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Apple Releases the Magic Trackpad
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Fingers crossed
Could
be prepping us for integration of the ios4 back into osx by giving us a similar input tool to the ipad and iphone?
Imagine that the apps we buy in the itunes store may soon be able to play on our imacs and macbooks and be controlled by the new magic pad?
Id like that
Could
be prepping us for integration of the ios4 back into osx by giving us a similar input tool to the ipad and iphone?Imagine that the apps we buy in the itunes store may soon be able to play on our imacs and macbooks and be controlled by the new magic pad?
Id like that
I think the iphone and iPad should be able to double as an input device.
Apple should just make an app for that.
Would be especially nice with the new iphone (and next gen iPad), as it can (almost?) detect movement/position in 3d space.
I kinda like this pad, but Apple is milking touch-technology by holding back existing hardware.
Apple should just make an app for that.
Would be especially nice with the new iphone (and next gen iPad), as it can (almost?) detect movement/position in 3d space.
I kinda like this pad, but Apple is milking touch-technology by holding back existing hardware.
Physical keys are an endangered species
Exactly. I think the next major update to the Apple keyboard will probably have virtual keys displayed on an LCD / AMOLED / whatever touch screen. And I think you'll be able to multi-touch directly on its surface, to eliminate the horizontal keyboard-to-touchpad and touchpad-back-to-keyboard motions.
The first "baby step" was reducing the key height and stroke to be MacBook-like. Next step was eliminating the numeric / arrow / "home" etc. key groups (to make room for the Magic Trackpad on the desktop.) The final step will be eliminating physical keys altogether.
My silly wild-ass guess here is that the next MacBook Air will have a virtual keyboard. It could eliminate a great deal of physical thickness, at an obvious increase in cost because the keyboard and conventional trackpad would both be replaced by a single large touchscreen. And if AMOLED is used, it would also allow Apple to illuminate the virtual keyboard with no LED hardware, again reducing thickness.
Why the MacBook Air first? Partly because it's really showing its age, being the only Apple notebook still with an aluminum bezel around the screen. But mostly because the MBA's design goals are thinness and lightness above all else. And it's Apple's unofficial "executive class" laptop anyway, so a premium price is part of the deal. (My extra super silly wild-ass guess is that it will be as thin as, or thinner than, the iPhone 4 at 9.3mm.)
But over time the manufacturing costs will come down enough for the virtual keyboard to trickle down through the laptop and desktop lines. IMHO. Just my $0.02 plus lots of wishful thinking. (BTW I'm sticking with my early '09 15" MBP until it dies, no matter how cool the next MBA is...)
Exactly. I think the next major update to the Apple keyboard will probably have virtual keys displayed on an LCD / AMOLED / whatever touch screen. And I think you'll be able to multi-touch directly on its surface, to eliminate the horizontal keyboard-to-touchpad and touchpad-back-to-keyboard motions.
The first "baby step" was reducing the key height and stroke to be MacBook-like. Next step was eliminating the numeric / arrow / "home" etc. key groups (to make room for the Magic Trackpad on the desktop.) The final step will be eliminating physical keys altogether.
My silly wild-ass guess here is that the next MacBook Air will have a virtual keyboard. It could eliminate a great deal of physical thickness, at an obvious increase in cost because the keyboard and conventional trackpad would both be replaced by a single large touchscreen. And if AMOLED is used, it would also allow Apple to illuminate the virtual keyboard with no LED hardware, again reducing thickness.
Why the MacBook Air first? Partly because it's really showing its age, being the only Apple notebook still with an aluminum bezel around the screen. But mostly because the MBA's design goals are thinness and lightness above all else. And it's Apple's unofficial "executive class" laptop anyway, so a premium price is part of the deal. (My extra super silly wild-ass guess is that it will be as thin as, or thinner than, the iPhone 4 at 9.3mm.)
But over time the manufacturing costs will come down enough for the virtual keyboard to trickle down through the laptop and desktop lines. IMHO. Just my $0.02 plus lots of wishful thinking. (BTW I'm sticking with my early '09 15" MBP until it dies, no matter how cool the next MBA is...)
