Windows 7 Change Log: Beta to RC
More details have now surfaced about the changes that have taken place in Windows 7 Beta to become what is now the Windows 7 Release Candidate (RC). The Release Candidate is now available for download for MSDN and TechNet subscribers. The general public will get their taste on May 5, 2009.
There have been quite a number of changes, however, going from Beta to RC and here are some of the new and well-received ones.
Our source of information and pictures included in this article are from the Microsoft Developers Network (MSDN).
The details are as follows:
Desktop Experience
1. Improved taskbar thumbnail overflow
The enhanced taskbar in Windows 7 groups windows together and shows thumbnails when you hover over it. Now there is a new feature avoiding thumbnail scaling issues when there are a lot of windows in the group. A list is now displayed and each item in the list has a close button on the right side just as the thumbnails would.
List View of running windows appears on hover and supports close
2. Control Panel Jump List
The Control Panel jump list in Windows 7 Release Candidate, now displays recently used items for quick access. This feature was absent in the beta.
The Control Panel Jump List now surfaces recently used items
3. PowerShell Jump List
PowerShell now features a robust Jump List that affords a method to load modules, launch the Integrated Scripting Environment (ISE) and open documentation.
4. Remote Desktop Jump List
You are able to add your Remote Desktop shortcut to the taskbar and now you can save settings and display recent items. The ability to pin the connections to the Jump List is now available.
5. Applying taskbar settings
Previous versions of Windows (including the 7 Beta) only saved your taskbar settings after you exit Windows Explorer at the end of a session, either by logging off, restarting or shutting down. If you didn’t properly shut down, then your settings might not be saved and you could find that you have been reverted to your previous state. Now, all that has been revamped on the architectural level and settings are now saved after 30 seconds. This makes applying taskbar settings a lot more reliable.
