Apple Developing Full Multi-Touch Macs... in 2010?

[MacRumors]

Pipar Jaffray's Gene Munster claims that Apple is working on keyboard-less "full multi-touch Macs". According to the analyst, Apple "is already testing full multi-touch Macs, but the software requirements will likely lead to a launch timeframe of 2010", as reported by Appleinsider.

Munster expects Apple to advance their technology to include "complete MacBook touch with touchscreen keypad features".

Many of these concepts have already been publicly revealed through a series of patent applications from Apple. The most promising detailed advanced multi-touch processing, allowing the user to use a variety of natural gestures. More recently, patent drawings have revealed that Apple has already designed Mac OS X control panel software to customize these gestures:




So, it's clear that Apple is working on these products, though Munster claims to have specific knowledge from "component suppliers" confirming ongoing testing of these products.

MacRumors does not participate in April Fools news stories. All stories posted today are real.

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[amoda]

Excuse my ignorance but what's the difference between that and the current multi-touch in the Air or MBP?

[gkarris]

Originally Posted by amoda

Excuse my ignorance but what's the difference between that and the current multi-touch in the Air or MBP?

No keyboard....

[arn]

Originally Posted by amoda

Excuse my ignorance but what's the difference between that and the current multi-touch in the Air or MBP?

This one won't have a keyboard.

arn

[Eraserhead]

Isn't Multi-touch on a laptop essentially a gimmic?

[stagi]

Munster is clueless

[Sijmen]

Asuming this is not an April fools joke, could be interesting. It would probably replace my PB 12" then if it hasn't died yet.

[avigalante]

Originally Posted by MacRumors

Munster expects Apple to advance their technology to include "compete MacBook touch with touchscreen keypad features".

Cool stuff.

Slight correction - I believe the quotation is supposed to read 'complete...' as opposed to 'compete'.

[AlexisV]

Just try tapping away on your iPhone or iProd at 45 or 90 degrees.

The latop would have to become a flat surface and there's no way it would work on a desktop machine.

Leave touchscreens to mobile devices and pub quiz machines.

[arn]

Originally Posted by stagi

Munster is clueless

I posted this because it's a relatively slow news day... but this is basically tells us nothing new. Clearly, Apple is working on a multi-touch Mac, based on all the patent applications. Munster just said it in a report.

arn

[amoda]

Ah, thanks you two. So another question. Would there be an "imprint" on the touchpad for the keys or numbers? Like my dad doesn't have the keyboard memorized and needs to look at it every now and then to find certain keys. How would they help people in his, or similar, position?

It says "Want to enter text? Just start typing and the text is there. You even get the touch feedback as if really pressing the keys." That's great and all but touch feedback is only useful if you already know the keys.

[Zwhaler]

This is way cool, because I am hoping to pick up a new computer sometime in 2010 as a replacement for my late 2006 iMac.

[arn]

Originally Posted by amoda

Ah, thanks you two. So another question. Would there be an "imprint" on the touchpad for the keys or numbers? Like my dad doesn't have the keyboard memorized and needs to look at it every now and then to find certain keys. How would they help people in his, or similar, position?

It says "Want to enter text? Just start typing and the text is there. You even get the touch feedback as if really pressing the keys." That's great and all but touch feedback is only useful if you already know the keys.

No one knows for, but there will certainly keys shown somehow.

A few interesting keyboard patents from Apple

http://www.macrumors.com/2008/01/03/...pple-keyboard/
http://www.macrumors.com/2007/11/01/...face-keyboard/

arn

[DukeSnyd]

I'm going to crap my pants... and i won't even care... if it's true.

This is awesome! I will for sure get one when (if) then come out

[jruc4871]

Originally Posted by amoda

Ah, thanks you two. So another question. Would there be an "imprint" on the touchpad for the keys or numbers? Like my dad doesn't have the keyboard memorized and needs to look at it every now and then to find certain keys. How would they help people in his, or similar, position?

It says "Want to enter text? Just start typing and the text is there. You even get the touch feedback as if really pressing the keys." That's great and all but touch feedback is only useful if you already know the keys.

People who use computers should learn how to type.

[sighlent]

It is going to have to be introduced alongside 10.6 or later. So at least the timeframe is realistic, and not ZOMG!!! Multitouch-Hover Mac this Tuesday.

[twoodcc]

looking forward to seeing one of these

[dernhelm]

Originally Posted by jruc4871

People who use computers should learn how to type.

Should they learn _before_ they get a computer, or _after_???

[Avatar74]

Why is this such a problem? Most likely anyone who wants the device WITH a physical keyboard can buy a physical keyboard and plug it in via an available USB port. It's not like multitouch = no USB.

Apple seems to be easing people into the concept of multitouch. Look at the mighty mouse, the Macbook Air touchpad, the iPhone... all experiments leading in a general direction of input device redesign.

And the multitouch Mac will happen... it's just a question of what form factor it will take on.

I believe that will be shaped by the kind of feedback they get as they continue to put "feeler" products out there like iPhone to test concepts that fit into their larger plans for redefining the input and interface of computers for the first time since 1984.

[TheSpecialist]

Interesting news, I was thinking about this this morning when using a MacBook Pro at school. "Wouldn't it be great to just touch it all (in ways of controlling the computer, don't get strange thoughts)" but then the teacher got me out of my dreams

[Much Ado]

Originally Posted by TheSpecialist

Wouldn't it be great to just touch it all

Careful now, you can get locked up for that.

[Eraserhead]

Originally Posted by Avatar74

Why is this such a problem? Most likely anyone who wants the device WITH a physical keyboard can buy a physical keyboard and plug it in via an available USB port. It's not like multitouch = no USB.

But that would be a PITA on a laptop. Shrug if done well I'm sure it'd be good, but if you don't have the size problems of an iPhone I think a real keyboard is probably better.

[ghall]

This sounds pretty cool. I'm not sure I like the idea of the lack of a tactile keyboard, but maybe a combo of a tactile keyboard, multi-touch track pad and a multi-touch screen would work awesomely.

[avigalante]

Originally Posted by stagi

Munster is clueless

Definitely.

Him and Shawn Wu are the same - way too promotional, incompetent in showing any insight, no sense of objectivity whatsoever.

[TheSpecialist]

I think most of the multi-touch and control redesigns will be done on the post-PC devices like Steve Jobs likes to call them. But it will not me radical and extremely changing. Like Jobs said:

"People don't like a car with 5 wheels, they like it with 4, they don't want a joystick to drive it, they like the steering wheel."