Microsoft’s next operating system (OS) will come with multi-touch features as an alternative to the mouse.

It is hoped the successor will have a better reception than the much-maligned Vista OS, released last year.

Scheduled for release in 2010 the new fingertip interface lets users enlarge and shrink photos, trace routes on maps, paint pictures or play the piano.

“The way you interact with the system will change dramatically,” said Microsoft chairman Bill Gates.

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