Vista Down-Level Features Available on XP

Did you know that you have access to a range of features from Windows Vista on Windows XP? Well, it's true, the two operating systems share a selection of characteristics Microsoft refers to as Windows XP "down-level" features. The term is associated to features that are integrated by default in Windows Vista but can also be downloaded and are available in XP.

Internet Explorer 7 is delivered by Microsoft into two different versions. One is for XP and the other one ships with Windows Vista. The two versions are similar for the largest part, except for Protect Mode and Parental Controls.

Windows Media Player 11 is also available for XP. Together with IE7, WMP11 will not run the Aero interface on Vista's predecessor. Additionally, users will not be able to play DRM content on their machine from another device and playback of premium high-definition content. On XP, Windows Media Player 11 will not permit users to view materials from the Windows Vista Media Library on other computers or devices. Media foundation for playback is also not available, in concert with HD video streaming on home networks and shell integration with Windows Media Player.

Another application that ships by default with Windows Vista is Windows Defender, also available as a download for XP. However, Microsoft informed that the performances of Windows Defender on XP are reduced in comparison with XP. Microsoft additionally offers Windows Presentation Foundation as a down-level feature for Windows XP, although WPF is included into Windows Vista's .NET Framework 3.0.

Internet Explore 7 was tested by Softpedia as being 100% Free and is available for download here.

Windows Media Player 11 was tested by Softpedia as being 100% Free and is available for download here.

Windows Defender was tested by Softpedia as being 100% Clean and is available for download here.

.NET Framework 3.0 was tested by Softpedia as being 100% Clean and is available for download here.