 1.3 can be converted and output as xvYCC). The video modes supported in Windows 7 are 16-bit sRGB, 24-bit sRGB, 30-bit sRGB, 30-bit with extended color gamut sRGB, and 48-bit scRGB.^[64][65]

Each user of Windows 7 and Server 2008 R2 has individual DPI settings, rather than the machine having a single setting as in previous versions of Windows. DPI settings can be changed by logging on and off, without needing to restart.^[66]

File system[edit]

Solid state drives[edit]

Over time, several technologies have been incorporated into subsequent versions of Windows to improve the performance of the operating system on traditional hard disk drives (HDD) with rotating platters. Since Solid state drives (SSD) differ from mechanical HDDs in some key areas (no moving parts, write amplification, limited number of erase cycles allowed for reliable operation), it is beneficial to disable certain optimizations and add others, specifically for SSDs.

Windows 7 incorporates many engineering changes to reduce the frequency of writes and flushes, which benefit SSDs in particular since each write operation wears the flash memory.

Windows 7 also makes use of the TRIM command. If supported by the SSD (not implemented on early devices), this optimizes when erase cycles are performed, reducing the need to erase blocks before each write and increasing write performance.

Several tools and techniques that were implemented in the past to reduce the impact of the rotational latency of traditional HDDs, most notably disk defragmentation, SuperFetch, ReadyBoost, and application launch prefetching, involve reorganizing (rewriting) the data on the platters. Since SSDs have no moving platters, this reorganization has no advantages, and may instead shorten the life of the solid state memory. Therefore, these tools are by default disabled on SSDs in Windows 7, except for some early generation SSDs that might still benefit.

Finally, partitions made with Windows 7’s partition-creating tools are created with the SSD’s alignment needs in mind, avoiding unwanted systematic write amplification.^[67]

Virtual hard disks[edit]

The Enterprise and Ultimate editions of Windows 7 incorporate support for the Virtual Hard Disk (VHD) file format. VHD files can be mounted as drives, created, and booted from, in the same way as WIM files.^[68] Furthermore, an installed version of Windows 7 can be booted and run from a VHD drive, even on non-virtual hardware, thereby providing a new way to multi boot Windows. Some features such as hibernation and BitLocker are not available when booting from VHD.

Disk partitioning[edit]

By default, a computer’s disk is partitioned into two partitions: one of limited size for booting, BitLocker and running the Windows Recovery Environment and the second with the operating system and user files.^[69]

Removable media[edit]

Windows 7 has also seen improvements to the Safely Remove Hardware menu, including the ability to eject just one camera card at the same time (from a single hub) and retain the ports for future use without reboot; and the labels of removable media are now also listed, rather than just the drive letter.^[70] Windows Explorer now by default only shows memory card reader ports in My Computer if they contain a card.^[70]

BitLocker to Go[edit]

BitLocker brings encryption support to removable disks such as USB drives. Such devices can be protected by a passphrase, a recovery key, or be automatically unlocked on a computer.^[71]

Boot performance[edit]

According to data gathered from the Microsoft Customer Experience Improvement Program (CEIP), 35% of Vista SP1 installations boot up in 30 seconds or less. The more lengthy boot times on the remainder of the machines are mainly due to some services or programs that are loaded but are not required when the system is first started. Microsoft’s Mike Fortin, a distinguished engineer on the Windows team, noted in August 2008 that Microsoft has set aside a team to work solely on the issue, and that team aims to «significantly increase the number of systems that experience very good boot times». They «focused very hard on increasing parallelism of driver initialization». Also, Microsoft aims to «dramatically reduce» the number of system services, along with their demands on processors, storage, and memory.^[72]

Kernel and scheduling improvements[edit]

User-mode scheduler[edit]

The 64-bit versions of Windows 7 and Server 2008 R2 introduce a user-mode scheduling framework.^[73] On Microsoft Windows operating systems, scheduling of threads inside a process is handled by the kernel, ntoskrnl.exe. While for most applications this is sufficient, applications with large concurrent threading requirements, such as a database server, can benefit from having a thread scheduler in-process. This is because the kernel no longer needs to be involved in context switches between threads, and it obviates the need for a thread pool mechanism, as threads can be created and destroyed much more quickly when no kernel context switches are required.^[74]

Prior to Windows 7, Windows used a one-to-one user thread to kernel-thread relationship.^[75][76] It was of course always possible to cobble together a rough many-to-one user-scheduler (with user-level timer interrupts) but if a system call was blocked on any one of the user threads, it would block the kernel thread and accordingly block all other user threads on the same scheduler.^[74] A many-to-one model could not take full advantage of symmetric multiprocessing.

