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Microsoft

21 changes to look for in the Windows 7 Release Candidate

By Ed Bott March 9, 2009, 4:27 AM PDT

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21 changes to look for in the Windows 7 Release Candidate

There's more to the Windows 7 RC than just wallpaper

There's more to the Windows 7 RC than just wallpaper

By Ed Bott

Windows 7 Build 7048, which leaked out of Microsoft’s labs last week, isn’t the long-awaited Release Candidate (RC), but it does include changes that were checked in after the beta release and will be a part of the RC when it’s ready. So far, the new wallpaper (shown here) is getting most of the attention, but there are many more subtle tweaks as well. Here’s a preview of 21 changes – some big, some small – that have been added since the December 2008 beta release.

For more details, see A sneak peek at the Windows 7 Release Candidate.

21 changes to look for in the Windows 7 Release Candidate

1. A new way to switch Control Panel views

1. A new way to switch Control Panel views

Click to display image full-size.

Switch from Control Panel’s default category view to old-school large or small icons using the new drop-down view menu.n

For more details, see A sneak peek at the Windows 7 Release Candidate.

21 changes to look for in the Windows 7 Release Candidate

2. No more Aurora backgrounds

2. No more Aurora backgrounds

Click to display image full-size.

The dark blue Vista-style background is gone, replaced by a light blue with black text.n

For more details, see A sneak peek at the Windows 7 Release Candidate.

21 changes to look for in the Windows 7 Release Candidate

3. Support for pen/touch devices

3. Support for pen/touch devices

Click to display image full-size.

Does your hardware support pen or tablet functions? If the correct drivers are installed, you’ll see a notification here.n

For more details, see A sneak peek at the Windows 7 Release Candidate.

21 changes to look for in the Windows 7 Release Candidate

4. No more “problems”

4. No more “problems”

Click to display image full-size.

Potentially negative wording in the Reliability Monitor window has apparently been scrubbed for the final release.n

For more details, see A sneak peek at the Windows 7 Release Candidate.

21 changes to look for in the Windows 7 Release Candidate

5. Windows LiveID integration

5. Windows LiveID integration

Click to display image full-size.

In theory, any standards-compliant ID can hook into this feature. For now, only Windows LiveID works.n

For more details, see A sneak peek at the Windows 7 Release Candidate.

21 changes to look for in the Windows 7 Release Candidate

6. Tweaks to Windows Explorer

6. Tweaks to Windows Explorer

Click to display image full-size.

Pressing Windows key+E now takes you to the Computer window instead of to the Libraries pane, as in the beta.n

For more details, see A sneak peek at the Windows 7 Release Candidate.

21 changes to look for in the Windows 7 Release Candidate

7. Changes to library windows

7. Changes to library windows

Click to display image full-size.

Will these slight changes to the organization of libraries make this new feature any easier for new users to grok?n

For more details, see A sneak peek at the Windows 7 Release Candidate.

21 changes to look for in the Windows 7 Release Candidate

8. Usability tweaks for Homegroups

8. Usability tweaks for Homegroups

Click to display image full-size.

On a home network with multiple Windows 7 PCs, you can set up and manage a Homegroup without going to the Network and Sharing Center.n

For more details, see A sneak peek at the Windows 7 Release Candidate.

21 changes to look for in the Windows 7 Release Candidate

9. A cleaner Fonts folder

9. A cleaner Fonts folder

Click to display image full-size.

The most welcome change in the new Fonts folder is the ability to hide fonts, including those from other languages.n

For more details, see A sneak peek at the Windows 7 Release Candidate.

21 changes to look for in the Windows 7 Release Candidate

10. Aero Peek is now the official name

10. Aero Peek is now the official name

Click to display image full-size.

Amazing! The clever code name (Aero Peek) actually replaces the original, boring name for this feature, called Desktop Preview in the beta.rn

For more details, see A sneak peek at the Windows 7 Release Candidate.

21 changes to look for in the Windows 7 Release Candidate

11. New sound schemes

11. New sound schemes

Click to display image full-size.

The new wallpapers are so flashy that you might overlook the big selection of new sound schemes.n

For more details, see A sneak peek at the Windows 7 Release Candidate.

21 changes to look for in the Windows 7 Release Candidate

12. A new set of icons

12. A new set of icons

Click to display image full-size.

The new icons have a distinctively bold look, with straight-on views compared to their angled predecessors.n

For more details, see A sneak peek at the Windows 7 Release Candidate.

21 changes to look for in the Windows 7 Release Candidate

13. Easier ClearType adjustments

13. Easier ClearType adjustments

Click to display image full-size.

The ClearType wizard has been in earlier builds of Windows 7, but it’s now directly accessible from the Display Control Panel.n

For more details, see A sneak peek at the Windows 7 Release Candidate.

21 changes to look for in the Windows 7 Release Candidate

14. New ribbons for WordPad and Paint

14. New ribbons for WordPad and Paint

Click to display image full-size.

You have to look pretty closely to see the changes in the newer versions of these bundled applets.n

For more details, see A sneak peek at the Windows 7 Release Candidate.

21 changes to look for in the Windows 7 Release Candidate

15. Media Player streams to the Internet

15. Media Player streams to the Internet

Click to display image full-size.

When you dig deeper into the new Stream menu, you’ll find options that enable you to stream music your Windows LiveID. In this build, however, the pieces to connect remotely are apparently missing.n

For more details, see A sneak peek at the Windows 7 Release Candidate.

21 changes to look for in the Windows 7 Release Candidate

16. A smaller, slicker Mini Media Player

16. A smaller, slicker Mini Media Player

Click to display image full-size.

When you shrink Windows Media Player 12 to its miniature version, it occupies a small, sleek square that is dramaticaly smaller than the version in the beta release.n

For more details, see A sneak peek at the Windows 7 Release Candidate.

21 changes to look for in the Windows 7 Release Candidate

17. Radio station presets in Media Player

17. Radio station presets in Media Player

Click to display image full-size.

Windows Media Player 12 includes a Radio Stations link in the navigation pane, although the code that allows you to actually save stations here isn’t yet included.n

For more details, see A sneak peek at the Windows 7 Release Candidate.

21 changes to look for in the Windows 7 Release Candidate

18. In Media Center, Now Playing is calmer

18. In Media Center, Now Playing is calmer

Click to display image full-size.

When playing music, the Now Playing background is a sliding wall of album covers. In this release, you can opt for s static background instead. n

For more details, see A sneak peek at the Windows 7 Release Candidate.

21 changes to look for in the Windows 7 Release Candidate

19. Simplifying Advanced Recovery options

19. Simplifying Advanced Recovery options

Click to display image full-size.

Will these usability-driven tweaks to feature names and explanations make it easier for non-techies to create and save backups?n

For more details, see A sneak peek at the Windows 7 Release Candidate.

21 changes to look for in the Windows 7 Release Candidate

20. Simpler terminology for backups

20. Simpler terminology for backups

Click to display image full-size.

Usability-driven interface changes are sprinkled throughout the Windows 7 Backup program.n

For more details, see A sneak peek at the Windows 7 Release Candidate.

21 changes to look for in the Windows 7 Release Candidate

21. More user data in default backup sets

21. More user data in default backup sets

Click to display image full-size.

For post-beta releases, the Windows 7 Backup program captures user data from locations that might otherwise be overlooked, like the hidden AppData folder.n

For more details, see A sneak peek at the Windows 7 Release Candidate.

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