We worked around Windows 7 and found some super secret features. These features are hidden that we doubt even the most educated, deeply experienced IT professionals will be able to find them.
1. The most puzzling and nefarious bit of code that we found in the bowels of Windows 7 was what appeared to be a spam bot that could be used to flood the mailbox of a targeted user, or even take down the person’s system.
Of course, this could just be next iteration of Windows Live Mail. However, we're concerned that if this code fell into the wrong hands, it could be used to unfairly target the perceived enemies of Windows,
2. Apple opened the door to more users especially IT professional in past years by building Boot Camp into its Macintosh computers to allow them to run Windows alongside Mac OS X in a multiboot configuration.
Not to be outdone, Microsoft as a secret dual-boot loader in Windows 7 that allows it to emulate Mac hardware and configure Mac OS X as an alternative boot option using the standard off the shelf Mac boot discs. In a fit of cleverness, Microsoft has decided to name it Training Camp, which we discovered when we uncovered the Help file. However, we're not sure what it is training for.
3. Much like the way Microsoft is offering a crimped version of Windows 7, known as Starter Edition, we’ve also found an alternate version of the Windows Registry.
Since this mysterious alternate Registry does not have any official name, let’s call it Registry. The Starter Edition because it is a greatly simplified and dumbed-down version. In fact, instead of five hives like the standard Registry, this one only has two: HKEY_CLUELESS_USER and HKEY_CRAPPY_MACHINE. We’re still not sure what purpose this alternate Registry will serve. The only thing we can think of is that it is made to simplify the process of building Windows software for developers who have been writing Windows code for decades but are still too lazy to follow best practices in terms of file organization and user security.
4. One of the most underused utility in the Microsoft Zune platform is squirting, which allows a Zune user to share a song with another Zune user over Wi-Fi network although the squirted song can only be used for three days or three plays. Microsoft belives this feature is very innovative and deserves much more attention and usage than it has received. Therefore, it has quietly added it into Windows 7.
This will allow cubical mates to share songs with each other from their huge libraries of Zune Marketplace selections, and laptop users will even be use to shoot songs to each from other across the aisle in the subway, for instance. In a surprising move, there is currently no PC to Zune or Zune to PC option. However, we’ve learned that Palm has also discovered this feature and apparently developed its own module to allow PC-to-Palm Pre squirting and vice-versa.
5. We don’t know how Microsoft did this. It looks like they would have needed cooperation from the hardware manufacturers. Nevertheless, it appears that the company has created its own highly-secret software that can turn any standard LCD monitor into a touch screen.
Now users will no longer have to a do a simple click and drag to resize photos. Instead they’ll be able to reach up to their screens with both hands and use a set of complicated multi touch gestures to do the same thing, and it will only take 5-10 seconds longer.
Have you found any secret features deep within the recesses of Windows 7? Any features you wish you could find if you were really looking?
1. The most puzzling and nefarious bit of code that we found in the bowels of Windows 7 was what appeared to be a spam bot that could be used to flood the mailbox of a targeted user, or even take down the person’s system.
Of course, this could just be next iteration of Windows Live Mail. However, we're concerned that if this code fell into the wrong hands, it could be used to unfairly target the perceived enemies of Windows,
2. Apple opened the door to more users especially IT professional in past years by building Boot Camp into its Macintosh computers to allow them to run Windows alongside Mac OS X in a multiboot configuration.
Not to be outdone, Microsoft as a secret dual-boot loader in Windows 7 that allows it to emulate Mac hardware and configure Mac OS X as an alternative boot option using the standard off the shelf Mac boot discs. In a fit of cleverness, Microsoft has decided to name it Training Camp, which we discovered when we uncovered the Help file. However, we're not sure what it is training for.
3. Much like the way Microsoft is offering a crimped version of Windows 7, known as Starter Edition, we’ve also found an alternate version of the Windows Registry.
Since this mysterious alternate Registry does not have any official name, let’s call it Registry. The Starter Edition because it is a greatly simplified and dumbed-down version. In fact, instead of five hives like the standard Registry, this one only has two: HKEY_CLUELESS_USER and HKEY_CRAPPY_MACHINE. We’re still not sure what purpose this alternate Registry will serve. The only thing we can think of is that it is made to simplify the process of building Windows software for developers who have been writing Windows code for decades but are still too lazy to follow best practices in terms of file organization and user security.
4. One of the most underused utility in the Microsoft Zune platform is squirting, which allows a Zune user to share a song with another Zune user over Wi-Fi network although the squirted song can only be used for three days or three plays. Microsoft belives this feature is very innovative and deserves much more attention and usage than it has received. Therefore, it has quietly added it into Windows 7.
This will allow cubical mates to share songs with each other from their huge libraries of Zune Marketplace selections, and laptop users will even be use to shoot songs to each from other across the aisle in the subway, for instance. In a surprising move, there is currently no PC to Zune or Zune to PC option. However, we’ve learned that Palm has also discovered this feature and apparently developed its own module to allow PC-to-Palm Pre squirting and vice-versa.
5. We don’t know how Microsoft did this. It looks like they would have needed cooperation from the hardware manufacturers. Nevertheless, it appears that the company has created its own highly-secret software that can turn any standard LCD monitor into a touch screen.
Now users will no longer have to a do a simple click and drag to resize photos. Instead they’ll be able to reach up to their screens with both hands and use a set of complicated multi touch gestures to do the same thing, and it will only take 5-10 seconds longer.
Have you found any secret features deep within the recesses of Windows 7? Any features you wish you could find if you were really looking?