Touch screen apps for Windows 7 tablets

Over recent months a couple of great tablet PCs have launched sporting Windows 7.  The new Dell Duo, with its unique flippy-screen has to be a favourite by far,  and bolder people than I have touted the Dell Duo as the next iPad killer.  In this post I give you some neat software and flash apps to use with a tablet PC like the Dell Duo, Viewsonic Viewpad or any other Windows 7 tablet PC. 

Google Chrome + chromeTouch

Out of the box Chrome does not support touch screens on Windows 7. When you touch any text,  Chrome assumes you want to select the text, rather than scroll the page.  However,  I can recommend the chromeTouch plugin which gives you iPad like smooth scrolling on a Windows 7 touch screen.  Chrome Touch has two modes of operating – Full Dragging and Auto – but I strongly recommend the Full dragging option. Chrome Touch also has quite a nice bounce effect for touch screens.

Go get chromeTouch

SwiffOut

SwiffOut is a great extension to play flash games in full screen on Google Chrome or Firefox. It’s ideal for playing Flash games with a touch screen on Windows 7.  It hides the browser, the taskbar and all Windows UI while playing and switches the resolution to the closest from the game to get the best performances. Swiffout works with flash games that can’t be scaled and you can also save desktop shortcuts to your favorite flash games.

Get Swiffout for Windows 7 Touch Screens

Amazon Kindle Reader

Amazon Kindle Reader works extremely well on Window 7 touch screens and gives access to a wealth of free books.  To move forward a page simply touch-drag your finger from right to left,  and left to right to move back a page.   Full screen mode is excellent as it remove all the browser furniture and menu bars. It’s very intuitive and brings the power of the Kindle to your Window 7 touch device.

Go get Amazon Kindle Reader for PC

Paint.Net

Paint.NET is one of our favourite graphics apps for the PC, and works well with a Windows 7 touch screen.   It’s great for doodling and one for the kids to play with the touch screen.

Go get Paint.NET

BBC iPlayer Big Screen

BBC iPlayer Big Screen is more commonly used for TV media centres,  but works extremely well with a Windows 7 touch screen. The buttons are huge making navigation and search really easy.   It gives access to all the latest BBC television and radio on your Windows 7 touch screen. Simple point your web browser to the link below to enjoy full screen media at the touch of a finger.

Go to BBC iPlayer Big Screen

YouTube XL

YouTube XL is an interface designed for TV media centres and also works incredibly well with a Windows 7 touch screen. The large buttons make it a joy to use on a touch screen.

Go to YouTube XL

Bubble Shooter

This classic Flash game is superb for the Touch screen.  The aim of the game is to fire a colored ball into the stack and make it stick next to the same color.  A great game that will keep you occupied for hours with a touch screen.

Go to Bubble Shooter

DX Hockey

Pit your wits against the computer in this classic game of ice hockey.  This works extremely well with a touch screen if you install the Swiffout plugin for Chrome as mentioned above.  First to 7 wins!

Go to DX Hockey

Simon

This is a geeky fusion of touch screen and 1980’s retro.  Follow the pattern of lights and sounds for as long as you can remember them.  The lights show up faster the more sequences you correctly recall. Fantastic fun when in full screen mode.

Simon made by Neave Games

The Virtual Keyboard

Everyone with an iPad always demonstrates the Piano app. Why is that? Here is a great virtual keyboard app for your Windows 7 touch screen , complete with drum beats and steel drums.

Go to the Virtual Keyboard