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GBM InkShow: Microsoft Touch Pack for Windows 7

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touchpackiconsIn this video InkShow, I take a quick look at the multi-touch applications that will be a part of the Microsoft Touch Pack for Windows 7: Surface Collage, Rebound, Blackboard, Garden Pond, Surface Globe, and the Surface Lagoon screen saver.   Microsoft Surface technology can be felt all over this pack, from the screensaver to the globe. Playing with the Touch Pack on my Dell Latitude XT felt like I was playing on a minature Surface computer – the experience was that good. Keep reading for more and to watch the video.

These applications are a lot of fun, once you figure out how to play them. They make multi-touch on a Windows 7 touch computer come alive. I did this quick demo on my Dell Latitude XT running build 7100 and the latest multi-touch drivers from N-Trig. Except for a lack of help files to give me some pointers, and my having difficulty figuring a few of the games out, I’ve had a lot of fun playing with these applications over the past several weeks. All the pieces for a good consumer experience around multi-touch finally appear to be coming together. The applications will be quite the hit and I’m sure they will help create some excitement amongst consumers. Having something to do with that new multi-touch computer right off the bat is going to be very important. Let’s hope Microsoft rolls out some more prototype games, and the development community gets going on some entertaining applications of their own.

The pack will be pre-installed by OEMs on computers that support multi-touch and meet Microsoft’s Logo requirements for Touch and Windows 7. Additional information on the upcoming Touch Pack  can be found here on Microsoft’s Windows 7 Team blog, along with a detailed description of each game.

Ok, gotta run…Blackboard and Garden Pond are calling my name – gotta figure those suckers out. I think my son and I will go at it tonight with a game of Rebound. Hey Microsoft – I’d love to see an internet-enabled version of Rebound! Checkout the video below.

All GottaBeMobile.com InkShows are sponsored by TechSmith.com

All GottaBeMobile.com InkShows are sponsored by TechSmith.com

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20 Comments

20 Comments

  1. Sumocat

    05/27/2009 at 7:01 pm

    Love it, particularly the lagoon, and I’m not just saying that because I proposed the fish pond idea two years ago in the forum. Okay, that’s a lie; it’s *exactly* why I love the lagoon. As for the others, I most look forward to Globe and Collage. I enjoy using single-touch versions of these apps on my tablet. I think I’d find them more engaging in multi-touch.

    BTW, Rob, those are supposed to be paper boats in a zen garden pond. I don’t think crushing them is the way to go. ;)

  2. Al

    05/27/2009 at 8:40 pm

    how and where did you download it?

  3. Rob Bushway

    05/27/2009 at 8:46 pm

    As of right now, it is not available for download. it will only be available to OEMs to install on computers that meet windows 7 logo touch requirements that support multi-touch.

    Sumocat – yeah, still figuring out that game. it takes a bit of flicking and physics to move those boats around.

  4. gulii

    05/27/2009 at 10:40 pm

    Not download any dell Latitude XT? :(

  5. Rob Bushway

    05/27/2009 at 10:43 pm

    there’s no telling what dell and microsoft will do, if the xt even gets logo certified or what. I guess we can press Dell and N-Trig to get the XT logo certified and press them to make the download available to XT owners.

  6. Denver

    05/28/2009 at 1:11 am

    Wow very nice technology, if this technology was within my price range I would be all over it. However like all the best things in life, the price will drop on touchscreen monitors as they become more mainstream. Its nice that Windows 7 has all this great technology built in… if I was a British MP I would definately be kitting out my second home and office with a Microsoft Surface and a couple of touch screen laptops!

    Seriously though, Im always suprised that I dont see more of this great technology being used in more places, my only regular exposure to touch technology is the my local ATM and the self-checkouts at Fresh and Easy and Home Depot. The technology has more potential than that, the Microsoft Surface Lagoon sounds like something my kids would really like.

  7. Modnar

    05/28/2009 at 2:48 am

    Hmmm. Looks really nice but too bad it can’t be used for single touch or pen let alone even try it.

    Guess this will be the apps to show people it can be done.

    *wishes I had a multitouch tablet to make apps*

  8. Darren

    05/28/2009 at 8:21 am

    @Modnar: Tons of Latitute XTs in the Dell Outlet for $539-$939 and XT2s for $1339-$1359.

  9. Bushbrother

    05/28/2009 at 9:13 am

    Seriously, how did you not figure out how these games work? There is no help because its common sense … ROTFLMAO

    #1 Point fan @ baloon
    #2 Ripples push the boats, not your finger

  10. Rob Bushway

    05/28/2009 at 9:18 am

    @bushbrother – I figured the physics part of the boats out. Still, after playing the blackboard and garden game 5 or 6 times, I’m still having difficulty with it – not a surprise to those who know me well :-)

    Enjoy the laughter!

  11. Bushbrother

    05/28/2009 at 9:22 am

    @Rob – Thanks – It made me smile :), it was a good video otherwise. It will be interesting to see if they expand multi-touch support into other apps. I can see benifits in some areas (scrolling/zooming) but if they try to push it too much it could get frustrating …

  12. Liam

    05/28/2009 at 3:42 pm

    This is SO lame… I mean: the technology is ok, but the applications are pointless. Maybe just the earth app is worth the fuss…

    And, btw I wouldn’t like to have fingerprints all over my screen… just not appealing to me I guess.

  13. sbtablet

    05/29/2009 at 8:43 am

    Liam,

    First of all, I personally like games that are more exploratory than competitive. I would love to have the lagoon and the flower pond to play with. Second, I never see the fingerprints until I turn the tablet off. To each his own.

  14. Alghonaimy

    05/31/2009 at 12:28 pm

    Will any of these aplication run on single touch tablet?

  15. Rob Bushway

    05/31/2009 at 12:55 pm

    my understanding is that they will initially only be available to OEM installs that support multi-touch.

  16. Henry

    06/05/2009 at 2:59 am

    Pls download link.

  17. Rob

    06/05/2009 at 5:21 am

    There is no download link available at this time

  18. David

    06/05/2009 at 3:25 pm

    These will only work on touch screen models, not tablet PCs correct?

  19. 86

    06/17/2009 at 8:50 am

    No download…..what a pity…

  20. DaveTN

    06/26/2009 at 8:18 pm

    Its REALLY REALLY cool on the Touchsmart!!

    David

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