Using the System Utilities
Display
- Windows 7 has an entirely new system for graphics presentation.
- The new Aero Glass interface requires a display driver that supports the new Windows Display Driver Model (WDDM) and DirectX 9.0c.
- In addition to transparency of windows, Aero Glass provides:
- Live taskbar thumbnails: If you hold the mouse pointer over a minimized item on the task bar, a small version of the application window is displayed. This allows you to quickly see exactly what the application is. For example, you may have several graphics
files open for editing, with each graphic in its own window. The live taskbar thumbnail
for the applications will show you each graphic file so you can easily move back and forth
between them.
- Windows Flip: In the basic interface of Windows, you can use ALT-Tab to move between
open Windows. When you move between the windows, you select an icon that represents
the application. However, if you have multiple windows open for the same application, it is
difficult to be sure you have selected the correct window. Windows Flip offers similar functionality but provides a live thumbnail of each window, which makes it easier to select the correct window.
- Windows Flip 3D: It lets you
view all of your open windows and scroll through them using the mouse wheel. For each
open Window, you see a version larger than a thumbnail, but still reduced in size so that
you can see the contents of each window.