Top 10 Features Of Windows 7 and Its Review
Obviously inspired by the methods sometimes criticism of Apple, Microsoft has long remained silent about Windows 7 before submit in the fall of 2008, to general surprise, a pre-beta version stable and complete its new system operation. In January 2009, Microsoft was moving with the beta of Windows 7, a complete version already on the side of the API. Full of promise, the beta opened a graphical interface and completely revised and corrected already presented most new Windows 7. A few months later, and after a single Release Candidate, Microsoft Windows 7 finalized in the summer of 2009. The test phase will have duration less than a year!
While development teams seem to have fulfilled their mission with gusto, it can not be said of marketing! During the summer, Microsoft announced it will market in Europe a version of Windows without Internet Explorer 7, then a few weeks later, the software giant was abruptly backtracked. The case of Windows 7 pre-order discount and with the virtual stores too limited minds will also be marked so that pricing is breathtaking. From one country to another, strange variations are felt on the price of the system.
Finally, what do we find in this new Windows? What can we expect? What differentiates Does Windows Vista? Is it really better? These questions should be answered in this issue devoted to the final version of Windows 7.
Three years after the launch of Windows Vista, Microsoft returned with a new version of its operating system, a version presented as major and called Windows 7. And while the war machine, Microsoft is preparing to fight a new battle marketing, this version of Windows seems to be born under favorable auspices. Relatively well-received by audiences and critics as a whole, the latest version of Microsoft's flagship OS innovates not on fundamentals but on the appearance and finish of the existing improvement. With Windows Vista, Microsoft established a new basis, with Windows 7 they are simply better.
1.New Interface :-With Windows 7, Microsoft introduces a new GUI still largely based on that of Windows Vista including the Aero transparency effects. Various rumors of a change in the interface between RC1 and the final version of Windows 7 will ultimately not implemented, and Windows 7 keeps it in its final version the look and feel test versions .
Super Bar
The novelty of the interface of Windows 7 is of course the taskbar that has been completely revamped: it is now appropriate to speak of "Superbar.
With Windows 7, the buttons on the taskbar are replaced by icons without text (you can however change this setting), preferably large, a bit like the dock in Mac OS X. Each icon has a dual role: to launch an application, like a shortcut (the Quick Launch bar introduced in Windows 98 drawing his bow), and / or access an application running. Distinguish between a shortcut and a program running is not necessarily obvious at first even though the icon for a program running is consistently flanked by a translucent. Moreover we find the same notification system with Windows XP: when the application asks for your attention, its box changes color to orange and adopt a coating may need to flash.
Problem, however, to use a user accustomed to the button of Internet Explorer Quick Launch toolbar from Windows will tend to click several times on it to open as many instances of Internet Explorer. With windows 7, once the first instance of Internet Explorer 8.0 started, the other on its button clicks do not open new windows We must therefore develop a habit of using tabs or right click on the icon followed by clicking on the words or Internet Explorer to click on the middle mouse button. This action opens in effect a new instance of the application in question as we have pointed out many of our readers. Problem, however: this shortcut instead saw inoperative on the touchpad on a laptop!
Another major change when several windows of the same application are open, the box split mentioned above is found when only one icon for the application in question is displayed in the taskbar. An overview of the mouse on that icon displays a miniature representation of each of the windows open in the same program. By bringing together the windows, Microsoft avoids clutter the taskbar with duplicates. This is good but sometimes a bit confusing to quickly switch from one window to another. Even better, with Internet Explorer 8.0 is not only the different windows that can see the overview of the overview mice but also the content of the various tabs. This practice except that finally we do not know if the preview window corresponds to a tab! Ha, that we are fussy!
If the number of thumbnail previews is too large to be displayed, the preview changes to a simple text list in the manner of what is offered on Windows Vista found then flying over each line, a preview contents of the window or tab with a button closure. Finally, this feature has the good taste to operate with all existing applications: no need that they are specially designed for Windows 7. Note that with Aero Basic rendering, the preview window is not available. Moreover, and this is a first, it is now possible to rearrange the position of icons on the taskbar.
