Download the Windows API Code Pack

Did you know how much fun stuff is coming out for windows 7. Adam over at 9 just posted a great video of a new sensor and location managed code api’s that simple rock.Windows 7 includes unique features that can really light up your application and create new possibilities. Yochay Kiraity has been working with the team to create Managed Code APIs making it even easier for .NET developers to take advantage of these features.  In this video, Yochay demonstrates code using Accelerometers and Light Sensors.

I’ve been running Windows 7 RC for a little over a week now and can’t imagine going back to Vista at this point. I decided to start with a fresh install of Windows 7, so I’ve been in the process of reinstalling all of my applications and cleaning up my disk drives.

In the process, I went searching to see if there are any interesting Windows 7 power toys or tricks available. While I didn’t find any power toys, I did discover that all of the Windows Vista tricks are still available on Windows 7.

Tim Sneath has an excellent blog post that covers 30 Windows 7 “secrets” and another series that talks about some Vista “secrets”. Not everything in those posts qualifies as a Trick (some are simply tips), but many of them do.

Here is a quick summary of what I’ve found so far for Windows 7:

Window Management

• Win+Left Arrow and Win+Right Arrow: Dock a window to the left or right half of the screen.
• Win+Shift+Left Arrow and Win+Shift+Right Arrow: Move a window from one monitor to another, keeping them in the same relative location to the monitor’s top-left origin.
• Win+Up Arrow and Win+Down Arrow: Maximizes and restores/minimizes a window.
• Win+Shift+Up Arrow and Win+Shift+Down Arrow: Maximizes and restores the vertical size of a window.
• Win+Home: Minimize all the non-active background windows, keeping the window you’re using in its current position. (Press Win+Home again to restore the windows to their original locations.)
• Win+(plus key) and Win+(minus key): Zoom in or out using Windows Magnifer.
• Win+E: Opens Windows Explorer.
• Win+U: Opens the Ease of Access Center.
• Win+D: Show/hide the desktop.
• Win+F: Opens the Search Results window.
• Win+L: Locks the computer.
• Win+B: Sets focus to the “Show hidden icons” button on the task bar.
• Win+M: Minimizes all windows.
• Win+Ctrl+F: Opens the Active Directory Find Computers dialog.

Taskbar

• Win+Space: Use “Aero Peek” to see any gadgets or icons you’ve got on your desktop.
• Win+R: Opens the Run dialog.
• Win+T: Move the focus to the first taskbar. (Pressing again will cycle through them.)
• Win+Shift+T: Move the focus to the last taskbar. (Pressing again will cycle through them.)
• Ctrl+(mouse click on a single application icon in the task bar): Toggle through each of the open windows in order. The best example of this is Internet Explorer. If you have five tabs open in a single IE instance, holding the Ctrl key while repeatedly clicking on the single IE icon in the task bar will toggle through each of the five tabs in order.
• Ctrl+Shift+(mouse click on an application icon in the task bar): Launch that application with full administrative rights. You can also use Ctrl+Shift+Enter for commands from the search bar for the same action.
• Shift+(mouse click on an application icon in the task bar): Launch a new instance of the application rather than switching to the existing application. (You can also middle-click with the third mouse button or scroll wheel.)
• Win+1 .. Win+5: Launch a new instance of the any of the first five icons on the task bar. (By the way, the icons can be reordered to suit your needs by simply dragging them around and can be pinned shortcuts or running applications.)
• Shift+(right mouse click on an application icon in the task bar): Show the Window menu. (You get different menus depending on whether the application is running or has multiple instances open.

Windows Explorer

• Ctrl+(mouse scroll wheel): Change the view/zoom in Windows Explorer. (This is the same as clicking the Views button or selecting one of the view options from the button’s dropdown list.)
• Shift+(right mouse click on any folder or file): Displays an expanded context menu:
  
  (The additional Open options only appear for folders but the “Copy as path” option appears for both folders and files.)
• Alt+P: Show/hide the preview pane.

Miscellaneous

• Win+P: Display the project options, which you can then use the arrow keys (or keep hitting Win+P) to switch to the different options.
  
