Brace yourselves; the word dripping from the digital grapevine into large Apple-shaped puddles is that the MacBook is to get multi-touch – the much applauded interface we've just finished playing with for our iPhone review.According to whispers, the latest crop coming this October will feature the technology on their touchpads, upgrading mundane mouse pointing and page scrolling with added gestures to flip through iTunes tracks and zoom in and out of photos or docs, a la the iPhone.All very sexy, but Microsoft is working on an even more advanced version. Building on its 'Surface' concept (pictured) it's developing a system for touchscreen laptops.It's all at an early stage but MS researchers here in the UK have already built a working prototype. Check out the insomnia-busting video demo below, including such peachy phrases as 'interaction metaphors'. Please don't watch while operating heavy machinery – you have been warned.EssentialsContact: Apple, MicrosoftRelated links:Microsoft prototype videoRelated stories:Reviewed: Apple iPhone 8GBMicrosoft's touch sensitive tabletop SurfacesHTC preps a Windows Mobile 'iPhone'