Windows 7 Beta is available for testing

Microsoft announced the availability of Windows 7 beta for testing(formerly codenamed Blackcomb and Vienna), the new version of Microsoft flagship operating system Windows. The users can download the beta version of the Windows 7 from the Microsoft website. Microsoft have to stop the download requests after their servers were flooded with download requests.

The new windows boasts of a redesigned Windows Shell with a new taskbar, a home networking system called HomeGroup, and performance improvements. Microsoft's official target for the completed version of Windows 7 is early next year.



New Features

Windows 7 adds support for systems using multiple heterogeneous graphics cards from different vendors, a new version of Windows Media Center,Gadgets being integrated into Windows Explorer, a Gadget for Windows Media Center, the ability to visually pin and unpin items from the Start Menu and Taskbar, improved media features, the XPS Essentials Pack being integrated, Windows PowerShell Integrated Scripting Environment (ISE), and a redesigned Calculator with multiline capabilities including Programmer and Statistics modes along with unit conversion.





The taskbar has seen the biggest visual changes, where the Quick Launch toolbar has been merged with the task buttons to create an enhanced taskbar or what Microsoft internally refers to as the "Superbar". This enhanced taskbar also enables the Jump Lists feature to allow easy access to common tasks. The revamped taskbar also allows the reordering of taskbar buttons.

Screen shots have appeared demonstrating a new feature called 'Peek' . Peek is a quick way of making all visible windows transparent for a quick look at the desktop.A Microsoft spokesman said that"this will be useful for users who want a
quick look at the news" in reference to RSS gadgets on the desktop.

PeekLook




Find more details at Microsoft site

Source: The world wide web, Microsoft