With Windows 7’s user-mode scheduling, a program may configure one or more kernel threads as a scheduler supplied by a programming language library (one per logical processor desired) and then create a user-mode thread pool from which these UMS can draw. The kernel maintains a list of outstanding system calls which allows the UMS to continue running without blocking the kernel thread. This configuration can be used as either many-to-one or many-to-many.

There are several benefits to a user mode scheduler. Context switching in User Mode can be faster. UMS also introduces cooperative multitasking. Having customizable scheduler also gives more control over thread execution.^[77]

Memory management and CPU parallelism[edit]

• The memory manager is optimized to mitigate the problem of total memory consumption in the event of excessive cached read operations, which occurred on earlier releases of 64-bit Windows.^[78]

• Support for up to 256 logical processors^[79]
• Fewer hardware locks and greater parallelism^[80]
• Timer coalescing: modern processors and chipsets can switch to very low power usage levels while the CPU is idle. In order to reduce the number of times the CPU enters and exits idle states, Windows 7 introduces the concept of «timer coalescing»; multiple applications or device drivers which perform actions on a regular basis can be set to occur at once, instead of each action being performed on their own schedule. This facility is available in both kernel mode, via the KeSetCoalesableTimer API (which would be used in place of KeSetTimerEx), and in user mode with the SetWaitableTimerEx Windows API call (which replaces SetWaitableTimer).^[81]

Multimedia[edit]

Windows Media Center[edit]

Windows Media Center in Windows 7 has retained much of the design and feel of its predecessor, but with a variety of user interface shortcuts and browsing capabilities.^[82] Playback of H.264 video both locally and through a Media Center Extender (including the Xbox 360) is supported.

Some notable enhancements in Windows 7 Media Center include a new mini guide, a new scrub bar, the option to color code the guide by show type, and internet content that is more tightly integrated with regular TV via the guide. All Windows 7 versions now support up to four tuners of each type (QAM, ATSC, CableCARD, NTSC, etc.).

When browsing the media library, items that don’t have album art are shown in a range of foreground and background color combinations instead of using white text on a blue background. When the left or right remote control buttons are held down to browse the library quickly, a two-letter prefix of the current album name is prominently shown as a visual aid. The Picture Library includes new slideshow capabilities, and individual pictures can be rated.

Also, while browsing a media library, a new column appears at the top named «Shared.» This allows users to access shared media libraries on other Media Center PCs from directly within Media Center.

For television support, the Windows Media Center «TV Pack» released by Microsoft in 2008 is incorporated into Windows Media Center. This includes support for CableCARD and North American (ATSC) clear QAM tuners, as well as creating lists of favorite stations.^[83]

A gadget for Windows Media Center is also included.^[13]

Format support[edit]

Windows 7 includes AVI, WAV, AAC/ADTS file media sinks to read the respective formats,^[84] an MPEG-4 file source to read MP4, M4A, M4V, MP4V MOV and 3GP container formats^[85] and an MPEG-4 file sink to output to MP4 format.^[86] Windows 7 also includes a media source to read MPEG transport stream/BDAV MPEG-2 transport stream (M2TS, MTS, M2T and AVCHD) files.^{[citation needed]}

Transcoding (encoding) support is not exposed through any built-in Windows application but codecs are included as Media Foundation Transforms (MFTs).^[84] In addition to Windows Media Audio and Windows Media Video encoders and decoders, and ASF file sink and file source introduced in Windows Vista,^[84] Windows 7 includes an H.264 encoder with Baseline profile level 3 and Main profile support^[87] and an AAC Low Complexity (AAC-LC) profile encoder.^[88]

For playback of various media formats, Windows 7 also introduces an H.264 decoder with Baseline, Main, and High profiles support, up to level 5.1,^[89] AAC-LC and HE-AAC v1 (SBR) multichannel, HE-AAC v2 (PS) stereo decoders,^[90] MPEG-4 Part 2 Simple Profile and Advanced Simple Profile decoders^[91] which includes decoding popular codec implementations such as DivX, Xvid and Nero Digital as well as MJPEG^[84] and DV^[92] MFT decoders for AVI. Windows Media Player 12 uses the built-in Media Foundation codecs to play these formats by default.

