Windows 7 to Create New Vistas for Microsoft
The company has introduced the pre-beta release of Windows 7, a new
client operating system that promises to work for PCs, devices, and
the Web. The full beta version of the software is expected to come
early next year.
Microsoft also introduced its new Web applications for Office, which
are lightweight versions of Microsoft Office Word, Excel, PowerPoint
and OneNote that are used from within standard Web browsers. Now you
can use all of the Web, phone, and PC versions of Office to edit the
same document, switching among them seamlessly with lossless file
compatibility.
"We
are bringing the best of the Web to Windows, and the best of Windows
to the Web," said Ray Ozzie, chief software architect at Microsoft.
"From PC to the Web to the phone, and from the server to cloud, we are
focused on enabling the creation of the next generation of user
experiences that change the way we live, work and play."
Windows 7, says Microsoft, will finally enable the following:
-
It
is designed to be compatible with the same hardware, applications,
and device drivers as Windows Vista. New features will help protect
privacy and data, make it easier to keep a PC running smoothly, and
enable quicker recovery from problems.
-
Windows 7 will streamline and simplify the tasks people do most
often. Improved navigation, a new taskbar and a streamlined user
interface put commonly used resources within easy reach. Sharing
data across all PCs and devices will be easier at home, in the
office or on the go. Windows 7 and Windows Live will help users stay
connected, and Internet Explorer 8 will offer a faster, safer and
more productive Web experience.
-
Windows 7 will offer more choice in how users interact with their
PCs, such as through multitouch gestures. With Device Stage, Windows
7 will enable people to get more from the devices they use most
often with their PC, such as cameras, phones and printers. Windows 7
also will make it easier to use home audio-video systems and other
networked media devices to play music, watch videos and display
photos that reside on Windows-based PCs. And Windows 7 will offer
more options to customize and personalize Windows-based PCs with
styles that match the user's personality.
Windows 7, according to Microsoft, will enable developers to be more
productive and offers new capabilities to create applications. A new
taskbar, Ribbon, destinations and shell integration will enhance
discoverability and usability for all applications. In addition,
Internet Explorer 8, native Web services API and federated search will
enable developers to integrate Windows and Web services.
