Apple Depicts Advanced Multitouch Gesturing Control Panel in Mac OS X

[MacRumors]

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

In case there were any doubts that Apple was exploring the use of advanced multitouch gestures under Mac OS X, a recent Apple patent application authored by Wayne Westerman (of Fingerworks (http://www.macrumors.com/2007/01/15/synaptics-clearpad-technology-fingerworks-iphone/)) shows mockups of a Mac OS X gesturing control panel with options to configure standard trackpad, basic multitouch, and advanced multitouch settings:


http://images.macrumors.com/article/2008/02/19/012620-gesture5_400.png

Apple's notebooks already contain what we presume to be "basic multitouch" with two-finger scroll, rotate, and zoom, but "advanced multitouch" has not yet been seen in shipping products.

The patent application depicts how one could customize these advanced gestures for Expose and Dashboard, by using four finger swipes up/down/left/right:

http://images.macrumors.com/article/2008/02/19/012018-gesture2_400.png

File operations, such as Open, New, Save and Close using gestures based on your Thumb and Forefinger:

http://images.macrumors.com/article/2008/02/19/012018-gesture3_400.png

And even editing operations such as Copy, Cut, Paste, Undo, Select All, Tab, and Cancel using gestures based on your Thumb and Two Fingers:

http://images.macrumors.com/article/2008/02/19/012019-gesture4_400.png

They also claim to be able to distinguish between various combinations of fingers, including adjacent and non-adjacent finger presses. In particular, they point out that the pinky finger when applied sideways to the trackpad (as in the bottom of a fist) generates a unique pattern and could be used for its own customizable functionality: such as adjusting volume or putting the computer to sleep.

Over the past few years, numerous multitouch patent applications have been revealed Apple's ongoing work on gesture computing. Apple has been making small and steady steps at introducing the multitouch interface -- first in the iPhone, and now in the MacBook Air. Apple is expected to expand this multitouch trackpad to the remainder of their notebook product line.

Article Link (http://www.macrumors.com/2008/02/19/apple-depicts-advanced-multitouch-gesturing-control-panel-in-mac-os-x/)

Patent Application Link (http://appft1.uspto.gov/netacgi/nph-Parser?Sect1=PTO2&Sect2=HITOFF&p=1&u=%2Fnetahtml%2FPTO%2Fsearch-bool.html&r=5&f=G&l=50&co1=AND&d=PG01&s1=Apple.AS.&OS=AN/Apple&RS=AN/Apple)

[DMann]

This is quite impressive. Looking forward to multi-touch on the new MacBook Pros. Perhaps, even the next generation Mighty Mouse will incorporate Multi-Touch capabilities.

[chrisdazzo]

HOLY... CRAP.

I'm saving up RIGHT NOW for a Macbook Pro. :D

[TatsuTerror]

The mouse is slowly becoming obsolete...

[ntrigue]

I imagine this will speed things up further still. But to learn EVERY gesture? Seems like a hobby more than a functional premise.

[Zwhaler]

Well, here's to hoping, but I won't be able to enjoy any of these features on my current setup, unfortunately.

[wesrk]

cool news. If the MBP get updated tomorrow or whenever they do, they'll probably have it.

[coolfactor]

Next Up:

Apple re-inventing the human-computer interface with... full-body computing.

The mouse is going to see so archaic in a couple of years.

I sit around 20 hours a day working on my computer (or so it feels), and my gut is paying the price. I welcome a little more physical movement in my computer usage. :)

[aswitcher]

So I take it the MBA and new MBPs should get this eventually as a update one day?

[dbaer]

Great, so we are finally getting cut & paste then?

[kskill]

i thought tablets were going to be the next big thing, but i guess there still a ways off to becoming the norm.

[Silentwave]

All I can say is....

mmmmm....tasty.

They got us interested with two finger scrolling

They got us hooked with iPhone and MBAir.

Now is where the fun begins.

File operations and edit operations are very intriguing. I could really speed up my workflow by not having to move my fingers off the trackpad or mouse around for menus.

[Lord Nerdos]

It would be cool to have this option for desktops too... New Apple keyboards, anyone?

[Muzzway]

Perhaps the next patent application we will see will be a way to infuse all of these gestures into your memory...

[Bentov]

The mouse is slowly becoming obsolete...

There are some people in the world who don't have all of their fingers, or because of other issues don't have the dexterity or the control necessary to manipulate a system like this. While yes, the population that falls into this category is in the minority, we should all be aware of accessibility issues when creating computer interfaces.

[Rogzilla]

Alas for the tablet hopefuls. I think we can safely assume that Apple is going to focus on its touchbased computing through the trackpad and its portable devices for the time being. We may get a UMPC (Newton II or whatever) but not a Mac touch.

I still think there will someday be a Mac tablet, but it doesn't look like it will be 2008.

Looks like I am gonna be getting the HP TX2000 for my tablet/portable computing needs.

[shadowfax]

I wonder if the next step for the desktop will be multi-touch versions of pads like the Wacom tablet things. That would be really awesome to have an 8" x 6" trackpad with support for laptop-style tracking with a finger, multitouch gestures, and high-precision + pressure-support with a stylus. That would be a great tool. I'd like to see those devices get a little more down to earth.

[MacFly123]

Lol, I just barely made this then I looked at the home page and saw this article :)

[dsl4c]

Lol, I just barely made this then I looked at the home page and saw this article :)

eww.. that macbook pro is ugly..

