Could you slide to navigate Metro?

I was just listening to Paul Thurrott and Leo on Windows Weekly 145 talking about the new Metro UI, used on the user interface for the upcoming Windows Phone 7 Series.  Paul describes it as one large multi-column canvas on which the phone acts like a little window - and allows you to scroll across it.  He then goes on to talk about how this would be great if you up-sized the phone to a slate-type device - so that you would be able to see a bigger section of the canvas.

At that point, I could visualize this virtual canvas on to which the phone is giving you a window.  Now imagine that you're holding the phone in front of you - and slide it to the right.  The accelerometer in the phone detects your motion, and moves the canvas in the other direction - making it seem like you're really just sliding the phone/window around on a real invisible canvas.  Wouldn't that be awesome?

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Win7 - Virtualize your WiFi

Updated on 06 Nov 2009 by Andy Bryant

An interesting feature that Microsoft was building into Win7, which allows you to virtualize your WiFi card never quite made it into Win7 in full - however an enterprising company has discovered that enough of it made it in for them to be able to complete the job.

The original feature allowed you to create multiple virtual wireless adaptors on the same physical card, and to use them for different networks.  The low-level code made it into Win7, but Microsoft never got round to finishing off the user-level interface.

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Windows 7 pre-order selling fast

Having just got back from vacation, I'm now glad I set myself a reminder to pre-order a UK copy of Windows 7.  According to engadget, the limited allocation of copies are selling out fast.   (In the US, the offer has already closed.)

Paul Thurrott has an excellent breakdown of which features are available in which Windows 7 edition on his supersite. 

Most home users will only need the Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium E (PC), although I went for the Microsoft Windows 7 Professional E (PC) edition one to get Remote Desktop server support.  As far as I can tell, the only other reasons why you might want the more expensive version would be to get built-in backup across your home network, or to be able to connect to a corporate network.  90% of home users should be completely fine with the Home Premium version.

Customers in the UK, France and Germany, can pre-order their copy of Windows 7 starting July 15th and will run until August 14th (or supplies last).

More info on the pre-order offer is also available from Microsoft.