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Concept Imagines What a Dynamic OLED Touch Panel Could Look Like on a MacBook Pro
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I find the music controls pretty compelling actually. On an iMac it's fine to have iTunes open because of all the space, but on a MacBook space is much more limited.
And before you say: "Well the keyboard already has volume and music controls!". But does it have Apple Music like and dislike buttons?
I think it can be interesting depending on the contexts...kind of like how the iPhone screen allowed for dynamic keyboards.
It *could* be a gimmick. But it also could be pretty awesome and convenient.
I wonder if it will have Taptic feedback??
How? You are never that close to the top bar. That's a definite premeditated move to touch that strip.
Unfortunately it's not innovation. The idea existed years ago. The only difference is that only the function keys are being converted to touch.
Acer experimented with such concept, the Acer Iconia, converting the whole keyboard with a touch screen display. Only difference is that there is no tactile feedback.
Not sure if this concept is patented.
Or like this:
But it is still a nice idea for Apple to use this technology.
If I thought I could live with only USB-C I might be interested. But I have too many USB 3.0 back up drives and thumb drives, I'm not going to replace them or deal with looking for an adapter every time I want to use them. Perhaps USB-C is too far ahead of it's time. I'll wait a few years for the rest of the world to catch up. I just can't see spending that much money on a laptop that won't do what I need it to do right out of the box. And no MagSafe is a deal-breaker for me.
No hardware ESC key, no thanks. Plus the new low travel keyboard is not really meant for constant typing becauel thes pain after few hours of use.
I feel like Apple will have more room on the MacBook Pro than either the retina MacBook. Thus, more key travel will be possible. There's no reason they can't implement a butterfly key that just has more depth. I feel like this would actually be ideal, butterfly with more room, because butterfly keys feel a bit more precise and less wobbly in my opinion. Just give appropriate travel and that there would be a fantastic keyboard.
This. I think with the more space (even though this will be thinner than previous rMBP) it will be possible for Apple to give more travel for the butterfly keyboard.
I hope (and am almost assuming at this point) that Apple was smart about this and designed this to run separately, beneath the OS if you will, like a regular keyboard, so it won't ever freeze because of a program freezing or something.
This really could function much like a regular keyboard just with a touch interface rather than a physical one. In reality, both would do the same thing, keyboard throws input when the circuit is completed by pushing the key, input would be thrown by the digital keyboard when capacitive sensors are activated. It's really just a matter of how "deep" within OS X or macOS that the inputs are handled.
See my above post, I think Apple has thought about this.
Question for those who "love it": since there's no tactile feedback, why would you want to constantly have to look down at the keyboard to adjust things that should be easily adjusted on your screen?
If I want to adjust volume or screen or use media keys, I can use current keyboard just fine with the benefit of not having to look down.
If I want to adjust volume or screen or use media keys, I can use current keyboard just fine with the benefit of not having to look down.
I guess, now there's no need for the menubar on the screen. In 10 years, Apple will reinvent the menubar and move it back to the screen. Wow!
Apple didn't invent the touchscreen but sure changed phones forever.Or like this:
But it is still a nice idea for Apple to use this technology.
I am being a little extreme but Apple has always been known for improving existing technology
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This would never happen. The menu bar is very important for UX and I would be shocked if it went away
// I know you were being sarcastic
I agree, they went too far with USB-C only device. For the next couple of years it would make more sense to have old ports onboard alongside the USB-C.
i think it is a great idea but it will take a lot of time before apps take advantage of it and I suspect Apple will marshall hard over it being used by apps other then their own. One simple thing that would be nice is to put the minimize and window close buttons in the upper left. Media keys is a certainty just hop they still work with apps other then iTunes.
too bad apples implementation will probably not be that good.... at least not at first....
I'd guess there would be default function keys defined in firmware. I agree about the power button.
So all they need to do is have it work right and your objection goes away?
Looking at the function keys now, there are three function keys dedicated to controlling the volume. Two are for controlling screen brightness, and another two are for keyboard backlight brightness. Three are for controlling media playback (not very well). The final two are for launchpad and expose.
