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Is it so much to ask for some more wallpaper options? I have a huge list of wallpapers and have found a 3rd party app that changes the wallpaper every time Windows restarts etc. Can't MS just add something simple like this into Windows as well?

That aside, I like most of the changes, and this is a M3 build. Who knows if they'll do a M4 or go to Beta 1, either way we're talking about next year for a beta anyways.

So far so good, imho. I can see a few good improvements.

Anyone expecting big interface leaps really needs to be patient. UI is likely to be unchanged or finalised until pretty late in to the beta process. Functionality is key before aesthetics.

Indeed (Y)

I think we can confirm that there custom themes with this screenshot.

If by 'custom themes' you mean the default theme with different colors, and some different wallpapers, then yes, you're right :p

Why do you guys keep insisting that there will be radical GUI changes? Microsoft has stated multiple times already that Windows 7 will be a minor upgrade to Vista. Therefore, the GUI is expected to change with the same 'radical changes' u saw between Windows 98 and 2000. Thats it. Vista's GUI is the same style Windows 7 is. They will radically change it on Windows 8 probably if there is even going to be another windows.

Now if only Paint could get a couple more features ;)

That Ribbon implementation thing is by far the best feature I've seen in Windows 7 so far. I hope it'll be implemented in a good number of apps..

The rest doesn't impress me, especially that sort of QuickLook implementation, good way to copy Mac OS :)

Why do you guys keep insisting that there will be radical GUI changes? Microsoft has stated multiple times already that Windows 7 will be a minor upgrade to Vista. Therefore, the GUI is expected to change with the same 'radical changes' u saw between Windows 98 and 2000. Thats it. Vista's GUI is the same style Windows 7 is.

I agree. And anyway, it's about time Microsoft stuck with a similar UI for a while, just like they did from Windows 95 - 2000, rather than changing it for each version of Windows. I'd like some uniformity with the UI.

I like what they did with explorer and the folders etc on the left:

Me too. I like the new bluish folderband too, rather than the less subtle turquoise one that Vista has (which I have disabled for me by editing the shellstyle).

the fact that they've already implemented part of the new UI shows they are aiming for a completely new UI for Windows 7.

There is lots of work to be done on paper and the artistry part before any programming is put into the UI so we won't see any of the 7 UI until Beta 1 at least. These milestones are purely from the programmers point of view.

Win7 probably has a completely new icon set, new branding new color set and redone interface. They've still got a whole year to do the UI and there usually isn't a software issue with UI as much as there is with say networking.

Why do you guys keep insisting that there will be radical GUI changes? Microsoft has stated multiple times already that Windows 7 will be a minor upgrade to Vista. Therefore, the GUI is expected to change with the same 'radical changes' u saw between Windows 98 and 2000. Thats it. Vista's GUI is the same style Windows 7 is. They will radically change it on Windows 8 probably if there is even going to be another windows.

Wrong. This link pretty much sums it up.

So far so good, imho. I can see a few good improvements.

Indeed (Y)

If by 'custom themes' you mean the default theme with different colors, and some different wallpapers, then yes, you're right :p

Seems good enough for me. I personally don't think Microsoft should fully support themes, the hacking works good enough. And that would leave Windows Blinds obsolete. :p

Is it so much to ask for some more wallpaper options? I have a huge list of wallpapers and have found a 3rd party app that changes the wallpaper every time Windows restarts etc. Can't MS just add something simple like this into Windows as well?

That aside, I like most of the changes, and this is a M3 build. Who knows if they'll do a M4 or go to Beta 1, either way we're talking about next year for a beta anyways.

You'd think that would be a big request but what i've noticed is that people don't even want their icon's location changing cuz they get all lost in all the madness. Surely a wallpaper wouldn't be that big of a deal but people are picky with their machines for sure. Then again i hardly ever see the wallpaper i'm using. Someone asked me once and i had to go back to the desktop to look as i even forgot which one i had. My girlfriend on the other hand would remember that cuz she has a picture of her cat (eine katze - "Leini Maus")

Yup. I don't know if I like that new silver color scheme they're using on applications, though (instead of the turquoise-ish color). The latest Live software stuff uses it, too, and I don't like it there.

