Apple 'Touch Finger LCDs'

[MacRumors]

http://www.macrumors.com/images/macrumorsthreadlogo.gif (http://www.macrumors.com)

Engadget has publicized an unconfirmed rumor (http://www.newtechspy.com/articles06/macbookfingerlcds.html) from NewTechSpy that Apple is working on incorporating color LCD buttons alongside the trackpad of future MacBooks. The new LCD keys would reportedly change their image based on what function they are assigned to.

The idea appears to be similar to the much publicized OLED Optimus keyboard (http://www.artlebedev.com/portfolio/optimus-mini/) which utilizes OLED screens for the physical keys, allowing images to be displayed on the keys themselves.

NewTechSpy has no previous history as a rumor source, so this should be taken cautiously.

[pdpfilms]

This sounds ugly.

[themacman]

maybe on the new 20'' macbook :D

[Demon]

Let's just see the Mac Tablets first before we go into such unlikely rumors. Engadget is a rumor mill and although highly entertaining, it's not a source of apple products to come. i'd like to see if there in fact is a new iPod on its way as there's really no computer which interests me until most software becomes "universal" :)

[generik]

This sounds ugly.

Wow.. I think it is a great idea :eek:

When it does come out I'd bet you'll go nuts over it and want to have Jonathan Ive's babies :p

[matthewHUB]

Maybe on Steve's new 8 pound iPod with the 10 inch screen. Sounds like BS to me.

M

[syklee26]

IMO it would serve nothing more than an eye candy. I don't really see an advantage of using that.

[nagromme]

Could be cool--but I remain skeptical.

[Analog Kid]

I like the Optimus concept (and I like the designers sense of humor even more), but I don't think it's ready for prime time yet. I wonder if it might have been a better call to go with monochrome to get better pixel density and a smoother image on those tiny displays.

That, combined with the quality of the article and Apples tendency to keep things really simple leads me to classify this one under "bunk". I take this to be one guys idea of a good idea wrapped in a rumor article.

[Super Dave]

Apple has a patent (or applied for one) for LEDs that would change depending on the operating system. This could be the result/direction of that patent if it's not make believe.

http://appft1.uspto.gov/netacgi/nph-Parser?Sect1=PTO2&Sect2=HITOFF&u=/netahtml/PTO/search-adv.html&r=1&p=1&f=G&l=50&d=PG01&S1=20040156192.PGNR.&OS=dn/20040156192&RS=DN/20040156192?tMoJk

Sorry I can't find a more abridged version of the patent. Macsimum news used to have one but I can't find it.

David :cool:

[Kingsly]

IMO it would serve nothing more than an eye candy. I don't really see an advantage of using that.
Could be cool--but I remain skeptical.

Lets not forget who we're talking about here. If anyone can pull it off, Apple Computer can.

[sartinsauce]

Okay, I know I'm not the sharpest tool in the shed but...

I don't get it. What advantage does this Optimus offer?

I guess if I could script macros or something like that it would be okay, butt I can do that with a standard keyboard.

As far as the NewTechSpy story goes, BFD. It could be cool someday, like when apple finally started adding the function keys to their keyboards (aaahh, that was like back in the days of System 6.0.3), first we didn't know what to do with all those "F" keys.

Come to think of it, I never really used them until Expose...

[SeaFox]

http://www.macrumors.com/images/macrumorsthreadlogo.gif (http://www.macrumors.com)

Engadget has publicized an unconfirmed rumor (http://www.newtechspy.com/articles06/macbookfingerlcds.html) from NewTechSpy that Apple is working on incorporating color LCD buttons alongside the trackpad of future MacBooks. The new LCD keys would reportedly change their image based on what function they are assigned to.



Why don't they just replace the touchpad itself with a larger touch sensitive LCD display?

Think of the Nintendo DS emulators that we could write!

[virus1]

that is cool and all, but that was done long before they were doing that on thier web mockups. euphonix has them standard on all of thier recent systems.

my dad is the new CFO :cool:

[mixel]

I think it's a good idea - especially if they can be programmed on an app by app basis.. And providing it looks nice.

Would be handy for people who forget keyboard shortcuts. :) - a bit like the buttons/sliders on Wacom Intuos tablets but with icons.. could use the laptop much more one-handedly/quickly if set up right.

[YourHippocampus]

...if there was a default function of the "keys" to be iCal, Mail, AddressBook, iTunes, etc. and that each of these was "always on" in the background, like the iPod and available to check at a moments notice without having to boot up the whole computer. yeah, that means a dedicated chip on the motherboard, like having a Palm device in the laptop.

Vista will support such a thing for pc's and Apple is better then they.

[bigandy]

I don't get it. What advantage does this Optimus offer?

I guess if I could script macros or something like that it would be okay, butt I can do that with a standard keyboard.


have a look here (http://www.artlebedev.com/portfolio/optimus/).

this could be a great thing, but i think it would be better going the whole hogg and having a proper OLED keyboard, like the Optimus.