• Win+X: Open the Windows Mobility Center.
• Win+G: Bring gadgets to the top of the Z-order. (Sets the focus to a gadget.)

originally posted at Scott Dorman

Apparently Microsoft has had enough.
In response to all the Windows 7 build leaks that have been spreading via torrent sites like Pirate Bay and Mininova, Microsoft has announced that all builds will now be posted to a public torrent tracker for anyone who wants to download them.
It's a smart move. After all, build 7068 leaked in just under a week and currently has thousands of seeders worldwide. Not a single kilobyte of that transferred through Mirosoft's servers, which amounts to a substantial cost savings.
"At this point, a more transparent process makes sense. We know users like the way Windows 7 looks and functions, so at this point it's becoming more about stability and performance. Sharing the builds via peer to peer networks is a great way for us to reach a larger testing base," said a Microsoft employee speaking on the condition of anonymity.
With Windows 7's popularity still on the rise, Microsoft wants to do all they can to "leverage that popularity." Details about the tracker will be posted on TechNet tomorrow morning, and all builds after 7075 will be made available - including the RC when Microsoft puts that stamp on a particular build

A new feature in Windows Media Player 12 on the latest leaked build of Windows 7 has been discovered by Zack Whittaker on ZDNet. The new feature is called "Allow Internet Access to Home Media" and is tied to your Live ID when activated.
It's currently unclear as to how exactly this might work, but it sounds like something similar to Orb where as you leave your home computer on and are able to log into a secure website that allows you to browse and stream your media content over the internet.
Hopefully Windows Mobile devices will be able to access and stream this type of content as well. I'm also going to start praying for a new version of Windows Mobile Media Player that lets users access this service directly and maybe even cache my home network's media libraries for speedy offline browsing. How cool would that be?

Windows Media Center Picture and Videos Features in the Windows 7 Beta

In the above video, Noah demos the following new Windows Media Center features and changes in Windows 7 (in the order of appearance in the video) to the Pictures + Videos experience:

• Changes to the way videos are displayed in Video Library to include Thumbnails AND Names for each video.
• Support for H.264 Video - no 3rd party codecs are required to play H.264 content.
• Video Play-All Option (think of it as a “Video Slide Show”) with ability to navigate between each video.
• Developers can take advantage of the new Import API for Windows Portable Devices. The new API enables photos AND videos from portable devices to be imported directly within Windows Media Center.
• Ability to create Slide Shows (new Slide Show pivot) with your pictures and can contain pictures or music or both.
• New On-screen Keyboard (Touch-enabled).
• Improved Rating Controls within Windows Media Center UI.
• New Ratings Pivot for quick access to your favorite content.
• Play Favorites feature with new Slide Show style.
• Auto Slide Show feature acts as a screensaver for Windows Media Center.

You may have caught PowerPlaylist in the Windows Media Center menu in the video. PowerPlaylist is an application originally released by the Windows Media Center Team for Windows Vista and can be downloaded here via CodePlex. The Windows Media Center Team is revising PowerPlaylist for Windows 7 and an early copy was installed on the PC running the Windows 7 Beta in the video. They plan to release an updated version to CodePlex soon. I’ll be covering that soon as well.

Thanks Brandon LeBlanc for the video!

Microsoft has extended the deadline to grab a beta copy of Windows 7, giving interested users until February 10 to download a pre-release version of the next major revision for the Windows OS.

“Because enthusiasm continues to be so high for the Windows 7 Beta and we don't want anyone to miss out, we will keep the Beta downloads open through Feb. 10, "Brandon LeBlanc in a post to the Windows 7 blog.

Here shutdown of general availability for the Windows 7 Beta will occur in 3 phases over the course of the next few weeks acceding to the windows team blog:

• Starting January 27th, the Windows 7 page will be updated with a warning that time is running out on downloading the Windows 7 Beta and that we will be limiting downloads shortly. People will be encouraged to register and start the download of the Windows 7 Beta sooner rather than later.
• February 10th, new downloads of the Windows 7 Beta will no longer be available. People who have already started their Windows 7 Beta download and have not yet finished will still be able to finish their download and are encouraged to do so.
• February 12th, people will no longer be able to complete their download of the Windows 7 Beta. Anyone who hasn’t finished downloading the Windows 7 Beta will be unable to do so.

