But the one thing that I didn’t like about Connectify is its interface. It just doesn’t blend with the interface of Windows7. Have a look at the screenshot below that shows Connectify in action :

What Connectify does is create a Virtual WiFi connection that anyone can connect to, just as it were a access point. Today I came across another app called Virtual Router that does the same job, but albeit in a much more intuitive way.

To start just install the app and fire it up. Enter the name for the network, a password and choose the connection you want to share and just hit start Virtual Router. And moments later you should have an active Wireless network you can share.

Virtual Router is Windows 7 and Windows Server 2008 only, because only they have the new built in Wireless Hosted Network(a.k.a Virtual WiFi) technology. It uses WPA2 Encryption for ensuring security and this encryption cannot be turned off.

How is Virtual WiFi different from Ad-Hoc? Ad-Hoc is best suitable if you are connecting two computers and can be used to share files, while tools such as Connectify and Virtual Router allow you to share the internet connection with multiple number of computers.

Sidenote : Mac OS.X has had this feature built in for many years now.

Download Virtual Router [Microsoft CodePlex] | Image Credit : Roger Bits

Though it borrows some cues from OS X, am a big fan of the new taskbar, and feel that Microsoft finally has the best solution to managing multiple windows on a clutter free taskbar.

However there are people who wish to tweak this taskbar according to their own wish and desires.. If you are one of those, then 7 Taskbar Tweaker is worth a look.

7 Taskbar Tweaker, allows you to tweak the various aspects of the Windows7 Taskbar, in a simple and effective way. Some of the features of this small and useful tool is :

• Show standard window menu on right click instead of jump list.
• Close or focus a window on middle click instead of running a new instance.
• Disable grouping of windows by file path or application id.
• Cycle through windows of a grouped button on left click instead of showing a thumbnails preview.
• Open with while dropping a file on a taskbar button instead of pinning.
• Disable thumbnail previews.

Go ahead, and download 7 Taskbar Tweaker if you wish to tweak the tiny details of your Windows7 Taskbar.

Photo Credit : Steve Punter | Download 7 Taskbar Tweaker

Microsoft hasn’t said what features will be in Windows 7, but analysts have some ideas of their own.

I am sure most of you have already heard about Windows 7, the successor to the not so popular Windows Vista. Its barely been half year and Microsoft is already busy in preparations for its successor. Though Microsoft hasn’t said anything about what features to expect in Windows 7, but analysts have already started predicting what we should really be expecting in the upcoming version of Windows that is due in about 3 years from now..

Here is a brief rundown to the expected features :

• WinFS File System (This Never Made it to Vista)
• Reduce the Hardware Footprint of the OS
• A Drastic Change in User Interface
• A Hypervisor : “a really thin OS” that manages virtual machines running on the system

Well these are mere speculations but I seriously feel that atleast a couple of the above mentioned list will make it to the final release of Windows 7. On an other note there is also possibility that Windows 7 might have a touchscreen interface following the success of the Apple iPhone. Atleast Microsoft doesn’t want to lag behind Apple.