[shadowfax]

There are some people in the world who don't have all of their fingers, or because of other issues don't have the dexterity or the control necessary to manipulate a system like this. While yes, the population that falls into this category is in the minority, we should all be aware of accessibility issues when creating computer interfaces.

true, but we don't all forego monitors because some people are blind. We just work on other tools that allow them to take advantage of computers in a different way. Same sort of thing here, I think. Multitouch is great, though, for accessibility. If you only have a few fingers on your hand, you can configure the thing to only support gestures you are able to perform. For some reason my intuition is that a trackpad might be better than a mouse for people with accessibility issues. But maybe I am way wrong :)

Lol, I just barely made this then I looked at the home page and saw this article :)

You know what they say... it's all fun and games till you close the laptop too hard and the glass shatters... ;)

[Prof.]

Can't Apple release an update making ALL macbooks have multi-touch track pads?

[MacFly123]

I love the way it would let you choose "Standard Trackpad", "Basic Multi-Touch", and "Advanced Multi-Touch. That will make it a LOT less intimidating. Apple rules :) I can't wait to see how they tackle this for desktops :)

[MacFly123]

This is quite impressive. Looking forward to multi-touch on the new MacBook Pros. Perhaps, even the next generation Mighty Mouse will incorporate Multi-Touch capabilities.

I really think it will. I do not see them doing touch displays on either the laptops or desktops at all. If they do it probably will only be on one specific product and not for several years.

[kockgunner]

looks sorts confusing. And why do we need copy/paste gestures? Isn't command c and v on the keyboard efficient enough?

Anyway I dont think we'll see these gestures on the new MBPs since the mb air came out recently with only 'basic multitouch'

[MacFly123]

I wonder if the next step for the desktop will be multi-touch versions of pads like the Wacom tablet things. That would be really awesome to have an 8" x 6" trackpad with support for laptop-style tracking with a finger, multitouch gestures, and high-precision + pressure-support with a stylus. That would be a great tool. I'd like to see those devices get a little more down to earth.

LOL. that is kind of an oxy-moron. I think Steve has made it clear how he feels about stylus' :rolleyes:

[TatsuTerror]

looks sorts confusing. And why do we need copy/paste gestures? Isn't command c and v on the keyboard efficient enough?

Anyway I dont think we'll see these gestures on the new MBPs since the mb air came out recently with only 'basic multitouch'It can save time to complete all your commands in one area (the track pad).

The MBA was found to have the same hardware under its track pad as the hardware under the iPhone's screen, so I can only assume that it is capable of advanced multi touch capabilities.

[MacFly123]

eww.. that macbook pro is ugly..

Well thanks for the compliment, but I think it is HOT :) As do lots of other people that have made mock-ups that are very similar! Guess we will see what Apple thinks in the next couple weeks or so.

[Decrepit]

That way Mini, Mac Pro and owners of older Apple hardware are able to have this functionality.

Optional for when it's handy. Put it on the desk, do your thing. When you're done, back in the drawer.

GIMME!!!

[MacFly123]

You know what they say... it's all fun and games till you close the laptop too hard and the glass shatters... ;)

I don't think it would be glass like the iMac, it is just a mock-up.

Can't Apple release an update making ALL macbooks have multi-touch track pads?

This has been covered a MILLION TIMES. NO..... The MacBook Air has the same Multi-Touch chip that the iPhone has! This has been confirmed in the disassembly.

[FX120]

Am I the only one that dislikes the term "multitouch".

I don't know why. It looks weird reading, it sounds weird saying.

[MacFly123]

It can save time to complete all your commands in one area (the track pad).

The MBA was found to have the same hardware under its track pad as the hardware under the iPhone's screen, so I can only assume that it is capable of advanced multi touch capabilities.

Has it been confirmed yet that the iPhone is capable of detecting more than two points of input for Multi-Touch yet? Well... The MacBook Air can do 3 points right? And it is the same chip. So I guess they just haven't implemented it yet?

[tsdiller]

is this for real? I am waiting !!! I am seriosly standing around all day with the money in my hand wanting to go buy my Air but now with talk of a 15" MBP I am up in the Air ? anyone know how long? whats up with the best buy stuff with the inventory opening? could it be this week a 15 air with the trackpad gestures? tomorrow? seriously how will I know right when it happens this hurts really bad!!


true, but we don't all forego monitors because some people are blind. We just work on other tools that allow them to take advantage of computers in a different way. Same sort of thing here, I think. Multitouch is great, though, for accessibility. If you only have a few fingers on your hand, you can configure the thing to only support gestures you are able to perform. For some reason my intuition is that a trackpad might be better than a mouse for people with accessibility issues. But maybe I am way wrong :)



You know what they say... it's all fun and games till you close the laptop too hard and the glass shatters... ;)

[JesterJJZ]

Would stuff like this be possible for the MBA via firmware update?

[MacFly123]

Am I the only one that dislikes the term "multitouch".

I don't know why. It looks weird reading, it sounds weird saying.

I like it. And has anybody else noticed how small their current trackpads seem now after the MacBook Air lol??? I feel like I'm in a straight jacket hehe ;)

[TatsuTerror]

Has it been confirmed yet that the iPhone is capable of detecting more than two points of input for Multi-Touch yet? Well... The MacBook Air can do 3 points right? And it is the same chip. So I guess they just haven't implemented it yet?Yes, the MBA can utilize up to three with the current setup. However, nothing seems to keep that number from increasing to four.

