Windows 7 to use DirectX 10.1

Our colleagues here managed to get a nice photo of a Windows 7 presentation where the big giant talked about GPU usage in Windows 7.

One of the most interesting things was the official confirmation that Windows 7 will use DirectX 10.1 API, something that works well in ATI’s advantage. It doesn’t look that DirectX 11 will be ready to launch together with Windows 7 and it will probably come later even though there might be some DirectX 11 hardware to launch in 2009. 
DirectX 10.1 will help Windows 7 to scale better from low-end to high-end hardware and put it in good use, especially when it comes to user interface. Shaders will be used for the Glass and Windows 7 memory consumption is cut by 50 percent per window, something that memory manufacturers and GPU guys might not really appreciate.
Windows 7 will also have richer thumbnail animations and at the same time it comes with Media Center user interface, Video playback and Desktop Window Manager (DWM), all borrowed from Vista. We are not aware of any improvements in these areas compared to Vista.
We are sure that these features will also work on DirectX 10.0 hardware, but Microsoft has decided to promote DirectX 10.1 support this time.

Source- Fudzilla

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Windows Embedded Standard vNext based on Windows 7!

The PDC is taking place this week in Los Angeles and on Tuesday’s Keynote, Windows 7 (future version of the Windows desktop OS) was unveiled. If you want to learn more about this announcement, you can read this article.

This is a really interesting news, especially for what concerns Windows Embedded Standard…
During his Keynote at ESC Boston, Kevin Dallas, General Manager for the Windows Embedded Business group, announced that the next version of Windows Embedded Standard will be based on Windows 7!

You now certainly know about Windows Embedded Standard 2009, the latest version of Windows XP Embedded (if not, learn more here). Only a little part of Windows 7 features where unveiled, but the simple fact that Windows Embedded Standard vNext, a.k.a. “Quebec” will be based on Windows 7 is a fantastic news: the Embedded OEMs will be able to leverage the latest desktop technologies on their Windows Embedded Standard devices!

So there was a session presenting Windows Embedded Standard “Quebec” at PDC and we had a nice booth over there (see picture aside). Bet that I will tell you more about his shortly! stay tuned!

Source- MSDN Blog

New Features In Windows 7

The wait is up! Today at PDC, we finally got to see a demo of the next OS from Microsoft: Windows 7. One of the biggest improvements in Windows 7 is the new taskbar, but there have also been other improvements like better networking features and a less noisy UAC. If you’re just looking for Windows 7 screenshots, then click here. For more details on the features themselves, keep reading.

The Windows 7 UI:

• The new taskbar: the quick launch area is gone. Now there’s just the taskbar. Application icons can be “docked” in this taskbar. You can drag-and-drop application icons to this area for one-click access but running apps will appear here as well.

• “Jump Lists” is a new feature that groups related tasks surrounding an application. In the taskbar, a right-click (or finger swipe if using touch) to display this list. Here, you’ll find common tasks, recently opened files, favorites, or whatever else may be relevant to that particular app.

• Jump lists are found in the Start Menu, too.

• “Snap to docking”: You know how you have to manually resize windows when you want to compare two windows side-by-side? No more. This new feature will automatically resize the windows for you as you drag them to the sides of your screen.
• You can maximize a window by dragging the title bar to the top of the screen, too.
• Your Windows Sidebar Gadgets can now be placed anywhere, not just on the sidebar – you can do this now, but the sidebar takes up real estate when it’s running. Now there are just Desktop Gadgets…no more sidebar

• “Peeking” at windows is a new feature that lets you quickly glance at a different window that the one you’re in but not actually interact with it. When you “peek” at a window you can turn the other windows to glass to make it easier to see the window you’re viewing.

• You can peek at the desktop, too.

Networking:

• Wi-Fi Networking Improvements: When wi-fi is available, the wireless icon lights up in the system tray. Click it to display a pop-up list of wireless networks then click the one you want to connect to. If you have to enter a passphrase, you’ll be prompted to do so, otherwise, you’re connected immediately.