MSDN and TechNet Subscribers will continue to have access to the Windows 7 Beta bits throughout the Windows 7 Beta phase. The above dates do not apply to MSDN and TechNet Subscribers.

Did you know there are hidden windows 7 themes already on your W7 box? Check out to get them below.

To Unlock the hidden themes in windows 7, do the following:

1. Open Windows Explorer
2. Click Organize, and select Folder and Search Options.
3. Go to View tab.
4. Select Show hidden files, folders and drivers and uncheck Hide protected operating system files (Recommended). If prompted with confirmation, click Yes.
5. Click OK.
6. Browse to the following folder:
\Windows\Globalization\MCT\
7. There are five folders in the name with format MCT-XX (where XX is AU, CA, GB, US, or ZA) which represents globalization settings for each region. Go into the folder that you want to activate its theme.
Note: AU, CA and ZA regions have the same themes.
8. Open the Theme folder inside the selected region folder.
9. Double click on the XX.theme file to apply the theme to the Windows 7 desktop system. Once a theme is ran and activated, the theme will be remembered and saved into Personalization options, so that user can change or select the theme again directly from Personalization settings screen.
10. Now to go to Folder Options to reverse the first 5 steps to hide the hidden and protected system files and folders again.

If you’ve tried installing Virtual Earth 3D on Windows 7 you may have see a little problem with the installer crashing during setup stating, “Virtual Earth 3D Install has stopped working.” CP over at the VE Team to the rescue!

As it turns out there’s an issue with the Software Quality Metrics (SQM) in Windows 7 that it doesn’t like VE 3D. If you want to get it working, you’ll need to make a manual registry change. The fix is actually quite simple – just rename (or delete) the following key:

HKLM\Software\Microsoft\SQMClient\Windows\DisabledSessions

Once you’ve done that, run the install again and it should work without issue.

A big fan of quick launch Here is a method of getting it back

1. Right click on taskbar and select Toolbars > New Toolbar
2. Browse to: 
   C:\Users\%username%\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Quick Launch
3. Hit: Select Folder

-or-  you can just download and install a much better version of Quick Launch called Free Launch Bar.  It is free (as the name implies) and has more features the old Quick Launch.

If you do not follow these instructions when installing the Cisco VPN Client on Windows 7, you will probably end up in an endless blue screen / reboot cycle!

1. Uninstall any previous version of Cisco VPN client that you may have installed
2. Reboot
3. Download the Citrix DNE Update and install it.
4. Reboot
5. Make sure you have Cisco VPN Client 5.0.4.0300 (or newer, if available)
6. Install the Cisco VPN Client
1. some additional stuff before rebooting  a friend
1. I had to remove the ndis.sys file after installing the VPN client and before rebooting. Then when you reboot Win 7 will repair this file and you are prompted to reboot once again and now it will work
7. Reboot
Technorati Tags: Windows 7

Windows communications manager Brandon LeBlanc writes on the Windows Team blog, “we have clearly heard that many of you want to check out the Windows 7 Beta and, as a result, we have decided remove the initial 2.5 million limit on the public beta for the next two weeks (thru January 24th).”

If you grab a W7 then you need to make sure you get a key otherwise it fall into lockdown after 30 days.

As Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer promised at CES 2009 during his preshow keynote, the Windows 7 beta is now available to the public for download. It is only available to the first 2.5 million people who download it, so make sure to get your hands on it as soon as you can!

The beta is available in English (32-bit and 64-bit), German (32-bit and 64-bit), Japanese (32-bit and 64-bit), Arabic (32-bit and 64-bit), and Hindi (32-bit). Once you have the .iso image downloaded, I recommend you use IMGBurn to burn it to a DVD. The beta supports clean installs and Windows Vista SP1 to Windows 7 upgrades. You can only install the Ultimate edition. You should receive a beta key by e-mail sometime after you download the build. Microsoft gives the following minimum hardware recommendations for the Windows 7 Beta (and notes that they can change before the final):

• Processor: 1 GHz 32-bit or 64-bit processor
• Memory: 1 GB of system memory
• Hard drive: 16 GB of available disk space
• Video card: Support for DirectX 9 graphics with 128MB memory (in order to enable Aero theme)
• Drive: DVD-R/W drive
• Internet connection (to download the Beta and get updates)

Good Luck!

