Windows 7 to get integrated touch features?

Regardless of how Tablet PCs have actually done in the marketplace, Microsoft has always been a staunch proponent of touch interfaces, and it looks like the next version of Windows, currently under the codename Windows 7, will bundle in multi-touch features like those found in the iPhone and Microsoft's own Surface. The news comes from Microsoft engineer Hilton Locke, who blogged about Dell's multi-touch capable (but not enabled) Latitude XT earlier today, and added, "if you are impressed by the 'touch features' in the iPhone, you'll be blown away by what's coming in Windows 7." Locke went on to imply that it's been challenging selling touch to manufacturers, saying "Now if only we could convince more OEMs that Windows Touch Technology is going to drive their sales." That's a surprise to us -- that Big Ass Table demo pretty much sells itself, don't you think?

[Via News.com]

[Jeremy K. @ Dec 13th 2007 12:03AM]

lol:
I will say that if you are impressed by the "touch features" in the iPhone, you'll be blown away by what's coming in Windows 7.

Let the Apple Fanboy Flames commence!

[emjoi @ Dec 13th 2007 12:17AM]

So is this the next neato-cool-useless feature in an OS? Touch interface. Chucking windows and scrollbars about with your fingers/mouse? Windows with Physics.

[T-Bone @ Dec 13th 2007 12:39AM]

@emjoi- spoken like someone that has never used a useful touch interface.

[Paul @ Dec 13th 2007 1:19AM]

What I want to know is what will the iPhone be doing in 2010 (or later) when Windows 7 ships, competing with the 2007 iPhone.

[Erik @ Dec 13th 2007 2:56AM]

@Paul:

Why would a Computer OS be competing with a cell phone?

The computer would have to deal with much more functionality (more so with an "Our way or the highway" iPhone) and be tailored differently.

Just sayin...

[Z @ Dec 13th 2007 11:16AM]

@Erik:

>Why would a Computer OS be competing with a cell phone (which operates with a strip down computer OS)?

I think you should ask that question to Microsoft's engineer Hilton Locke who compared the future win os with today's iphone, he obviously believes that the Windows7 would be a strong competitor with the iphone... in 2010.

[Antimatter @ Dec 13th 2007 12:12PM]

@Z

No, he didn't say that at all; you're reading into it too much. All he said was the iPhone has a great implementation of touch, and if you like working with the iPhone you're going to love working with Windows 7. It's folly to somehow translate this as Microsoft's next generation desktop OS will compete (how does that even work) with the iPhone.

You must be one of those people who says the iPhone is better than Surface because it fits in your pocket.

[Brandon L @ Dec 13th 2007 12:10AM]

The beauty of competition is that the consumer wins (Don't forget that CEO's).

If only Microsoft would play fair with the 92% market share on PC's worldwide. I guess there aren't that many fanbois afterall (I love smoothing out a load of hot junk after hours)

[LuhhMyStyle @ Dec 13th 2007 12:44AM]

"If only Microsoft would play fair with the 96% market share on PC's worldwide."

There...I fixed that for you.

[MattyG @ Dec 13th 2007 6:14AM]

nope he was right the first time, Mac's have about 6% of the market these days according the internet stats 96+6= 102 therefore wrong

[Superevil @ Dec 13th 2007 12:11AM]

Windows Touch Technology Premium Millennium Edition XP 2008

C'mon Microsoft, think of something a bit more catchy.

[Curtis @ Dec 13th 2007 12:14AM]

FUD!

[9bit @ Dec 13th 2007 12:15AM]

If they also include multi-mouse, this could be useful for people like me.

[SirPasta117 @ Dec 13th 2007 12:15AM]

God I can see people like Kevin Rose now :(

[renstein @ Dec 13th 2007 12:39AM]

I guess saying: "Our future product that no one really knows about and has no real shipping time frame (other than sometime in the future) will completely blow away a product that has been in the hands of consumers for 6 months." just might not have the same impact.

This is exactly the type of product hype that has screwed MS in the past, I'm surprised they haven't learned yet.

[T-Bone @ Dec 13th 2007 12:43AM]

I don't see the problem with Microsoft saying it will be in their next OS without committing to a launch date. It is much too soon for that for any software company.

[Aaron Souza @ Dec 13th 2007 12:41AM]

That is how shortsighted Microsoft is, and seemingly proud of it. When they release their next opporating system...2011? it will "blow away/copy" the features of the 2007 iPhone. Imaging what the iPhone will be capable of by 2011, because obviously Microsoft can't. They will wait to see the iPhone's 2011 features and copy/blow them away too...in their 2014 release.

[T-Bone @ Dec 13th 2007 12:46AM]

What is wrong with copying ideas that came out after their OS? Should Microsoft's programmers be perpetually locked in a cave so they don't know what is going on?

Technology advances because someone see someone else's ideas and improves on them. You would have to be a complete idiot to deny that.

[Reader @ Dec 13th 2007 1:08AM]

Not to mention that windows has their own multi-touch interface to copy...

[Antimatter @ Dec 13th 2007 1:14AM]

The only thing novel about the iPhone interface is the implementation. Touch has been around for quite some time on mobile devices, multitouch has been around since the 80s, and the gestures such as zoom pinching have prior art as well. The thing that makes the iPhone really great are how these things are sewn together for a mobile device.

Now, if you're concerned with MS lifting from Apple, the only thing here to be concerned about is if they compy the implementation. For MS to copy a mobile phone implementation of touch in their next generation desktop OS would be silly, don't you think?

So then what is the purpose of Mr. Locke's mention of the iPhone. It's just a reference point. He's just saying if you like working with the iPhone you're going to love working with windows 7. That's it. Don't get all pissed off about it.

