Mac only: Whether you’re using Apple’s new Magic Mouse or a multitouch-capable MacBook, you may be disappointed with the small number of gestures available. BetterTouchTool expands the stock multitouch features by adding gestures and letting you choose what they do.
BumpTop, the 3D desktop overlay we’ve drooled over since prototype, has added multitouch support for Windows 7 and hardware that supports it. It’s a logical step, and it makes a neat actual-desktop-as-desktop metaphor seem truly real.
Our siblings-in-tech over at Gizmodo take a look at Windows 7′s new multitouch capabilities, and from the look of things, it’s on the right track.Granted, there’s not a lot to see in this initial video, but the responsiveness looks good and the onscreen keyboard is quite fetching. We know that not all that many people actually own and use a touchscreen PC (in the video you’re looking at an HP TouchSmart), but who knows—this kind of more advanced functionality may be just want the touchscreen needs to take off. Head over to the Gizmodo post for a more detailed look at how the multitouch features work.
Windows 7 Touch and Multitouch Video Walkthrough [Gizmodo]Synaptics, the driver provider for the majority of laptops with trackpads, is rolling out an upgrade that allows for two new types of finger movement and application control. Similar to MacBooks, the Synaptics upgrade lets touchpad users flick two fingers across their pads to scroll through items or change modes. More intriguing is the “ChiralTouch,” which detects circular trackpad movement and converts it into scrolling or rotation. Synaptics says that more than 100 apps currently support the new motions, with more to come. To get in on the new scrolling, check with your laptop manufacturers’ support site (or Windows Update) to see if an updated driver for your model is available. ChiralMotion Technology [Synaptics via Gizmodo]
