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The bumper list of Windows 7 secrets

Jan. 14, 2009 Paul Thurrott | Paul Thurrott's Supersite for Windows

Microsoft's Tim Sneath has put together a massive collection of Windows 7 secrets, and thanks to everyone that's written in about this. Most of these were previously discussed, to be fair, but it's a great list for those just jumping into the new OS, and there are certainly some new ones in there...

I want to focus in on some of “secrets” of Windows 7: the many little tweaks and enhancements that we’ve made in this release that I’ve discovered and collated over the last few months of using Windows 7 across my home and work machines. These are the things that are too small to appear in any marketing document as “features”, but that you quickly miss when you switch to an older version of Windows. There are some who think that we’re arbitrarily hiding functionality to make Windows easy for casual users, but I’d argue that a great deal of effort has been put into this release to satisfy power users. In homage to those of us who enjoy discovering the nooks and crannies of a new operating system list, I’ve put together the longest blog post that I’ve ever written. If you’ve downloaded and installed Windows 7 Beta recently, I think you’ll enjoy this list of my thirty favorite secrets. Have fun!

BTW: Yes, Tim. I do think you're arbitrarily hiding functionality, just as you arbitrarily change things in every version of Windows. It's just a lot worse in Windows 7 than usual.

And by the way: I'd love to see someone from Microsoft actually refute the arbitrary nature of the changes in Windows 7 rather than just mention them. The closest I've gotten is something like, "You just don't understand how much user testing we do." You're right. I don't.

So... Was any of this actually new for me? Let's see.

#7, the Black Box Recorder... That was new.

I had never seen the new font Gabriola, which is #9.

I like that you can return the Quick Launch toolbar (#13), sort of, but what's the point? The taskbar is completely screwed up now.

I didn't know about the WinKey + T shortcut (#21). Nice!

And that's about it, I guess. Still, great fodder for testers and users going forward. Nice job, Tim. You know, jabs aside.

