Vodafone's claim that the H1 would support "multitouch" caught our eye, but it was eight hours before we discovered how fast and loose the operator was playing with the dictionary.

In response to El Reg's questions Samsung finally admitted that in this context "multitouch" means one can touch the screen in different ways: such as holding a finger still for a few seconds, or dragging across the screen. This makes for a definition that elevates Microsoft's mobile efforts to having supported multitouch for a decade or so.

Samsung are old hands at this, having released a handset actually called the "Multi Touch" - despite the fact that it too only supports a single digit in contact with the screen at a time.

We're big fans of using more than one finger to interface with computers, from Fingerworks keyboards to Twiddlers to the iPhone.

Anything that speeds the interaction between user and computer is to be applauded; but redefining the term smacks of cheating, and deserves nothing but two fingers in response. ®

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• Vodafone joins the iPhone throng (29 September 2009)
• Flagship Vodafone 360 handsets emerge (24 September 2009)
• Updated Vodafone clings to customers with cloud contactbook (24 September 2009)
• Review LG GD910 Watch Phone (22 September 2009)
• Google axed Android multitouch at Apple's request? (11 February 2009)