Steve Ballmer from Microsoft has helped to launch the Consumer Electronics Show in the US today by announcing that this week a public beta of Windows 7 will be released and available for download.

Windows 7 beta is being pitched as a faster and easier operating system that has followed many years of user feedback. Microsoft already have a What’s New on Windows 7 mini-site with teasers on the functionality available in the new operating system.

Some of the features include an improved taskbar, JumpLists (essentially recent document lists), improved dragging and movement of windows, Internet Explorer 8 (currently in Beta 2), better device management by grouping all devices on one page, and a simpler system for wireless networking at home called HomeGroup.

Hot off the press, news has just gone out that the latest Window operating system will not be called Vista, XP or something else emotive, but purely: Windows 7.

The seventh release of Windows has decided not to take on an aspirational name as its roots are firmly ground in Vista, while refining and evolving substantial upgrades to the platform technology development.

There is no immediate word yet on a release date.