I don't care if they change the color to be silverish, but right now it just looks sort of crappy and unpolished and doesn't tie together well. I'm wondering what made them decide to get rid of the icons also.

In any case I hope they also change the appearance of some of the popups, like for icon views, so it fits in with the appearance of the apps instead of being old-style battleship grey

I think it looks great, so far. I've always liked the Aero UI, and it seems that it's not going away in Windows 7, and instead getting enhanced. Adding the Ribbon to other applications is a great idea, such as Paint and Wordpad. I would like to see tabs added to Explorer, though.

Niiiiice! Me want me want, lol.

I heard that Win 7 is going to be the last 32-bit client-side OS. Dunno if that's true, but if it is, then yippee!

I've moved on with Vista Ultimate 64-bit on my laptop. JMHO, but everybody else should go into the 64-bit boat.

ThinkNext has posted some new screenshots for Windows 7. So far everything is looking amazing. Media Player especially is looking really good.

Link

Still has ALOT of work to be done; the interface is a nightmare when it comes to consistency.

It actually looks quite good, huge UI changes aren't needed - just minor improvements. Anyway I look forwards to the day when I can square root, without having to remember to use powers.

Exactly. Did anybody remember how big a change there was UI-wise going from Windows NT to Windows 2000 (or even from Windows 95 to 98 SE)? Surprisingly, despite ActiveDesktop becoming standard, the rest of the UI changed very little (however, what you could do within the UI changed a ton). I remember working for the Big Cable TV Company which was migrating enmasse from NT 4 to 2000 Professional (and I was one of the early migratees precisely because I had been using Windows 2000 Professional as my home OS) and therefore was one of those showing folks some of the new features. The biggest *wow factor* was one that was not expected to be much of a wow factor: printer browsing. You could sort available printers by capability, by location, or even by the length of the document queue (not to mention that printer browsing was Just Plain Quicker in Windows 2000 than in NT 4). Here's the surprise: no hardware upgrades were needed. In fact, other than a DLL upgrade in one application (and the OS itself), not a single program change was necessary. Little things can have a surprisingly large impact. (Seriously; how big an impact was expected from improved network printing?)

