Search, Security and Media Enhancements in Windows 7

Search in Windows 7

Many have railed against the displeasing inconsistencies within Windows Search. Luckily, Search feature in Windows 7 actually works and it works well. With big difference! Now, Windows 7 allows you to search data outside your PC using OpenSearch and Federated Search standard. It can create libraries -just like the Vista Media Player libraries but it is now extended to all types of files – makes searching and organizing simpler. Sometimes, getting the hang of Windows Search is a little difficult, but if you spend ten to fifteen minutes figuring it out, surely the capabilities found in Search feature can repay your investments over and over again.

Security improvements

In Windows 7, the User Account Control has gone through substantial changes. If you don’t change any original settings, it prompts you with those ‘darken your screen and pray’ prompts that previously bugged many Vista users. Even so, the prompts show up rarely, and only when there is a genuine cause for concern.  While under the hoods, Windows 7 has a number of improved security features, however the ones you can see – like HomeGroups and the revamped BitLocker drive encryption – simply bundle old Vista security ideas differently and make them fully usable.

Media Center

The Media Center gets a facelift in Windows 7; it supports different types of graphic and video files and also has integrated capabilities to clear QAM tuners and connect to CableCARD.  While those small, tired and old (very old) Windows applications – Calculator, WordPad, Paint – sport new looks and interfaces. Windows 7 has a more useful troubleshooting support and better networking features particularly for wireless networks, and dozens of other small improvements.

However, on the flip side, a few features found in Windows Vista are removed in Windows 7. That old Sidebar finally bit the dust – Microsoft decided that you no longer need it. The Defender Software Explorer which gives you some controls over which applications start automatically on your PC, disappeared, without doubt the victim of enormous quantity of tech-support phone calls. Even so, you can find other better and free alternatives.  Several Windows Vista programs (Movie Maker, Windows Mail, Photo Gallery, Messenger) have been removed