Aeropeek
Windows 7 also introduces the feature called Aero Peek, beautifully translated into stealthy on the desktop in the French version of the OS. Activate flying over the button on the far right of the taskbar, Aero Peek hides all open windows in the session to allow viewing the contents of the office (attention, as the name suggests this function involves taking Premium support Aero). In this mode, the program windows are simply replaced with the display, by their skeletons. The idea is to facilitate the use of concurrency by preventing overlapping windows on each other not hide the icons or files on the desktop. The button replaces Aero Peek thus the button "Show Desktop" present in the Windows taskbar for some years now. In contrast, the Windows + D shortcut always works: it does not enable Aero Peek but completely hides the windows as before.
It is indeed possible to hide all open windows except for a particular application using ALT + TAB and more second remaining on the same application. In this case, the application window is visible and all others are replaced by their skeletons. Note the ability to run (or hide) via the keyboard each application whose icon is present in the taskbar via pressing the Windows key and the numeral corresponding to the position of the icon on the taskbar .
Microsoft is proposing is a kind of equivalent to the function statement MacOS X, but beware the Spaces virtual desktop system or Apple are not the current Windows 7. Do not ask too much!
Windows 7 Aero and Aero Snap Shake
Other ergonomic changes are also on the agenda with the Aero Shake that allows clicking and dragging the title bar quickly an application running to reduce all other windows on the desktop. The feature is handy for quickly bring order to his office and used with the Windows shortcut keys + Home. However, if a desktop mouse handling is easy, with a touchpad ... that's another story!
Also to facilitate the positioning of windows as part of a multi-use tasks, the edges of the office are now intelligent: when moving a window to the top of the desk, it will maximize instantly if you release your click to occupy all the office (a small animation occurs during handling to materialize what will happen). The same operation on the left and right edges of the screen to put two windows side by side to compare two versions of a document for example. Microsoft calls this the Aero Snap.
The start menu is also changing, so although fairly subtle, but we particularly remember the stop function of the computer that is finally clear! Instead of the red symbol of Vista, including the default role was to ensure the system, there is a button with text set to shutdown. Better still it will be possible to set the default action that should have the stop button (off, standby, etc..) In the system options.
Let us conclude this overview of the overall ergonomics of the system to evoke the "jump lists. This allows you to display a list for some applications of specific activities in a right-click the application icon in the taskbar. For example, when right-clicking the Internet Explorer icon is found, besides the function of closing the application, fast access mode "InPrivate" or the list of recently visited sites and the possibility of opening a new tab. For Word, this list contains the last open documents such as Windows Live Messenger offers the ability to quickly change status.
Better still, the other use of jump lists, is the appearance of arrows shortcuts for commonly used programs in the start menu. This allows for example, in the case of Word 2007 to launch the program by selecting directly from the Start menu, the requested document, it displays a list of recently opened documents with word processing. We find the same use with Windows Media Center and the shortcut "Live TV" or the module with remote desktop as a shortcut list of recent computers that you took control.
2.New Network Capabilities :- Among the new functional Windows 7 we have to report the arrival of the function HomeGroup for networks. Called "Group Residential" in French in the text, this function is intended to streamline the sharing of content in home networks. To do this, and this may be where the problem lies, it is necessary that the other machines on your network are running Windows 7 (otherwise, there is a functioning network similar to that of Windows Vista). To create a network type HomeGroup, he must first tell the system that the connection used is domestic. From then on, Windows creates a local group to which they assign a password generated automatically. This password will be required to other computers when they want to join the local group and it is of course possible to customize the password.
