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Apple's 'Force Touch' Trackpad Fools Users Into Feeling Clicks Without Actually Moving

NightFox said:
On some really cheap and nasty or 10 year-old laptop maybe, but I think that whole statement needs challenging. I'm not denying what Apple are providing here is cool, but this makes it sounds like they're rescuing us from years of angst, suffering and frustration with current trackpads (presumably including theirs)
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no, i just tried it on my rMBP and the top is indeed much harder to press if you're not trying to. i naturally slide down to the bottom for ease of use. maybe this will just open up a door for 'freedom of click-ability'

if you'll notice, resting your hand further down means the front edge kinda cuts into your palm. move it up further (where i never comfortably click the top) and the meat of your palm can rest on the base, as long as your fingers are naturally curled rather than flexed out for 'click-position.' could be nice after a long period of use. just sitting there, i can feel the tendons on the back of my hand relax up. ahhhhhh...
 
I wonder if they will update the magic trackpad for the imac with this. If so, i would certainly get one, as this seems very cool.
 
Apple is quite good at fooling us. I used the Apple Mouse with the tiny scrolling ball for a few years before realizing that the clicking sound of the scroll ball was just a speaker inside the mouse. Some day I had the mouse disconnected and thought the scroll ball was broken because it didn't make the sound!
 
Beaverfish said:
Im wondering if you could retro fit the new trackpad in an old retina MBP?
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No. This trackpad is going to require extra connections to the logic board.

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marc55 said:
My only question is: What is the life span of the electromagnet?
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Probably forever. It's just wires.

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paulvee said:
I wonder how it will work for click-and-drag? I'm constantly manipulating little sliders for different parameters in photo and video editing software. Now, I click the trackpad - I get the tactile click - with my thumb and then I drag the slider with finger.
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I expect it will work the very same.
 
I played with the new trackpad a bit. Love the new features. But what about WIndows? Let's hope in Boot Camp the force touch is supported. Has somebody tried already? Or maybe with Trackpad++ drivers force touch will be supported soon. The recent Trackpad++ works great with old trackpad in Windows 8.1. But wouldn't it be better if Apple will finally release the gesture support in Boot Camp. Come on Apple. It's time :cool:
 
This seems pretty cool. I don't know that I'd use it much as my SP3 has a touchscreen and I find I've used the trackpad maybe twice in 2 years. But for those stuck without a touchscreen I could see it being very useful. Now combining force touch with a touchscreen would be pretty awesome.
 
Force touch sounds to me more like a long touch - to touch harder you touch longer. Interaction-wise I find three finger tap somehow friendlier and it also brings dictionary and does things advertised for force touch.
 
sounds great when reading the article or Apple's PR material; the only problem is that in reality, it doesn't feel like a click at all. it does provide an interesting vibration type feel, which is better than no feedback at all, but in no way comparable or as satisfying as a click.
 
I'm really excited to try this. I can't wait for this technology to come to the Magic Mouse. I wonder if it could even come to the iPhone/iPad. I mean, I'm pretty sure Force Touch will in the 6S or more likely 7, but with the ability to have varying levels of haptic feedback. Seems like it would be difficult to fit this into an iPhone. iPad would probably be a better candidate for the feedback, unless they are able to miniaturize this and replace the vibration motor with it. Future shrinks of the logic board will also make some room, although I had hoped we would get more battery capacity.
 
Bluetooth Force Touch Trackpad

Should we expect a new Bluetooth Force Touch Trackpad any time soon?

And who knows, maybe a new Bluetooth Keyboard to match the design requirements.

And hopefully a Bluetooth Numeric Keypad. This is long due already!:mad:

I'll be the first one to buy them all! :D
 
Ulisescm said:
It's called magic...
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...and we are very excited about it! (Oh, Steve wasn't there)

Next trackpad is thinner with force sensor.
Maybe we can dream of a better battery life for that?

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mailboxbetacoin said:
sounds great when reading the article or Apple's PR material; the only problem is that in reality, it doesn't feel like a click at all. it does provide an interesting vibration type feel, which is better than no feedback at all, but in no way comparable or as satisfying as a click.
Click to expand...

