iWindows 7?

Microsoft unveiled an iPhone-like touch screen feature for its new operating system, Windows 7, yesterday at the "D: All Things Digital" conference and announced that the expected release date to be in late 2009.

Chairman Bill Gates calls this an evolution away from the mouse claiming that some tasks could be done much faster than using a traditional mouse. The multi touch technology would allow users to shrink and enlarge photos, much like the near one-year-old iPhone. But at a surprise to most, the new technology will be able to work with existing touch screens. So does this mean that our screens will also have the messy fingerprints that always magically appear on our iPhones?

So why so late in '09? At the pace Apple is releasing new products, they may even have something similar, or even newer and better before Microsoft will be able to ship their new toy. It's interesting to see how this will all pan out...