Details trickle out about the Windows 7 pre-beta

According to her report, the Windows 7 pre-beta will introduce Device Stage, Action Center, a new framework for user-interface animations, and StreamOn. Device Stage will work as a "central location for customers to more easily interact with devices," while Action Center will help users troubleshoot problems, and StreamOn will have something to do with audio and video content—Foley says she doesn't know the specifics yet. Microsoft's PowerShell scripted command-line interface will make it into the pre-beta, too, as will the multi-touch functionality we wrote about in May.