Windows Vista Technologies

Core Audio

The core audio APIs serve as the foundation for higher-level APIs such as DirectSound, DirectMusic, multimedia wave and mixer functions, Media Foundation, and Streaming Audio Renderer (SAR).

A new set of user-mode audio components provides client applications with improved audio capabilities. These capabilities include:

• Low-latency, nearly glitch-free audio streaming.
• Improved reliability (many audio functions have moved from kernel mode to user mode).
• Improved security (processing of protected audio content takes place in a secure, lower-privilege process).
• Assignment of particular system-wide roles (console, multimedia, and communications) to individual audio devices.
• Software abstraction of the endpoint audio devices (for example, speakers, headphones, and microphones) that the user manipulates directly.

File Services

Common Log File System (CLFS) provides high-performance persistent log services to user-mode and kernel-mode applications. To learn more, see Common Log File System.

Transactional NTFS (TxF) integrates transactions into the NTFS file system, which makes it easier for application developers and administrators to handle errors gracefully and preserve data integrity. To learn more about Transaction NTFS, the impact of transactions on storage, and the impact of transactions on the API, see Transactional NTFS (TxF).

Virtual Disk Service (VDS) is a Windows service that performs query and configuration operations at the request of end users, scripts, and applications. The service extends the existing storage capabilities of Windows Server by providing an API to the existing volume and disk management features in Windows, and unifying volume management and hardware Redundant Array of Independent Disks (RAID) management under a single API. To learn more about the VDS, see About VDS.

Volume Shadow Copy Service (VSS) is a Microsoft Windows service to create shadow copies of volumes. The service ensures file system consistency of the shadow copies and also provides APIs to involve applications in the creation process thus enabling application-level consistency as well. See What's New in VSS in Windows Vista.

HTTP

New HTTP APIs have been added, and platform information has been updated in existing API documentation to indicate support for this version of Windows.

Management

Windows Remote Management is the Microsoft implementation of the WS-Management public standard protocol for enterprise management. The WS-Management protocol provides a common way for systems to locate and exchange management information. To learn more, see Windows Remote Management.

The Windows Event Log enables an application to publish, access, and process events. With the Windows Event Log API, an application can define a custom event and publish it either to an event log or to a specified publisher channel (a named logical stream of events). To access an event, an application either queries or subscribes to the log or channel. To learn more, see Windows Event Log.

Microsoft Management Console

Microsoft Management Console (MMC) is a framework that includes a graphical user interface (GUI) and programming platform in which snap-ins (collections of administrative tools) can be created, opened, and saved.

This version provides tools for writing .NET-based snap-ins for managing applications. Improvements include easier development and reduced snap-in development costs, increased reliability, integrated Windows Forms support, new view types, and improved usability.

For more information, see What's New in MMC 3.0.

Monitor Configuration

The new Monitor Configuration APIs make it possible to calibrate color, adjust the monitor's display area, save and restore display settings, and use vendor-specific monitor features.

Networking

Windows Vista introduces the following new networking technologies: Network Access Protocol, Network Location Awareness, and Windows Filtering Platform.

Network Access Protection (NAP) is designed to help administrators maintain the health of the computers on the network, which in turns helps maintain the network’s overall integrity. To learn more, see Network Access Protection.

The Network Diagnostics Framework (NDF) provides a way for component and application developers to simplify network troubleshooting for users. Users can attempt to diagnose and repair a network problem using a single troubleshooting tool.. To learn more, see Network Diagnostics Framework.

The Network List Manager (NLM) API enables applications to avoid randomly selecting a network to connect to. NLM identifies available networks and returns network attribute data to the application. To learn more, see Network List Manager.

With the Windows Filtering Platform (WFP) API, developers can create code that allows applications to participate in filtering that happens at all layers in the networking stack. To learn more, see Windows Filtering Platform.

Shell and Common Controls

This release includes several new programming elements for the Shell and Common Controls, as well flags and controls for use with existing elements.

Task Scheduler

This release includes APIs that support programming for Task Scheduler. The Task Scheduler service enables performing automated tasks on a chosen computer. To learn more, see What's New in Task Scheduler.

Windows Desktop Sharing

Windows Desktop Sharing is a multiple-party screen-sharing technology. Key scenarios include remote assistance, real-time collaboration and conferencing, and video communication. With Terminal Services, a session is always created when a user connects remotely through Remote Desktop Protocol (RDP). With Windows Desktop Sharing, a local desktop can be transmitted over an RDP connection without creating an additional session.

For more information, see Windows Desktop Sharing.

Windows Imaging Component (WIC)

Codecs are a fundamental component of imaging applications and the Microsoft Windows Imaging Component (WIC) APIs provide a single, authoritative source of imaging codecs.

The WIC APIs provide 3rd party independent software vendors (ISVs) the ability to develop their own imaging codec components and integrate them with the platform, both programmatically and through automatic component discovery.

To learn more about WIC, see Windows Imaging Component Overview.

Windows Deployment Services

Windows Deployment Services (WDS) is the revised version of Remote Installation Services (RIS). WDS enables the deployment of Microsoft Windows operating systems. WDS can set up new clients with a network-based installation without requiring that administrators visit each computer or install directly from CD or DVD media.

For more information, see Windows Deployment Services.

Windows Mail

Outlook Express has changed its name to Windows Mail.

Windows Media Player 11

The Windows Media Player 11 SDK has been significantly updated with the last release, and includes documentation and samples for many new features, including player control, skins, plug-ins, and more. For a complete list, see What's New in Windows Media Player 11.