Microsoft is making major functional changes to Windows 7, and it's making a wide number of much smaller changes as well.
Major changes
Sensors. Windows 7 will include context-aware application support via a new "sensors" facility.
One example: A location sensor can tell "where" your PC is and compatible applications can act accordingly. Applications can use sensor information to offer customized and enhanced services, according to Microsoft's documentation.
Scenic application user interface. Microsoft has created a new application UI, codenamed Scenic, that will give Windows 7 applications a new and consistent, but customizable, look and feel.
Tweaked Explorer. Windows Explorer is being updated again with a number of new features, including a resizable search box, a simpler new toolbar (with none of the color-coding found in Windows Vista), and a new icon view style called Content. This Content view style is most likely a preview mode for images and other rich content.
Accelerators for Windows. Based on the Accelerators feature from Internet Explorer 8, Windows 7 Accelerators provide a way for learning more about selected text, optionally using voice control.
Here's how it works:
Anywhere in the Windows 7 UI, you can select text and speak commands through a microphone, or, right-click and choose from a list of options. Supported Accelerators include "Blog with Windows Live Spaces," "Define with Encarta," "Email with Live Mail," "Map with Live Maps," "Search with Live Search," and "Translate with Windows Live." Default voice shortcuts include such things as "Add to Calendar," "Blog," "Email," "Find People," "Go There," "Search," "Share," and many others.
Multi-touch. Windows 7 will include integrated support for multi-touch displays and support the "Surface" multi-touch technologies. This is an evolution of the Tablet PC and touch technologies supported by previous Windows versions.
Fewer bundled applications, more control over those applications that are installed. Thanks to antitrust lawsuits from around the world, Microsoft is moving more applications out of Windows and making them optional installs through the Windows Live service.
Windows 7 will no longer include Windows Mail, Windows Photo Gallery, or Windows Movie Maker. However, Microsoft is also adding end-user (and admin) support for full system customization, so you can control which applications are and are not installed in the OS. Finally.
No more Sidebar. Microsoft is removing Windows Sidebar from Windows 7, but the Windows Gadgets infrastructure remains and will be expanded.
In Windows 7, Gadgets can only be viewed on the desktop. As such, the Gadget Gallery found in Windows Sidebar will be globally available and renamed to Desktop Gadget Gallery.
Windows Solution Center. Microsoft is replacing Windows Security Center with a new utility called Windows Solution Center.
In addition to monitoring Windows Firewall, Automatic Updating, virus and spyware protection, Internet security settings, and User Account Control, Windows Solution Center will also monitor PC maintenance, backup, troubleshooting, Network Access Protection (NAP), and more.
Minor changes
Background tasks. Windows 7 will include a new infrastructure for enabling more efficient background tasks.
Internet Explorer 8. Windows 7 will include the latest version of Microsoft's Web browser.
Windows Media Player 12. Windows 7 will include a new version of Windows Media Player.
Windows Media Center. Windows 7 will include a new version of Windows Media Center.
Microsoft Paint. Windows 7 will include a dramatically improved version of Microsoft Paint, the most dramatic upgrade to this software since the first versions of Windows.
Microsoft WordPad. WordPad gets the Scenic ribbon treatment in Windows 7 and becomes a full-feature word processor again.
Calculator. The Calculator utility gets a surprisingly hefty upgrade in Windows 7, with many new modes including normal, scientific, duration between two periods, add or subtract a period of time, gas mileage, lease estimation, mortgage estimation, unit conversion, and more.
Display Settings. Windows 7 will make it easier to work with multiple monitors.
Wallpapers. Windows 7 will include new wallpaper background images.
Minor tweaks and improvements all around. Virtually no end user functionality in Windows is untouched, with minor tweaks and improvements to everything from the Start Menu, desktop, and taskbar to Windows Update.
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