I like it. And has anybody else noticed how small their current trackpads seem now after the MacBook Air lol??? I feel like I'm in a straight jacket hehe Yeah, I have. I tried some of the examples from the article, and they felt very cramped. Props to Apple for increasing the size.

[MacFly123]

Would stuff like this be possible for the MBA via firmware update?

Well I don't know really, but MBA can do at least 3 points of input, and I think that from the MBA on Apple is getting all the hardware ready. I don't think they would implement it only to have it not do the real deal a year later and have to refresh again. They want these to get into the hands of all of us now so by the time 10.6 comes out with this we have the hardware already.

[sachxn]

in the time to come Apple will converge iPhone, iPod, MacBook Air into one device.

Sachin (http://qtp.blogspot.com)

[Stridder44]

Am I the only one that dislikes the term "multitouch".

I don't know why. It looks weird reading, it sounds weird saying.

Sounds like sex to me. And I like sex. Therefore, I like multitouch.

Seriously though, this is freaking awesome. I hope so badly the new MBP is actually redesigned with the MBA trackpad.

[Bonte]

I would assume that basic multitouch, and advanced multitouch settings are meant for a real touchscreen. I hope we'll see a small tablet this year, I'm eagerly waiting for such a device from Apple to use as a comicbook-reader.

[martychang]

The command line is still more efficient. :|

We should be focusing on interfaces that require only the keyboard, moving your hand on and off the keyboard to reach for a mouse/touchpad/whatever is a critical inefficiency that's been in computing for about 24 years now.

Either that or find a way to type words without a keyboard(iPhone's keyboard isn't the answer unfortunately). I personally don't think voice recognition commands/typing is the answer either, imagine how sore your throat would be after a day of heavy computing :eek:

[Prof.]

This has been covered a MILLION TIMES. NO..... The MacBook Air has the same Multi-Touch chip that the iPhone has! This has been confirmed in the disassembly.
Sorry, I didn't know. Don't get your knickers in a knot.:rolleyes:

[BrokenChairs]

If it's just for lappy's fine, but desktop...I have doubts. :confused:

[shadowfax]

LOL. that is kind of an oxy-moron. I think Steve has made it clear how he feels about stylus' :rolleyes:
heh, no need to roll your eyes. And it wouldn't be an oxymoron, even if you were right, lol.

I watched the Keynote. Jobs criticized the stylus as a stupid thing to carry around and use with a tiny device like a PDA/"smart" phone. That's an extremely far cry from using a touch pad with a stylus like a Wacom pad. For one, it's not portable. For another, it's not tiny and awkward, it's nice and big.

Not that I predict that a touch pad with a stylus is in the cards for Apple. It's already been taken care of (the pen part) by others--for the Mac. But it would be interesting to see a hand gesture pad.

I don't see touch screen desktops anytime soon. It's just so much less efficient and so much more annoying, after the novelty wears off.

[oogabooga74]

i find it interesting that Apple, since the introduction of the first Mac, always insisted that computer control via the mouse/trackpad should be simple--just a 1-button mouse--yet now they are introducing this very complex multi-gesture system. i personally will probably like it since i have always preferred multi-button mice and always disagreed with apple's resistance to more sophisticated mice and trackpads.

[GregorBehr]

eww.. that macbook pro is ugly..

While my hats off to the ability to crank out the mock up... I would have to agree that I dislike it. And I'm sadly thinking that whenever a updated MBP comes out, it is going to look a hell of a lot just like that :(

[JonDann]

Well what if the mouse doesn't die? Have you tried all of these, the mouse goes all over the place!

[GregorBehr]

There are some people in the world who don't have all of their fingers, or because of other issues don't have the dexterity or the control necessary to manipulate a system like this. While yes, the population that falls into this category is in the minority, we should all be aware of accessibility issues when creating computer interfaces.

I think it would be better to see this sort of touch/gesture bad as highly interactive function keys. They'll be fantastic ways to go about using short cuts, but still able to provide the basic functions found in the touch pads and mouse of today. So while not everyone may be able to take full advantage of every feature they can provide, they won't leave those users who can't use them out in the dark.

[GregorBehr]

So what will a middle finger one gesture get you? :D

[Cloudsurfer]

That looks pretty complicated. Can't we just stick to mice?

[foobarbaz]

Apple isn't re-inventing anything here, guys. This is exactly how Fingerworks keyboards worked before Apple bought them. But I'm also excited that Apple might be bringing this to the mainstream...

Incidently, with Fingerworks these gestures weren't done on a dedicated trackpad. The entire keyboard was one flat surface without buttons like the iPhone keyboard. I wonder if/when Apple will Apple will offer us something like that...

[takao]

That looks pretty complicated. Can't we just stick to mice?

yeah i find it not really on the intuitive side either ... perhaps they think they have to make up for all the years without a second mouse button

[t0mat0]

That looks pretty complicated. Can't we just stick to mice?

Did you know it took 20 odd years to get mice pushed through to thte general user? Robert Scoble does a good video with Engelbart, one of the founders of pushing forward the tech so people used mice. Moore got his law after seeing a presentation by Engelbart, so he should be kept in decent esteem.
If you look at one of his more famous presentations, he had a mouse and a Chord system - he was basically using a chord version of a multibutton mouse (>6 buttons, but the chord system did chords, so it had greater options).

