Today, Microsoft secretly released the Windows 7 Pre-release Privacy Supplement which contains some important feature information for the Windows 7 Pre-Beta build which is to announced and demonstrated on Day 2 of PDC 2008.

The privacy supplement points to the following set of new features and functionalities in Windows 7.

BitLocker Drive Encryption

Should your computer be lost or stolen, BitLocker protects your data by helping to prevent offline software attacks. Turning on BitLocker encrypts the hard drive where Windows is installed, including all information that is stored on that drive.

Device Information Retrieval

It downloads information from Microsoft for your hardware devices and displays it in the Windows 7 Devices and Printers control panel, and when you first install and use a device, in the Device Stage.

Driver Protection

Driver Protection helps prevent the operating system from starting drivers that are known to cause stability problems. These drivers are listed in a Driver Protection List database that is stored on your computer

Dynamic Update

Dynamic Update enables Windows 7 to perform a one-time check with the Windows Update website to get the latest updates for your computer while Windows is being installed. If updates are found, Dynamic Update automatically downloads and installs them so your computer is up to date the first time that you log on or use it.

Desktop Gadgets

Gadgets are programs that run on the desktop and provide at-a-glance information, and easy access to frequently used tools.

Homegroup

A HomeGroup allows you to easily link Windows 7 computers on your home network so that you can share pictures, music, videos, documents and devices. It also makes them ready to stream media to devices on your home network such as a media extender.

Internet Printing

When you use this feature to print, you will first need to connect and authenticate yourself to an internet print server. Internet Printing makes it possible to use printers located anywhere by sending print jobs using HTTP.

People Near Me

This new feature allows you to send invites for programs to other people in the local networks.Users who are invited need to have it installed on the computer as well.

Thats all of what we could extract from the privacy supplement so far but I bet more is to come at PDC 2008 tomorrow. Also you can take a look at all the Confirmed Features and Screenshots of Windows 7 so far.

Windows 7 is Winodws Vista done right so there is a good chance this OS will make XP truly obselete. Lets keep our fingers crossed and look forward to what Microsoft has to offer.