Earlier tonight during the CES keynote speech, several new Windows Vista features were demonstrated.  Considering all of the new features, none were a so called "killer feature".  However, these new features help show how Windows Vista is revolving and is starting to be refined into a great new operating system. All the little good things make a big good thing.

Here is the list:

• IE now has QuickTabs that allows you to have thumbnails of all of your open tabs where you can choose to close them by closing the thumbnail.  This is not that new but worth mentioning.
• Windows Sidebar.  This is not exactly a new feature, it has been talked about for months, however, they demonstrated some of the actual gadgets that it is going to have. Specifically one that a Partner, Fox Sports, made that shows live NFL scores and detailed NFL game information.
• Advanced picture editing tools build into the picture viewer.  Similar to Picasa features.
• Photo slide shows now with videos included.
• Windows Media Player integrated with MTV with "Urge". Picture your Windows Media Player music library with millions of songs right on your PC.  As you can imagine, this is not going to be free and will be available in a per song purchase or a subscription service. Basically this is Microsoft's best attempt to combat iTunes.
• Windows Vista Media Center will work with DirecTV high definition as well as standard definition programming which is the result of a new Microsoft & DirectTV partnership.
• Windows Vista Media Center will support HD-DVD that supports a whole new menu experience and a whole new level of interactivity that just needs to be experienced to properly understand. Additionally you can copy your HD-DVD, Legally!, to your hard drive to watch your HD movies without the disks.  Better go buy a 1TB Network Attached Storage unit.
• Windows Vista Media Center will have support for Digital Cable. You will still need to get a special access card from your provided (CableCard). 
• Although this announcement does not have anything to do with Vista, it is worth mentioning. Later this year Microsoft will be shipping an external HD-DVD drive for Xbox 360.

Last Updated - 01/4/2005 8:13 PM Mountain Time