Next Version of Windows to Incorporate Advanced Touch Features

[MacRumors]

A Microsoft blogger revealed yesterday that the next version of Windows ("Windows 7") will contain touch features with specific claims that the new features will 'blow away' the current touch features on the iPhone:

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.

The blogger, Hilton Locke, is a Windows test engineer for the Tablet PC which explains his involvement with touch technologies. Microsoft has already integrated some touch features into Vista with support for current Tablet PCs as well as HP's TouchSmart PC, but it appears more advanced features will come with Windows 7. This successor to Windows Vista, however, is not expected to be released until 2010 at the earliest.

Even then, touch features would only be available to manufacturers who take advantage of the new features. Locke suggests that convincing manufacturers to adopt Windows Touch Technology has been difficult.

In May, Microsoft announced their Surface Computing initiative with the introduction of commercial multi-touch tables due in 2008.

Multitouch technologies have been a hot topic since the introduction of the Apple iPhone, with several patent applications indicating that Apple is heavily researching its use. The current incarnation of the iPhone supports two points of contact, allowing the user to zoom in and out using "pinch" and "reverse pinch" motions with two fingers. More advanced multi-touch possibilities include gestures and multi-purpose surfaces.

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[briansolomon]

Very cool. How far off is the next version of Windows-2012?

[Kingsly]

I believe we will begin seeing developer seeds in around 2023.

[Chaszmyr]

As has been pointed out in the past (By Jeff Han I believe), the iPhone's multitouch capabilities are naturally limited because you can't really fit more than two or three fingers on the device.

[adrianm]

Only if they ship now.

By 2010 (+ standard slip) multi-touch will be common-place and so not exactly contributing to wow factor.

[Quillz]

I think Windows 7 is slated to be released as soon as 2009. Vista's delayed release was exceptionally unusual. Remember that before Vista, major versions of Windows were being released every 2-3 years, just like OS X.

[xUKHCx]

This was pretty obvious seeing as they bought out the surface. It is also pretty obvious that apple are going to include it in their next OS.

[celloman]

they have copied apple once again

[blueflame]

they have been pushing the tablet and pen computing for quite some time. really, a pen is not a whole lot different than touch. anyway. i think they have the right idea. good idea, terrible implementation. but hey, they have to innovate somewhere.
A

[Quillz]

Originally Posted by celloman

they have copied apple once again

That's right, Apple invented touch screens. How did I forget?

[grappler]

Wow, so the touch features windows PCs will have in 2010 will blow away the ones that have been in stores on iPhones since June?

Bravo, Microsoft. Bravo.

[cohibadad]

can't wait to see what they come up with. I'm sure it will blow me away with intuitive controls that make me more productive.

[ccunning]

Their upcoming desktop OS which is three years out is going to be better than a Mobile OS released 6 months ago? And this is supposed to blow us away? Really?

[Quillz]

Originally Posted by grappler

Wow, so the touch features windows PCs will have in 2010 will blow away the ones that have been in stores on iPhones since June?

Bravo, Microsoft. Bravo.

Not sure if you're being sarcastic or not, but of course they will. Just like the multi-touch in the next revision of the iPhone will be better than what we have now.

[xUKHCx]

If anyone wants to see the current* state of Windows 7 that they are willing to share, not the whole screen the ascii art box in the top right.




from 2 months ago.

[ravenvii]

I concur with the above posts with a "... o rly?"

[grappler]

Originally Posted by Quillz

Not sure if you're being sarcastic or not, but of course they will. Just like the multi-touch in the next revision of the iPhone will be better than what we have now.

Sarcastic? Me? Noooooooooooooooooooo....................

[DarthTreydor]

Originally Posted by Quillz

That's right, Apple invented touch screens. How did I forget?

if they have to talk about how their going to "blow away" the iphone then, yes, they are copying apple.

[xUKHCx]

Originally Posted by DarthTreydor

if they have to talk about how their going to "blow away" the iphone then, yes, they are copying apple.

That is illogical.

They can say they are going to beat another implementation of an idea but that doesn't mean that they copied the idea from them or indeed the original company invented the concept.

[ProstheticHead]

Microsoft talks. A lot.

Please refer to Balmer and the iPhone issue.

[howiethemacguy]

I thought this was a "Mac Rumors" website. This is just Microsoft spouting more vaporware. They're always trying to make up for their colossal failures (Vista) by talking about the "next version" of Windows. That stupid touch screen PC they demoed this year wasn't anything advanced. It makes use of cameras and barcodes. It's hardly cutting edge.

[Quillz]

Originally Posted by howiethemacguy

I thought this was a "Mac Rumors" website. This is just Microsoft spouting more vaporware. They're always trying to make up for their colossal failures (Vista) by talking about the "next version" of Windows. That stupid touch screen PC they demoed this year wasn't anything advanced. It makes use of cameras and barcodes. It's hardly cutting edge.

Vista isn't a colossal failure. It's actually selling better than XP. And corporations aren't supposed to be talking about their next products? And it's funny how Apple was talking about Leopard more than a year before its original release date of spring, only for it be delayed. And then delayed again, all while crippling some features and removing others.

And the Surface is quite revolutionary.

[chabig]

Originally Posted by Quillz

I think Windows 7 is slated to be released as soon as 2009. Vista's delayed release was exceptionally unusual. Remember that before Vista, major versions of Windows were being released every 2-3 years, just like OS X.

I think we'll see increasing delays from Microsoft. Until they realize the need to bring Windows over to a modern foundation, new releases will take longer and longer.

[Quillz]

Originally Posted by chabig

I think we'll see increasing delays from Microsoft. Until they realize the need to bring Windows over to a modern foundation, new releases will take longer and longer.

I doubt this. Longhorn was simply overly ambitious. They tried to pack too many features into too tight a deadline. As long as Windows 7 functions more as an evolutionary release than a revolutionary release, I see no reason for it be subjected to any major delays. Maybe a few months, like Leopard, but not much more than that.

[howiethemacguy]

Originally Posted by Quillz

Vista isn't a colossal failure. It's actually selling better than XP. And corporations aren't supposed to be talking about their next products? And it's funny how Apple was talking about Leopard more than a year before its original release date of spring, only for it be delayed. And then delayed again, all while crippling some features and removing others.

And the Surface is quite revolutionary.

Sure... cameras and barcode scanners are revolutionary... for the 80's that is. Vista is crap. Apple can actually deliver new OS updates in a reasonable amount of time. Microsoft had to return to the drawing board several times before Vista even saw the light of day. I didn't mind Leopard being delayed. At least Apple stated the reason and then delivered Leopard instead of stalling again. As far as crippling features, I haven't noticed any. I run high end apps in Leopard every day.