Windows 7 multitouch: it's a gimmick (for now)
By Paul Miller 
posted February 5th 2009 3:37PM
posted February 5th 2009 3:37PM
It sounds like a lot, but really adds up to very little. Interactions are inconsistent from program to program, including Microsoft applications, gestures seem to work when you don't want them, and don't work when you need them, and at least 50 percent of the OS is still too small to use with touch -- making the improvements to touchability of the rest of it slightly pointless. All that said, we really like the idea of a touchscreen desktop OS, at least in theory. There are certain actions like messing with photos and casual browsing that seem to make sense for augmenting regular computer inputs with touch -- they've certainly been enhanced by multitouch trackpads of late -- but we're going to need more consistent implementations to really get into it OS-wide. Of course, this is just a Beta, things could always get better, and third party support will, like with most things, make or break it. We'll hope for the best, but we're not tossing our keyboard and mouse just yet. There are about 8 minutes of semi-frustrating interaction below.
All testing was done with an HP TouchSmart PC running a beta OS and beta multitouch drivers, and isn't an indication of the final experience.
Further reading:
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Windows 7 SKUs announced: your worst nightmare has come to pass It's worse than you could have possibly imagined. |
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Microsoft extends Windows 7 beta downloads to February 10 Good news for those of you who haven't yet snagged a copy of the Windows 7 beta -- Microsoft's decided to extend the beta download period to February 10th. |
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Windows 7 Beta in-depth impressions We finally gathered together all our thoughts and impressions of the OS into one meaty pile of words and screencaps. |
 |
Windows 7 install roundup After resting up and settling into our post-CES golden desk chairs, team Engadget got busy at installing Windows 7 on pretty much anything they could find. |
that sounds nice
NO lol for you!
I have a Samsung q1 ultra (with touchscreen), how do I get multitouch to work, or is it not possible on that device. (confused)
To get the jump list, you can just select the icon and swipe upwards. the same effect can be achieved by holding on the icon with the mouse and dragging up. i just recently discovered this behaviour and it's perfect for touch screens.
So its clear you can touch windows 7, but can it touch YOU?
what like .....sexually ?
I think multi-touch on a desktop is impractical. Why on earth would I want greasy finger prints all over my 24" screen????
That's some of the only complaints that I have about the current touchscreen capabilities of Vista (read: almost no abilities)........
Anything that makes it easier to use is progress. And did anyone test out multitouch in Google Earth?
Mind that this is a Beta which Engadget doesn't seem to get. All touch screen devices uses different hardware so things will probably work better when drivers and compatibility has been sorted out.
No.
Apple hasn't implemented it into OSX yet, so all other implementations are inferior until such time as when they do it. Mind you it will be exactly the same thing, but it will be billed as a "brilliant" usage of the concept.
Using multi-touch on desktop or notebook displays is totally impractical... that is, until geneticists can make our arms longer & stronger ;-)
Homeboy:
I think it's pretty clear that they get the whole "beta" thing. Maybe that's why it says "(for now)" in the freaking title.
I agree.
So other than demonstrating some of the Engadget staff's technical incompetence what was the point of this article?
Anyone?
Who exactly has a big touch screen to use any of this stuff with anyway? How is the common person getting this set up?
It's just another part of the OS for developers to work with. It's not a major selling point that's going to change the way you use computers. Touch screens are becoming more common and Microsoft just stepped in and gave everyone a base to work off instead of having 10 different third-party drivers.
I have a 22" touchscreen all in one.
Tablet PCs, Ultra Mobile PCs, TouchSmart PCs... there's lots of them! With a smaller screen, the buttons are bigger and much more touch-friendly.
there are more applications to multitouch than just touch (I know it's called "multi-TOUCH"). But ability of a device to interpret an analog input from the user is very limited. Right now, all you have is a single point that you can move in x-y axis. There have been many advances into 3-d mice (x-y-z tracking). This allows you to move more than one point. It doesn't necessarily have to be a touchscreen, a good example would be having TWO mice; one for each hand (once you have multi-touch, making the support for two mice would be easy).
Touchscreen is a little gimmicky. The concept works for some things, and it definitely doesn't for others (TV are a definite NO, computers are questionable).
I love how according to engadget, multitouch is a gimmic, but location aware APIs that apple is bringing aren't.
Oh, and how theres no mention of Windows being able to do the same thing...
Jesus Christ, it's always Apple with you guys. You just can't stop talking about Apple.
The article you mentioned was a RUMOR. Nobody at Engadget has actually used any apps that use location aware APIs in Snow Leopard. I'm sure once Snow Leopard comes out, they'll give it an appropriate review.
no they said Windows Multitouch is a gimmick.
Apple have shown they are not bad at it, and MS promised a lot with W7 that hasn't been delivered.
Not MS bashing, i just think that apple have it nailed in terms of multi touch right now.
@Oli
Find me Multi-touch or even stylus support in OS X that is even nearly as good as Windows, then talk. No, iPhone doesn't count, this OS actually has copy and paste.
I don't think it has anything to do with who is coming up with the feature.
Engadget apparently thinks location-aware applications are more exciting than desktop multitouch. I happen to agree with them. We've seen some interesting location aware stuff on the iPhone, and it's certainly an area with a lot of potential. Multi-touch hasn't shown as much promise. It's great on small devices when you don't have the option of other input devices, but it adds little above simply making the experience usable. I haven't seen one iPhone app that I thought was actually better because of multi-touch (outside of Maps. Maybe).