In the Scoble video, he showed how you could type the entire alphabet with it, as a quasi shorthand system, and that you could lose the chord box, and do it via a glove, to be able to type without looking, silently, whilst standing or interact with a heads up display.

For me the multitouch is the beginning, before we get the proper IR lighted webcams, which can track hands, finger movements, and calculate real time body positioning (and havean idea of skeletal structure to help out, which some don't have yet). The protoypes for Minority Report are already out there. But we'll take advanced multitouch till then :D

[Much Ado]

For me the multitouch is the beginning, before we get the proper IR lighted webcams, which can track hands, finger movements, and calculate real time body positioning (and havean idea of skeletal structure to help out, which some don't have yet). The protoypes for Minority Report are already out there. But we'll take advanced multitouch till then :D

Clearly you haven't seen what Johnny Lee can do with his Wii (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0awjPUkBXOU) yet ;)

All this optional multi-touch functionality looks really cool. The question is- is the multi-touch chip in the MBA capable of these new 'advanced' (four finger etc.) inputs, or is it just the basic?

[t0mat0]

Clearly you haven't seen what Johnny Lee can do with his Wii (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0awjPUkBXOU) yet ;)
All this optional multi-touch functionality looks really cool. The question is- is the multi-touch chip in the MBA capable of these new 'advanced' (four finger etc.) inputs, or is it just the basic?

Not quite :P There was a decent thread about this around CES when one of the start ups was demoing some depth perception software and hardware. E.g. 3Dv

Personally I like his http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jd3-eiid-Uw
Head Tracking for Desktop VR Displays using the WiiRemote better - pseudo 3D on a HDTV? It would be one hell of a cool add on for the Wii.

The thing about your Jonny Lee link is that it can't tell which finger is being pointed. The depth perception can get your body frame, hand position - it has a lot more information from it. Whilst it's resolution isn't amazing yet, it's got a lot going for it (the DoD already have this being worked on as one of the guys involved did some R&D/talking with them to set this up for them).

I'd imagine only the MBP will have it in all probability - there has to be differentiators between the MB, MA and the MBP. Going against that, the Air does already have the nondrive lightweight low speed difference to the MBP.

[Digitalclips]

This is all great. I can't even use a track pad that doesn't allow two finger scrolling and tapping anymore. I am sure we will rapidly learn and accept these new gestures and wonder how we lived without them. Like others have said, I work all day on a Mac and my arm, wrist and shoulder would love to be freed from a mouse for a least some of the time.

I wonder if Apple are already developing three dimensional gesture input devices? Allowing the hand to be gesturing in mid air seems to be the next logical step. I wouldn't mind wearing a special glove if necessary but something that could read the hands gestures without a glove would be cool.

[koobcamuk]

I guess a pinky finger is the little finger?

Mine's the same colour as my other fingers. Although my ring finger is not ring-shaped...

I still think people want copy and paste on the iPhone :)

[asrmatt]

Hey guys, apple store is down and nobody says anything?
:eek:
or maybe I'm posting on the wrong thread...

(by the way this multitouch would be greeeat on the new MBP and today is tuesday! ;))

[Sbrocket]

This sounds to be like a feature that'll be incorporated in 10.6 because its a major feature. It would also explain the panels for both Basic and Advanced Multitouch since undoubtedly 10.6 will be installed on machines with both. Apple will go ahead and add the improved multitouch trackpads to its notebook lines as new revisions are pushed, and then the real usefulness behind them will be added in 10.6.

[iZoom P5]

Hey guys, apple store is down and nobody says anything?
:eek:
or maybe I'm posting on the wrong thread...

(by the way this multitouch would be greeeat on the new MBP and today is tuesday! ;))

You're not going crazy, the store really IS down. Just checked the store and I'm greeted with a big yellow sticky. If a new MBP comes out today, it will seriously make me reconsider the MBA.

[Orng]

Lol, I just barely made this then I looked at the home page and saw this article :)
eww.. that macbook pro is ugly..

I kinda like it myself. I'm sure it won't end up having the black border around the screen, but I have no problem with it.
It's too easy to jump all over people who make mock-ups, just because their vision is different than ours; but bear in mind that 1. Our own vision isn't necessarily better or worse, just different and 2. The person who made the mock-up may or may not have any training in industrial design and is just expressing what they'd like to see with the skills they have. Though I think this one is well done as a mockup whether you like the concept or not.

Putting the Mac to sleep by applying the bottom of your fist? It is so natural!

Big deal, my old PentiumII, (barely) running Windows 98 had a similar feature; wake it up from a frozen state by applying the bottom of the fist to the side of the tower. It didn't always work so well. Also, if you wanted to tell the OS to go ****** itself, you could bang the mouse on the desk.

And here's another example of existing multitouch that's been around for ages: everybody knows that pressing a button multiple times in rapid succession makes elevators go faster and walk signals change sooner.:)

[ekivemark]

This might explain why the iPhone still doesn't have cut and paste. May be Apple knows how it wants to implement cut and paste and want to be consistent across platforms.

[FleurDuMal]

This is the most exciting thing I've heard about regarding Macs for a long time. I love the limited multi-touch functions on my Macbook. Extending their use can only be a good thing.

Stuff boring old 'faster specs'. This is the sort of stuff that really makes me want to upgrade.