When multiple computers running Windows 7 are on the same home network, and when the Group function is active residential, access to content is easy: it finds in the Windows Explorer entry "Group Residential" which includes the or networked computers that share data and different types of media that can find (music, photos, videos or documents). Another step proposed by housing groups, the automatic sharing of media libraries. Applications like Windows Media Player automatically detects the computer's local group and allow you to access their media content into a handful of clicks. Same for Windows Media Center opens a new section called "shared". Finally, note that USB printers connected to your PC Windows 7 will be automatically shared and drivers automatically installed on other computers in the residential and without special intervention.
3.The Return Of Customization :- With Windows Vista, many have lamented the disappearance pure and simple themes that allow you to customize all of its office in a few clicks. Introduced in 1995 with the add-on Plus! for Windows, the management issues had dropped off of Vista. Windows 7 signs a comeback, the system manager themes. Remember what a theme as defined by Microsoft: it is a set comprising background image, sounds, icons and other elements to customize the desktop. By default, Microsoft provides several themes aero, and it is possible to get new themes online by clicking on the link provided for this purpose. In addition, you can save your own themes to share. Still, Microsoft has removed from the equation mouse pointers and icons customized, at least none of the proposed themes do not change them on our installation.
Speaking of customization, it must also report progress on management backgrounds. On the desktop, simply right click followed by the command "Display the background after" can change the background image (when the selected theme contains multiple wallpapers). Better still, it is possible to create a slideshow of photos or wallpaper by selecting the images you want to scroll through, and choosing the display method and frame rate. This is certainly not revolutionary, but it contributes to the overall sense of excellent finish that gives Windows 7. Note to close this section the presence of new images meant to illustrate the user accounts. Now, it is possible to choose an avatar from among 36 different images and it is of course possible to easily select a picture of his account.
In terms of customization, and in another register, Microsoft provides with Windows 7 and choose the applications or services installed on the system. Thus one can, since the module programs and features control panel, uninstall Windows games, uninstall Internet Explorer 8, disable the Media or stop the Windows Search, for example.
4.Simplified Access To Certain Devices:- With Windows 7, Microsoft introduces a feature quite interesting called "Device Stage". The goal is to provide device manufacturers new ways to interact with the user. The most telling example for MP3 players by plugging a Creative ZEN Creative ZEN Mozaic or X-Fi system, Windows 7 recognizes the player and automatically displays an activity center containing the camera image and information on his condition: the level of battery power and storage capacity free. The various shortcuts available in the window can fully exploit the device. As for digital cameras found links to import all images as a multi-function printer we find a command to initiate a scan, for example.
Revised slightly in its mode of operation during the development cycle of Windows 7, Device Stage provides profiles for generic manufacturers to avoid material developments specific to each product. However, it is ironic that the latest Microsoft Zune, the Zune HD so do not take advantage of DeviceStage.
Along with Device Stage, Microsoft offers a new application, called "Devices and Printers". It is here to see the devices connected to the computer via an interface much more vivid than the listing in Device Manager. Therefore, there is a large display with generic icons, while some devices are represented with an icon that corresponds to them really. Each device offers access to the rest of its advanced settings. Thus in the case of Bluetooth, it is possible to pair new devices via this new module. And since it comes with Bluetooth, we can see the changes made by Microsoft on the topic with a new interface to link devices.
Regrettably, however, the emergence of virtual devices or peripherals such as towers represented in the application "Devices and Printers". Why the iPhone is it with a camera icon? Why the motherboard appears as a horizontal workstation? Why bring up the radio transmitter of our Microsoft mouse with a keyboard icon and our infrared receiver MediaCenter as a tower? Anyway this application seems quite useless in the state, incomplete and unfinished.
5.Check Virtualization :- As we said previously, Windows 7 now allows the installation of hot virtual disk image without using a third-party software. Compared to Windows Vista, a disk image format. VHD can be mounted as a hard drive and accessed in this way since Windows Explorer. One slip now that the installation ISO images is still not supported, however it is possible for the first time to burn the ISO since the operating system.
