Windows Vista’s New Applications and Features

[Kalyan]

Windows Vista's New Applications and Features

Themes and Display
The capability of Windows Vista to make full use of the newest graphics accelerators technology makes it able to display resizable icons, special window panels and previews of windows and documents. Switching from application to application with Vista is a lot easier, too, because of the Flip 3D View feature.

Start Menu and Search Function

The new graphics and display modes can also be seen using the search function and the start menu. In Vista, the start button, when clicked, displays available programs in an expanding tree-like view that makes finding a particular program easier. Moreover, the search box at start can display the required folders almost immediately upon typing the search phrase by making use of enhanced full-text search features that takes into account a specified modification date and file type.

Windows Explorer

Thumbnails of icons can be magnified or reduced in size. This makes it a lot easier for users to look for the files they need. Users can zoom in a directory symbol or icon to check its contents through the thumbnails of the actual files. Moreover, users can add or use a variety of metadata (tags, ratings, author name, etc) to further differentiate the files and make it easier to find when doing a search. An alternative to directory tree control used by Windows XP is also available in the Vista Edition. With Vista, you can use address bar breadcrumbs or indicators of directory hierarchy in the address bar to navigate through the folders and files.

Vista Sidebar
Vista has a see-through pane that can be displayed on the side of the monitor. This transparent panel also serves as a sidebar wherein users can drag and drop various applications or tools such as a calendar, notepad, clock, etc. This makes it easier for the user to access the needed or frequently viewed information without having to minimize windows. Moreover, users can change or replace the applications or tools in the sidebar with other tools he or she prefers.

Help System
The modified assistance system for Windows Vista is also a vast improvement from the Help Center found in Windows XP. It updates the information routinely. It performs tasks and no longer just instructs the user on how to fix the problem. Videos that walk one through the troubleshooting process can also be displayed using the help center.

Internet Explorer 7

The web browser for Windows Vista has also been upgraded to support tabbed browsing, zoom feature, and thumbnail views of open web pages through Quick Tabs. Moreover, the new Internet Explorer has more security features than the older version including anti-phishing capabilities. Windows XP users can try the new Internet Explorer 7 by downloading the program from Microsoft.com.

Other Improved Applications

Other improved applications of Windows Vista are Windows Photo Gallery digital photo management and editing application, Windows Media Player 11, Windows Movie Maker, Parental Control, Back Up and Restore Center that uses full disc imaging, speech recognition and text to speech program and games.