Windows Touch coming to your Computer Soon
The multi-touch control familiar to Apple iPhone users will be built-in to Microsoft’s Windows 7.
Microsoft believes multi-touch Pc’s will become popular in retail, public spaces, on laptops and “kitchen PC’s”. Some Windows machines already feature basic touch input and Apple is also adding touch for displays in its Snow Leopard OS update.
There are a few multi-touch PC’s already on the market, including the HP TouchSmart and the Dell Latitude XT. Microsoft hopes Windows 7 will create a new ecosystem of devices that take advantage of touch.
Apple’s latest generation of laptop’s also feature a glass trackpad that supports multi-touch gestures. Windows Touch Logo program was launched by Microsoft which helps consumers understand if a machine has been optimised for the new control system. Windows Touch will feature control such as tap and double tap, drag, scroll, zoom, flick and rotate.
Some applications will be optimised for touch, such as Internet Explorer and Windows Media Center, programs which are “touch unaware” will also have some level of touch control.
Windows 7 is expected to be released at the start of 2010. A “release candidate” for users to try out will be available at the end of May.
