See what files you have open at a glance
windows aero, flip 3d, taskbar, productivity, graphical user interface
Article Category: Computer Basics
Flip through all your open files and windows with a simple click of your mouse using Windows Flip 3D.
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Windows Aero is one of Windows Vista's "Top 10" features
Have you lost track of what files and programs you've opened? Flip through all your open files and windows with a single click of your mouse on the Windows Flip 3D icon (in the quick launch bar) or by pressing the WINDOWS+TAB keys - and you're just one click away from everything you're working on.
Plus, in Windows Aero, when you rest your mouse pointer on the taskbar, you can see thumbnail images of the windows you have open without having to expand them, so you can find what you're looking for at a glance.
Windows Aero is the premium visual experience of Windows Vista. It features a translucent glass design with subtle window animations and new window colours.
Windows Aero features glass-like windows for an open look
Aero’s distinctive visual style combines the appearance of lightweight, translucent windows with powerful graphic advances. With Aero, you can enjoy visually appealing effects and appearance and also benefit from better access to your programs.
Translucent glass windows create depth on the desktop
One of Aero’s more visually obvious features is glass window borders, which let you focus on the contents of your open windows. Window behavior has also been redesigned, with subtle animations accompanying the minimising, maximising and repositioning of windows to appear more smooth and effortless.
Tint your windows using the provided colours, or mix your own custom colour
You can even fine-tune the colour and appearance of windows, the Start menu, and the taskbar by tinting your translucent windows. Select one of the provided colours, or create your own custom colour using the colour mixer.
Click the Windows Flip 3D icon (in the taskbar, next to the start menu), or press the key combination WINDOWS+TAB
Part of the Windows Aero experience is Windows Flip 3D, which is a way to arrange your open windows in a three-dimensional stack that you can quickly flip through without having to click the taskbar. Press and hold the Windows key, and then press the Tab key to cycle through open applications.
Pointing to a window's taskbar button displays a preview of the window
Aero also includes taskbar previews for your open windows. When you point to a taskbar button, you'll see a thumbnail-sized preview of the window, whether the content of the window is a document, a photo or even a running video.
Switching windows with ALT+TAB
Even the method of pressing ALT+TAB for switching windows has been giving an update. Instead of simple icons, you can see live previews of the windows for each open program.
The following editions of Windows Vista include Aero:
Aero is not included in Windows Vista Home Basic.
Check which version of Windows you are running:
Plus, in Windows Aero, when you rest your mouse pointer on the taskbar, you can see thumbnail images of the windows you have open without having to expand them, so you can find what you're looking for at a glance.
What is Windows Aero?
Windows Aero is the premium visual experience of Windows Vista. It features a translucent glass design with subtle window animations and new window colours.
Windows Aero features glass-like windows for an open look
Aero’s distinctive visual style combines the appearance of lightweight, translucent windows with powerful graphic advances. With Aero, you can enjoy visually appealing effects and appearance and also benefit from better access to your programs.
Glass effects
Translucent glass windows create depth on the desktop
One of Aero’s more visually obvious features is glass window borders, which let you focus on the contents of your open windows. Window behavior has also been redesigned, with subtle animations accompanying the minimising, maximising and repositioning of windows to appear more smooth and effortless.
Tint your windows using the provided colours, or mix your own custom colour
You can even fine-tune the colour and appearance of windows, the Start menu, and the taskbar by tinting your translucent windows. Select one of the provided colours, or create your own custom colour using the colour mixer.
Windows Flip 3D
Click the Windows Flip 3D icon (in the taskbar, next to the start menu), or press the key combination WINDOWS+TAB
Part of the Windows Aero experience is Windows Flip 3D, which is a way to arrange your open windows in a three-dimensional stack that you can quickly flip through without having to click the taskbar. Press and hold the Windows key, and then press the Tab key to cycle through open applications.
Taskbar previews
Pointing to a window's taskbar button displays a preview of the window
Aero also includes taskbar previews for your open windows. When you point to a taskbar button, you'll see a thumbnail-sized preview of the window, whether the content of the window is a document, a photo or even a running video.
ALT+TAB
Switching windows with ALT+TAB
Even the method of pressing ALT+TAB for switching windows has been giving an update. Instead of simple icons, you can see live previews of the windows for each open program.
How do I get Windows Aero?
The following editions of Windows Vista include Aero:
- Windows Vista Business
- Windows Vista Enterprise
- Windows Vista Home Premium
- Windows Vista Ultimate
Aero is not included in Windows Vista Home Basic.
Check which version of Windows you are running:
-
On the taskbar at the bottom left of your screen, click Start or the Windows symbol
, and then click Run - In the Run dialog box, type: winver
- Click OK and a dialog box displays the version that you have