Level virtualization, Microsoft goes further by proposing with certain editions of Windows 7, typically Professional and Ultimate versions, the Windows XP mode. These offer a Windows XP virtual machine to run any software compatible with Windows XP within Windows 7. If the thing was already possible with Windows Vista, Microsoft has never proposed function dedicated to this use natively in Windows. These were to download Virtual PC and deploy Windows XP oneself from a legally acquired version.
With Windows 7, Microsoft provides a complete image of Windows XP Service Pack 3, x86 or x64 edition just download it to deploy with Windows update Virtual PC. Even better, the Windows XP mode can run in two modes: either in an application virtual machine host, such as fire with Virtual PC, either in native mode. Windows XP applications appear within the list of programs Windows 7 start menu and click it makes a start and run Windows applications alongside the master application no 7! It's bluffing and effective.
Stay at each boot a Windows XP, you need to initialize the virtual machine that takes some time. Another negative point, virtualization works only if the processor supports hardware virtualization so: the old machines can not therefore take advantage of all Windows XP mode. Good news, Windows Virtual PC allows the sharing of USB devices and printers connected to the system so that all disks are mapped to your computer with Windows XP as network drives. Better still, the images created VHD under Virtual PC 2007 running Windows 7 without worry.
The New Touch
Owners of computers with touch screen, whether multipoint or not, Windows 7 is likely to welcome with open arms. Microsoft has indeed provides significant efforts in this area since the system runs natively touchscreen Tablet PC, by adopting and improving the features introduced with Windows Vista in particular the recognition of cursive. But most of the effort focuses on multi-screens found in some computers such as Hewlett Packard TouchSmart famous. Microsoft throws for the first time with Windows 7 bases GUI touch.
To do this, Windows 7 offers a new keyboard with predictive text so that it recognizes various gestures. By the way Mac OS X or iPhone, Windows 7 is able to interpret the movements carried out with two fingers to rearrange the rotation of an image or zoom into it. In total, less than a dozen different gestures that are recognized by the system, the aim being to keep a small number of gestures that they are mainly stored and used. Therefore, there is moving with the finger, tapped or double tap to click or double click the scroll to scroll the content, zoom with the displacement (or approximation) of two fingers but also the rotation and we'll stop here list!
Further improvements are noteworthy for better management of multi-touch screens throughout the system with changes in the management of windows for easy handling: for this reason that the size of the buttons to minimize , maximize or close a window has been increased. As developers, they have for the first time with Windows 7 an API allowing them to take advantage of various activities described above.
6.What about security? :-Hard to take stock of the security of an operating system even though it is not heavily deployed. Naturally the topic is sensitive and it has already been much ink. Windows 7 incorporates many of the advances introduced with Windows Vista and sketched with Service Pack 2 for Windows XP. We find that the DEP adopt a program when it performs an illegal operation in memory but also the software firewall built into the system. It is enriched or Windows Filtering Platform WFP that allows third party applications to take advantage of the firewall by enabling or disabling certain features while it is possible to choose which software firewall will protect the system. So when you install software using a specific port to communicate with the outside, the installer will ask whether or not to allow the opening of the port in Windows Firewall.
And Microsoft introduced a significant change in the application level protection profiles of its firewall. With Windows Vista, the same pattern of firewall is applied to all network interfaces while Windows 7 allows for greater granularity in to apply a different profile per adapter or network card (useful when you connect your laptop or Wi-Fi or network cable with RJ45).
The famous UAC User Account Protection is still relevant but Microsoft has revised its method of operation. Not only the number of dialog boxes is less security, but it is now possible to make UAC less intrusive. To do this, Microsoft allows you to select the desired type of alert according to the event via a scroll bar at four positions. It is of course possible to completely disable UAC though this is not recommended for the average user: bonus, disabling UAC will no longer to restart the computer as it did under Windows Vista. According to Microsoft statistics, collected in telemetry, nearly 85% of installations of Windows Vista (all versions, Gold, SP1, SP2) to receive daily AUC.