Here is a great video of the install process from a friend of mind Denny he actually videoed the install process you can see it here

After much hype Steve Ballmer made it official last night at the CES keynote. The windows 7 Public Beta will made available on Friday, January 9th.

If you've been leery of downloading the version that's been all over the torrent trackers since last week, get your download manager ready and keep your browser tuned to Microsoft's Windows 7 page.

TechNet, MSDN, and TechBeta members have already been given access, and you can download from there if your are a subscriber.

Microsoft also announced the global availability of Windows Live, a free suite of communications and sharing applications. Windows Live makes it easy for people to communicate, share and keep their online lives in sync and in one place with one login. The new and enhanced Windows Live services — including PCMag.com 2008 Editors’ Choice winner Windows Live Messenger — along with Windows Live Writer my personal favorite and Windows Live Photo Gallery with face recognition, as well as being designed to work seamlessly with more than 50 popular Internet services. Ballmer also announced new alliances with the following companies:

• Dell Inc. In February, to offer a comprehensive experience for consumers to connect, share and personalize their content, Dell will offer preloaded Windows Live Essentials (a free suite of applications for instant messaging, e-mail and photos that complement Windows Live on the Web) and Live Search on a majority of its new consumer and small-business PCs globally.

• Facebook. In the coming months, Facebook users can choose to share content they post on Facebook, including photos, directly into Windows Live.

• Verizon Wireless. Under a new five-year relationship that covers mobile search and advertising, Verizon subscribers in the U.S. will be able to use Live Search to search for local business and shopping information; access maps and directions; perform general Internet searches; and find ring tones, games, wallpaper and other online mobile products and services.

According to Microsoft press release

Microsoft demonstrated new features and key improvement in Windows 7 based on listening to the needs of customers. Windows 7 is designed to do the following:

Work the way consumers want. With Windows 7, Microsoft paid special attention to performance, reliability, security, compatibility and battery life. The company is on track to deliver a great experience that will allow customers to spend more time doing the things they want to do, without the operating system getting in the way.

Make everyday tasks faster and easier. The more streamlined and intuitive design of Windows 7 is intended to simplify the things people do every day on their PCs. Desktop improvements make using the PC easier and provide immediate access to the applications and files people use most often through features such as Jumplists, Previews and the new Taskbar. The new Home Group feature makes it easier for consumers to connect multiple home PCs together to share printers and access files, music, photos and videos. Device Stage makes connecting and working with devices easier than ever with a single interface to manage devices and run common tasks. New multitouch technology in Windows 7 will enable people with touch-screen monitors to use multiple fingers to interact with their PC screens in a more intuitive way.

Offer a better entertainment experience. Consumers today have access to more digital media and are increasingly using the PC as the hub of their electronic experiences. The “Play-to” feature in Windows 7 allows easier streaming of music, video and photos to devices in a home network. Windows Media Player and Windows Media Center in Windows 7 have built-in support for more media formats so people can use their PC to play more media content and sync it to a broader range of devices. As an alternative to monthly digital video recording (DVR) fees, Windows Media Center, available in some editions of Windows 7, with a TV tuner and improved user interface, makes recording TV free and easy.

These all sound great. I want what i what and i want it to be faster and better then in i thought i wanted…LOL

Windows 7 home page:
http://www.microsoft.com/windows/windows-7/

Download info from the team:
http://windowsteamblog.com/blogs/windows7/archive/2009/01/07/information-on-downloading-and-installing-windows-7-beta.aspx

Steve Ballmer's keynote:
http://www.microsoft.com/presspass/press/2009/jan09/01-07CES09PR.mspx

Keynote videos and Windows 7 demo video:
http://www.microsoft.com/presspass/events/ces/keynote.aspx?initialVideo=Windows7Democast