Windows 7 also updates the DirectShow filters introduced in Windows Vista for playback of MPEG-2 and Dolby Digital to decode H.264, AAC, HE-AAC v1 and v2^[93] and Dolby Digital Plus^[94] (including downmixing to Dolby Digital).

Security[edit]

Action Center, formerly Windows Security Center, now encompasses both security and maintenance. It was called Windows Health Center and Windows Solution Center in earlier builds.^{[citation needed]}

A new user interface for User Account Control has been introduced, which provides the ability to select four different levels of notifications, one of these notification settings, Default, is new to Windows 7.^[95] Geo-tracking capabilities are also available in Windows 7. The feature will be disabled by default. When enabled the user will only have limited control as to which applications can track their location.^[96]

The Encrypting File System supports Elliptic-curve cryptographic algorithms (ECC) in Windows 7. For backward compatibility with previous releases of Windows, Windows 7 supports a mixed-mode operation of ECC and RSA algorithms. EFS self-signed certificates, when using ECC, will use 256-bit key by default. EFS can be configured to use 1K/2k/4k/8k/16k-bit keys when using self-signed RSA certificates, or 256/384/512-bit keys when using ECC certificates.

In Windows Vista, the Protected User-Mode Audio (PUMA) content protection facilities are only available to applications that are running in a Protected Media Path environment. Because only the Media Foundation application programming interface could interact with this environment, a media player application had to be designed to use Media Foundation. In Windows 7, this restriction is lifted.^[97] PUMA also incorporates stricter enforcement of «Copy Never» bits when using Serial Copy Management System (SCMS) copy protection over an S/PDIF connection, as well as with High-bandwidth Digital Content Protection (HDCP) over HDMI connections.

Biometrics[edit]

Windows 7 includes the new Windows Biometric Framework.^[98] This framework consists of a set of components that standardizes the use of fingerprint biometric devices. In prior releases of Microsoft Windows, biometric hardware device manufacturers were required to provide a complete stack of software to support their device, including device drivers, software development kits, and support applications. Microsoft noted in a white paper on the Windows Biometric Framework that the proliferation of these proprietary stacks resulted in compatibility issues, compromised the quality and reliability of the system, and made servicing and maintenance more difficult. By incorporating the core biometric functionality into the operating system, Microsoft aims to bring biometric device support on par with other classes of devices.

A new Control Panel called Biometric Device Control Panel is included which provides an interface for deleting stored biometrics information, troubleshooting, and enabling or disabling the types of logins that are allowed using biometrics. Biometrics configuration can also be configured using Group Policy settings.

Networking[edit]

• DirectAccess, a VPN tunnel technology based on IPv6 and IPsec. DirectAccess requires domain-joined machines, Windows Server 2008 R2 on the DirectAccess server, at least Windows Server 2008 domain controllers and a PKI to issue authentication certificates.^[99]
• BranchCache, a WAN optimization technology.^[100]
• The Bluetooth stack includes improvements introduced in the Windows Vista Feature Pack for Wireless, namely, Bluetooth 2.1+EDR support and remote wake from S3 or S4 support for self-powered Bluetooth modules.^[101]
• NDIS 6.20^[102] (Network Driver Interface Specification)
• WWAN (Mobile broadband) support (driver model based on NDIS miniport driver for CDMA and GSM device interfaces, Connection Manager support and Mobile Broadband COM and COM Interop API).
• Wireless Hosted Network capabilities: The Windows 7 wireless LAN service supports two new functions – Virtual Wi-Fi, that allows a single wireless network adapter to act like two client devices,^[103] or a software-based wireless access point (SoftAP) to act as both a wireless hotspot in infrastructure mode and a wireless client at the same time.^[104] This feature is not exposed through the GUI; however the Virtual WiFi Miniport adapter can be installed and enabled for wireless adapters with drivers that support a hosted network by using the command netsh wlan set hostednetwork mode=allow «ssid=<network SSID>» «key=<wlan security key>» keyusage=persistent|temporary at an elevated command prompt.^[105] The wireless SoftAP can afterwards be started using the command netsh wlan start hostednetwork. Windows 7 also supports WPA2-PSK/AES security for the hosted network, but DNS resolution for clients requires it to be used with Internet Connection Sharing or a similar feature.
• SMB 2.1, which includes minor performance enhancements over SMB2, such as a new opportunistic locking mechanism.^[106]
• RDP 7.0^[107]
• Background Intelligent Transfer Service 4.0^[108]