If Windows 7 features always the Windows Defender to protect your system against spyware and other threats of this type, the security center appeared with Service Pack 2 for Windows XP disappears. Instead, Microsoft offers the service center which includes options and alerts relating to security, but also backup and system maintenance. It is he who will have particular responsibility for the analysis of crash reports and propose possible solutions to resolve them.
We also find in Windows 7 changes the mode Autoplay, Autorun said, to limit the use of this feature to spread viruses. Workers in companies have to share their DirectAccess functionality to connect from a laptop computer on their desktop via a secure connection without going through manually configuring a VPN. The idea is, as indicated by Cyril Voisin, head of security for Microsoft France, enabling the use of computers in the same conditions as in the local business no matter where it takes place in the world . Notice the presence of the BitLocker feature which proposes to encrypt hard drives. Already launched Windows Vista, it is now activated via a simple right click on a disk so that portable devices like USB flash drives, formatted as FAT, can now benefit. This BitLocker To Go available only in Enterprise and Ultimate editions of Windows 7.The USB and protected by BitLocker To Go are available, once the password is entered, Windows XP and Windows Vista.
7.An increasingly rich multimedia experience :- Another area of progress for Windows 7, the media with the arrival of a new version of Windows Media Player and a new version of Windows Media Center. Let's start with Windows Media Player version 12 which does not clearly revolutionized the genre. The interface is uncluttered and there are three tabs in the right pane of the application for accessing the current reading, libraries or to the synchronization options of its media player with an external.
Among the new features, we note the new display mode reduces the drive: a simple preview of the album cover with the buttons to control playback. Integrating the management of residential groups, for easy access to media shared by the other Windows 7 computers on your network, the major innovation of this version of Windows Media Player support streaming.
With the Windows Media Player 12, it is always possible to remotely read the media stored on computers in the network, and vice versa, but also, and novelty, to read the content through the Internet. Specifically, these allow you to access media stored on your home computer from a place outside, then passing through the Internet connection. Dubbed RMS or Remote Media Streaming, the functionality requires the computer containing the media is running Windows 7 as one who tries to access it. To activate the feature, simply connect their account in its Windows 7 Windows Live account. Everything else is transparent, and if the computer containing your media is on, it appears directly in the list of available network libraries with a small icon shaped like a globe, indicating that he is not content to LAN. You can then navigate their music library (or images or videos) and enjoy their media remotely. Simply bluffing even no configuration is required at the network level! Still, the list of library catalog can take time as the buffering of the media in question, especially if the ADSL connection is hardly courageous.
Another novelty is the native support the QuickTime file format (*. MOV) or the possibility of resuming a previously interrupted read to the very spot where you left hanging!
On the side of Windows Media Center component, we find an improved graphical interface. Based largely on that yet implemented with Windows Vista, Windows Media Center in Windows 7 stands out with its new animated visualizations for the photo library, or by its native support of HD and TNT format H. 264. With our key Pinnacle PCTV Nano Stick (automatically recognized by Windows), it was possible to receive HD DTT channels with no manipulation other than the launch of the channel scan at first boot of Windows Media Center!
Another innovation in media, the opportunity to make a video transcoding by simply dragging and dropping. Moving a video file from one hard drive to an external device like a mobile phone connected via USB to the PC provides a transcoding of the file that it can be read by the phone.
Not finish by mentioning the presence of the Windows DVD Maker, but by mentioning the arrival of HD DXVA API. With Windows 7, Microsoft finally provides a common interface to manage the hardware decoding of high definition video streams. Exit therefore optimizations owners reading software and up to a unified API provided that manufacturers of graphics cards support DXVA HD with their drivers meeting the WDDM model 1.1. Using the graphics chip to assist in decoding HD video streams, valid Microsoft Windows 7 work done several years ago by AMD and NVIDIA. Technically, Windows 7 provides native support for MPEG2, H.264, VC1, MJPEG, DV, ACC-LC, AAC-HE, DivX, MPEG4 and ASP. There are also other formats supported natively as MP4, AVI, 3GP, AVCHD, M4A or DVR-MS.
