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October 20, 2010
PC

Introducing Windows Product Scout



Let’s talk about choice. Perhaps one of the greatest benefits of Windows is choice – of how you want to use your PC, of hardware, of devices, of software and web apps. It is our amazing ecosystem of partners that brings choice to Windows 7 users with a vast array of products that extend and enhance their experience with their PC. If you want to experience that choice for yourself just visit any online retailer or search the internet with Bing. The choice is amazing and exploring the ecosystem just got a bit easier.

On behalf of the team here at Windows, I am pleased to announce Windows Product Scout launched last night.

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Windows Product Scout is a new destination on Windows.com that showcases a selection of products scouted by our team for Windows 7. When I say scouted, I’m quite serious, the products featured on the site are limited to an intentionally selected catalog. Every week, we will feature a new set of products on the home page and will be updating the site every month with more selected products.

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Windows Product Scout focuses on products that have earned the “Compatible with Windows 7 Logo”. These products have passed Microsoft designed tests for compatibility and reliability with Windows 7 including testing for common issues to minimize the number of crashes, hangs and reboots. The team also vetted products based on their experience and focused on products that support key features and technologies in Windows 7 – products that make it easy for you to get the very most out of Windows 7 (features like Windows Touch, Play To, Device Stage). We are also working with software developers and device manufacturers to build a pipeline of the new and exciting products coming in the near future.

Definitely take the time to explore the site. Click around to learn more about technologies, discover the great products that our partners have created, watch videos, get downloads, and more. I wanted to quickl7 highlight 3 things about the experience:

  • A great experience: Windows Product Scout features an engaging user experience that groups products into “clusters”. It is simple to navigate with a mouse and is also touch-friendly. We have also implemented IE9 support so the site can be a pinned app with jumplist support.
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  • Access to the products: Windows Product Scout gives you easy access to information about the products and how to get them. For every app, we offer a direct download link from the 3rd party publisher. In one click, you are ready to start your free trial or access a free version of the application. For devices, we offer a link to purchase the product either directly from the manufacturer or the Microsoft Store. The site also features editorial content from the Windows Blog & CNET about the products.
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  • Discovering what you can do with Windows: The site gives you an easy way to discover a sample of products that support Windows 7 features. You can also click on the category cubes to learn more about specific technologies like Windows Touch, Play To, and others.
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For launch we have selected and are showcasing 58 products including a range of apps optimized for Windows Touch, Touch monitors, cameras, TV’s, apps for creativity and more. Partners include Amazon, D-Link, WildTangent, Epson, Sony, Seesmic, Toshiba and more. We’ve also included a few of the latest and greatest apps from Microsoft: Windows Internet Explorer 9 Beta, Office Home and Student 2010, and Windows Live Photo Gallery and the other products in Windows Live Essentials 2011.

If you are looking for more products that work with Windows 7, we recommend you check out the Windows Compatibility Center. The Compatibility Center is still the best place to find objective information on the compatibility status of products on Windows 7 as well as links to support resources and drivers.

Our next update is November 1st and we will provide another update then.  If you would like to give us feedback, leave a comment on the blog or hit the feedback button on the site.  By the way, if you are looking for a new PC, we recommend you check out Windows PC Scout.

For now, please take a look at Windows Product Scout and enjoy the choice.