Windows 7 cuts down UAC prompts, WMP12 gets better multimedia support

Microsoft has half-learned a very important lesson from users of the Windows Vista operating systems; enough with the damn User Account Control prompts already! While Windows 7 still has some UAC prompts on by default (surely can be disabled like with Vista) they will be cut down by about 29 percent, which still leaves a whole lot of annoying prompts.

"From our beta and internal testing, we expect a 29% decrease in UAC prompts compared to Windows Vista," Paul Cooke, Microsoft Corp.'s director of Windows 7 client enterprise security, said last week. The UAC prompts are intended to prevent malware infections by asking the user to confirm program executions before they can take place.

Unfortunately, with Windows Vista even the most patient user was suffering from "click fatigue," according to an internal Microsoft study. While scaling back is always welcome, it's probably fair to say that users who can, will disable the prompts altogether for the good of their mental health.

In other Windows 7 news, Windows Media Player 12 ships with the Release Candidate of the operating system, and will include codec support for many popular formats out of the box. Users reportedly won't have to install an XviD codec to decode XviD video, and won't need a separate splitter installed for MP4 content. Apple QuickTime files also reportedly play with the software without any additional installations.

Written by: James Delahunty @ 27 Apr 2009 13:10

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22 comments

jony218

I've been using Windows 7, and it runs great with the UAC disable. UAC is only for those people that don't have a firewall or antivirus, then it might be useful.
UAC definitely was the main reason Vista never took off, I am glad they fix that on Windows 7, it would be even better if it was disable by default.

27.4.2009 13:42 #1

windsong

Apparently they didn't learn enough. Someone should tell them "if it aint broke, dont fix it!" I test drove w7 Beta and there is no "show desktop" button at all. In addition, you cant get rid of the idiotic "search" bar on the start menu..neither can you backtrack to a "classic xp" start menu. I am hoping they put these back in, but it seems unlikely at this point.

Windows 7 = Windows Me

27.4.2009 17:13 #2

hendrix04

Originally posted by windsong: Apparently they didn't learn enough. Someone should tell them "if it aint broke, dont fix it!" I test drove w7 Beta and there is no "show desktop" button at all. In addition, you cant get rid of the idiotic "search" bar on the start menu..neither can you backtrack to a "classic xp" start menu. I am hoping they put these back in, but it seems unlikely at this point.

Windows 7 = Windows MeIf you think Windows 7 = Windows Me you are crazy. Vista is closer to Me (though still not as bad). Anyways, the "search" bar in the start menu is one of my favorite features (usually only have to hit windows key, type a couple letters and hit enter and start the program that I am looking for). Over all, windows 7 is a VERY nice OS and I cannot wait for it to release.

27.4.2009 17:28 #3

tatsh

Microsoft died when Google took over. Consider that the web is now mostly controlled by what Google gives you for data. You query for data, Google gives you their results (which seems to be the best for almost everything it seems). Then they have Google maps with Street View. Then there's Google Docs, and so many more things to add on to this 'cloud computing' service from Google. They capitalised on the idea that the web is a lot more powerful than just request page, get info, loop over and over. They realised the potential for YouTube and bought it and integrated it with Google Video. Now Google is said to be developing their own OS.

I am not a supporter of Google directly, but I do use a lot of their services (Search, Maps, Gmail, etc). My point is that Microsoft is NOT getting with the picture by just making another operating system with a flawed browser. The Internet is now the OS and Microsoft does NOT get it. And yes, IE 8 is better than IE 7, but that was hardly better than IE 6. IE 8 FINALLY supports div#name_of_div:hover pseudo-classes, but that's all I can see as far as improvements. Then they have their 'blacklist' of sites that will by default render in IE 7 mode because IE is so broken altogether (and still a completely broken ECMAScript implementation). Sure, people can get Firefox. And so-called 'power users' will. People can also get other software to supplant the Microsoft bundled software. The real question is why is Microsoft part of the equation in the first place. The only reason right now is games. But if developers catch on fast enough, they'll realise developing for Windows is a dead-end. A game programmed for Windows is generally DirectX, which ties it to Windows only (yes, Wine can run many of these on Linux and that's a good solution for now). Microsoft likes this. All the other libraries are probably Microsoft-only and the 'standard' C/C++ libraries are NOT standard in many ways.

Microsoft has held the PC industry back at least 10 years, and Google, along with Apple, and other companies have realised this and are going to take it no longer. Apple now has MobileMe, a cloud interface of their own. Microsoft is trying hard with Live, but it's going nowhere. The only people they have are Xbox Live subscribers, most of whom unknowingly now have a Live account.

