Microsoft dares another lawsuits with Windows Touch logo

Microsoft is on the loose again...

Even with embarassing lawsuits on its Windows Vista compatibility sticker still linger in our memory, the software giant dares us all again with another highly potential lawsuit in the future by announcing the Windows Touch logo program.

Microsoft plans to standardize the new touch feature which will be built-in to Windows 7, and the approach is with Windows Touch logo program, the logo will tell consumers that the PC and all of its components are optimized for the touch feature.

"A major benefit of the Windows ecosystem is diversity – PCs come in all shapes and sizes. To help ensure that there is a great Windows Touch experience across the many different types of PCs we have defined a set of measurements and tests for Windows Touch that are part of the Windows Logo," said by the Windows 7 team at their blog.

And like the same ol' Microsoft we know who love to diversify its products offering, this Windows Touch logo will also be spread over three different type of softwares to support the touch feature, they called it as a 'Good-Better-Best software stack':

1. Good: The “good” bucket is what touch-unaware applications get for free from Windows 7. This type will provide basic support for touch features such as scrolling and zooming.
2. Better: The “better” bucket is focused on adding direct gesture support and other small behavior and UI changes to make apps more touch-friendly.
3. Best: Applications or features that fall into the “best” bucket are designed from the ground up to be great touch experiences. Developers can use this to go beyond the core system gestures and build custom gesture support for their applications.

Sounds confusing? Don't worry, you're not the only one. We can smell 'stinky' confusing sticker incident long before this Windows Touch logo program becomes official along with the final release of Windows 7. But maybe that's how Microsoft rolls, that's how they do their business, that's how they like the attentions coming from lawsuits.

Add this Windows Touch logo into the six types of Windows 7 offering, mix them together, stirred not shaken, and voila! You'll get a headache in no time for choosing the right Windows version for your PC computer or laptop/netbook, too bad the package doesn't include an aspirin. ;-p

But IMHO, Microsoft is not only rising potential lawsuits on this Windows Touch logo from confused consumers, the new built-in touch feature in Windows 7 is also inviting possible lawsuit against iPhone's multi-touch patent from Apple. Just take a look at how the Windows 7 team describes the core gestures of Windows 7's touch feature:

• Tap and Double-tap: Touch and release to click. This is the most basic touch action.
• Drag: Touch and slide your finger on screen.
• Scroll: Drag up or down on the content (not the scrollbar!) of scrollable window to scroll.
• Zoom: Pinch two fingers together or apart to zoom in or out on a document.
• Two-Finger Tap: Tapping with two fingers simultaneously zooms in about the center of the gesture or restores to the default zoom.
• Rotate: Touch two spots on a digital photo and twist to rotate it just like a real photo.
• Flicks: Flick left or right to navigate back and forward in a browser and other apps.
• Press-and-hold: Hold your finger on screen for a moment and release after the animation to get a right-click.

Don't they look familiar to you? Especially for iPhone users, and for those who owns the new MacBooks with its multi-touch glass trackpad. And if the 358-page of iPhone multi-touch patent does cover most of the basic and advanced use of touch features, then Apple has the chance of rattling the lion's cage (read: Microsoft's own touch patents). Because it's for sure that Microsoft will bring some of those Windows Touch features into Windows Mobile 7, it's only a matter of time...

Sources are from Windows 7 blog, via Electronista.