14 DAY TRIAL // Microsoft is continually updating the content it is offering end users to customize their Windows 7 desktops. The Windows Personalization Gallery offers a range of content allowing users to, well, personalize their Windows copies, including themes, backgrounds, desktop and SideShow gadgets. Every once in a while, the Redmond company introduces new downloads, but always does so quietly, although I’m sure users would enjoy a heads-up.
In all fairness, there are people close to the company that are monitoring the Windows Personalization Gallery and signaling any changes. ‘We have five new and beautiful wallpapers that you can download from the Personalization Gallery,” Rob Margel, from the Windows Services and Content team in the UK, revealed.
Purple Leaves, Reflecting Pond (Mt. Nenggao, Taiwan), Rice Plants, Sleeping Beauty Skerry (Green Island, Taiwan), and Waterfront Buildings (Pisek, the Czech Republic) are the new desktop backgrounds available for download from Microsoft. Just as it is the case with the Windows 7 themes, the wallpapers are offered for free. However, users can download the backgrounds even if they aren’t running the latest iteration of the Windows client, or Windows for that matter, unlike the theme packs that are also served through the Windows Personalization Gallery.
While Windows 7 does feature an impressive collection of background images by default, more wallpapers can always be added to the operating system effortlessly. The Windows Personalization Gallery is a great source of content, and one that is guaranteed to surprise users with new downloads. Of course, when it comes down to wallpapers, there are a multitude of sources across the web. The Gallery is, however, an excellent destination for new themes, especially original content offered by Microsoft in collaboration with various partners, including the Shrek theme, Surreal Territory, the NASA Hidden Universe Theme, Bing’s Best 1 and Bing’s Best 2, and many others.
The Windows 7 Shrek Forever After Theme is available for download here.
The Surreal Territory Theme for Windows 7 is available for download here.
The Windows 7 NASA Hidden Universe Theme is available for download here.
Windows 7 Bing's Best 1 Theme is available for download here.
Windows 7 Bing's Best 2 Theme is available for download here.
