Features in Windows 7: The Taskbar

Since Windows 95 introduced, a friend of my brother told me that it was amazing because of the Taskbar. It’s easily to access programs and easily to notify anything (I think he refers to the Notification area with the clock).

I love the taskbar since when I was used it for the first time in 1999 (which is Windows 98 back then) but when the other version of Windows came out like Windows XP, Windows Vista, I didn’t see some improvement except maybe the features in the Notification area has change a bit but I still don’t see it. Until Windows 7 beta came out and featured a new taskbar. It’s still the same taskbar but a whole enhancement.

The new Taskbar in Windows 7.

The Taskbar features

Now, the you can pin your favorite application into the taskbar just like Quick Launch but it can also be a taskbar button when you run it.

 
Application can be pin on the taskbar and can be also a taskbar button when the application is running.

If you have multiple the same application, it will not create a new button on the taskbar but it will give a button within the application button itself. Example if you’re running Windows Explorer. Then you open another Windows Explorer, you will see a bar on the right side of the button. That means that the button has 2 or more applications running.

 
The Windows Explorer button has 2 or more applications running.

The fun part here on this button is if you want to switch window, your thumbnail preview (the preview pane when you hover the button) becomes a button or the switcher

 
The Windows Explorer button showing 2 open windows and the preview pane becomes the switch of the window.

and the amazing part of this is if you just want to see the preview of the window with actually open it. Just hover your mouse over the thumbnail and all the other windows of the desktop will turn into glass and the only window that you peeking at is the only window appear. This feature is called  “Aero Peek”.

This image shows the Aero Peek feature. It shows the preview of the actual window by just hover the thumbnail of the application without actually open or pressing it.

Another feature on Windows 7  is  Jump List. Jump List are the menu options that contains Recent Files of the applications and ability to close multiple application on the same button by right-clicking it. Example if you have Microsoft Office Word pinned on your taskbar, you can access your recent files that you’ve open. You can also pinned your recent files. In Windows Live Messenger has a different menu option. You can change your status, you can sign-in without actually open the application. It’s easier than ever.

 
Jump List can access your recent open files and can be also pinned.

I love the new taskbar, it’s so simple, tightly, and user friendly. I can believe that this would happen on Windows 7. I was expecting this since Windows Vista but only the Aero Experience has been enhance turning the taskbar into glass type. I’m looking forward for the next version of Windows.

…continue Part 2.