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    • Microsoft releases big Windows 11 25H2, 24H2 Release Preview with Recovery, Update features by Sayan Sen Microsoft has released today new Release Preview channel builds for Windows 11 Insiders. The new builds, 26100.8728 and 26200.8728, are for Windows 11 24H2 and 25H2 flighters, respectively. Meanwhile 26H1 flighters get 28000.2333. The new builds include new features related to Windows Update, Recovery, and more. The full changelogs, which are quite long today, are given below. First up we have for Builds 26200.8728 and 26100.8728: Gradual rollout This section highlights some new features and enhancements for Windows 11 PCs, including AI-powered capabilities, continuous innovation, and performance improvements. [Point-in-time restore for Windows] New! This flexible recovery feature helps you quickly roll back your PC, including apps, settings, and personal files, to a recent automatic restore point. It helps reduce downtime and simplifies troubleshooting when issues occur. To learn more, see Point-in-time restore for Windows. [Windows Update] New! A calendar experience in Windows Update settings (Settings > Windows Update) lets you pause updates by choosing an end date, for up to 35 days. You can extend the pause by selecting a different end date and re-pause updates as needed. For more information, see Pause updates in Windows. [Widgets] New! A quieter, more focused Widgets experience helps reduce interruptions and improves default settings and notification controls: Reduce distractions: Widgets no longer open on hover. Notifications and taskbar badges are minimized by default, and badges use colors that match your Windows accent. Simpler: Open to the Widgets dashboard by default on first use. New users see a simplified experience on lock screen with Weather as the only default widget. Customize: Configure Widgets the way you want by selecting Settings in the navigation bar, then changing any default settings. Stay informed: Dashboard icons show the number of alerts, and badges clear automatically when you leave a dashboard. Adjusted defaults: Some default settings are preserved based on usage, while others adjust to reduce interruptions. Performance improvements: This update provides improved reliability, responsiveness, and visual quality across the Widgets experience. [Accessibility] New! This update makes your screen easier to see and helps you customize your zoom experience: Screen tint: Apply a full-screen color overlay to help reduce eye strain and improve readability. Choose from preset tint options, adjust intensity, or turn it on automatically. Find this feature in Settings > Accessibility. Magnifier: Enter a zoom percentage directly and change it in increments in the Magnifier window for more precise, flexible control. Magnifier settings menu: Modify zoom increments directly from the Magnifier bar instead of navigating to Windows Settings each time. [File Explorer] When you hover over a file in File Explorer Home, commands such as Open file location and Ask Copilot appear as quick actions. This experience is now supported for work and school accounts (Entra ID). This feature isn't available in the European Economic Area. The address bar now supports paths containing double backslashes and quotation marks (for example, C:\Users\user or "C:\Users\user"), improving compatibility with a wider range of inputs. The address bar suggestion dropdown is more reliable and now consistently closes after an item is selected. This update addresses an issue on File Explorer Home where OneDrive files could appear duplicated in the Favorites section. This update includes several refinements to the Rename experience: Addresses an issue where text was repeatedly selected when renaming items in folder views. Addresses an issue where case-only name changes were not immediately reflected in folder views for items stored locally or in the cloud. [Bluetooth] This update improves reliability and performance when connecting to and using Bluetooth devices: New! Windows now keeps the microphone mute state in sync between the audio mixer and the Hands-Free Profile (HFP) for a more consistent experience with Bluetooth headphones with mute buttons or indicators. Device compatibility: Improves compatibility with certain Bluetooth audio devices, helping AirPods appear faster in pairing mode and improving microphone reliability on Beats Studio Pro headphones. Bluetooth audio stability and quality: Improves Bluetooth audio stability with certain PC manufacturer drivers (error code 0x9F). Improves Bluetooth audio quality and reliability for voice calls when using classic audio devices with the Hands-Free Profile (HFP). Improves reliability of LE Audio streaming after a connection is lost and restored. Reduces time for LE Audio accessories to start playing audio while using the microphone. Device management: Bluetooth device removal is now more reliable when the Bluetooth radio is disabled or changed after pairing, reducing occurrences of the "Remove failed" message. Settings experience: Improves stability when using the Bluetooth & devices settings page for a smoother, more consistent experience. Connection reliability and responsiveness: Reduces the time it takes for classic Bluetooth audio devices to reconnect after Windows resumes from hibernation. Improves reliability when LE Audio accessories disconnect, such as when another device (for example, a phone) connects. [Bluetooth and