Bluetooth Keyboard with Touch Bar?

[Rob.G]

Anybody know if Apple is planning to offer a new bluetooth keyboard with the Touch Bar like is in the newer MacBook Pros? Preferably with the TouchID button too.

I love these features on my new MBP16, but I'd eventually like to close it, slide it under my monitor stand, go back to an external keyboard and Magic Trackpad.

Rob

 

[Erehy Dobon]

There is pretty much no chance of TouchID on a Bluetooth keyboard.

The basic premise of hardware security would assume that TouchID could be spoofed on a device that was not integrated with the system. In a similar thought train, there is no chance of FaceID coming to an external peripheral webcam.

On an iMac, Apple could conceivably put a TouchID sensor on the front of the enclosure.

 

[throAU]

There is pretty much no chance of TouchID on a Bluetooth keyboard.

The basic premise of hardware security would assume that TouchID could be spoofed on a device that was not integrated with the system. In a similar thought train, there is no chance of FaceID coming to an external peripheral webcam.

On an iMac, Apple could conceivably put a TouchID sensor on the front of the enclosure.

I think you could do it, but not with plain old regular bluetooth.

Apple would need to implement a secure pairing mechanism using proper digitally encrypted transport between the devices - some plug-in-to-pair initially configuration where the two devices verify each other's digital identity.

I mean touchid on the phone is able to unlock the watch already (and in turn, my unlocked watch is able to unlock my Mac), they could do something similar for touchid in a keyboard. They're already doing it.

 

[Erehy Dobon]

Yes, I agree it's possible if it were some sort of specialized wireless secure pairing mechanism but not over a vanilla Bluetooth connection.

From a practical standpoint, would it be worth it for Apple to build in such functionality at an added cost?

Personally, I would rather have a Touch ID sensor on the front of my Mac mini and still use my preferred third-party keyboard.