Industry news

Windows 7 unveiled

Windows 7 will incorporate multi-touch technology, its manufacturer has said.

IT giant Microsoft revealed its new OS operating platform at the All Things Digital conference this week.

A host of applications were shown including Touchable Paint, which allows users to draw on the screen by hand, reports PC Pro.

The website comments that the platform has a "controversial" new menu system that is reminiscent of the Mac OS X dock.

Speaking at the event, Microsoft owner Bill Gates said: "We're at an interesting junction - in the next few years, the roles of speech, gesture, vision, ink, all of those will become huge.

"For the person at home and the person at work, that interaction will change dramatically."

According to the IT firm, some of the features shown at the trade show may not be incorporated into the final package released.

Meanwhile, Microsoft slipped to number four recently in the Americas' list of businesses by market value, according to a report by Economatica.

It was valued at $274 billion (£158 billion) as of May 16th according to the publication.