HomeGroup[edit]

Alongside the workgroup system used by previous versions, Windows 7 adds a new ad hoc home networking system known as HomeGroup. The system uses a password to join computers into the group, and allows users’ libraries, along with individual files and folders, to be shared between multiple computers. Only computers running Windows 7 to Windows 10 version 1709 can create or join a HomeGroup;^[109][110] however, users can make files and printers shared in a HomeGroup accessible to Windows XP and Windows Vista through a separate account, dedicated to sharing HomeGroup content, that uses traditional Windows sharing.^[111] HomeGroup support was deprecated in Windows 10^[112] and has been removed from Windows 10 version 1803 and later.^{[113][114][115]}

HomeGroup as a concept is very similar to a feature slated for Windows Vista, known as Castle, which would have made it possible to have an identification service for all members on the network, without a centralized server.

HomeGroup is created in response to the need for a simple sharing model for inexperienced users who need to share files without wrestling with user accounts, Security descriptors and share permissions.^[116] To that end, Microsoft previously created Simple File Sharing mode in Windows XP that, once enabled, caused all connected computers to be authenticated as Guest. Under this model, either a certain file or folder was shared with anyone who connects to the network (even unauthorized parties who are in range of the wireless network) or was not shared at all.^[117] In a HomeGroup, however:

1. Communication between HomeGroup computers is encrypted with a pre-shared password.^[116]
2. A certain file or folder can be shared with the entire HomeGroup (anyone who joins) or a certain person only.^[116]
3. HomeGroup computers can also be a member of a Windows domain or Windows workgroup at the same time and take advantage of those file sharing mechanisms.^[118]
4. Only computers that support HomeGroup (Windows 7 to Windows 10 version 1709) can join the network.^[109][118]

Windows Firewall[edit]

Windows 7 adds support for multiple firewall profiles. The Windows Firewall in Windows Vista dynamically changes which network traffic is allowed or blocked based on the location of the computer (based on which network it is connected to). This approach falls short if the computer is connected to more than one network at the same time (as for a computer with both an Ethernet and a wireless interface). In this case, Vista applies the profile that is more secure to all network connections. This is often not desirable; Windows 7 resolves this by being able to apply a separate firewall profile to each network connection.

DNSSEC[edit]

Windows 7 and Windows Server 2008 R2 introduce support for Domain Name System Security Extensions (DNSSEC),^[119] a set of specifications for securing certain kinds of information provided by the Domain Name System (DNS) as used on Internet Protocol (IP) networks. DNSSEC employs digital signatures to ensure the authenticity of DNS data received from a DNS server, which protect against DNS cache poisoning attacks.

Management features[edit]

Windows 7 contains Windows PowerShell 2.0 out-of-the-box, which is also available as a download to install on older platforms:^[120]

• Windows Troubleshooting Platform
• Windows PowerShell Integrated Scripting Environment
• PowerShell Remoting

Other new management features include:

• AppLocker (a set of Group Policy settings that evolved from Software Restriction Policies, to restrict which applications can run on a corporate network, including the ability to restrict based on the application’s version number or publisher)
• Group Policy Preferences (also available as a download for Windows XP and Windows Vista).
• The Windows Automation API (also available as a download for Windows XP and Windows Vista).

Upgraded components[edit]

Windows 7 includes Internet Explorer 8,^[121] .NET Framework 3.5 SP1,^[122] Internet Information Services (IIS) 7.5,^[123] Windows Installer 5.0 and a standalone XPS Viewer.^[124][125] Paint, Calculator, Resource Monitor, on-screen keyboard, and WordPad have also been updated.

Paint and WordPad feature a Ribbon interface similar to the one introduced in Office 2007, with both sporting several new features. WordPad supports Office Open XML and ODF file formats.^[126]

Calculator has been rewritten, with multiline capabilities including Programmer and Statistics modes, unit conversion, and date calculations. Calculator was also given a graphical facelift, the first since Windows 95 in 1995 and Windows NT 4.0 in 1996.