Phone Link] This update improves audio routing for calls made through a connected phone: When an outgoing call is dialed from a paired phone, audio remains on the phone while ringing and transfers to the PC only when the call is answered from the PC. When Do Not Disturb is enabled on Windows, incoming call audio from a paired phone no longer rings on the PC. [Voice access and voice typing] New! You can now use voice access and voice typing in French, German, and Spanish. As you speak, your PC improves your text in real time. It corrects grammar, punctuation, and recognition errors, and helps improve clarity, even in the presence of background noise. This makes dictation smoother and reduces the need for manual edits. Available on Copilot+ PCs. [Audio] This update improves the reliability of the inbox HD Audio driver. [Taskbar] This update improves the reliability of invoking the Start menu when clicking the left edge of the taskbar when icons in the taskbar are left-aligned. [Emoji panel] The emoji panel (Windows key + period (.)) now uses GIPHY as the GIF provider, delivering a smoother GIF browsing and sharing experience following the deprecation of Tenor. [Networking] This update includes networking improvements for virtualized environments. Confidential Virtual Machines (CVMs) now use SR-IOV hardware acceleration by default for improved network throughput, and a configuration issue in nested Hyper-V virtualization network setup has been corrected to ensure reliable VM network provisioning. This update improves the reliability of the Windows networking stack. It reduces bug checks (blue screen errors) related to Wi-Fi power and improves cellular (WWAN) connectivity, including support for IPv6 VPNs. Compatibility with third-party VPN software and SR-IOV configurations on server hardware is also improved. Network adapter settings and bindings are now preserved across OS upgrades. [Printing] New! New printer installations use Internet Printing Protocol (IPP) by default when supported, simplifying setup and improving reliability. For details about third-party driver deprecation, see End of Servicing Plan for Third-Party Printer Drivers on Windows. To control this behavior, use the toggle in Settings > Bluetooth & devices > Printers & scanners > Default install printers using Windows Ready Print. For more information, see Introducing Windows Ready Print and modernized driver selection. [Windows Subsystem for Linux (WSL)] This update improves usage of WSL in mirrored networking mode with VPNs. [Display and graphics] Improves reliability of rendering content while scrolling for certain apps spanning across multiple monitors. Improves reliability and persistence of applying color profiles. [Location services] This update changes how some location settings are displayed in Settings > Privacy & Security > Location to help with clarity. When location services are turned off, settings like Default location and Allow location override do not immediately apply, since location information is not given to apps or services. These settings are now greyed out when location services are off to reduce confusion over when they take effect. [Search] This update improves the reliability of setting Search-related group policies. [Input] New! You can now customize the size of the right-click zone in Settings > Bluetooth & devices > Touchpad. Choose from default, small, medium, or large to control how much of the bottom-right corner responds to a single-finger right-click. This setting is only available on touchpads with a pressable surface. If your device manufacturer provides customization through their app, a Custom option appears to reflect those settings. This update also improves recognition of English characters when using Japanese handwriting. [General Reliability] This update makes underlying changes to help improve explorer.exe reliability, including addressing reliability issues on the login and lock screens related to the use of third-party credential providers, reducing the probability of taskbar icons appearing as blank gray placeholders, improving reliability of navigating to File Explorer Home during OneDrive sync, improving explorer.exe reliability when switching between multiple desktops, improving app launch reliability when shell extensions are installed, and addressing reliability issues related to acrylic blur effects in Start menu, Settings, and the lock screen. Normal rollout This non-security update includes quality improvements. The following summary outlines key issues addressed by the KB update after you install it. Also, included are available new features. The bold text within the brackets indicates the item or area of the change. [Secure Boot] With this update, Windows quality updates include additional high confidence device targeting data, increasing coverage of devices eligible to automatically receive new Secure Boot certificates. Devices receive the new certificates only after demonstrating sufficient successful update signals, maintaining a controlled and phased rollout. [Authentication] This update improves Netlogon secure channel connections between domain controllers, enabling successful connections from member servers to domain controllers set up before 2025. [Networking] This update improves how your device connects to shared network resources. Connections used by apps and system features, such as the NetUseAdd function, now work more reliably, including unauthenticated (null session) connections. [Start