Microsoft has shown off some crazy features in Windows 7 over the past two weeks. Most of these additions are on the user interface level, such as the replacement of the sidebar with simply “desktop gadgets” which can pin to specific locations on the desktop. The evolved taskbar (first time a major usability change was brought to the taskbar since Windows 95 with IE4), the updated Aero features (Aero Peek, Color HotTrack, etc.), as well as Jumplists are also usability and “likeability” features which were added to Windows 7.
Beyond simply the looks, however, there’s also gesture and touch support. These two will have a significant role in Windows 7, as can be seen already via features such as Aero Shake and gesture functionality in common controls (such as scrolling) via the the tablet framework.
Finally, Windows 7 will be much more context-aware than any other operating system thanks to a new sensor framework debuting in Windows 7.
Despite all of thiis, there are still some Windows Vista features which have not been expanded upon during PDC; SideShow, for example, was curiously absent. Will SideShow see more enhancements which will increase adoption? Here’s the quick list:
- Touch support with SideShow displays
- TCP/IP support via the updated .net micro framework
- 100% Backwards Compatibility with all Windows Vista SideShow gadgets
You can hear the full answer in an audio interview I magically recorded with the SideShow lead while at WinHEC (!) after the jump.
Play:
[audio:http://mirror.longhornlive.net/pdc2008/AeroXperience_WinHEC2008_Sideshow_1ch128kb.mp3|titles=Interview with Dan Polivy: SideShow|artists=Bryant Zadegan]
Download:
Given that this is an interview, mono might be preferable for most listeners as positioned vocals tend to strain the brain when on the move (say, while driving). However, if you want to still want to hear the interview with the voices coming relative to microphone positioning, feel free to grab the stereo version. Both are the same side since mono still has two duplicate channels total.
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Update: added 128kbps links thanks to an opening in free time.
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[...] got a stand out blog post on Windows 7 SideShow features I recommend checking it out. SideShow is one of my pet [...]
320kbps is a little excesive for voice don’t you think? We don’t all have nice fast, unlimited data connections you know.
Updated accordingly. I tossed this post up quickly, so I put up highest quality for the guys who prefer it.
Anyway, 128kbps links are up now.
[...] Full Article [...]
[...] 2008 (4)October 2008 (3) I stumbled accross this audio interview with Dan Polivy from Microsoft who talks about some of the new features with SideShow in Windows 7, [...]
“100% Backwards Compatibility with all Windows Vista SideShow gadget” – That’s good!
[...] en SideShow: Microsoft no se da por vencido con la tecnología SideShow, y la actualiza para soportar dispositivos con pantalla táctil, y permitiendo que estos compartan [...]
[...] en SideShow: Microsoft no se da por vencido con la tecnología SideShow, y la actualiza para soportar dispositivos con pantalla táctil, y permitiendo que estos compartan [...]
[...] en SideShow: Microsoft no se da por vencido con la tecnología SideShow, y la actualiza para soportar dispositivos con pantalla táctil, y permitiendo que estos compartan [...]
Interesting stuff. Even more interesting was, about 6 minutes in Brad Sucks – Making me Nervous starts to play. <3 Open source music!
Do you know the name of the song after it? Those were background tracks played in the session room where the interview was recorded, so I never got the chance to find out the names of the songs.
Sorry, no idea. You guys were talking too much during that bit!