Sticky Notes of Windows XP Tablet PC Edition 2002 and the similar Sticky Notes Gadget introduced in Windows Vista have been replaced with a new Sticky Notes application that supports new Windows 7 taskbar features — a thumbnail preview of a stack representing all minimized notes, and Jump Lists on the taskbar and Start menu to create a New Note — and full-text-based search in the Windows Shell through an IFilter and protocol handler for all notes. Real-time stylus (both pen and touch input) is also supported.^[127]

Resource Monitor includes an improved RAM usage display and supports display of TCP/IP ports being listened to, filtering processes using networking, filtering processes with disk activity and listing and searching process handles (e.g. files used by a process) and loaded modules (files required by an executable file, e.g. DLL files).

Microsoft Magnifier, an accessibility utility for low vision users has been dramatically improved. Magnifier now supports the full screen zoom feature, whereas previous Windows versions had the Magnifier attached to the top of the screen in a dock layout. The new full screen feature is enabled by default, however, it requires Windows Aero for the advantage of the full screen zoom feature. If Windows is set to the Windows 7 Basic, Windows Classic, or High Contrast themes, Magnifier will still function like it did in Windows Vista and earlier.

Windows Installer 5.0 supports installing and configuring Windows Services,^[128] and provides developers with more control over setting permissions during software installation.^[129] Neither of these features will be available for prior versions of Windows; custom actions to support these features will continue to be required for Windows Installer packages that need to implement these features.

Other features[edit]

• Windows 7 improves the Tablet PC Input Panel to make faster corrections using new gestures, supports text prediction in the soft keyboard and introduces a new Math Input Panel for inputting math into programs that support MathML.^[130] It recognizes handwritten math expressions and formulas. Additional language support for handwriting recognition can be gained by installing the respective MUI pack for that language (also called language pack).
• Windows 7 introduces a new Problem Steps Recorder tool that enables users to record their interaction with software for analysis and support. The feature can be used to replicate a problem to show support when and where a problem occurred.^[131]
• As opposed to the blank start-up screen in Windows Vista, Windows 7’s start-up screen consists of an animation featuring four colored light balls (one red, one yellow, one green, and one blue). They twirl around for a few seconds and then merge to form a glowing Windows logo. This only occurs on displays with a vertical resolution of 768 pixels or higher, as the animation is 1024×768. Any screen with a resolution below this displays the same startup screen that Vista used.
• The Starter Edition of Windows 7 can run an unlimited number of applications, compared to only 3 in Windows Vista Starter. Microsoft had initially intended to ship Windows 7 Starter Edition with this limitation, but announced after the release of the Release Candidate that this restriction would not be imposed in the final release.^[132]

• For developers, Windows 7 includes a new networking API with support for building SOAP-based web services in native code (as opposed to .NET-based WCF web services),^[133] new features to shorten application install times, reduced UAC prompts, simplified development of installation packages,^[134] and improved globalization support through a new Extended Linguistic Services API.^[135]
• If an application crashes twice in a row, Windows 7 will automatically attempt to apply a shim. If an application fails to install a similar self-correcting fix, a tool that asks some questions about the application launches.^[136]
• Windows 7 includes an optional TIFF IFilter that enables indexing of TIFF documents by reading them with optical character recognition (OCR), thus making their text content searchable. TIFF iFilter supports Adobe TIFF Revision 6.0 specifications and four compression schemes: LZW, JPEG, CCITT v4, CCITT v6^[137]
• The Windows Console now adheres to the current Windows theme, instead of showing controls from the Windows Classic theme.
• Games Internet Spades, Internet Backgammon and Internet Checkers, which were removed from Windows Vista, were restored in Windows 7.
• Users can disable many more Windows components than was possible in Windows Vista. The new components which can now be disabled include: Handwriting Recognition, Internet Explorer, Windows DVD Maker, Windows Fax and Scan, Windows Gadget Platform Windows Media Center, Windows Media Player, Windows Search, and the XPS Viewer (with its services).^[138]
• Windows XP Mode is a fully functioning copy of 32-bit Windows XP Professional SP3 running in a virtual machine in Windows Virtual PC (as opposed to Hyper-V) running on top of Windows 7. Through the use of the RDP protocol, it allows applications incompatible with Windows 7 to be run on the underlying Windows XP virtual machine, but still to appear to be part of the Windows 7 desktop,^[139] thereby sharing the native Start Menu of Windows 7 as well as participating in file type associations. It is not distributed with Windows 7 media, but is offered as a free download to users of the Professional, Enterprise and Ultimate editions from Microsoft’s web site. Users of Home Premium who want Windows XP functionality on their systems can download Windows Virtual PC free of charge, but must provide their own licensed copy of Windows XP. XP Mode is intended for consumers rather than enterprises, as it offers no central management capabilities. Microsoft Enterprise Desktop Virtualization (Med-V) is available for the enterprise market.
• Native support for Hyper-V virtual machines through the inclusion of VMBus integration drivers.^[140]
• AVCHD camera support and Universal Video Class 1.1
• Protected Broadcast Driver Architecture (PBDA) for TV tuner cards, first implemented in Windows Media Center TV Pack 2008 for Windows Vista.
• Multi-function devices and Device Containers: Prior to Windows 7, every device attached to the system was treated as a single functional end-point, known as a devnode, that has a set of capabilities and a «status». While this is appropriate for single-function devices (such as a keyboard or scanner), it does not accurately represent multi-function devices such as a combined printer, fax machine, and scanner, or web-cams with a built-in microphone. In Windows 7, the drivers and status information for multi-function device can be grouped together as a single «Device Container», which is presented to the user in the new «Devices and Printers» Control Panel as a single unit. This capability is provided by a new Plug and Play property, ContainerID, which is a Globally Unique Identifier that is different for every instance of a physical device. The Container ID can be embedded within the device by the manufacturer, or created by Windows and associated with each devnode when it is first connected to the computer. In order to ensure the uniqueness of the generated Container ID, Windows will attempt to use information unique to the device, such as a MAC address or USB serial number. Devices connected to the computer via USB, IEEE 1394 (FireWire), eSATA, PCI Express, Bluetooth, and Windows Rally’s PnP-X support can make use of Device Containers.^[141]