Last I checked, Ubuntu came with XviD decoding out of the box years ago. It also came with a very easy way to install the proprietary codecs. I use Gentoo because I want to control every aspect of my PC's OS (call me a control-freak, I call myself somewhat of a perfectionist).

I believe OS X also can read XviD out of the box because it's MPEG4 of some sort. And obviously OS X can read its own format: QuickTime.

So Microsoft takes this long to implement obvious features. And I bet their implementations are useless other than for simple decoding and people will resort to the builds they have been using with previous Windows.

Web developers: If you are not using AJAX in the way so many other sites have embraced it (Google, Facebook, even BBC), you are going to be out of the business pretty soon.

27.4.2009 17:44 #4

SProdigy

Originally posted by windsong: Apparently they didn't learn enough. Someone should tell them "if it aint broke, dont fix it!" I test drove w7 Beta and there is no "show desktop" button at all. In addition, you cant get rid of the idiotic "search" bar on the start menu..neither can you backtrack to a "classic xp" start menu. I am hoping they put these back in, but it seems unlikely at this point.

Windows 7 = Windows MeTo the right of the clock in the system tray, there is a transparent looking vertical block; if you hover over it, it shows your desktop, making the windows "invisible". If you click on it, it shows the desktop, which is the "new" show desktop button you are looking for.

I am disappointed without a "classic XP" start menu, but the Windows Classic version is still there. The Windows 7 version isn't radically different, and you can tweak it to add things like the "Run" button if needed.

Overall, if that's all the experience you had with Windows 7, then you can't clearly see it's far superior to Vista, which is the true successor to ME.

27.4.2009 18:39 #5

ooZEROoo

I have Windows 7 build 7100 and I am now even more impressed than I was with build 7000. I hate to say it, but this is going to be the new Windows XP. I have two PCs in my home and I have switched them both to Windows 7 already. Even in beta stages, Windows 7 is more stable than Vista was at release.

To those of you using Vista, try the Service Pack 2 beta. It made Vista a little more stable in performance and compatibility (at least for me).

27.4.2009 22:00 #6

SProdigy

Originally posted by ooZEROoo: I have Windows 7 build 7100 and I am now even more impressed than I was with build 7000. I hate to say it, but this is going to be the new Windows XP. I have two PCs in my home and I have switched them both to Windows 7 already. Even in beta stages, Windows 7 is more stable than Vista was at release.

To those of you using Vista, try the Service Pack 2 beta. It made Vista a little more stable in performance and compatibility (at least for me).Out of curiosity, how is video playback? I had major problems under build 7000 with video playback, whether it was WMP or another program, like VLC or MPC. Of course, it may be related to Vista drivers, since 7 drivers weren't available when I was testing the beta.

28.4.2009 00:13 #7

Rebel11

Originally posted by tatsh: Microsoft died when Google took over. Consider that the web is now mostly controlled by what Google gives you for data. You query for data, Google gives you their results (which seems to be the best for almost everything it seems). Then they have Google maps with Street View. Then there's Google Docs, and so many more things to add on to this 'cloud computing' service from Google. They capitalised on the idea that the web is a lot more powerful than just request page, get info, loop over and over. They realised the potential for YouTube and bought it and integrated it with Google Video. Now Google is said to be developing their own OS.

I am not a supporter of Google directly, but I do use a lot of their services (Search, Maps, Gmail, etc). My point is that Microsoft is NOT getting with the picture by just making another operating system with a flawed browser. The Internet is now the OS and Microsoft does NOT get it. And yes, IE 8 is better than IE 7, but that was hardly better than IE 6. IE 8 FINALLY supports div#name_of_div:hover pseudo-classes, but that's all I can see as far as improvements. Then they have their 'blacklist' of sites that will by default render in IE 7 mode because IE is so broken altogether (and still a completely broken ECMAScript implementation). Sure, people can get Firefox. And so-called 'power users' will. People can also get other software to supplant the Microsoft bundled software. The real question is why is Microsoft part of the equation in the first place. The only reason right now is games. But if developers catch on fast enough, they'll realise developing for Windows is a dead-end. A game programmed for Windows is generally DirectX, which ties it to Windows only (yes, Wine can run many of these on Linux and that's a good solution for now). Microsoft likes this. All the other libraries are probably Microsoft-only and the 'standard' C/C++ libraries are NOT standard in many ways.