Don't know when I was last satisfied by a click.
 
Samsung releases "S Press", your move Apple

I predict that Samsung will release Force Touch with a different name, Apple will sue them, and Samsung will argue that they shouldn't have to pay Apple because the hard press gesture is the only logical gesture the consumer would ever do to perform those actions that force touch does. And also they will claim that Samsung was working on this exact thing years before Apple released anything but Samsung just happened to release it a few months after Apple did.
 
SoAnyway said:
Screw this..... I'll just wait until Apple releases a Mac where I don't need to use a keyboard and mouse where my only point on interaction is with my voice.

It will be just like on Star Trek where I say "Computer" and I hear a "beep beep" sound to prompt me for a command.
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beep beep................

Dale
 
That is great tech and what not, and the ability to distinguish levels of force both on the trackpad and watch and eventually on the phone are good news as is the feedback element.

However, that said, I for one have never been a real fan of clicking on either my Air trackpad or my Magic Trackpad for my iMac. I prefer to use tap to click. With so much gesture based which is touch based use, especially considering our use of phones and tablets, I'm not sure why there is such a drive to eliminate the diving board and introduce a click anywhere feel. In my opinion, tapping accomplishes the actions with greater efficiency and ease.
 
Two things missing.

Am I the only one who was hoping for Touch ID integration to the trackpad (or on the side) and (since it is pressure sensitive) the ability to use a stylus for drawing? I get that the trackpad is small for drawing, but still, there are uses.

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Thunderhawks said:
...and we are very excited about it! (Oh, Steve wasn't there)

Next trackpad is thinner with force sensor.
Maybe we can dream of a better battery life for that?

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Don't know when I was last satisfied by a click.
Click to expand...

You're holding it wrong. :)
 
Okay, now give me the Magic Trackpad version for my iMac, and maybe throw in wireless charging? I would also love a hand gesture recognition so I can swipe my hand through the air to go back or forward on a webpage, without having to touch the trackpad.
 
I would like to know why. Did it save space? Apple talks about how amazing it is but they never said what the benefit of this design is. It seems like overkill for something that was so simple.
 
this is interesting.

Also noted, dunno if it's been annoucned or mentioned,

but if you look at the Macbook Pro's on the Apples tore, they're now listed as having the Force Sensitive trackpads as well.

Only the Air's don't appear to have this upgrade.
 
RightMACatU said:
"Apple's 'Force Touch' Trackpad Fools Users Into..."

I don't like to be fooled.. Not buying it LOL!
Looks pretty cool. Still won't be buying it with the latest outside-US price 'upgrades'.
Click to expand...

Yea wait a while. The MacBook Air debut with one USB port for 1,799 as the base model haha, this is cheaper, more functional but the price could go down and perhaps add another port lol (although I get why they chose only one port)

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LordVic said:
this is interesting.

Also noted, dunno if it's been annoucned or mentioned,

but if you look at the Macbook Pro's on the Apples tore, they're now listed as having the Force Sensitive trackpads as well.

Only the Air's don't appear to have this upgrade.
Click to expand...

Only the 13-inch has it... surprisingly. Probably a las minute decision. Perhaps the 15-inch trackpad is large than the 13-inch/12-inch Macbook's.

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rmatthewware said:
Okay, now give me the Magic Trackpad version for my iMac, and maybe throw in wireless charging? I would also love a hand gesture recognition so I can swipe my hand through the air to go back or forward on a webpage, without having to touch the trackpad.
Click to expand...

How would that last one be beneficial besides "cool"? It would cost Apple R&D and production costs, even if minimal, perhaps a 3rd party option would be better for you..

Now the first one and two make sense. Wireless charging in the new macbook would alleviate the one-port issue.. at least some of it.
 
I hope Magic Trackpad gets a Force Touch update, along with Mac OS 10.9.x so I can benefit without having to face the terrible graphics of Fisher-Price, sorry, Mac OS 10.10
 
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