[lexlix]

first thing that came to mind: what if you don't have 5 fingers? then u'd be :mad:

is apple opening themselves up to a slew of disability lawsuits?

it's a cool technology, just playing devil's advocate.

[FleurDuMal]

first thing that came to mind: what if you don't have 5 fingers? then u'd be :mad:

is apple opening themselves up to a slew of disability lawsuits?

it's a cool technology, just playing devil's advocate.

No. Much like Apple doesn't get sued by blind people for making displays.

I'm sure mice will always be an option. Correct me if I'm wrong, but didn't Apple pioneer voice-recognition and audio-computing for the blind? I hardly think they're likely to leave anyone out in the cold.

[RichardI]

He he. Sorry, but I actually find this whole idea humorous. Am I the only one that thinks this "Multi Touch" system is ridiculous? Look closely at the first post for 30 seconds. Now look away and tell me the system "gestures". :eek:
Good grief. Couldn't they have made this more complicated somehow :p ? I feel sorry for anyone with Arthritis if they had to use this system. I get a picture in my mind of two hands looking like a ball of string that can't be unwound :o .

Sorry, but I think this is heading in exactly the wrong direction in my opinion, and smacks of "Mavis Beacons Touch Gesturing 101". Touch screens should allow you to use 1 finger - or thumb, or pinkie to select from a series of ever decreasing menus. They should be SIMPLE, not more complicated. Just my opinion I guess.

Rich

[hexor]

As someone else has mentioned this is just the FingerWorks technology being applied to Mac OS X specific features. I had one of the FingerWorks keyboards and it worked very well for gesturing (the entire keyboard was basically a trackpad). The problem with it was that it was used as a keyboard as well. Because it was a trackpad this provided no tactile feedback while typing which was its downfall.

[twoodcc]

now this is exciting. maybe that tablet mac is coming

[mr.fixit]

Look closely at the first post for 30 seconds. Now look away and tell me the system "gestures". Couldn't they have made this more complicated somehow :p ?
Rich

You're right in that at first glance the gestures appear complicated. But the truth is, they are surprisingly easy to remember. I have one of the Touchstream keyboards from Fingerworks, and the gesture system was an amazing thing to use. It just, unfortunately, sucked as a keyboard. If you think about it, a standard keyboard, that someone learns to touch-type on, is a ten finger gestural interface, with a separate gesture for every letter of the alphabet. Yet people somehow manage. I'd argue that the Fingerworks based gesture system is a far cry easier to learn than learning to touch-type. I'd even argue that it is an easier system to learn than having to remember different hot-keys for all of the actions that the gestures represent.

[wildcardd]

Did anyone notice the Cut and Paste gestures?

Is it possible that this might sneak its way into the iPhone?

Three fingers pinching or pushing...that might work. :D

[skeep5]

Great, so we are finally getting cut & paste then?

Please bless that we do!

[arn]

He he. Sorry, but I actually find this whole idea humorous. Am I the only one that thinks this "Multi Touch" system is ridiculous? Look closely at the first post for 30 seconds

How intuitive is Command-W to close a window? Or Command-V to paste? These gestures aren't necessarily brand new functionality, but advanced shortcuts for people to work (potentially) more efficiently. Similarly, all keyboard shortcuts aren't necessary, and there are people who don't use them at all. But for the people who do remember them, they save a lot of time.

arn

[Lepton]

I can't put my finger on how they'd distinguish between "two fingers" and "two non-adjacent fingers"..

[EagerDragon]

That thumb and 2 finger set of gestures are ackward. I hope they let you reassign new gestures.

People like to customize.

[Kwill]

Great, so we are finally getting cut & paste then?

Two thumbs up! :D

[mr.fixit]

That thumb and 2 finger set of gestures are ackward.

Trust me when I say that you really can't tell by looking at them. I'd be willing to bet that you would have a different opinion after using them. And if the configurability of the Touchstream keyboard is any indicator, you should be able to customize everything.

[asdavis10]

Advanced multi-touch sounds great for new laptop models. Unfortunately for those people waiting for the new MB's and MBP's, you're only going to see multi-touch capabilities of the MBA. These advanced capabilities aren't coming as soon as you think. Apple isn't going to cannibalize the sales of the MBA by putting one of its key selling features into other laptop models. So I'm even skeptical if the new MB's and MBP's have the same multi-touch as the MBA. That would mean at least a year before those models get it and then maybe another year before advanced multi-touch is seen. And besides, those images were just mock drawings. Those gestures have to be tested. Some look very awkward. But if advanced multi-touch isn't just a feature built into laptops then I think we're going to see an external (USB and wireless) multi-touch trackpad for the Mac desktops. Now that excites me more than new trackpads in laptops.

[EagerDragon]

Trust me when I say that you really can't tell by looking at them. I'd be willing to bet that you would have a different opinion after using them. And if the configurability of the Touchstream keyboard is any indicator, you should be able to customize everything.

If you look at the two gestures I speak about Thumb, Index, Middle fingers, there are arrows that describe the movement of each, maybe I am getting old, but after a few repetitions my wrist starts to ache and normaly I have no issues with my hands or wrists.

Like I said, I hope we can customize them.

[Rogzilla]

now this is exciting. maybe that tablet mac is coming

Oh I am certain it is coming...but don't expect it soon.