Microsoft has held the PC industry back at least 10 years, and Google, along with Apple, and other companies have realised this and are going to take it no longer. Apple now has MobileMe, a cloud interface of their own. Microsoft is trying hard with Live, but it's going nowhere. The only people they have are Xbox Live subscribers, most of whom unknowingly now have a Live account.

Last I checked, Ubuntu came with XviD decoding out of the box years ago. It also came with a very easy way to install the proprietary codecs. I use Gentoo because I want to control every aspect of my PC's OS (call me a control-freak, I call myself somewhat of a perfectionist).

I believe OS X also can read XviD out of the box because it's MPEG4 of some sort. And obviously OS X can read its own format: QuickTime.

So Microsoft takes this long to implement obvious features. And I bet their implementations are useless other than for simple decoding and people will resort to the builds they have been using with previous Windows.

Web developers: If you are not using AJAX in the way so many other sites have embraced it (Google, Facebook, even BBC), you are going to be out of the business pretty soon.
um....
Not to disagree. But I feel you are quit off. The Internet is yet to become the OS of the system. MANY MANY people still have yet to upgrade from dial up. Some yet to even get Internet. Microsoft will be here for years and years and years to come. Google has along time before they can take over. (hope they will though).

And apple? Only reason their doing good at all is because MS pretty much owns them. They own 30% of stock. If you look, Apple only starting to good, after MS started pouring money into them. Besides Mac is a very flawed os altogether. Mac's are good for the computer users who don't like to do anything other than Internet. other than that their shit. True mac is better with media and pictures, butttt that's because apples main focus.

Which leads me to my next point. Linux. Again very flawed system. Ubuntu is ok, but leaves much to be desired. Say vista has bad driver support? lol. when you install ubuntu it says you have about 200 updates to download. which is crazy. Networking with Linux, for a average person is imposable. Alot of ins and outs. And Linux is SUPER insecure. If one person would make a linux virus everyone would be screwed. Only reason Linux is "more secure" is because no one bothers to make a virus to affect the .8% of computer users lol. Linux is also very bad with Games. I don't even know why you would suggest that? lol

I do agree that IE sucks lol.

So yes. Internet still have along way to mature. And while google is growing up. It'll be awhile be for the "GOOG OS" or anything like that. But the Phones are a nice step.

28.4.2009 02:33 #8

wheelman7

It would be nice to see .MKV support out of the box for WMP 12 too.

28.4.2009 02:47 #9

cyprusrom

Originally posted by wheelman7: It would be nice to see .MKV support out of the box for WMP 12 too.Right...and free jelly donuts every time you hit play.

They are barely getting support for Xvid- which is one of the most widely found codecs in an AVI container, which was introduced by M$oft ages ago(1992), and just now gets playback support out of the box...

28.4.2009 03:48 #10

SProdigy

Quote:Originally posted by wheelman7: It would be nice to see .MKV support out of the box for WMP 12 too.Right...and free jelly donuts every time you hit play.

They are barely getting support for Xvid- which is one of the most widely found codecs in an AVI container, which was introduced by M$oft ages ago(1992), and just now gets playback support out of the box...Actually, video codec support doesn't bother. I believe the OS should be kept as "light" as possible, which is already a chore if you buy an HP, Dell, Sony, etc. from a retailer: they're always filled with tons of crapware, and typically no way to do a fresh OS install without it.

28.4.2009 09:51 #11

snowlock

Originally posted by windsong: ...the idiotic "search" bar on the start menu...i haven't got to use windows 7. did they change the start search from vista?
that little search box made the start menu programs usable again,
because if you let programs install groups they get far too cluttered quick.

28.4.2009 19:05 #12

hendrix04

Yup, same bar from vista... the one that lets you use it as a run window, or a search of the start menu. It is rather nice actually.

29.4.2009 08:42 #13

windsong

Quote:Originally posted by windsong: Apparently they didn't learn enough. Someone should tell them "if it aint broke, dont fix it!" I test drove w7 Beta and there is no "show desktop" button at all. In addition, you cant get rid of the idiotic "search" bar on the start menu..neither can you backtrack to a "classic xp" start menu. I am hoping they put these back in, but it seems unlikely at this point.