• Windows 7 will also contain a new FireWire (IEEE 1394) stack that fully supports IEEE 1394b with S800, S1600 and S3200 data rates.^[142][143]

• The ability to join a domain offline.^[144]
• Service Control Manager in conjunction with the Windows Task Scheduler supports trigger-start services.^[145]

See also[edit]

• New features by Windows version:
  • XP
  • Vista
  • 7
  • 8
  • 10
  • 11
• Removed features by Windows version:
  • XP
  • Vista
  • 7
  • 8
  • 10
  • 11

References[edit]

External links[edit]

• What’s New in Windows 7 for IT Pros (RC)
• Windows 7 Support

Что такое операционная система?

Операционная система (ОС) — главная программа, управляющая работой ПК, благодаря которой становится возможным общение между компьютером и человеком. Иначе говоря, под операционной системой понимается набор программ, обеспечивающих диалог пользователя с компьютером в форме команд. Любая программа, написанная для работы совместно с операционной системой, называется ее приложением. Каждая ОС состоит из трех обязательных частей.

• ядро — командный интерпретатор, «переводчик» с программного языка на язык машинных кодов. То есть ОС принимает на себя команды, которые посылают другие программы, и «переводит» их на понятный машине язык электрических сигналов.
• драйверы устройств и системные библиотеки — специализированные программы для управления различными устройствами, входящими в состав компьютера. С их помощью ОС управляет всеми подключенными к компьютеру устройствами, обеспечивая доступ к ним другим программам.
• графический интерфейс — оболочка, с которой общается пользователь. От интерфейса ОС зависит удобство работы человека с компьютером.

В настоящее время во всем мире в ПК наиболее широко используется операционная система Microsoft (MS) Windows 7. Среди основных достоинств, определяющих популярность этой системы, можно выделить удобный графический интерфейс, возможность параллельной работы множества программ, автоматическую настройку нового оборудования и полную интеграцию с Интернетом. Windows 7 поддерживает большое число аппаратных устройств и позволяет легко и удобно обрабатывать документы, видеофильмы, фотографии и музыку. Все сказанное — только краткое и далеко не полное перечисление возможностей системы.

Запуск Windows 7

Запуск Windows 7 происходит автоматически после включения компьютера. После загрузки ОС на экране появляется графическая оболочка (интерфейс) Windows 7 и вы видите главное окно Windows, называемое Рабочий стол (рис.5.1).

На Рабочем столе могут находиться различные элементы, основными из которых являются: Панель задач, Значки (пиктограммы, ярлыки) программ, документов, папок или ярлыков, например, пиктограммы Корзина, Microsoft Word и другие.

Элементы интерфейса

Способ взаимодействия пользователя с компьютером называется интерфейсом . Windows 7 использует графический интерфейс. Основу его составляют окна.