Menu] This update improves the Start menu experience, allowing newly installed or removed apps to appear without requiring sign-out or restart. This mainly affects apps that create a Start menu folder with multiple shortcuts. [Taskbar] This update improves notification badge display across your apps. Notification counts and badge visuals now update correctly, helping you stay up to date with new activity. Up next we have build 28000.2333: Gradual rollout Windows 11 PC experiences This section highlights some new features and enhancements for Windows 11 PCs, including AI-powered capabilities, continuous innovation, and performance improvements. [Magnifier in Windows] New! Magnifier now provides clearer and more consistent announcements when working with a screen reader. You'll hear helpful announcements when you zoom in or out, switch views, turn color inversion on or off, or turn Magnifier On or Off. This makes it easy to stay oriented while you work. New! Magnifier now supports magnification of permitted protected content. This update improves smoothness when moving Magnifier in lens mode. [Task Manager] New! Task Manager now offers improved visibility into NPU usage on PCs with an NPU. New optional NPU and NPU Engine columns are available on the Processes, Users, and Details pages, along with NPU Dedicated Memory and NPU Shared Memory optional columns on the Details page. Neural engines that are part of a GPU now appear on the Performance page, providing a more complete view of AI-related activity. A new optional Isolation column on the Processes and Details pages shows which apps are running in an AppContainer. You can add any of the new columns by right-clicking a column header in Task Manager and selecting them from the menu. This update improves CPU speed display on the Performance page of Task Manager for VMs, so it doesn't show higher than unexpected numbers after resuming from hibernate. [Camera] New! Windows 11's Multi-App Camera feature allows multiple applications to access your camera stream at the same time. Basic Camera mode in Windows 11 enables simplified camera functionality, useful for troubleshooting or improving stability when your camera is not working correctly. Enterprise admin can now set Multi-App Camera mode or Basic Camera mode through Group Policy, under Computer Configuration > Administrative Templates > Windows Components > Camera > Configure Camera Options. [Windows Setup] New! You can now choose a custom name for your user folder on the Device Name page during Windows setup. The updated experience makes it easier to select a custom name during setup only. If this step is skipped, Windows uses the default folder name and continues setup as usual. User folder names must follow standard Windows naming requirements. [General Performance] This update accelerates app launch and core shell experiences such as Start menu, Search, and Action Center. [Personalization] This update improves: Color selection accuracy when adjusting your accent color to match your wallpaper when the automatic accent color selection is enabled in Personalization settings. Wallpaper persistence reliability across restarts and upgrades, including better support for large-resolution wallpapers and other scenarios to prevent solid color wallpaper fallback. [Windows Hello] This update improves: This update optimizes the Windows Biometric service (WinBio) to help improve performance when your device resumes from Modern Standby. This update reduces unexpected authentication blocks in Windows Hello Enhanced Sign-in Security by resolving missing secure enrollment metadata. This update improves sign-in behavior on the lock screen and sign-in screen. When Windows Hello face or fingerprint is set up and available, it is now the default sign-in method every time you sign in, even if you used a different method previously. If you need to use your Windows PIN instead and use it three times in a row, Windows will stay with PIN until you switch to another sign-in method. [Windows Search Box] Windows Search will now find and prioritize files with as few as two characters. [Storage] The dialog box for creating a Dev Drive now supports specifying the size in gigabytes (GB) instead of only megabytes (MB). This option is also available when resizing volumes in Settings > System > Storage. In Settings > System > Storage, you now see a User Account Control (UAC) prompt only when you choose to view temporary files, instead of immediately when opening the page. [USB] This update improves reliability for displays attached to USB4 docks and hubs. These displays now light up more consistently, particularly when coming out of standby. The USB3 stack is updated to have additional resiliency and recovery measures in place against certain unexpected hardware faults and conditions. Users will experience higher reliability with USB devices. [Sensors] This update improves resiliency against apps that could keep the sensor hub powered on and drain power, impacting battery life. [Human Interface Device (HID)] This update improves battery life related to the HID and Input stack for failed HID devices. Power hygiene is also improved against applications that might initiate HID transfers during standby. [Input] The update improves: Reliability of the touch keyboard on the sign-in screen, including when entering or changing a password. Reliability of explorer.exe when closing the input switcher. Performance when opening or navigating to clipboard