Windows 7 = Windows MeIf you think Windows 7 = Windows Me you are crazy. Vista is closer to Me (though still not as bad). Anyways, the "search" bar in the start menu is one of my favorite features (usually only have to hit windows key, type a couple letters and hit enter and start the program that I am looking for). Over all, windows 7 is a VERY nice OS and I cannot wait for it to release.Maybe you didn't get the memo..but the rest of us dont WANT to "type a bunch of letters" for our programs. We want to click once or twice and that is it. We don't LIKE the new UI, which scatters every conceivable task to the four winds. Once again, Microsoft will shoot themselves in the foot with W7, otherwise known as Vista Part Deux.

Fail.

29.4.2009 13:42 #14

MrFawlty

What is wrong with you people???

Quote:I want the classic start menuQuote:I don't like the search boxQuote:Vista/7 is like MEIf you don't like change, stick with DOS you luddites! And anyone who suggests that Linux is better needs their head examined! Yes, it runs well on slower machines and it's free but for end users? No. No. No. Anyone who gives technical support to Windows users will rather hell freezes over than to start supporting Linux. Any shop who has tried to sell Linux equipped netbooks will testify to that.

If you don't like change, DON'T CHANGE, stick with your 10 year old O/S and keep quiet.

I for one love Vista and am loving 7 even more. Yes, there are flaws but look back in time and see how many flaws XP had and how everyone moaned and said they were sticking with 98!! Get a life!

"Don't mention the war!"

30.4.2009 05:06 #15

slimf

30.4.2009 19:18 #16

ChappyTTV

Quote:but the rest of us dont WANT to "type a bunch of letters" for our programs. We want to click once or twice
You don't have to "type a bunch of letters", pin your most used programs to the Start menu to get 1 click access to them.
Since you can't have 30 programs on the Start menu, the Start Search box is a much faster way to access other less used ones, you only need to type 2 letters to have what you want at your fingertips.

Quote:We don't LIKE the new UI, which scatters every conceivable task to the four winds
Huh..??
That's about the exact opposite of the truth as they come.

Quote:Microsoft will shoot themselves in the foot with W7, otherwise known as Vista Part Deux
You obviously are living in your own little world there, if you read the vast majority of "True" independent reviews (not MS bashers or Fan sites) you'll find that W7 is almost universally considered a true progression of the OS, that builds upon the considereable kernel changes Vista started and improves performance and usability.

It's obvious that many people who claim to have tried the Beta are not true Beta Testers at all, they just want a Free OS and have it work perfectly right away. You fail to realize that it's a work in progress and bitch about any little (conceived) flaw. Then you also fail to "look around" or even try to read up on changes and miss rather obvious things...such as the "missing" show desktop button...or the true power of the Start menu search feature.
While I run with UAC off, I'm also a recognized security expert and have other means of monitoring unwanted behavior.

Gotta agree with MrFaulty...what's up with some people here? OS's change with every new iteration, some things work and some don't, but if you want XP style stuff in W7...forget it, stick with XP if you're so darn happy with it, just don't complain that an OS made 9 years after your vaunted XP was made, isn't exactly the same anymore. Either learn to work with the newest technology or stay stuck in the 90's...it's your choice (until they stop supporting it that is, and you can't expect them to do that forever either)

2.5.2009 17:26 #17

wanttono

22.2.2010 10:59 #18

scum101

will it let you install a different file manager and aston desktop? .. if not then fail.

"Ubuntu" - an African word meaning "Slackware is too hard for me"

22.2.2010 11:03 #19

MrFawlty

Yes, and yes. I have DOpus and it works in 32 & 64 bit. Aston is the same altho I personally hate it.

"Dont mention the war!"

22.2.2010 11:37 #20

wanttono

HI Feel better now ??? lol

Originally posted by MrFawlty: What is wrong with you people???

Quote:I want the classic start menuQuote:I don't like the search boxQuote:Vista/7 is like MEIf you don't like change, stick with DOS you luddites! And anyone who suggests that Linux is better needs their head examined! Yes, it runs well on slower machines and it's free but for end users? No. No. No. Anyone who gives technical support to Windows users will rather hell freezes over than to start supporting Linux. Any shop who has tried to sell Linux equipped netbooks will testify to that.

If you don't like change, DON'T CHANGE, stick with your 10 year old O/S and keep quiet.

I for one love Vista and am loving 7 even more. Yes, there are flaws but look back in time and see how many flaws XP had and how everyone moaned and said they were sticking with 98!! Get a life!

22.2.2010 22:31 #21

MrFawlty

haha, I felt ok then, I just had a rant!! :)

"Dont mention the war!"

23.2.2010 02:51 #22

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