Панель задач

В нижней части Рабочего стола находится Панель задач ( рис. 5.2).

Она содержит:

• кнопку Пуск, которая обеспечивает доступ к Главному меню Windows 7. Эта кнопка служит для быстрого запуска программ и поиска файлов, а также доступа к справке.
• кнопки работающих в данный момент программ (приложений). Так, на рис. 5.2 мы видим, что запущено одно приложение — текстовый редактор MS Word.
• Панель индикации с кнопками для переключения алфавита, установки режимов работы экрана, изменения даты и времени, увеличения или уменьшения громкости звука. На этой панели Индикатор раскладки клавиатуры показывает текущий язык для работы на ПК, а также позволяет сменить язык (раскладку клавиатуры).

Главное меню Windows 7

После того как нажата кнопка Пуск, открывается Главное меню операционной системы Windows 7 (рис. 5.3 ).

Запуск программ

Программу можно запустить различными способами.

• Для запуск программ из Главного меню выберите в Главном меню пункт Все программы , а затем в данном подменю выберите нужную программу для запуска и щелкните на ее названии левой кнопкой мышки.
• На Рабочем столе выделите значок (иконку, пиктограмму) нужной вам программы и нажмите на клавиатуре на клавишу Enter или дважды подряд нажмите и отпустите левую клавишу мыши.

Знать графический интерфейс Windows 7 поможет вам улучшить взаимодействие с пользователем. Таким образом вы сделаете меньше ошибок при передаче инструкций операционной системе и быстрее найди любой предмет.

Если вы хотите узнать, что такое графическая среда Windows 7 и для чего она нужна, мы приглашаем вас продолжить чтение до конца. Мы подробно покажем вам каждый из разделов, чтобы вы могли попасть внутрь наилучшим образом.

Но это еще не все, мы будем также объяснят, как настроить интерфейс и изменить тему или адаптировать цвета Windows.

Интерфейс Windows 7 представляет собой графическую среду, которая позволяет давать инструкции операционной системе и управлять элементами. для оптимизации взаимодействия и коммуникации между пользователем и программным обеспечением. Это делается путем перевода двоичной системы в простые понятия, чтобы ее могли понять люди.

Этим способом, пользователь может восстановить и отменить любое действие, которое было выполнено в операционной системе. . Кроме того, в интерфейсе W7 есть возможность создавать разные профили, чтобы несколько человек могли работать на одном компьютере , позволяя настраивать различные графические аспекты для большей визуальной привлекательности.

Наконец он необходимо говорить о пользовательском опыте в Windows 7 потому что он считается одним из лучших из-за имеющегося у него графического интерфейса. Это может быть обеспечено интуитивно понятными и практичными характеристиками визуальной среды, а также простотой передачи информации, что позволяет значительно снизить количество ошибок оператора.

Что представляют собой все разделы интерфейса Windows 7 и для чего каждый из них используется?

L ‘ Интерфейс Windows 7 разделен на разные разделы , поэтому мы проанализируем каждый из них, чтобы вы могли лучше узнать эту операционную систему и получить от нее максимальную отдачу.

Commençons:

Barre des Tâches

La Панель задач Windows 7 это рабочая область внизу экрана, но это не значит, что вы не можете переместить его на другой конец. Там вы найдете разные элементы, у которых есть свои функции.

Таким образом, эти компоненты можно перечислить слева направо следующим образом:

• Кнопка «Пуск», представлен логотипом Microsoft и который мы проанализируем позже.
• Закрепленные значки документов или программ. Они будут оставаться на панели задач независимо от того, как долго они используются или нет, этот раздел также известен как панель быстрого запуска.
• Открытые программы и файлы. В отличие от предыдущих значков, эти кнопки исчезают при закрытии приложений. Основным преимуществом такого типа работы является то, что вы можете быстро переключиться на любое приложение, просто выбрав его мышью. Особенностью этой операционной системы является то, что если вы наводите указатель, не нажимая, для каждого из этих значков вы увидите предыдущее изображение эскиза файла.
• Область уведомлений. В этом разделе вы найдете значки, связанные с часами, датой, регулятором громкости, доступом к сети и кнопкой Aero Peek. Последний позволяет быстро увидеть все окна и приложения, открытые в данный момент.

