Windows 7 beta analysed and improved

If you want to know what is new and improved in the latest 7048 version of the Windows 7 beta that is 'available' on the net, Ars Technica has a four-page visual guide of just about everything new, from changes of icon to additional features and fixes in the code. From subtle changes of shade to the addition of an extra word here and there, you can see how the OS is evolving here.

One thing they couldn't screenshot was this interesting snippet "In build 7000, hitting Winkey + 1 would launch the first application in the taskbar. Build 7048 goes a little bit beyond that. While hitting Winkey + 1 still launches the first application if it's not launched, if it is launched, it will minimize it or restore it accordingly. If you want to launch another instance, instead of right-clicking on the icon and choosing the application's name, you can also hit Winkey + Shift + 1. If you have two or more instances open (or two or more tabs), the Winkey + 1 keystroke now switches between them as opposed to minimizing or restoring."

Perhaps the biggest change is that Internet Explorer is no longer in beta, which is kind of a shame as the entire internet seems determined to turn it off as soon as they install the OS. However, there is an interesting counterpoint to this stampede from CNet's Don Reisinger on his blog who seems quite determined not to disable or remove the new browser, and not for reasons you might expect either.



Not content with just exploring the beta, some users are actively trying to switch on many of the features not yet enabled. One such effort has re-enabled the DreamScene desktop video backgrounds that were last seen in Windows Vista Ultimate. It requires a bit of tweaking but you can soon have those running waterfalls and other scenes running behind your applications by following this guide on Windows 7 Center