As the Media Center, it opens a little more regarding the display of television. While the Time Shifting is still valid, a time bar is displayed superimposed on any program, so you can return a few seconds (or minutes) back into the program by simply playing the bar scrolling.
8.Facelift for the file explorer and control panel :- With Windows Vista, Microsoft had reviewed the file explorer also called Computer for years now. But then, the changes made by Microsoft at the time were not very relevant. Certainly, the introduction of the concept of virtual folder was attractive but the publisher had unfortunately forgotten some basic ergonomic criteria. Microsoft is on its mistakes with Windows 7, the operating system offering a new file explorer. Do not get carried away: compared to Windows XP, the lack of menu bar and toolbar is still relevant .
However, this is the first good news, icons representing media players are automatically hidden empty: in fact when attempting to access the USB key can not double click over a dozen times on drives that are empty. Beyond that detail, Microsoft has fixed the very annoying bug introduced by Vista at saving changes made to the folder view. With Windows 7, then finally found a file explorer behaving normally and displaying folder icons you see in the right size and in the display mode previously selected!
Unlike Windows Vista, the file copy operations are expected to be faster with Windows 7 either through the network or from disk (USB or otherwise). Let's make a cosmetic change to indicate quite funny: when transferring files, the progress bar appears not only in the dialog status of the operation but also in the taskbar button corresponding to the box copy.
Similarly, the "Documents" disappears with Windows 7 (well almost). Microsoft replaces libraries. There are four categories of default libraries: documents, music, images and video. The special library is that they automatically retrieve content from the folders you've taken care to indicate in advance. Their content is automatically generated, or almost, allowing you to quickly find your digital media, it's just brilliantly convenient. As for the "Documents", you can find under the heading "My Documents" folder by browsing the user, but everything is done in Windows 7 for encouraging the use of libraries.
For its part, the control panel was also reviewed. Besides the disappearance of some antiques such as adding dialog fonts that had not changed since Windows 3.xx, the Panel wants cleaner, less cluttered, clearer. By default, the user is entitled to display the options by category so that a click on the arrow "View by" provides the full listing of configuration applications. To return to management policies, they now enjoy a display with thumbnail preview!
It may be noted among the changes, simplifying module called Network and Sharing Center. Remember, in our article on Windows Vista, we lamented the confused side of this application that mixed all the options and made the network more than complicated setup. Relieved, the Network and Sharing Center is now clean and much clear: a single click to find the network adapter settings while network sharing options are now grouped in another dialog box. It will, however, several clicks to allow sharing of files or folders if it does not include new residential groups.
Microsoft has also reworked all dialogs related to the display options. It can not be found any more, as with Windows Vista, with countless links open tabs from the old dialog Display properties in Windows XP ... The resolution setting the screen can be adjusted by right clicking on the desktop followed by the command screen resolution: more difficult to clear, but it will get used to this new access! From there, it will be possible to configure any secondary monitors, all options related to the management of multiple monitors come together at the same place.
9.A Windows Finally Dusted :- For several years, some of the criticisms against Windows is the lack of homogeneity of the system. With Windows 7, you can enjoy significant improvements in this area since the old applications Paint and WordPad have finally been reviewed! Featuring a graphical user interface based Office 2007, Paint and WordPad enriched functional and also new is the conspicuous support OpenXML file format in WordPad. However, still no spell checker for it. Recall that on Paint, his last major functional evolution dating back to Windows 2000, when the software was endowed to support the JPEG format. Alas, Windows 7 it is still not possible to adjust the JPEG compression level proposed by Paint ... The calculator that had not changed since Windows 95 is also given to the style of the day! It's madness I tell you yet you can enjoy the added bonus of new modes of operation with a mode for developers.
