Windows 7 New Features - Information Technology - CCRI

Windows 7 New Features

Aero Interface

New Desktop features

Subtle animations and translucent glass windows
Taskbar includes thumbnail previews that can blow-up to larger previews (see next section for more details)
The Start menu - the new right pane includes Libraries (see Files & Folders)
Shake - instantly hide all windows but the top window
Snap - resize open windows, simply by dragging them to the edges of screen
Previewing open windows with Aero Peek
Flip 3-D - render live thumbnail images of the exact contents of your open windows
Gadgets - mini applications that give information at a glance and provide access to frequently used tools
Snipping tools - screen capture methods
Customizing and Pinning items to the Start menu

Task Bar

Changes and features - an overview
Peek - see what's on the desktop or a specific window
Taskbar buttons - Change how buttons appear on the taskbar
Add a toolbar to the Taskbar
Action Center (see below)

Jump lists

Pinned to the task bar
Allow you to open programs and items you use everyday
Allows you to pin favorites to a Jump List

Action Center

Notification area (Fewer notifications and alerts...choose what you want to see)
Decide which Windows 7 alerts you see and which you don’t
Consolidates message traffic from key Windows maintenance and security features

Files & Folders

Windows Search Instantly see a list of relevant documents, pictures, music, and e-mail on PC
Libraries Organize files scattered across your PC or network

Folder options

Compress files and folders

Personalizing your computer overview

Changing the Desktop

Create a Desktop Slide Show

Themes

Change Windows Fonts

Make the text on your screen larger or smaller

Icons & cursors

Screensavers

Sounds

Volume - Adjust the sound level on your computer
Change computer sounds

Accessibility

What accessibility features does Windows offer? - The Ease of Access Center
Hear text read aloud with Narrator - built-in basic screen reader
Make items on the screen appear bigger - Using the Magnifier
What can I do with Speech Recognition?
Common commands in Speech Recognition
Dictate text using Speech Recognition
Type without using the keyboard - Using the On-Screen Keyboard
Use text or visual alternatives to sounds

Accessories

WordPad - more than NotePad yet simple text editing without opening MS Word
NotePad - create and edit .txt (text) files
Paint - Microsoft's basic graphic creation program has new powers

Windows Live

Snipping Tools

Create screen captures - overview
FAQs