In previous versions of Windows, users didn't have a way to turn geolocation services on or off, since the hardware was accessed on an application by application basis. However, the user was able to launch the application—which usually came with his GPS device—knowing that it was a "good" program. Having no easy-to-use API also made it more difficult for programmers (good ones and evil ones) to create software for GPS hardware and grab the geolocation data.

In Windows 7, the new system-wide GPS service can be turned on and off by the user, who has the option to make it available only to applications as opposed to background processes. However, once you turn the service on, there's no way to limit access to specific programs: Anything that you launch will be able to access the GPS information without even warning you. Berntson admitted that this is problematic, because it opens the door for spoofing programs that could use this information mischievously.

We only promise the control that we can realistically give to them, rather than trying to promise more than we can deliver, Application-based control would be great to have and it is certainly on our Christmas list for future stuff.

On top of that, following a question by an attendee, Berntson pointed out that there will be no way to give a warning to the user when an application tries to access the GPS. He said that, even while this is technically possible, it's not in their roadmap for Windows 7.

As a close comparison, when an application requests access to geographic information in the iPhone 3G, the operating system asks you for permission first. This happens on an application by application basis, every time it runs. Hopefully, someone at Microsoft will realize how absolutely stupid this is and, at least, implement the warning service before the updated OS reaches the market. [Cnet via Lifehacker]

During the same conference in which this was announced, Microsoft demonstrated Windows 7 on a modestly spec'd Eee netbook, so it looks like Windows 7 compatibility might be taken for granted with most new PCs. Microsoft did tell the Register that there would be different stickers for touchscreen and media center devices. While the touchscreen sticker will be a convenient indicator that a device is touch-capable, what will media center sticker mean? That a computer has an HDMI output? That marketing asked for it? Also, one=three, apparently. [The Register]