• When connected to a network, you’ll have access to the “Homegroup” directory interface. From here, you have access  to all devices in your home including PCs, laptops, mobile phones, digital photo frames, printers, etc.  Sharing features for the home network have also been simplified. 
• When you bring a work laptop home, it automatically connects to your home network even though it’s configured to connect to a domain. It also protects your work files even though you’re on your home network.
• Windows 7 switches your default printer depending on where you are – work or home, etc.
• “Libraries” are a new feature that group similar items across the various drives of your PC (HDD, external HDD, USB flash drives) as well as across your network. It integrates the Windows Search functionality to make finding files across your network easier, too.

Media & Themes:

• The new lightweight version of Windows MediaPlayer lets you play media from any device in your “Homegroup”.  You can play audio, pictures, or videos across the network. 

• Media Center gets some interface tweaks including a new visual style for the newly customizable main menu.
• Themes, themes: You can customize your desktop background and see a live preview when doing so before making the change. 

System Stuff:

• UAC is less annoying! UAC was created with the “best of intentions” they said during the demo, but it was a little too intrusive. Now there’s a new slider control that lets you adjust how much the UAC pop-up is allowed to bug you. You can also adjust warning levels specifically to disable warnings for things like changing Windows settings while still getting warned with 3rd party programs try to make unauthorized changes. Adjusting the UAC settings no longer requires a reboot, either.
• The new “Action Center” lets you control the messages delivered through things like Windows Firewall, Windows Updates, etc.
• Touch support: On touch-enabled devices, you can interact with the OS via touch, gestures, flicks, etc. Windows 7 supports multi-touch. There’s also around 25% more space between items in the context menus to allow easier control when touching.
• System Tray: In Windows 7, you have complete control over your system tray. You can remove, change, and even move around the different applications that reside there.
• DirectX is extended to 2D, animation and “fine-looking” text.
• Windows 7 has a reduced memory footprint and they’ve reduced the disk I/O reads “substantially.” In the demo, a 1 Ghz/1 GB RAM netbook had 500 MB RAM available after boot.
• Better power management in Windows 7 means longer battery life for notebooks and netbooks.
• Overall, the system is faster. The taskbar responds almost instantaneously. The boot time is also faster.
• You can use BitLocker to encrypt a USB memory stick.
• Remote Desktop supports multiple monitors. Easier access to VPNs
• You can both create and boot natively from a Windows 7 VHD.

Misc:

• A new presentation feature for PowerPoint addicts – Windows Key + P lets you connect to a projector easily.

• Yes, Paint got a ribbon.

Source- Channel 10 Blog

Notes on the Windows 7 Demo from Today’s PDC Keynote

Just a few hours ago, Steven Sinofsky, Senior Vice President for Windows and Windows Live Engineering, did his keynote here at PDC2008 unveiling Windows 7 to the world for the first time. Steven asked Julie Larson-Green, Corporate Vice President of the Windows Experience, to come up on stage and demo specific Windows 7 features that I think you’ll find very exciting. I’d like to take a moment and share some notes I took live here from PDC from his keynote about those features that they demoed.

It’s important to note that many of these features that were demoed during the Keynote were from more recent Windows 7 build and didn’t make it into the Windows 7 build being handed out to attendees here at PDC – but we wanted to show them off to you anyway.

Ok now on to my notes on the features demoed here from PDC (not in any specific order)! I also hope to try and add a little more context to the features that were demoed.

I’d like to emphasize all of these features that were demoed ultimately showcases that Windows 7 is being designed to make the things you do today faster and easier, and new things possible.

New Windows Taskbar in Windows 7:

Check more at the Windows Experience Blog

PowerShell will be installed by default on Windows Server 08 R2 (WS08R2) and Windows 7 (W7)!

Yes that’s right, it’s not a typo. At today’s PDC, all attendees received a Pre Beta of WS08R2 & W7 (there are advantages to going to the PDC J). Every version has PowerShell installed by default. The one exception is Server Core were we are trying to make everything an optional install. Our vision for the ultimate server OS is one that has exactly 1 feature: Load Optional Software. It will take us a while to get there but that is where we are headed so we are not installing PS by default there. Everywhere else – PowerShell is installed by default.

PowerShell on every copy of Windows.