These gestures are clearly designed for a trackpad and the functionality just wouldn't transition the same way to a tablet. Similar, sure but not the same.

This is deffinately a good sign in that it shows that Apple sees clearly the multitouch application for computing and are working to get that intergrated.

[MrCrowbar]

Wow, there are some quite elaborate ones on there. I thought Apple tried to keep everything simple interface wise. I mean, the one button mouse is still standard and you have to activate the right click. I actually like this approach. I mean I can use the trackpads whole surface, resting my last thumb joint on the button. Right-clicking works by tapping two fingers. Scrolling is with 2 fingers too. For web surfing, i prefer using the trackpad because 2D scrolling with a mouse is kinda awkward, even with the mighty mouse.

I for one welcome our new multi-touch overlords. That's one of those hardware features that makes you want to upgrade even your computer does everything you need it to do right now. :)

[kuwisdelu]

Wow, there are some quite elaborate ones on there. I thought Apple tried to keep everything simple interface wise. I mean, the one button mouse is still standard and you have to activate the right click. I actually like this approach. I mean I can use the trackpads whole surface, resting my last thumb joint on the button. Right-clicking works by tapping two fingers. Scrolling is with 2 fingers too. For web surfing, i prefer using the trackpad because 2D scrolling with a mouse is kinda awkward, even with the mighty mouse.

I for one welcome our new multi-touch overlords. That's one of those hardware features that makes you want to upgrade even your computer does everything you need it to do right now. :)

I'm sure it'll be an option, though, and can either be disabled or will need to be enabled. For anyone for whom it's too complicated, they don't even have to bother with it.

I'm excited, too. The MBA's multitouch already has me wanting that.

[Loudwater]

WOW this is amazing!!!:cool: I'll definitely try it out when it comes out...

[alllllie]

So, this may have an obvious answer, but I'm not sure. Will you have to get a new updated model to have the multi-touch features or will there just be an operating system update that anyone with leopard will be able to use?

Because I'm probably ordering my Macbook Pro on Friday and I don't want to wait for a new update because I don't want a new keyboard, but I reallllly want the multi touch features.

[kuwisdelu]

So, this may have an obvious answer, but I'm not sure. Will you have to get a new updated model to have the multi-touch features or will there just be an operating system update that anyone with leopard will be able to use?

Because I'm probably ordering my Macbook Pro on Friday and I don't want to wait for a new update because I don't want a new keyboard, but I reallllly want the multi touch features.

Sadly, they require different hardware than the current MacBooks and MacBook Pros have. The MacBook Air incorporates the same hardware for multitouch that's in the iPhone and the iPod Touch, so it would probably be capable of these new gestures with a simple software update, but not the current MB's and MBP's. However, you will still find many people who refuse to admit this basic fact and expect Apple to release a software update to bring these new features to hardware that isn't capable of it (despite purely anecdotal evidence otherwise).

[alllllie]

Sadly, they require different hardware than the current MacBooks and MacBook Pros have. The MacBook Air incorporates the same hardware for multitouch that's in the iPhone and the iPod Touch, so it would probably be capable of these new gestures with a simple software update, but not the current MB's and MBP's. However, you will still find many people who refuse to admit this basic fact and expect Apple to release a software update to bring these new features to hardware that isn't capable of it (despite purely anecdotal evidence otherwise).

Even with the three finger backward/forward page swipe? We can already scroll right and left, this requires new software, too? I'm sorry I can't let it go, haha, I'm so disappointed.

[Cloudmover]

That way Mini, Mac Pro and owners of older Apple hardware are able to have this functionality.

Optional for when it's handy. Put it on the desk, do your thing. When you're done, back in the drawer.

GIMME!!!
Agreed!

I don't use a mouse because it causes Carpal tunnel syndrome-like symptoms in my wrist and fingers. A multi-touch trackpad would be ideal.

Can't wait for a wired version of this tech. Maybe a third party vendor like Wacom could offer it...

[Stuart.Mackie]

Maybe a dumb question but is their anyway possible that there could be an update for this on the MacBook.

[t0mat0]

Maybe a dumb question but is their anyway possible that there could be an update for this on the MacBook.

Yes, but on new MacBooks, and once the MBP and Air have had it for a while I imagine.

[Stuart.Mackie]

Yes, but on new MacBooks, and once the MBP and Air have had it for a while I imagine.

alright so i have the macbook that is out now, with the basic scrolling, no way the update could be on the current ones then?

when is the release date for the new macbooks, new features?

[Orng]

Maybe a dumb question but is their anyway possible that there could be an update for this on the MacBook.

I'd say the best you could hope for is some trackpad hardware on eBay and macBook disassembly instructions printed out from iFixit.com.

:)

edit: disclaimer. Please don't go buy a trackpad on eBay, I meant, down the road. When future multitouch MacBooks have been on the market long enough to generate spare parts that may or may not be on eBay!

[Stuart.Mackie]

haha, i figured, so when is the expected release date for the new generation of MB's and MBP's?

New Features?

[asdavis10]

alright so i have the macbook that is out now, with the basic scrolling, no way the update could be on the current ones then?

when is the release date for the new macbooks, new features?

No one knows when new MB's or MBP's will be released but I don't think the new models will have the MBA's multi-touch. It just wouldn't seem smart for Apple to include this feature so soon in other models. Apple wants to sell as many MBA's as possible and multi-touch has cause many people to buy them. The update is NOT software related. The new multi-touch capabilities require a hardware upgrade.