[ccool2ax]

Well, I like the idea, even though it's probably not real. I wish they could replace the whole trackpad with these buttons and (I know I'm daydreaming) maybe make the little ridges between the button-screens retractable to form one unified touchscreen when needed (DS emulator, games) and come back up, maybe in differnt paterns (big area in center for a pseudo trackball, buncha little buttons for Photoshop, half Ink-pad half trackpad, etc). Impossible, right?

By the way, that's patented. By me. Or it will be.

[gauchogolfer]

have a look here (http://www.artlebedev.com/portfolio/optimus/).

this could be a great thing, but i think it would be better going the whole hogg and having a proper OLED keyboard, like the Optimus.

If that Optimus keyboard is for real, sign me up! It would be great for me working in both French and English to be able to change from AZERTY to QWERTY and back easily, without having to remember where all the é and è keys are :). Also, I could see that doing things like equation typesetting could be much easier than is currently possible.

But, it better be as nice to type on as my powerbook, because I'm forever spoiled, and have a hard time typing on my PC box at work.

[sartinsauce]

have a look here (http://www.artlebedev.com/portfolio/optimus/).

this could be a great thing, but i think it would be better going the whole hogg and having a proper OLED keyboard, like the Optimus.


Okay, gotcha. That's just like the Sony MVS-8000 series switcher/DVE that I use at work.

Still, it would take some time to really implement that technology into my workflow at home. Seems like it would be a pain the @$$ to map icons and colors schemes. However, once you did it could be really cool. Imagine loading Avid and having your "normal" keyboard suddenly switch over and display all the keyboard shortcuts.

Remember that mac utility "Key Caps"? Is that thing still around, burried in OS X somewhere?

[Superdrive]

I don't think I would ever need these buttons. Volume and brightness do the trick. Keep my laptop design clean, please.

[DrNeroCF]

Sounds like a way to pwn right click buttons.

[rockthecasbah]

that optimas keyboard above is really cool, but impractical and not 100% necessary on a notebook computer. If you ask me, in a notebook i'd prefer much better battery life than to waste it will such unimportant LCDs and crap.

[ezekielrage_99]

Can't wait to buy the optima Keyboard, looks totally sweet.

About the rumor, the source isn't that credible however it's totally plausable.

[mvelinder]

It seems all of my "quick hit" buttons and shortcuts are already there though... I really can't think of anything I'd need to bind to these buttons.

[shyataroo]

I think it could be pretty cool you could program each key to launch a specific application or do a specific task. or you could re-arrange the keys in a non-qwerty fashion for people who don't have any qwerty keyboard experience. the possibilites don't stop there you could use it for a brand new iPod Newton (didn't apple buy a bunch of palm employees?) any application of touch screen displays could be put into use for the iPod or the newton or you could put it on the iMac etc...

[walkingmac]

Maybe I don't know the product well enough, but wouldn't ePaper be a much more approachable direction? Low power, decent contrast for the use and relatively inexpensive especially compared LED. Just a though (I HAD IT FIRST, unless someone else did ;) )

[gauchogolfer]

It seems all of my "quick hit" buttons and shortcuts are already there though... I really can't think of anything I'd need to bind to these buttons.

As someone who writes a lot of equations in either Equation Editor (eeks) or LaTeX, the ability to have the keyboard automatically switch into 'math mode' according to the state of the software would be amazing. Typing along like normal in QWERTY mode, then, after typing $ in LaTeX, the keyboard changes to math mode, and lets me input all my characters without having to remember the right combinations, then, after the closing $, it goes back to QWERTY again. This would be sweet.

Or, say I'm typing a mail message at work to someone in French. I change the language of the document properties to french, and get the AZERTY keyboard automatically. This would be really nice.

The thing about cool new technology is not just that it could do something better than the way it's done now (mapping keyboard shortcuts, for example), but that it allows for completely new ways of thinking.

[Dark Horse]

This sounds ugly.

Hmm...I don't know. It depends how well it's done. I know its slightly different...but if you believe the hype about the iPod Video with the overlay touchscreen scroll wheel then its the same kind of principle. Displaying the graphics for the controls based on what the user is doing.

As with everything I guess it's just is it implemented in a smooth sleek way, or a horrible clunky way. And...well...it's Apple so I guess we know the answer to that...

[DeVizardofOZ]

have a look here (http://www.artlebedev.com/portfolio/optimus/).

this could be a great thing, but i think it would be better going the whole hogg and having a proper OLED keyboard, like the Optimus.

I think the OPTIMUS KEYBOARD can be a great help, especially in the PRO field;) . The idea is splendid, but the question is: WHAT WILL IT COST...:confused: ?

DeVizardofOZ

[Jay42]

I think they should slap on a bunch of those quick launch shortcuts and media playback buttons like my old HP, since that's obviously why people aren't switching.

The whole Optimus keyboard in a MBP would be pretty sweet, but you have to wonder why Optimus didn't build one to begin with. There must have been some challenges in the desktop keyboard, never mind a laptop version. Also, I'm guessing, it would take some power to drive all those little screens (even though theyre OLEDs). Unless you could turn them off while youre touch typing and didn't need them...that would be cool!

[thedude110]

I like the Optimus concept (and I like the designers sense of humor even more), but I don't think it's ready for prime time yet.

What?

Opitmus Prime (http://forums.macrumors.com/showthread.php?t=137886)time?