As for some new features introduced with Windows Vista are retoquées with Windows 7. Thus the component of Windows Vista disappears without mean the end gadgets. They are still supported by Windows 7, but they can be positioned anywhere on the desktop. If we find the same gadgets in Vista, but with a little gadget for the Media Center, Microsoft is guilty of a package by removing the gadget awards ... More then using the quotations displayed on his desk! Why?!
Enjoy yourself to signal the end of Ultimate Extras, these additional programs that should be offered free during the life cycle of Windows Vista to the owners of the complete edition. Microsoft has not really kept its promises on this chapter, it would be better to put an end to this experiment. Damage, however, that Microsoft makes a cross on the few extras of Vista DreamScene example being not available in Windows 7.
We also note the disappearance of some applications in Windows 7, as announced long. The operating system no longer includes mail client or video editing application . We need to look to the bouquet of Windows Live services to find a free email client and the famous Windows Movie Maker. The advantage according to Microsoft is to reduce the size of Windows while accelerating the development cycle and update some applications. It is true that with Vista's mail client that was shipped a bad copy of Outlook Express, a software whose features had not been revised since the design of Windows XP . Yes but why remove the video editing application and keep a DVD burning software? And what about the removal of the calendar application appeared with Windows Vista?
As for the games included with Windows, it is interesting to note the comeback to the Windows Me While Windows 7 features the same games as Windows Vista games that had finally been rewritten in 2006 to take advantage of such cards 3D graphics, classics make their comeback in Windows 7. Like Windows Me, Windows 7 brings in board games that are played online with a real opponent. So Microsoft offers versions of Internet Spades, Backgammon or the game of checkers. Damage, however, there is no Internet version of chess! We're getting no new poker games Texas Hold 'em and Microsoft Tinker, two games offered in the form of extra time with Windows Vista and Windows 7 absent.
10.Autonomy,Performance:What Improvements? :- With Windows 7, Microsoft engineers have deployed a set of new technologies and enhancements designed to improve performance, and at various levels. It starts with the power management which has undergone several changes in order to offer greater autonomy against Windows Vista.
To achieve this, Microsoft makes the elimination or reduction of certain timers: they checked less often some system settings when the machine is considered inactive, consumption is reduced. Similarly, Microsoft says you remove any activity or pilot applications in idle mode. Meanwhile, a new system called Background Process Management has been established. It allows to schedule the start of services or tasks or even launch the startup of certain services based on a specific event such as connecting to a device. For example, the Bluetooth service starts only when the Bluetooth dongle is connected to the system. For the first time, Windows may automatically adjust the screen brightness based on a period of inactivity. Another example is the possibility to suspend the USB audio devices during periods of inactivity, or even set a sleep controller wired network when the cable is disconnected Ehternet. On our laptop, Windows 7 goes further and automatically switch Aero GUI basic mode when we use it on battery power: again, we should gain a few minutes remaining. In addition, the functionality of Core Parking mentioned above helps to reduce the consumption of multi-core processors: the system can consolidate the operations of the processor on the smallest number of cores and suspend inactive cores.
Any part of Windows Media 7 has also been revised to reduce power consumption. Microsoft has indeed done that often laptops are used for watching movies. For this purpose, the CPU usage has been optimized and it would be lower when playing movies protected by DRM. Changes in the WDDM driver model also contribute to this reduction in resource consumption during playback of media.
In terms of SSD, Windows 7 introduces a few new things here too, starting with the accurate identification of SSDs such as via a command sent over the ATA bus. By identifying properly SSD, Windows 7 automatically disables defragmentation for such discs. In addition, Microsoft sure to align properly with NTFS disk geometry SSD to avoid significant degradation of performance. Still on the SSD, Microsoft offers its implementation of TRIM in Windows 7, which aims to inform the memory controller logic which addresses to the SSD drive contains invalid data. The goal? Accelerate the transfer operations by ensuring that they are not slowed by the need to completely erase some cell content. Warning: the SSD will be compatible with this feature which requires updating of its firmware or a switch to a compatible SSD TRIM.
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