| Features | | | | Monad will not be fully implemented in Vista, but will |
| Additionally, Vista will include many other new | | | | exist in it to some extent. It plans to combine the |
| features.Aero | | | | Unix pipes and filters philosophy with that of |
| Vista will include a completely re-designed user | | | | object-oriented programming.The "My" prefixes will |
| interface, code-named Aero. The new interface is | | | | be dropped, so "My Documents" will just be |
| intended to be cleaner and more aesthetically pleasing | | | | "Documents", "My Computer" will just be "Computer", |
| than previous Windows interfaces. The most visible | | | | etc. |
| addition to the interface is the sidebar (however this | | | | Windows System Assessment Tool (WinSat), a built |
| feature has been removed in the last alpha release), | | | | in benchmarking tool which analyzes the different |
| an area at the side of the screen consisting of tiles | | | | subsystems (graphics, memory, etc), and uses the |
| which display dynamic information about whatever | | | | results to allow for comparison to other Vista |
| window is currently in the foreground, which is | | | | systems, and for software optimizations. The |
| essentially an extension of the "system tray" on the | | | | optimizations can be made by both windows and |
| Windows task bar.Search | | | | third-party software. Tom's Hardware OverviewFile |
| Vista will feature a new search engine that will allow | | | | Virtualization, when an individual program's permissions |
| for instant display of results for a given search. This | | | | are restricted, allows that program to use its own |
| is in contrast to the search engine of Windows XP, | | | | 'fake' set of certain files so modifications to those |
| which can take several minutes to display results. The | | | | files from said program does not alter the original |
| Vista search will allow you to add multiple filters to | | | | files. |
| continually refine your search (Such as "File contains | | | | Transactional File Transfers, prevents a half updated |
| the word 'example'"). There will also be saved | | | | set of files from being created during updates for |
| searches that will act as Virtual Folders, where | | | | example, which can cause stability problems. |
| opening a folder will execute a specific search | | | | InfoCard, a user interface to the Identity |
| automatically and display the results as a normal | | | | Metasystem.Features and technologies delayed until |
| folder. The search will also feature other usability | | | | future releases |
| improvements. The Vista search is actually built on an | | | | WinFS (short for either Windows Future Storage or |
| expanded and improved version of the indexing | | | | Windows File System): a combined relational database |
| service for the search in Windows XP. This feature is | | | | and filesystem, based on the next version of SQL |
| similar to Apple Spotlight.Metro | | | | Server (codenamed Yukon). Working on top of |
| Metro is the codename for Microsoft's next | | | | NTFS, it will provide abilities to represent objects and |
| generation document format, which is based on XML. | | | | their relationships, rather than just a hierarchy of files |
| It is similar in many ways to Adobe Systems' PDF. | | | | and folders. The removal of WinFS from Windows |
| Metro is intended to allow users to view, print, and | | | | Vista was announced in August 2004, and is |
| archive files without the original program that created | | | | expected to be released as an update to Vista, |
| it. The name Metro also refers to the print path in | | | | entering beta stages at about the same time as |
| Vista. With Metro, documents can remain in the same | | | | Vista is released. Microsoft's promotion of this |
| format from the time they are created to the time | | | | technology has spurred the recent trend towards |
| they are printed. Microsoft states that Metro will | | | | desktop search tools. |
| provide better fidelity to the original document by | | | | Full implementation of Monad.Graphics hardware |
| using a consistent format for both screen and print | | | | requirements |
| output.While many analysts suspect Metro is intended | | | | Vista's graphics requirements are defined in relation |
| to be a "PDF-killer", Microsoft insists that they are not | | | | to the different desktop experiences.Aero Glass |
| attempting to duplicate all the functionality of the | | | | This graphics mode adds support for 3D graphics, |
| PDF. For example, at the time of this writing, Metro is | | | | animation and visual special effects in addition to the |
| not planned to have the capabilities for dynamic | | | | features offered by Aero Express.Intended for |
| documents.Shell | | | | mainstream and high-end graphics cards.At least 64 |
| The new shell is a significant change from previous | | | | MB of graphics memory, 128 MB recommended, or |
| versions of Windows. Combined with the new | | | | 256 MB for 1600x1200+.At least 32 bits per pixel.3D |
| desktop searching feature, the shell gives users the | | | | hardware acceleration with capabilities equal to |
| ability to find and organize their files in new ways. | | | | DirectX 9.A memory bandwidth of 2 GB / |
| Apart from the typical file organization practice of | | | | second.Capable of drawing ~1.5M triangles / second, |
| using folders to contain files, a new collection known | | | | one window being ~150 triangles.A graphics card that |
| as Lists let you organize files from multiple locations in | | | | uses AGP 4X or PCI Express 8-lane bus.It is likely |
| a single place.A new type of folder known as a | | | | that such a configuration will be entry-level or lower |
| Shadow Folder enables the ability to revert its entire | | | | by Vista's release in 2006.Aero Diamond |
| contents to any arbitrary point in the | | | | A graphics mode customized for the Vista Media |