[tirerim]

haha, i figured, so when is the expected release date for the new generation of MB's and MBP's?

New Features?

No one knows. If they did, the information would be on this site. There are a lot of rumors of MBPs being released 'soon', but that's it.

[cnote678]

Lol, I just barely made this then I looked at the home page and saw this article :)

Nice mock-up. However I sincerely hope they use white keys, I think it would add to the professional appearance. If they ever update it.

[SiliconAddict]

I hate to break this to Apple but I've been doing much of this in Vista on my tablet PC for weeks now. The flick gesture options in the Tablet PC allow all kinds of customization and there are third party apps that expand on it well beyond that into the realm of what was on the Palm years ago. Gesture control is nothing new, contrary to what the Steve's RDF would have you believe. :rolleyes: So many of these patents are going to get blown away in the coming years because of prior art, it won't even be funny. Someone will inevitably make a drinking game out of it. Granted at the speed the patent office moves it might be one drink every 2 years, but hey.

[MattInOz]

i thought tablets were going to be the next big thing, but i guess there still a ways off to becoming the norm.


Why So?

I would have thought these gestures make a lot of sense on a tablet indeed and fix one of the big the short comings of a tablet that is if your still doing everything by stabbing out shortcuts and at menus then you might as well have a keyboard. If you might as well have a keyboard it's a crippled laptop not a tablet.

With gestures on the screen you do things to items the way you would on a paste board. Look at at cut and paste it's like you scooped up an item then dropped in down, then after you dropped it the same 3 finger gestures allow you to resize and nudge into position.

This is begging for a tablet.
Now the only time you need a keyboard is to write text.
That said it would still rock on a laptop or desk top.

[MattInOz]

heh, no need to roll your eyes. And it wouldn't be an oxymoron, even if you were right, lol.

I watched the Keynote. Jobs criticized the stylus as a stupid thing to carry around and use with a tiny device like a PDA/"smart" phone. That's an extremely far cry from using a touch pad with a stylus like a Wacom pad. For one, it's not portable. For another, it's not tiny and awkward, it's nice and big.


Didn't he also criticize having to pull out the style to do basic stuff like click a button.
So he hasn't ruled out using a stylus to do things like drawing and writing.
In that regards His Steveness hasn't really expressed an opinion either way.

I would think he thinks it makes sense.

[shadowfax]

I hate to break this to Apple but I've been doing much of this in Vista on my tablet PC for weeks now. The flick gesture options in the Tablet PC allow all kinds of customization and there are third party apps that expand on it well beyond that into the realm of what was on the Palm years ago. Gesture control is nothing new, contrary to what the Steve's RDF would have you believe. :rolleyes: So many of these patents are going to get blown away in the coming years because of prior art, it won't even be funny. Someone will inevitably make a drinking game out of it. Granted at the speed the patent office moves it might be one drink every 2 years, but hey.So, you are telling me that your tablet supports multitouch gestures? If multitouch gestures are under the copyright blanket of tablet gestures, then I'd say there's really no argument for copyrighting gestures at all, because it's natural action that is performed every day at airports, when you wave at people, etc. I think this might have a leg to stand on. You talk about your tablet like it's on the level of the iPhone, and I can tell you that's not the case.

[SiliconAddict]

So, you are telling me that your tablet supports multitouch gestures? If multitouch gestures are under the copyright blanket of tablet gestures, then I'd say there's really no argument for copyrighting gestures at all, because it's natural action that is performed every day at airports, when you wave at people, etc. I think this might have a leg to stand on. You talk about your tablet like it's on the level of the iPhone, and I can tell you that's not the case.

You didn't READ my post did you? I said much. The screen is touch IS sensitive. and what is being shown in that patent isn't totally about multitouch....or did you not read the patent either?

Oh and
http://www.4shared.com/file/38363955/f537d854/whatever.html

The FPS in the capture is horrid and it doesn't show you my finger being used....The point is that Apple isn't doing anything new, and hardly anything revolutionary. And while I'm not sure if my tablet can register a multitouch I know for a damn fact that Lenovo's Thinkpad Tablet can. As I've harped on people before. Vista has the undercarriage to support a very nice touch GUI. Someone simply needs to build 3rd party apps to use it. We already are seeing such things as I said before in apps that recognize gestures to do specific actions. More then anything its apple who is starting to play catch up. dropping a larger touchpad in your device and allowing you to stretch pictures does NOT a revolution make.

[BrianFD3S]

What's the likelihood of ever being able to use an iPhone or iPod Touch linked via USB , WiFi or Bluetooth as a MultiTouch pad on previous Macs? This could be a 'cheaper' solution for people that want to have MultiTouch on their MBP etc but don't want to fork out for an entirely new computer.

[asdavis10]

What's the likelihood of ever being able to use an iPhone or iPod Touch linked via USB , WiFi or Bluetooth as a MultiTouch pad on previous Macs? This could be a 'cheaper' solution for people that want to have MultiTouch on their MBP etc but don't want to fork out for an entirely new computer.

Never going to happen. Too complicated to seamlessly achieve. And not to mention impractical.

[shadowfax]

You didn't READ my post did you? I said much. The screen is touch IS sensitive. and what is being shown in that patent isn't totally about multitouch....or did you not read the patent either?