It's not the same thing as this though. It's not a standard input device, as it is primarily used for a specific purpose (i.e. art, stylus, etc.).
That's not my issue, but I'm sure it will be as much a boon for you as it will be for me. I shake my head at anyone who says that they don't understand this particular release. May they never be forced to understand in the ways we do.
Got one. Not sofware update available?
Hi! I just got a Magic Trackpad. I connected it with the Bluetooth assistant, but it still requires a "Magic Trackpad software update" which is unavailable.
There is a sticker in the packaging pointing at support.apple.com/downloads but there is nothing there.
Any ideas about where to get it?
Gus
Hi! I just got a Magic Trackpad. I connected it with the Bluetooth assistant, but it still requires a "Magic Trackpad software update" which is unavailable.
There is a sticker in the packaging pointing at support.apple.com/downloads but there is nothing there.
Any ideas about where to get it?
Gus
Can you confirm that the surface of the trackpad actually supports a physical click? Given that the surface of the trackpad looks perfectly smooth out to the very edge of the mounting I don't see how the trackpad surface could move.
Apple says the following:
"Because the entire surface of Magic Trackpad is a button, you can click on objects just as you would using a traditional mouse."
Which seems to indicated that it supports physical clicks (not just tap to click), but that may just be bad writing or an outright mistake. If it does physically click how does that happen (does the surface of the trackpad actually move in relation to the mounting or do the feet on the trackpad click down).
'bout time
I've been waiting for this for a while now. I have a mini connected up to the living room TV. I've been using a magic mouse for a while, but a traditional mouse doesn't really work well on a couch.
What surprised me a bit about this announcement is that Apple didn't design it (or provide some means for it) to attach directly to the bluetooth keyboard. I'm going to have to kludge something together to turn them into a single unit.
I can only hope that before too long the third parties step in to fill this void. I suspect some sort of firm plastic tube or clip to fit around the two round sections would work.
I've been waiting for this for a while now. I have a mini connected up to the living room TV. I've been using a magic mouse for a while, but a traditional mouse doesn't really work well on a couch.
What surprised me a bit about this announcement is that Apple didn't design it (or provide some means for it) to attach directly to the bluetooth keyboard. I'm going to have to kludge something together to turn them into a single unit.
I can only hope that before too long the third parties step in to fill this void. I suspect some sort of firm plastic tube or clip to fit around the two round sections would work.
I very much hope for your sake that it stays that way.
For some of us, it's probably among the most important releases they've ever done.
Just to warn...such devices tend to prevent most carpal tunnel issues. But you are still moving fingers around plenty, and you can have repetitive motion injuries localized below your wrist, too. Take other normal precautions, as well.
This is what the Macbooks do already with their trackpad. There is a PHYSICAL click when you press down on it like you would a button anywhere on the trackpad.
Yes, it does click. It is like the trackpad in the MacBooks. It is stiff on the top area, easier to click in the lower 2/3rds.
It is bigger than what I expected. The same depth than the wireless keyboard, with exactly the same profile. Both look very nice next to each other.
The problem so far is... I can't use it without the sofware update. It recognizes the basic tracking, but not a single gesture and I don't have an option to configure it in System Preferences.
Well, of course, but there is a physical seam around the trackpad on the MacBooks which allows it to move and I don't see any such feature on the new Magic Trackpad. Look at the pictures, the top surface is flush with the edges and there is no gap below the surface to allow it to be depressed.
Okay, an update. Looking at some high resolution pictures of the trackpad I can now see a VERY thin border around the top surface, so that's how the physical clicks happen.
I just placed an order for the Trackpad and the battery charger. The Trackpad will be delivered in 24 hours, but the charger has a delivery time of 5-7 days..
I wonder, will we be able to use it when installing Leopard, or do we still need to use a traditional mouse? My guess is that a mouse will be still needed.
I wonder, will we be able to use it when installing Leopard, or do we still need to use a traditional mouse? My guess is that a mouse will be still needed.
Are you running Mac OS 10.6.4?
Thanks for the update about the clicking motion. I've gone back and looked at some of the high resolution pictures over on Engadget and it does appear that there is a very thin border around the surface of the trackpad, so I can now see how the click happens.