These controls could be grouped into five or six function keys. For volume and brightness controls, the OLED strip could then change into a slider letting you set the volume or brightness easily. That leaves six of the function keys free for other application-specific functions.
welcome back to the 1980's.
It was either Sanyo or NEC (IRRC) that had a keyboard with 4 function keys under an LCD display so that different software could add functionality (mostly ended up for cut/copy/paste). Its hardly a new concept, but modern tech will allow it to be more functional (and classy).
It was either Sanyo or NEC (IRRC) that had a keyboard with 4 function keys under an LCD display so that different software could add functionality (mostly ended up for cut/copy/paste). Its hardly a new concept, but modern tech will allow it to be more functional (and classy).
Looks nice but also looks like a painful shallow travel keyboard. Of course just a concept. Let hope if reality is anything close to this it still has a normal keyboard, not that awful Butterfly keyboard that Apple says is amazing but isn't.
You have to close your eyes.Where is the power button!
Looks awesome!
Following rumors suggesting the next-generation MacBook Pro will feature an OLED touch panel that replaces the function keys, designer Martin Hajek has created some renderings imagining what such a MacBook Pro might look like.
Hajek's design incorporates some recent information indicating the touch panel on the MacBook Pro could be contextual, with icons and imagery that changes based on the app that's in use. Hajek imagines music controls when Spotify is open, which morph into a download monitor when using Transmission.
Also included in the images is an example of Siri on the Mac, with the colorful Siri waveform depicted on the touch panel. Siri for Mac is rumored to be one of the main features coming in OS X 10.12, set to debut on Monday. Not pictured is a Touch ID button, a feature also expected to be included on or alongside the panel.
In addition to an OLED touch panel, Apple's next-generation MacBook Pro, which will come in 13 and 15-inch sizes, is expected to be thinner, incorporating metal injection mold-made hinges, thin speakers at the sides of the machine, and USB-C ports with Thunderbolt 3 support.
As has been seen in a leaked chassis image, the OLED panel will be located at the top of the keyboard, where the function keys would normally be positioned. KGI Securities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo has said the upcoming MacBook Pro will feature "the most significant upgrade ever undertaken by Apple."
We don't yet know when the new MacBook Pro will launch, but Kuo has said he expects it to debut in the fourth quarter of 2016.
Make sure to check out Hajek's website for the full selection of concept images.
Article Link: Concept Imagines What a Dynamic OLED Touch Panel Could Look Like on a MacBook Pro
I know there is a lot of support on here for this design concept, and I might take a lot of heat for saying this, but I hate it.
I think it looks cheap, ugly, and very un-Apple like.
I'd imagine an Acer or HP to have one of those bars.
Dislike x1,000
I like the mockups. 12-inch MacBook style refinement with Pro-level power and features. If it comes in space gray, gold, and rose gold it'll also help break the 8 year monotony of silver and black.
Now just give me a 5K Thunderbolt 3 Display to hook one of these babies up to and I will consider selling everything I own with an Apple logo on it to purchase these two devices.
Now just give me a 5K Thunderbolt 3 Display to hook one of these babies up to and I will consider selling everything I own with an Apple logo on it to purchase these two devices.
Please, no gimmicks like this trash. It looks cool but as soon as you think about it, the entire concept quickly becomes obviously poor.
Please, please, please return to making PRO computers (uncompromised hardware, sufficient connectivity, user serviceable parts). Goofy crap and gimmicks are NOT what your customers have ever asked for.
Please, please, please return to making PRO computers (uncompromised hardware, sufficient connectivity, user serviceable parts). Goofy crap and gimmicks are NOT what your customers have ever asked for.
Unfortunately it's not innovation. The idea existed years ago. The only difference is that only the function keys are being converted to touch.
Acer experimented with such concept, the Acer Iconia, converting the whole keyboard with a touch screen display. Only difference is that there is no tactile feedback.
Not sure if this concept is patented.
Apple can make the top screen a Mac and the bottom screen an iPad. Macbook Surface.