Among Windows 7's new features are advances in touch and
handwriting recognition,
[14] support for
virtual hard disks,
[15] improved performance on
multi-core processors,
[16][17][18][19] improved
boot performance,
DirectAccess, and
kernel
improvements. Windows 7 adds support for systems using multiple
heterogeneous graphics cards from different vendors (Heterogeneous
Multi-adapter),
[20] a new version of
Windows Media Center,
[21] a
Gadget for Windows Media Center, improved media features, the
XPS Essentials Pack
[22] and
Windows PowerShell[23] being included, and a redesigned
Calculator with multiline capabilities including
Programmer and
Statistics modes along with unit conversion for length, weight, temperature, and several others.
[24] Many new items have been added to the
Control Panel, including
ClearType Text Tuner
[25] Display Color Calibration Wizard,
[26] Gadgets,
Recovery, Troubleshooting, Workspaces Center, Location and Other
Sensors, Credential Manager, Biometric Devices, System Icons, and
Display.
[27] Windows Security Center
has been renamed to Windows Action Center (Windows Health Center and
Windows Solution Center in earlier builds), which encompasses both
security
and maintenance of the computer. ReadyBoost on 32-bit editions now
supports up to 256 gigabytes of extra allocation. Windows 7 also
supports images in
RAW image format through the addition of
Windows Imaging Component-enabled
image decoders, which enables raw image thumbnails, previewing and
metadata display in Windows Explorer, plus full-size viewing and
slideshows in Windows Photo Viewer and Windows Media Center.
[28]
The taskbar has seen the biggest visual changes, where the Quick
Launch toolbar has been replaced with the ability to pin applications to
the taskbar. Buttons for pinned applications are integrated with the
task buttons. These buttons also enable the
Jump Lists feature to allow easy access to common tasks.
[29]
The revamped taskbar also allows the reordering of taskbar buttons. To
the far right of the system clock is a small rectangular button that
serves as the
Show desktop icon. This button is part of the new feature in Windows 7 called
Aero Peek. Hovering over this button makes all visible windows transparent for a quick look at the desktop.
[30]
In touch-enabled displays such as touch screens, tablet PCs, etc., this
button is slightly (8 pixels) wider in order to accommodate being
pressed by a finger.
[31]
Clicking this button minimizes all windows, and clicking it a second
time restores them.
Additionally, there is a feature named
Aero Snap, that automatically maximizes a window when it is dragged to the top of the screen.
[32]
Dragging windows to the left/right edges of the screen allows users to
snap documents or files on either side of the screen for comparison
between windows, such that the windows vertically take up half the
screen. When a user moves windows that were maximized using Aero Snap,
the system restores their previous state automatically. This
functionality is also accomplished with keyboard shortcuts. Unlike in
Windows Vista, window borders and the taskbar do not turn opaque when a window is maximized with
Windows Aero
applied. Instead, they remain translucent. Windows 7 includes 13
additional sound schemes, titled Afternoon, Calligraphy, Characters,
Cityscape, Delta, Festival, Garden, Heritage, Landscape, Quirky, Raga,
Savanna, and Sonata.
[33] Internet
Spades, Internet
Backgammon and Internet
Checkers, which were removed from Windows Vista, were restored in Windows 7.