Меню Пуск

Как мы уже говорили, меню «Пуск» Windows 7 представлено логотипом Microsoft , поэтому, чтобы получить к нему доступ, вам нужно нажать в нижнем левом углу экрана. Этот инструмент позволит вам получить доступ к настройкам операционной системы, изменить профиль пользователя , введите программы, папки и файлы и выключите или перезагрузите компьютер.

Стартовое меню разделено на несколько секторов:

• Быстрый доступ к часто используемым программам. Например, подключите проектор, калькулятор, стикеры и раскрасьте.
• Панель поиска программ и файлов. Этот элемент очень полезен, когда вы не знаете точное местоположение приложения и хотите его использовать, для этого вам нужно будет написать его имя, а затем выбрать его из списка, предлагаемого операционной системой.
• Доступ к избранным инструментам. В этой области у вас будет прямой доступ к записанным изображениям и видео, панели управления, заранее заданным программам и составу всех элементов оборудования.
• Выключите Боттона. В этом приложении вы также можете перезапустить или сменить пользователя.

офис

Офис это самая большая часть Начальный экран Windows 7 . Другими словами, это графическая среда, расположенная над панелью задач. В этом инструменте вы можете найти обои или фоновое изображение и значки для прямого доступа к программам и документам.

Гаджеты

Хотя они являются частью офиса, это Важно упомянуть эти элементы как отдельный блок, потому что они являются программами, которые положительно характеризуют Windows 7. Эти элементы небольшое программное обеспечение устанавливается на рабочий стол и работает в фоновом режиме для прямого доступа к различным типам информации.

Среди наиболее распространенных гаджетов вы обнаружите, что Можно упомянуть часы, календарь, счетчик производительности процессора и прогноз погоды. При желании вы можете загрузить самые разные платформы за пределами Windows 7.

Узнайте, шаг за шагом, как легко настроить интерфейс Windows 7

Если по какой-то причине вы хотите настроить интерфейс Windows 7 и адаптировать его по своему вкусу, вам нужно будет следовать руководству, которое мы покажем вам ниже, чтобы не ошибиться.

Темный:

Сменить тему

Le тема — это визуальный аспект Среда Windows или графический интерфейс. Cela signifie que каждый раз, когда вы меняете тему, цвет окон, панели задач и рабочего стола будет меняться.

Для выполнения этой задачи вам нужно будет делать это поэтапно:

• Щелкните правой кнопкой мыши на пустая часть офиса .
• Это позволит вам открыть контекстное меню в котором вам нужно будет выбрать вариант Personnalisé .
• Ванная , вам нужно будет выбрать инструмент Изменить визуальные эффекты команды так что вы увидите в списке все темы, которые у вас есть в системе.
• Выберите тот, который вам больше всего нравится и нажмите OK .

Вы также можете выбрать внешнюю тему . Для этого вам нужно будет зайти на любой портал, предлагающий безопасные темы. ( без вредоносных программ ) и загрузите файл. Когда вы закончите, вам нужно будет найдите исполняемый файл в папке загрузки двойным щелчком по нему. Это приведет к автоматическая установка Windows 7 .

Настроить значки рабочего стола

Чтобы изменить дизайн значка на рабочем столе, вам нужно сделать щелкните правой кнопкой мыши выше. Затем вам нужно будет выбрать вариант Олицетворять , cliquer sur Изменить значки на рабочем столе открыть окно под названием Настройки значка рабочего стола.

Это приведет вас к списку с различными значками, которые вы можете использовать, выберите тот, который вам больше всего нравится, а затем нажмите Изменить значок … . Если хотите, можете нажать на Просматривать , затем выберите один из вариантов, предлагаемых операционной системой.

Изменить цвета

Вы также можете изменить офисные цвета , буквы и фон окна. Для этого вам нужно будет сделать щелкните правой кнопкой мыши пустое место, затем выберите опцию Custom . Затем вам нужно будет нажать на Цвет окна выбрать наиболее понравившийся дизайн.

Когда вы закончите, вы должны выбрать Расширенные настройки внешнего вида чтобы увидеть, каким будет ваш выбор. Если вы хотите изменить и настроить другие виды внешнего вида, вы можете изменить новый цвет на экране. Цвет и внешний вид . Для выполнения задачи нужно нажать OK то Сохранить изменения .

Если у вас есть какие-либо вопросы, оставляйте их в комментариях, мы свяжемся с вами как можно скорее, и это будет большим подспорьем для большего числа участников сообщества. Je Vous remercie!