Digital Home Thoughts - News & Reviews for the Digital Home

It's been a few years since I've connected a digital camera directly to one of my computers - I always pull the memory card out and connect it to a memory card reader instead. Windows 7 brings with it Device Stage, which allows for enhanced functionality when a device is connected. With Windows 7 not quite out yet, the number of fully-implemented Device Stages isn't very large, but even without a fully customized Device Stage there's some cool functionality offered up for most devices that you connect. Read more...

"We wanted to enhance the installation and configuration process by improving enumeration and display of device capabilities, presentation of devices, and access to configuration settings. We also wanted to create a discoverable and enjoyable way of accessing applications and services specific to a device."

Windows 7 comes with a lot of new tweaks and how Windows 7 handles devices, such as phones, webcams and multi-function printers has been given an overhaul in the form of Device Stage. The Windows 7 Team blog has a lengthy article on how they changed from a function oriented view at devices to a device oriented view though be warned that the post definitely seems more targeted towards developers and manufacturers at a high level.

The biggest part to take away from it as a user is that Microsoft has tried to make playing with toys managing the dozens of devices you have plugged into your computer easier. From the central point where you can discover all the features of a device, to the streamlined user experience it looks like it is a step in the right direction.