Oh and
http://www.4shared.com/file/38363955/f537d854/whatever.html

The FPS in the capture is horrid and it doesn't show you my finger being used....The point is that Apple isn't doing anything new, and hardly anything revolutionary. And while I'm not sure if my tablet can register a multitouch I know for a damn fact that Lenovo's Thinkpad Tablet can. As I've harped on people before. Vista has the undercarriage to support a very nice touch GUI. Someone simply needs to build 3rd party apps to use it. We already are seeing such things as I said before in apps that recognize gestures to do specific actions. More then anything its apple who is starting to play catch up. dropping a larger touchpad in your device and allowing you to stretch pictures does NOT a revolution make.

I was being a little sarcastic. I did read your post, and flipped through the patent app, and looked at the diagrams, which depict something to me that is a pretty far cry from what I have seen anybody do on their tablet PCs, not to mention that gimpy little video in your post which implies a graphical front end to a very basic set of gestures. But I guess you just wanted to be a pretentious prat and accuse me of being stupid. You're certainly welcome to your opinion.

[Mackidockie]

Multitouch Gesturing has virtues, but these diagrams are harebrained. More is not necessarily better. Anything that makes computing more complicated is hardly user-friendly. An abundance of gestures is akin to learning a new language to read a book originally written in one's own language.

Why use an excessive number of gestures? Well, it's like Apple's transparent menus: because it can be done. Have to run; I'm reading "War and Peace" from back to front.

[AidenShaw]

Well thanks for the compliment, but I think it is HOT :) As do lots of other people that have made mock-ups that are very similar! Guess we will see what Apple thinks in the next couple weeks or so.

The dark keypad definitely looks better than the current MBP - the TiBook design is looking stale and dated. Like something that was called "modern" in the 1950s.

It needs more contrast... I like the mockup.

[shadowfax]

The dark keypad definitely looks better than the current MBP - the TiBook design is looking stale and dated. Like something that was called "modern" in the 1950s.

It needs more contrast... I like the mockup.

what they really need to do is a zebra keyboard like those people have done with the white iBook keys and the black TiBook keys... remember that? lol.

[t0mat0]

Never going to happen. Too complicated to seamlessly achieve. And not to mention impractical.

i think the recent demo of using the iPhone as a remote touch pad/mouse kinda points that it could be practical.

Makes me wonder about the Apple Ultra portable macbook rumour roundup thread
http://forums.macrumors.com/showthread.php?t=398950 around page 14

And the diagrams are harebrained for a reason - Aren't they made to look complicated? It's the patent drawing style.

[shadowfax]

i think the recent demo of using the iPhone as a remote touch pad/mouse kinda points that it could be practical.

Makes me wonder about the Apple Ultra portable macbook rumour roundup thread
http://forums.macrumors.com/showthread.php?t=398950 around page 14

And the diagrams are harebrained for a reason - Aren't they made to look complicated? It's the patent drawing style.

Those are interesting looking. One thing I don't want is a glossy, shiny laptop. They just seem to scratch so much worse. My black MacBook was so much more durable than any of the scratched up white Macbooks I have seen.

[t0mat0]

Those are interesting looking. One thing I don't want is a glossy, shiny laptop. They just seem to scratch so much worse. My black MacBook was so much more durable than any of the scratched up white Macbooks I have seen.

I hear that Photoshop sheen rubs right off ;)

[rsacherer]

A few years ago my company imported the products from the company "fingerworks" (www.fingerworks.com) and i sold them in Austria, after we sold about 100 pcs (4 month) there where delivery problems and a short time afterwards they said: we are being bought by a company, but we are not allowed to tell, but wait, in the future there will be exciting things to come ...

yeah ... from day one there where rumors that apple bought the technology ... and at that time i talked to wayne regarding delivery issues ..., ah, the good old times ...

they even had a replacement for the builtin-keyboard of the former mac book, which you could easily exchange ... it was pretty awesome.

but the time was not right for this product, i think in a year or two the demand for gestures will raise ... so, i hope they will bring out way more exciting products!

i still own a TouchStream LP ... it's so way ahead of it's time ... thought 4 or 5 years old .. :-)

best to all,

[acslater017]

I can't put my finger on how they'd distinguish between "two fingers" and "two non-adjacent fingers"..

I think that the "adjacency" has nothing to do with WHICH fingers you use - obviously, the computer can't tell whether you're doing index+middle or index+ring.

But it CAN tell how far apart the touches are. Index+pinky are ~2 inches apart, whereas index+middle are ~0.5 inches apart. Though, smartly, those kinds of combinations seem to have no default function - it would be extremely difficult to memorize EVERY permutation of five fingers. Plus, the computer probably couldn't consistently guess correctly what you were doing.

However, it does seem to distinguish between thumb+index (File Operations) and index+middle (Scroll and Secondary).

[t0mat0]

Never going to happen. Too complicated to seamlessly achieve. And not to mention impractical.

Hehe, you've never used Jaadu I take it, or remote app?

[spydr]

I want the next apple desktop keyboards to have ingeniously designed slide-out trackpad that enables all these fabulous gestures.

For the the guys with the current keyboards, I wish apple will provide a USB/bluetooth trackpad that enables the feature set.

I hope they also make such a trackpad pressure sensitive like the Wacom 'penabled' tablets — except that here you can sketch/write/doodle/paint with five natural styli!

I want one for my iMac already!
:D