[BajiRav]

?Sensing? more about what?s coming in Windows 7 Posted by Mary Jo Foley @ 5:36 am

Over the past six months, many individuals have downloaded early, unauthorized Windows 7 test builds that have leaked from Microsoft since late last year (the 6519 series). They?ve been looking for clues ? any clues ? about some of the new bits that will be part of the next version of Windows client, expected out in late 2009 or so.

But one potential new Windows 7 feature about which I haven?t seen a whole lot of speculation is something called ?Windows Sensors.? (See the screen shot above from an early Windows 7 build sent to me by a tester who asked not to be identified.)

What are these mysterious Windows Sensors mentioned under the ?Hardware and Sound? category in the Windows 7 Control Panel ? alongside Windows SideShow, Tablet PC settings and game controllers? Are they the kinds of sensors that will enable the new and improved multi-touch/gesture recognition that Microsoft has confirmed will be one of the new features in Windows 7? (Monitor vendor Albatron recently demonstrated a forthcoming LCD monitor that incorporates sensors required for multi-touch.)

Makes sense (no pun intended), but perhaps there?s something more in the works. Look at screen shot above. This is a ?Learn About Using Windows Sensors? screen from the same early Windows 7 build. ?Programs on your computer can communicate with your Windows-compatible sensors,? it says. It calls out ?Windows Media Player? and ?Inbox ? Windows Mail? as sub-categories here. And it offers users the option of being notified ?when compatible programs and sensors are installed.? Does this simply mean that Windows Media Player and Windows Mail are examples of applets that will be able to take advantage of multi-touch?

Perhaps there?s more going on here and Windows Sensors will be the next version of Plug and Play ? a way for Windows to automatically ?sense? what kinds of peripherals or devices can/should be automatically connected and synced. Sensors are also key to home-automation systems. Could Windows 7 be the control hub for users? fridges, stoves and home-security systems, via Windows Sensors?

I?ve also heard rumblings that Microsoft?s Windows team is attempting to make Windows 7 more context- and location-aware ? being able to ?sense? when a room is dim so as to be able to brighten a screen automatically, for example. Might Windows Sensors play into these kinds of scenarios somehow?

Yes, there are a lot more questions than answers in this post. Microsoft?s Windows team, as we know, isn?t talking about Windows 7 features at this point. But that doesn?t mean we are under a gag order. Let the educated (and non-educated) guesses begin?. What do you think Windows Sensors will bring to Windows 7?

Source: All about Microsoft

[EduardValencia]

That feature sounds weird,what it is supposed to ?

Smelling sensors?

A sound sensor? (perhaps when somebody opens the door room,windows 7 opens Media player to play some music?)

That's my guess

[BrainDedd]

Sounds like SideShow v2.

[DrewJW]

Or could be something to do with the touch system we all know about ;)

[bloodrain]

I'd like to be able to smell stuff, like when im watching a video and someone farts (like in MGS4) I want to smell it.

[EduardValencia]

I'd like to be able to smell stuff, like when im watching a video and someone farts (like in MGS4) I want to smell it.

:laugh:

[George P Global Moderator]

They've really managed to keep things closed up compared to how Vista was. Even this build isn't a leak really since they handed it out to people back in Dec. Trying to get any idea of stuff from such an old build right now would be very hard.

Next up is WinHEC right? I know PDC Is in October, but when is WinHEC?

[Brandon Live Veteran]

Microsoft didn't hand out any builds...

[y_notm]

Sounds like SideShow v2.

It did to me at first, but 1.) Sideshow is still in there as a seperate CP and 2.) Sideshow works the opposite direction (Windows to device rather than device to windows)

[George P Global Moderator]

Microsoft didn't hand out any builds...

Then how people have had this (before the supposed "leak") and even did a "review" for it months ago if MS didn't hand an early build out to developers?

I mean just check winsupersite for one. If Paul got it, and got the OK to post screenshots for this build then that means (to me anyways) they MS gave it out to a select few back then.

Unless you have a better explanation.

[Brandon Live Veteran]

Then how people have had this (before the supposed "leak") and even did a "review" for it months ago if MS didn't hand an early build out to developers?

I mean just check winsupersite for one. If Paul got it, and got the OK to post screenshots for this build then that means (to me anyways) they MS gave it out to a select few back then.

Unless you have a better explanation.

Well, hypothetically, perhaps an intern at a hardware vendor leaked it and was later caught.

Paul didn't have anything until after alleged screenshots were posted elsewhere. Paul never got the OK for anything.

[Chris123NT]

Microsoft didn't hand out any builds...

Yes they did. You guys give builds to OEM's all the time. 6519 was given to OEM in Mid January (I wanna say the 18th). And M2 was given to them the last week of May if I'm not mistaken.

[Roger H. Veteran]

hehe.. wow it's the Chris123NT - haven't seen him in a while! *friendly wave*

I was thinking this is Windows Sideshow too. Then again it could be something like ambient sensors as she said before. I guess that's more on the hardware level though?

Oh well, i just can't wait for some updates or some leaks. It's getting boring around here :)

[Brandon Live Veteran]

Yes they did. You guys give builds to OEM's all the time. 6519 was given to OEM in Mid January (I wanna say the 18th). And M2 was given to them the last week of May if I'm not mistaken.

Those aren't "handed out." Anything given to an OEM / IHV partner is shared under strict terms of confidentiality and access control.

Nobody was given a build to "review," named Paul or otherwise.

[Chris123NT]

Those aren't "handed out." Anything given to an OEM / IHV partner is shared under strict terms of confidentiality and access control.

Nobody was given a build to "review," named Paul or otherwise.

Oh I know Microsoft didn't give Paul or any others the build. Just OEM's, but like you said, under strict agreements.

[Crazysah]

Looking good Windows 7!