A collection of exclusive applications and games tailored to the multi-touch capabilities of the next iteration of the Windows client is now available for download in the wild. At the end of May 2009, with an ironical twist of “look but don't touch,” Microsoft introduced the Touch Pack for Windows 7. The Redmond company only offered users a taste of the multi-touch-enabled goodies it has lined up for the RTM version of Windows 7, but nothing more. However, just a week later, the yet “untouchable” Windows 7 Touch Pack has been leaked and made available for download via various illegal third-party sources, including BitTorrent websites.

The package “consists of 3 casual games, and 3 Microsoft Surface applications that have been created for Windows 7, states Brandon LeBlanc, Windows communications manager on the Windows Client Communications Team. The software giant informed that it would serve Windows 7 Touch Pack only to OEMs (original equipment manufacturers), and that it would be up to PC makers whether they installed all programs, a selection or none at all on new machines, following the general availability of Windows 7, on October 22, 2009.

It appears that Microsoft has already shared Touch Pack with PC manufacturers. And as soon as the multi-touch programs designed for Windows 7 made it out of Redmond they also found their way onto peer-to-peer networks. So far illegal distribution is limited, as far as I can tell. I only noticed the bits available for download from a single website, but this situation is bound to change. Users need a select array of computers that support Windows Touch and already come with Windows 7 drivers to take advantage of the Touch Pack: HP TouchSmart All-in-One PCs (IQ500 series & IQ800 series), HP TouchSmart tx2 Tablet PCs, and Dell Latitude XT Tablet PCs.

LeBlanc referred to the multi-touch capabilities of Windows 7 as an integral part of the operating system's DNA. In this regard, the Microsoft Touch Pack for Windows 7 is designed to highlight Windows Touch to end users, software developers and hardware manufacturers. Windows Touch needs touch-capable hardware to function, and at the same time, the platform is nothing without the right programs to take advantage of its application programming interfaces (APIs).

But in addition to attempting to spark increased interest from hardware manufacturers and software publishers, the Microsoft Touch Pack for Windows 7 is also set up to get PC makers to certify their machines for Windows Touch. The Pack will be featured on computers that play nice with the logo requirements for Windows Touch, the Redmond company explains.