history. [Fonts] The Times New Roman font family is updated to improve the rendering of combining diacritical marks across Greek and Cyrillic scripts. This update provides more accurate and visually consistent text by addressing mark positioning issues. These changes improve readability, reduce rendering inconsistencies, and better support global language users working with Greek and Cyrillic content. [Task Scheduler] Task Scheduler now saves column width adjustments in task list view across sessions. [Desktop icons] This update improves reliability of loading desktop app shortcuts. [Microsoft Store] This update includes underlying changes that improve download performance and bandwidth usage. This update improves error reporting when downloads fail due to Windows Update group policy settings being enabled. [Reliability] This update improves Windows reliability on the sign-in and lock screens, in File Explorer, when using touch gestures on touchscreen devices, and when changing themes in Settings. Normal rollout This non-security update includes quality improvements. The following summary outlines key issues addressed by the KB update after you install it. Also, included are available new features. The bold text within the brackets indicates the item or area of the change. [Authentication] This update improves Netlogon secure channel connections between domain controllers, enabling successful connections from member servers to domain controllers set up before 2025. [BitLocker] This update improves BitLocker testing reliability by ensuring the required files are available for the BitLocker Drive Encryption USB BIOS Logo Test.
    • Maybe it became sentient and realized how useless it is, and thus shut itself down.
    • I don't get the cookie consent dialog on the main page. I would have accepted that a couple of years ago when I first got the phone.
    • They have rushed to made a fix which is in 26200.8655, the 8653 contains an issue : https://learn.microsoft.com/en...8653-has-the-same-problem-a
    • Windows 11 gets useful new File Explorer features in the latest build by Taras Buria Friday Windows 11 preview builds are finally here. After skipping one week, Microsoft is back to releasing preview builds for Windows Insiders to try. This time, Insiders in the Experimental Channel can download build 26300.8687. Its changelog does not contain anything major, but there is still useful new stuff, such as some new conveniences for File Explorer, Windows Update improvements, better Windows Search, a new search provider for the built-in GIF library, and more. Here is the changelog: [Windows Update] As announced in the Windows Update announcement blog, we are now bringing a new unified update experience to reduce the number of reboots you see per month. We are starting by coordinating driver, .NET, and firmware updates to align with the monthly quality update, reducing the update experience to a single monthly restart. See the blog for more information. [File Explorer] Middle-click to open a folder in a new tab is now supported in the Address Bar and the Home page for a more consistent and efficient tabbed navigation experience across File Explorer. Improved screen reader announcements for conflict resolution dialog ("Which files do you want to keep?") when moving/copying files. Made some more improvements to how File Explorer responds to increased text scaling. [Search] Finding apps is more forgiving. Search is better at handling typos, dropped letters, extra letters, and partial words for apps. Queries like “utlook” can still find Outlook. Settings results are improving. We’ve made ranking improvements to help more relevant settings appear higher in results. [Taskbar] Improved reliability of loading the system tray area of the taskbar. Fixed an issue where tooltips might unexpectedly appear on top of the Start menu icon in the taskbar when using the taskbar in an alternate position. Also fixed a few other visual polish issues when using the taskbar with small icons. [Windows setup] The digital safety of users and supporting families is central to how we think about the Windows experience. We're improving information on parental controls and their availability during Windows setup, so families can more easily understand available protections and make informed choices from the very beginning. [Input] Update: The emoji panel (Windows key + period (.)) now uses GIPHY as the GIF provider, delivering a smoother GIF browsing and sharing experience following the deprecation of Tenor. Fixed an issue that was causing the mouse cursor to potentially move in the wrong direction in recent Insider builds on secondary monitors when set to portrait mode. [Remote Recovery Management] Adding a recovery remote management plug-in for extending WinRE management capabilities for MDM providers [Audio] Fixed an issue resulting in audio not working for some Insiders after the latest flights. [Settings] Fixed an issue impacting the reliability of Settings > Apps > Installed Apps after the latest flights. [General Reliability] If you were experiencing freezes in the previous flight when interacting with search, Notepad, or certain other scenarios, that should be resolved now. [Other] When using dark mode, if you open "Run new task" from Task Manager, it will now show in dark mode too. As usual, changes above are rolling out gradually. You can find the release notes here in the official documentation.
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