Yep, start saying goodbye to Vista…. Windows 7 is moving in. The quick logo mock up I made had images from dtgeeks.com, windows7news.com, and lh5.ggpht.com/stojanoskislave. It does have a Vista logo, but it doesn’t really matter since Windows 7 is quite like Vista. In short, it is Vista, supposedly with its bad parts fixed or removed plus some other cool features. The name “Windows 7″ is to show its focus on simplicity and since it is the 7th version of Windows (Vista being the 6th version)

The little taskbar that I have there is what the Windows 7′s taskbar looks like as of Build 6933. It has icons of the programs and pops up previews of the windows when you hover over it, even the tabs (such as of IE, and the various docs on Word). Right clicking on one of these icons results in a Jump List. These give you access to data such as the most recent document, website, and to common tasks like media controls. The system tray has also been optimized to smoothen the experience. The default tray will have four icons, Volume, Power, Network, and Action center. Applications that install system tray icons are hidden by defualt. To the far right, there is a little rectangular box which allows you to access “Peak”. Hovering ofter this will make all windows transparent giving you a clear view of the desk top, a click brings you to the desktop. Learn more about the taskbar on this website.

Windows 7′s New Taskbar (from http://windows7news.com/)

The Start Menu (from arstechnica.com)

“Peeking” (from arstechnica.com)

A few of the typical programs you find on a Windows system have also been updated. The calculator now has in addition to Standard and Scientific mode, Programmer and Statistics mode which are handy for those functions. Paint and Wordpad have also been revamped with the Ribbon taskbar borrowed from Office 2007.

The New Paint (from http://windows7news.com/)

Wikipedia also states that there are “advancements in touch, speech, and handwriting recognition, support for virtual hard disks, improved performance on multi-core processors, improved boot performance, and kernel improvements.” The Control Panel has also been updated with additional icons, “including: Accelerators, ClearType Text Tuner, Display Color Calibration Wizard, Gadgets, Infrared, Recovery, Troubleshooting, Workspaces Center, Location and Other Sensors, Credential Manager, Biometric Devices, System Icons, Windows Solution Center, and Display.”

There are also features called “Aero Snap” and “Aero Shake”. Snap allows you to move your cursor to various points on the screen and the window will snap into a specific shape (full screen, half screen). Shake allows you to “shake” a window which causes all the windows other than that one to minimize and if done again, maximizes them again. See these in the videos below.

A demonstration of “Aero Snap”

A demonstration of Aero Shake

Microsoft has also added a new feature to the Windows Explorer called Libraries which basically is a folder, but rather than the files in the folder are actually in that folder, they are from various locations all put in one area. In other words, it is a way to organize your files independent of the location of the files.

Libraries in Windows 7 (from arstechnica.com)

I’ve been working on a few projects recently. One, which is the Tin Foil DDR (Dance Dance Revolution) Pad. Amazingly, it actually works (most of the time). The whole thing is made out of a cardboard base, tin foil, wires, and an old keyboard (see photo). I used StepMania (Click here) to emulate DDR.

(Click on the Image to Enlarge)

Also, I’ve been working on a few posters. I give anyone who wants it permission to use it for personal purposes. The first one is a Windows Vista Poster, the second a Dell Axim X51v poster.

(Click on it to enlarge, Right Click and Press “Save Image as” to save the poster to your computer)

(Click on it to enlarge, Right Click and Press “Save Image as” to save the poster to your computer)

As most of you know, Windows Vista’s beta software expires around June. Since, there were quite a few bugs and other problems with the beta, I restored my laptop back to Windows XP. When you see the screen shots, don’t expect the XP interface (The green button and blue taskbar). You’ll still be seeing Windows Xp, but with a Vista skin and the Google Sidebar.

This is a guide to bring the Vista Interface to your Windows Xp PC. First of all, this involves changing your computer’s system files, so if you aren’t comfortable to do this, then consider a software called Windowblinds (It costs some money but there is a trial version). Then you can find skins at http://www.wincustomize.com.

There are two ways to achieve the look. You can install the Windows Transformation Pack at http://www.windowsxlive.net/?p=361. This will install the whole Windows Vista style. Be warned, you may not get the results you want. Also, you’ll want to make a backup (or at least a System Restore Point) just in case something bad happens.

The other way is a little more manual. You can search for skins (I use deviantart.com and then searched for Windows Vista. I used the skin from the Windows Vista Inspirat Pack RC1.) online and apply them. You’ll also need a uxtheme.dll patch which you can get here: http://www.softpedia.com/progDownload/UXTheme-MultiPatcher-Download-2369.html. The patch will enable you to use third-party skins.

Next, you will need to copy the files to the Windows Directory: (Your Drive):
\Resources\Themes. Then go to Display Properties (Right click on desktop then properties), and apply the theme. If it isn’t there, manually apply it by double clicking the theme file in the Theme’s folder. Now you pc should look like Vista, except for the start button, it is cut off. That’s why there is the handy tool in the pack known as VistaStart, which makes the orb full, if it isn’t placed right, move it! Feel free to try other skins on the internet and the other features in the Windows Vista Inspirat Pack.

Also, you might want to install a sidebar there is one in the Inspirat Pack but you can also use Google Desktop (In Screenshot) or the Desktop Sidebar. Enjoy your new *Windows Vista PC*!

NOTE: I’m not responsible for any damage caused by this procedure. Do this at your own risk!