[jamma @ Dec 13th 2007 2:48AM]

Yes, imagine what the iPhone will have by 2010.........

MMS, 3G, a video recorder, or if we're really lucky, maybe even AD2P!!!!!

[Anton @ Dec 13th 2007 12:42AM]

Well at least they are being innovative... I don't see Apple iTable, or Apple iSync(The voice control system).

Thumbs up to Microsoft for moving technology forward.

[bondsbw @ Dec 13th 2007 12:59AM]

More like thumbs up to Linux and open-source programmers, Apple, Google, Sun, Mozilla, and the slew of other businesses and individuals that put up enough fight with Microsoft to eat into their marketshare in spite of their resistance.

It's not that I am in love those groups... it's just that I support anyone who can force Microsoft to be responsible to the consumer that gave them their huge marketshare and profit margins to begin with. Microsoft exclaimed their innovations for too many years without being nearly as inventive and productive as those groups I listed above.

[Zoltan Gyenge @ Dec 13th 2007 3:26AM]

Apple open source who told U that????

[Maddles @ Dec 13th 2007 11:01AM]

@ Zoltan Gyenge

WebKit, Darwin, Bonjour and rest don't count?

[Eh @ Dec 13th 2007 1:07AM]

We'll be using multi-touch Windows just like we're using WinFS in Vista. And EFI, EFI is my favorite feature in Windows Vista, its awesome. And all the other features they promise early on but never deliver in the final product.

[Paris @ Dec 13th 2007 1:10AM]

I hope they also allow the use of two mouses at the same time allowing two separate functional pointers.

[Samurai Jack @ Dec 13th 2007 1:17AM]

Why buy someone else's product today when you can have our bright shiny vapourwear tomorrow?

Haven't we heard this song and dance from Microsoft before?

[CapnVan @ Dec 13th 2007 1:36AM]

When are they claiming that they'll be shipping?

Is this supposed to be part of Photon?

[Jason Anderson @ Dec 13th 2007 1:52AM]

By then Apple will have added hundreds of new features to OS X and updated the iPhone many times. Saying that the OS of a few years from now will blow away an OS of today is the stupidest way of reaching for attention I've ever seen.

[js @ Dec 13th 2007 3:12AM]

Correction: patches and service packs to OS X because it is still OS X. Apple will run out of cat names eventually... after they released OS X pussy.

[something @ Dec 13th 2007 9:12AM]

Yeah, like the 300 new features that were in Leopard, such as "Russian spell checking" and the "Word of the day screensaver". Microsoft will never keep up!

http://www.apple.com/macosx/features/300.html

[jon @ Dec 13th 2007 2:17AM]

Microsoft needs a new and innovative OS about now that actually IMPROVES user experience. flashy animations and themes are great and all but not as useful as a new interface that can enhance productivity and ease of use.

[Jason @ Dec 13th 2007 5:53PM]

Well, as someone who just got a tablet PC (sitting right next to him) I must say I'm rather enjoying it. For art it really is a system that can't be beat and there's a lot of artists envious of me at the office right now. :)

As for normal use I think I need to tweak it some. The response is a bit slow, but there's probably settings for that.

[skhawaja @ Dec 13th 2007 2:36AM]

What applications are going to be created with multitouch? I'm going to lose my scroll wheel and two clicky buttons to ten points of contact on-screen?

So I'm guessing that interactive multimedia applications will work out great, but what else can you guys come up with?

Will we have holographic displays by then?

If you have multitouch in an Operating System that means HARDWARE will have to be manufactured according to the specifications of, guess what, the Operating System. And microsoft will be very happy to license that to you I'm sure.

Just step back from the hype and think about what functionality this really provides instead of the gimmick me-too factor.

Are we seeing the future direction of Microsoft, which is losing control of your operating system, wants to take control of your hardware instead?

[HAHAHA @ Dec 13th 2007 3:16AM]

Hoah~~ another 'multi-touch' again? Microsoft! You are really A BIG ASS!! The fool as DELL who enjoys boasting its BIG ASS!

[Chris J. Shull @ Dec 13th 2007 4:17AM]

Microsoft made an Ass Table? Unsurprising.

[Future Technologies @ Dec 13th 2007 5:22AM]

Touch is a fantastic addition to the OS and the way things are going I wont be surprised to see a lot of effort by many manufacturers and software developers in this regard.

One of the best examples I have seen is by Perceptive Pixel. Now if anyone, Apple, Microsoft and all the rest can deliver something remotely in these lines then we will all be better of. Of course then all we need is a giant display that we can stand next to it to use. But that will be cool, don't you think.

[m@ @ Dec 13th 2007 6:29AM]

Here is a video from a Microsoft reasearch lab in the UK who are looking at multi touch

http://channel9.msdn.com/Showpost.aspx?postid=350838

[Wwhat @ Dec 13th 2007 7:43AM]

I guess the message here is: "listen up sony/samsung/chomien/etcetera, start on making touch interfaces work with OLED and start thinking of making multi-touch on large displays cheap"

[sterling @ Dec 13th 2007 8:58AM]

Considering the time between XP and Vista, why would MS bother talking about features of it's next OS? Then look at what was supposed to be in Vista that got cut. Wake me in 2012 when they start beta testing.

[Tim @ Dec 13th 2007 10:08AM]

I'd help you, but I'm waiting for someone to wake me when Vista is worth upgrading to.

[something @ Dec 13th 2007 9:15AM]

Because Apple never advertises features that get cut from their operating system. What happened to those "secret features" that Steve Jobs went on and on about?

http://forums.macrumors.com/showthread.php?t=378229

[Eron @ Dec 14th 2007 10:38AM]

That's nice and all but I'm still waiting for a one-click solution to create a New Folder. It's 2007 for crying out loud...