| past.Additionally, the shell contains significant | | | | Center Edition, and will not be made available in the |
| advancements in the visualization of files on a | | | | other editions. Not much information is currently |
| computer. Previous versions of the Windows Shell | | | | available, but it appears that it will be the most |
| would display thumbnails to represent different files | | | | advanced level of graphics in Vista, requiring |
| on your computer. In Windows Vista the thumbnail | | | | hardware at the same level or greater than the Aero |
| concept is taken further by overlaying different | | | | Glass visual style.Aero Express |
| imagery to communicate more information about the | | | | The lesser Aero visual experience offering only the |
| particular file such as a picture frame around the | | | | basic visual improvements introduced by Vista, such |
| thumbnail of an image file, or a filmstrip on a video | | | | as composition based DPI scaling.Intended for |
| file. Windows Vista helps the user identify the file | | | | mainstream or lower-end graphics cards.Uses the |
| easily by more intelligently generating the thumbnails. | | | | Avalon Desktop Composition window manager.A |
| Using algorithmic analysis, images are cropped around | | | | Vista Driver Display Model (LDDM) driver is a |
| their likely subject, and interesting key frames are | | | | requirement.Some graphics cards already support |
| automatically chosen from a video file. Also, the ability | | | | LDDM. In some Vista builds (4074, 5048), LDDM is |
| to zoom the thumbnails in the shell greatly increases | | | | already supported to run Aero Glass.To Go |
| their usefulness.Networking | | | | The new Vista look & feel without any visual special |
| Windows Vista is expected to have a brand new | | | | effects, similar to the visual style Luna of Windows |
| networking stack. A significant change is a more | | | | XP in that it resembles merely an application skin. As |
| complete implementation of IPv6 which is now | | | | with Luna, no additional hardware requirements |
| supported by all networking components, services, | | | | compared to the classic Windows interface.A simple |
| and the user interface. Vista also takes advantage of | | | | option for consumer upgrades, and mobile / low-cost |
| P2P technology to provide a new type of domain-like | | | | devices. |
| networking setup known as a Castle. Castles make it | | | | No additional requirements compared to the lesser |
| possible for user credentials to propagate across | | | | Classic mode. |
| networked computers without a centralized server | | | | Fallback mode in case the hardware requirements |
| making them more suitable for a home network.The | | | | for Aero aren't met.Classic |
| ability to assist the user in diagnosing a network | | | | The most basic user interface offered by Vista, |
| problem is expected to be a major new networking | | | | which is also seen in Windows 2000, or Windows XP |
| feature. Using technologies such as UPnP, Windows | | | | with its visual style Luna deactivated.An option for |
| Vista has a greater awareness of the network | | | | corporate deployments and upgrades. |
| topology the host computer is in. With this new | | | | Requires Windows XP Display Driver Model (XPDM) |
| network awareness technology it can provide help to | | | | or LDDM drivers. |
| the user in fixing network issues or simply provide a | | | | No graphics card hardware requirements exceeding |
| graphical view of the perceived network | | | | those of Windows XP.Naming considerations |
| configuration.Other features | | | | Vista means "the visual percept of a region", with |
| Full support for the "NX" (No-Execute) feature of | | | | these synonyms: aspect, panorama, prospect, scene |
| processors. This feature, present in AMD's AMD64 | | | | and view. Translated from Spanish and Italian, vista |
| architecture, as well as Intel's EM64T Architecture, | | | | means: sight, vision, ability to see; look, glimpse; |
| can flag certain parts of memory as containing data | | | | spectacle; viewfinder; range of view; point of view.In |
| instead of executable code, which prevents overflow | | | | Latvian, however, vista means 'hen' (grown-up |
| errors from resulting in arbitrary code execution. This | | | | female of a bird, [2]) and 'chicken' (as in food), and |
| should not be confused with trusted computing | | | | may also connote something or someone not |
| facilities provided by a so-called Fritz-chip.Built-in DVD | | | | particularly agile or clever.Windows Vista has been |
| recording capabilities, including Mt. Rainier support. | | | | unofficially abbreviated to Windows VI, staying with |
| A new installation program that will install Vista in | | | | the traditional 2 character motif, as in 95, 98, Me, NT, |
| about 15 minutes (which is present in alpha build 4074 | | | | XP. VI is also the number 6 in Roman numerals, and |
| of Windows Vista). | | | | Windows Vista will carry the version number 6.0 |
| Native Raw Image support (a format used by most | | | | (Windows 2000 and Windows XP being Windows NT |
| professional digital cameras).Native, embedded RSS | | | | versions 5.0 and 5.1, respectively).Windows Vista |
| support, with developer API. | | | | sound like "bosta" in Argentinian culture.In the fiction |
| A new level of file encryption support from that | | | | of J. R. R. Tolkien, Vista is a part of the atmosphere |
| available in Windows XP, which will make it easier and | | | | that surrounds the world of Arda before the |
| more automatic to prevent unauthorized viewing of | | | | cataclysm at the end of the Second Age. Vista |
| files on stolen laptops/hard drives.Monad. A new | | | | forms the inner layer of normal air: above it is Ilmen, |
| command-line interface called MSH, and codenamed | | | | and above that Vaiya. |