Multi-touch looks good on demos where you can rotate pictures around and zoom in to maps, but really, how many times a day do you feel the urge to rotate a picture to some obscure angle with your fingers? What do you do with your screen once it's full of photos at weird angles? Take pictures of it and start again?
Unlike mobiles, desktop computers have a standard input system. Until I see some solid examples of how multi touch improves on them, I'm not convinced. Before that happens, it's a fancy gimmick. Location-based software, on the other hand, has shown promise in social networking applications, and comes "for free" (using existing hardware), so there's really no downside or barrier to entry.
Windows 7 has location APIs too, why doesn't engadget rave about that?
@Oli
quote:
"Not MS bashing, i just think that apple have it nailed in terms of multi touch right now."
ummmm ... i wasn't aware Apple had a touchscreen pc ... how have they "nailed" it?
On the other hand, Apple have only implemented multitouch on the trackpad of their laptops, and I suspect that won't change until they have a device such as a tablet PC and/or have spend a lot of time refining the gestures and touchscreen interface so that it integrates well with their current pointer interface. Because how well it's integrated will be what makes the difference between a gimmick and a useful feature, since people aren't going to suddenly switch over to touchscreens overnight or put up with a separate apps for the touchscreen etc.
The reason that the keyboard may be difficult to get at is that they built on top of the Tablet Input Panel, which is easy to get at with a stylus, because when you track over it, it expands to about 5 times the size.
Also, you're not supposed to use that input panel with touch. What you do is tap on a text field with your finger, then a BIG keyboard icon appears. Tap that with your finger and the touch-screen keyboard appears. The tabbed TIP on the left shouldn't be there for touch interaction (it can be turned off), and is totally unnecessary.
If you really want that TIP to slide out by using the touch screen, you can right click the taskbar and show the TIP Toolbar. That will give you an input panel button on the taskbar that will show the keyboard whenever you want it. Very very nicely done.
Touch screen will ALWAYS be a gimmick to the common user and will only be useful in public situations.
Actually, I think a second screen (or third) with touch capabilities lying flatter on the desk next to the keyboard would be quite handy. Something similar to what a Wacom Cintiq would give could be great if it could use touch and stylus (but only at a much reduced price!).
I'd kill for a Cintiq 21ux right now, so would any artist. So no they are not gimicks. They don't serve much use for everyday windows tasks, but there is a large user base waiting for something like this. Altho I will admit, I see me drawing on the Cintiq, I don't see me draw on my monitor :).
You know.. I tried this multitouch stuff, and i cant believe how tiring it is. It's like playing Nintendo Wii.
Exhausting.
Gorilla arms. Look it up.
You can change the size of text and other items up to 150% while maintaining the resolution of your screen in Control Panel\Appearance and Personalization\Display
It makes things easier to touch, highlight, etc.
You are a fool!
First of all the Touch Screen Keyboard was designed for use with a pen. It's similar to vista! Not designed for finger touch.
The Task Bar also is not bigger for finger usage, it's the same size as default!
Worst video article ever on Engadget.
This site is going way downhill!
Well done. Engadget has gone down hill for the last year. You're only saying what we all know. I very rarely read half the posts from engadget.
agreed. I wish we could down rate articles.
i blame the credit crunch
and terrorism!
and global warming while im at it
I blame Steven Gerrard. His volley just isn't what it used to be anymore.
I like that he referred to himself in the plural collective just like the rest of Engadget does in the articles....weeeird. "Even though *our* handwriting..."
I totally agree. Multitouch is only a gimmick anyway (and even a mostly useless) and
it doesnt matter in which os, but engadget uses it to bash the Win7 BETA, since they
dont seem to find anything else that's not well done. (Must be hard for engadget that
apple will become the boring company again that it was before Steve Jobs came back
to rescue them...)
Looking at it positively: While engadget is going down the drain, we get a really good next
version of Windows.
You can make the taskbar twice the height to make it more finger friendly. Make sure it isn't locked and drag it up to double size.
Second of all IT'S STILL A BETA !!!
Why on earth would you want to use an on screen keyboard when you had a keyboard sitting there ?
"Why on earth would you want to use an on screen keyboard when you had a keyboard sitting there ?"
I could think of some situations, like some office prankster takes off with your wireless or USB keyboard.
Maybe you're carrying a Tablet PC during a walking tour/meeting and it would be impossible to use a two-handed keyboard since you need one hand to carry the computer. Also, with the touch screen you don't need a keyboard or mouse at all. Your computer can be mounted in the wall.
This is not a tablet pc its an all in one touch screen desktop with a keyboard, hence my point about why use an on screen keyboard D'OH
And if work mates keep stealing your keyboard I don't think a multi-touch screen will stop you being a little bitch ;-)
I don't understand articles about multi-touch (win 7, palm pre etc.). Hasn't Apple patented certain gestures? I'm not saying Apple invented them or whatever, but won't non-Apple people get into legal trouble for implementing pinch-zoom and all that?
Well I hope they get counter sued back for crippling any sort of innovation
Not crippling innovation, promoting it! No, I'm serious.
Let Apple patent anything they want. Then, other companies will be forced to think harder about their interfaces and designs... and hopefully, come up with something amazing that no-one would have ever thought of had they just been able to go the easy route. Then they create a better product than Apple ever dreamed of, and it's all Apple's fault! :p