14 DAY TRIAL // Concomitantly with the Windows Vista RTM version, Microsoft has added 45 new sounds to 45 locations of the operating system. If you have been following along the evolution of Windows Vista,you already know that the audio cues weren't in the Windows Vista release Candidate 2. And this is also the reason why my article is not called "The Sounds of Windows Vista." Because the audio cues introduced with the RTM Build of Vista complete the product and give it an acoustic structure.
"If you have used Windows Vista, one of the most significant things you've likely noticed is the new Windows Aero interface. While Windows Aero may sound like just a cool name, it's actually an acronym that stands for Authentic, Energetic, Reflective and Open. Prior to RTM, the Windows Aero experience was intentionally incomplete. What was missing were the cool new sounds that were designed specifically for the Windows Aero experience," explained Jim Allchin, Microsoft Co-President, Platforms & Services Division.
According to Allchin, Windows XP's sounds were no longer consistent with the interface design of Windows Vista. In this context, the obsolete XP sounds were revamped with rounded and translucent audio cues to integrate with the Windows Aero Glass theme and user interface elements in Windows Vista.
"Sounds are obviously an important part of how people interact with their PC. The idea is to use your ears to get information from a sound without even thinking about it. For example, certain sounds on our PC tell us when we have a new email or instant message. It was our goal for the sounds to be just noticeable enough that if they weren't there you would miss them, but they're subtle enough that they don't get in your way. Just like the visual cues of the new Start button, the audio cues of the new sounds are "rounded" and "translucent." The default sound scheme in Windows Vista is intentionally much gentler and softer than in previous versions," added Allchin.