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Windows 7 says hello world, then runs and hides away
Last night Bill Gates and Steve Ballmer talked a little bit about Windows 7. But just a little bit. Speaking at the All Things D conference, Ballmer, Gates, and Microsoft's Julie Larson-Green demonstrated some of the features that will be included, including support for Surface-like multi-touch technology.
Some other programs that utilize multi-touch include:
- A new photo management application that takes advantage of the multi-touch interface, allowing you to zoom, rotate, and organize your photos
- A mapping application that combines Windows Live Local, Virtual Earth, and multi-touch zooming features -- this application might not make it into Windows 7
- A multi-touch piano application
In other news, a couple of high profile web sites have been claiming they have some new leaked screenshots of the Windows 7 interface. But as blogger Long Zheng points out, it appears that these images were just concept drawings from someone guessing what the new OS might look like. Aside from last night's multi-touch demo, the truth is we still don't know very much about Windows 7, other than the fact that it will be released in about 18 months, and that Microsoft is keeping pretty quiet about it.
In the meantime, you can check out a video demonstrating some of the multi-touch features in Windows 7 after the jump.
http://xazac87.deviantart.com/art/Windows-Seven-December-07-74856618
Comments
9
Subscribe to commentsMartin DeanMay 28th 2008 8:58AM
They don't have a clue about making products that people want. That's their problem. I'm not a Mac fan particularly but Vista has clearly made people think again about Windows.
If there's one thing we know for sure, Windows 7 will be buggy as hell what with legacy support issues and new interfaces to deal with.
Mark DeanMay 28th 2008 1:47PM
I think Gates stepping down is the right direction for the company. I have enourmous respect for the guy and he's clearly a genius. But Windows needs to change, and that comes with new ideas.
Apple are growing but people aren't ready to make the switch just yet.
Daniel SweMay 28th 2008 7:03PM
I think it has been summed up pretty nicely:
http://www.danielswe.com/images/what_the_user_wants.jpg
Stewart DeanMay 28th 2008 1:45PM
Whoopee! And maybe someday, in a galaxy far, far away, MS will release a bare-bones, solid-as-a-rock, runs-like-the wind, boots-in-3-seconds GUI O/S. For the next millenium, though, we'll have to be content driving the Gran Prix in a Rose Bowl float. But hey, the classy dames waving from the top of the float are *essential*, while you try to navigate the float down the middle of the street through a peephole and try not to run over the clowns capering around your float.
AndrewMay 28th 2008 1:52PM
So I guess you could qualify me as a Windows guy. I have worked with it since it has existed, so it just makes me feel warm and fuzzy to use Windows. Mac's always made me feel like I was cheating, and that nothing worked right (read: like I was used to on Windows). So I'm a Windows guy...
Multi-touch? Woo-hoo. I have to agree with Stewart. Just give me a system that is compatible with everything, rock solid, secure, and doesn't crash on a regular basis... redundant? yes. But come on people. Get a clue. People don't like Mac's because they are pretty! (ok, that's most of the reason) Just ask my brother the Mac guy, he likes it because it just works.
So now they have multi-touch... *sigh*
May be I am one of the last of the "Just Give Me Something That Works" crowd of people in the computing world. We have something pretty, now make it work! And simplify it for me... Poor, poor Microsoft... They just don't get it.
QuikboyMay 28th 2008 3:14PM
Why are people so down on multi-touch in Windows 7? It's not as if you have to use it. Keyboards and mice won't disappear overnight.
Microsoft isn't claiming multi-touch input as the only radical change. They haven't confirmed anybody's opinion yet on whether Windows 7 will truly be "compatible with everything, rock solid, secure". So how can you be so downcast just because of one video? It's ridiculous to put high expectations on something, and expect results to show up right away. MS isn't giving every single Win7 secret, so just wait until you start complaining.
Is it the fact that there's multi-touch you're disappointed? Or are you disappointed because MS didn't confirm anything about under the hood changes of Win7? Because you might as well be disappointed about any Apple product with no sneak previews.
DeanoMay 28th 2008 5:00PM
It's not multi-touch by itself, it's Microsoft's ability to make a decent OS that just works which Vista has brought into question.
Ptero-4Jun 1st 2008 7:26AM
I'm really hating M$ now. They're (from what I heard on the windoze sites) going full scale into the "paid suscription" model for all your apps (you rent online versions of Office and other M$ apps, and you store all your data on their servers), there will be no more desktop apps, and no more storing in the HD. Windows will run off the MinWin kernel, connect to the M$ application server and display the apps you "paid" for. Obviously you don't really own the data stored there (they can censor and delete it without your consent) or your apps. I prefer my Linux any day. At least I know what's in and what isn't.
UnregisteredJun 1st 2008 8:25AM
Perhaps Multi-touch would only be available to Ultra-Ultimate Edition.