Discuss this Article 26

reddragon72
on Jan 14, 2009
well I caught the fighting fish thing in previous builds, but the problem is that it WAS in previous builds so it kinda blows the whole "joke" to pieces. It should have been held back till the beta. the PSR or black box is nice, I really enjoy that, and it makes my job even easier ;-) hehehe the WINKEY+(anything) has always been my staple for getting around in windows. Vista introed the WIN+# key for launching programs in the quickluanch bar, but I love that it has been kept in and expanded in 7. Very nice! As for the rest, not much new, but for those that never used some of the features in Vista, or just got the Beta hit this list up and absorb it, and then go and make everyone else's life easier by teaching them the shortcuts.
johnbaxter
on Jan 14, 2009
Yes, Paul, they do do extensive user testing. I've been there (although recently I've had to decline invitations partly due to lack of time and partly because they started inviting me to tests that wanted folks who administer Windows servers, which I dont). For example, I have Office for Mac because I received Office 98 free for spending 2 hours several months before release on campus testing primarily one small aspect of Office (was it easy to find how to cause the upcoming Word version ('98) to change its menus to match Word 5 for Mac? Answer: not for me). Not inexpensive for them: there were three folks watching and listening (I think those three might have been intended also to monitor another tester who didn't appear). Decent facility; friendly people.
mikegalos@msn.com
on Jan 14, 2009
"So... Was any of this actually new for me?" Paul, seeing how you are literally writing the book on Windows 7 Secrets, I'm not sure that "new to you" is a criterion that is that relevant. Even the Tim Sneath's post mentions that in this very article: "... of course, there are plenty of articles already out there that dissect Windows 7 in some depth, with the Windows SuperSite [...] providing notably comprehensive entries."
mikegalos@msn.com
on Jan 14, 2009
johnbaxter No question about the huge amount of usability testing that's done by Microsoft. Microsoft was the first major software company to put in formal usability labs and it's paid off many times over. When we did OneCare, we made several passes through the usability labs with very carefully selected users who were non-techies. We knew that people writing a security suite were very, very different from the consumers who would use it and that if we didn't do our homework we'd end up designing something that was right for us and wrong for them. Each time through we got closer to getting a UI that our target market found made sense for them. Quite often with results that surprised us. And that is, of course, the point. If we could always predict how things like moving a confirmation button would effect the user, we wouldn't need the lab. I've also done the labs from the other direction and spent some time in the rooms being watched as I tried to work with new features. It's always a fascinating and usually fun process. (And they give out great thank you gifts for participating)
stimshady
on Jan 14, 2009
slightly O/T has anyone else checked their winver in the beta? mine seems to say expiry of 1/7/ 09 (which is July last time i checked), however, MS seem to say that expiry is meant to be 1/8/09 (Aug)?
mikegalos@msn.com
on Jan 14, 2009
July 1, 2009 3:59 PM
stimshady
on Jan 14, 2009
@mike "Paul, seeing how you are literally writing the book on Windows 7 Secrets, I'm not sure that "new to you" is a criterion that is that relevant." ...but Paul DOES actually go on to say things are new to him... so i guess it was relevant, eh?!
stimshady
on Jan 14, 2009
mine is actually 23:59, presumably you just lost the 2? so where's our extra month then MS!?!?!?!?!
mikegalos@msn.com
on Jan 14, 2009
stimshady No. Mine really says 3:59. (But that could be a difference tied to different beta programs since mine isn't from the public beta)
stimshady
on Jan 14, 2009
Mike, mine wasnt either, i aquired it from other places - (not bitorrrent). ...but a friend has downloaded the genuine one from MS and reinstalled today and his says 1 July too... ...are MS going to surprise us with an end of June RTM!?
mikegalos@msn.com
on Jan 14, 2009
stimshady I'd guess that we'll see a Release Candidate significantly before July 1st.
stimshady
on Jan 14, 2009
true. will be interesting to see what that date is.
de Silentio
on Jan 14, 2009
Paul, this ones for you especially. You complain that you cannot open a new item from a taskbar icon that is Pinned. Well, if you middle click on the item it will open a new window. You may already know this, but from what I remember reading on your site, particularly your 'Plea' to Microsoft, you are unaware of this feature. Or, I may be wrong.
techfan
on Jan 14, 2009
Paul is one of, if not, my favorite Windows watcher but I'm kind of getting tired of him whining about the new taskbar. Almost every other review from users about the taskbar have been positive. It's only here on the SS and SSb that Paul almost always says something negative about the superbar. Dude, give it a rest! I can't wait to get my hands on Windows 7 and start using the superbar -- w/out text, just lovely, big, glassy icons!
stimshady
on Jan 14, 2009
i LOVE the new taskbar!! it's great... loads more options. I agree with @techfan, i think you (Paul) should learn to love it too! @de Silentio - good tip there, i can use the scroll wheel on my mouse to act as the middle button which does the same :)
RaaJ
on Jan 14, 2009
Techfan, I've been using Win7 since the PDC M3 build 6801, and now with the beta, and Paul is right in his criticism that the taskbar in its current form is not fully baked.The current design is somewhat ugly, in that the icons have a lot of unused space around them, and when you only have the icons displaying, the difference between the active application and an application running out of focus is not very well defined, as are the various notifications and pop-ups in the currently in-focus application and an out-of-focus application not readily apparent. For instance, when I have an IM session running, there is very little to alert me immediately that a new message has arrived, if I am currently zoned in, looking at a different application. In instances like these, the manic bouncing icons in the OS X dock demanding your attention almost makes sense from a design perspective.
gorath
on Jan 14, 2009
That's funny, when i get a new IM, the icon glows orange, That's a pretty clear indication, without being overly distracting.
xtreem0
on Jan 14, 2009
@de Silentio wholy cow that middle button makes my day! now i have no problems with the taskbar.
techfan
on Jan 14, 2009
@RaaJ - Re: New messges alert - I don't use WLMessenger (I use YIM, most of my contacts use YIM) but the lack of a message way to alert of new messages in your inbox might not be something related to Windows 7. I'm on XP and after a while, or sometimes not even a lot, WLMessenger doesn't notify me of new messages. Re: Programs/windows running but not fucosed (active window) - Isn't there a whitish, glass-like square on icons for running program? And a whitish, fill-out box for the active program? I mean, that's what I've seen all over the Web in Win7 screenshots. Non-running/closed programs are just represented by icons. The second icon from the right is the active window/program: http://media.arstechnica.com/articles/paedia/windows-7-beta.media/taskba... All but IE on the far left are running but not currently the focused window/program. The icon with the yellow highlight is where the cursor is located. I think the new "superbar" is a great idea. Yes. It might not be fully thought of, but in it's current implementation, it doesn't look that bad. And I'm sure it behaves well too. I might have a different opinion once I start using Win7 and its taskbar -- you know, I might think this or that action would function better differently but for now, I am really looking forward to using the new "superbar" :-)
RaaJ
on Jan 14, 2009
@ gorath: The icon does glow reddish-orange, but unlike the much wider rectangular taskbar window icons of XP/Vista, the smaller rectangle for the application icon in 7 is harder to notice glowing if you are focused on some other window. For me, there is not enough activity in the peripheral vision area that immediately grabs your attention away from your main focus area on the screen.
james3mg
on Jan 14, 2009
And just like that, the tip he gave about the middle button (or wheel, usually nowadays) has, I believe, removed my last bit of reluctance to embrace the new taskbar. It's logical even: I've been using that action on IE to open new tabs on links since the beta, and it's a very familiar action now. Should have thought of that. Rather non-discoverable though, don't you think? Almost need a balloon tip from the task's icon the first time (and only the first time) someone uses the jump list to launch a new window on a running app. Actually there is one more reservation: if someone runs Windows 7 without Aero enabled (which is a REALLY bad experience), you miss out on the features that make the new taskbar acceptable. But in general, I hope that everyone on 7 will have Aero enabled...7 beta is actually an unacceptably bad release without Aero, in my opinion. And hopefully Vista was enough warning to everyone that they'd better pay attention to their video card.
animositysomina
on Jan 14, 2009
Lol @ secret #29, enjoy the fish indeed! :))) Yeah, check wikipedia, it's THE BEST secret of Win 7 lol lol lol :)))
jakthebomb
on Jan 14, 2009
There are 2 Hidden Audio Features in Windows 7 Beta 1. 1. The Ability to use your Mic Port as a Headphone Port. 2. A Phone Call sensing feature that lowers the volume based if you are talking to someone or to yourself! Problem with #2 Skype. It will lower the other person’s voice.
jakthebomb
on Jan 14, 2009
Sorry, Wrong info I ment to say "Listen" You can connect a ipod or iphone with a 3.5mm Male to Male tip to your Mic Port and Listen to it through your speakers. The Phone Call Sensing Feature is called "Communications" it will by default reduce the volume by 80%. It is a pain to have on if in a skype call, you can barely hear the other person. Paul, Hopefully you can use this info for your Windows 7 Secrets Book. (that is if your not tired from writing Windows Vista SP1 Secrets)
gorath
on Jan 15, 2009
Using your mic port as a headphone port depends entirely upon the hardware. The same thing has been accomplished in the past by a few manufacturers, as far back as WinXP. If your soundcard doesn't support this, then there's no way you can do it.
Waethorn
on Jan 15, 2009
@all: Any company that makes a motherboard with "5.1 audio" but only has the 3 phono plugs can accomplish this. It's called "jack-retasking".

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