Every copy of Windows has PowerShell installed on it.

Windows ó PowerShell.

Windows/PowerShell.

PowerShell/Windows.

No matter how I say it sounds great! Who could have guessed that that would be the destiny of something called “Windows PowerShell”? J Still the day as come and it is a wonderful day.

Source- Powershell Blog

Windows 7 Developer Guide Is Now Available

With Windows 7 unveiling during PDC Day 2 keynote, we also released Windows 7 Developer Guide. This is relatively a short guide outlining some of Windows 7’s main features as well highlighting the solid foundations Windows 7 is build upon. The goal of this document is to help developers plan for the near future by providing developers a clear picture of Windows 7’s new capabilities, and the scenarios developers can target in order to enhance their end users experiences for Windows 7 applications. For example, Scenic Ribbon (view at PDC ), Multi-Touch (view at PDC ), Libraries (view at PDC ), and Sensors and Locations (view at PDC ) are just few of Windows 7’s features developers can use to enhance their end users experiences. Please note, this document is not a full blown detailed description of the new APIs in Windows 7. In fact, this document does not contain any API references or code examples. All that good stuff will arrive sometime in the near future in future posts.

As you read through the developer guide you’ll notice three main parts: Solid Foundation, Richer Application Experiences, and The Best of Windows and the Web. Following that path while developing applications for Windows 7 is a very good practice, as Windows 7 leverages Windows Vista’s features and concepts. Next you can enhance your end user experiences with Ribbon, Multi-Touch, or integrating with Windows 7 new Taskbar (or any of other Windows 7 features). Finally, providing new services or leveraging exciting services that interact with your application add a whole new set of experiences for your end users.

Source-Windows 7 blog for developers

Announcing Windows Server 2008 R2!

Windows Server 2008 R2 showed its pretty face at the Professional Developers Conference today, here in Los Angeles. Hi there, my name’s Oliver Rist and I’m a new technical product manager on the Windows Server team. I’m down here in La-La Land heaving great sighs of satisfaction as we unveil the first sneak peeks of pre-beta Windows Server 2008 R2. Though this release is right in line with our announced roadmap strategy for future Server releases, there are several items of note with R2:

First and foremost, 32-bit is done. History. Archives. Windows Server 2008 R2 is the first Windows OS platform to go 64-bit only, and frankly it was high time. Customers have been unable to purchase a 32-bit server CPU for over two years now, and the advancements in CPU architectures really dictated that we squeeze as much performance out of customers’ hardware purchases as possible. The move to 64-bit is a first step.

You’ll also find that we’ve aligned R2 development around four core technology pillars:

First, there’s virtualization. R2 represents our most pervasive move into virtualization yet, including R2’s undisputed marquee feature, Live Migration. Think physical host migrations of running VMs happening in milliseconds—no service or user connection interruptions. With Live Migration, data centers can truly go virtual and largely divorce management considerations between software and hardware, and all managed from inside a single OS frame.

R2’s virtualization also extends to a new Hyper-V for Windows Server 2008 R2 (think mucho better management, beefier resources for VMs and more). And potentially more exciting, Terminal Services is updating its remote applications feature to include a true Virtual Desktop Infrastructure (VDI). Think desktops and applications wrapped in virtualized packages, managed centrally and deployed to Windows 7 desktop with such tight integration most users will be unable to tell the difference between centrally hosted apps and those installed locally. (And don’t worry, a Web Access feature will let Windows XP and Windows Vista users in on the fun, too.)

Source- Technet Blog

Introducing the Windows 7 UI

During the Windows 7 reviewers workshop on Sunday Linda Averett demonstrated the user interface enhancements introduced with Windows 7. Keeping with the trend, Averett described herself as a PC, wearing a red top matching her fall coloured desktop with orange and red aero glass tones.
The session was an overview of some new features demonstrated on Windows 7 build 6933.winmain.081020-1842. Unfortunately the build that will be handed out to PDC attendees will not feature most of the enhancements I am about to detail.
First up was the new Windows 7 desktop. The new desktop includes a thicker taskbar, improved system tray and no sidebar. The orb on the start menu also glistens after hover over.

Source- Neowin