Craig Federighi Says Touch Bar on New MacBook Pro Has 'So Much Potential' For Developers

[Jsameds]

Jsameds, I don't even see that as a balanced comparison. Your comparison is a tablet to a actual laptop. What planet of crap are you living on, oh yeah...it's called Apple fanboy planet, where Apple is your Goddess... lol

Firstly, you've quoted the wrong person, secondly, we were comparing Apple's approach to Microsoft' approach, ie Touch screen laptop vs non-touch laptop, and thirdly you sound angry. Calm down.

Lastly, if you compare iPad sales to the Surface they're outselling them too, so the Surface is behind sales either if you count it as a laptop or as a tablet.

http://www.designntrend.com/article...pple-beating-microsoft-detachable-tablets.htm

 

[Surftony]

It seems very un-Apple-like that we didn't see a keyboard for iMac/Mac Pro/Mini (and docked MacBook Pros) with this feature at the same event.

I agree with you. I like the concept but I don't feel like I should replace my 2014 MBP just for this. 75% of the time it is docked plugged in a TB Display and I use a BT Keyboard. I would be willing to pay for a keyboard with this feature, but not spend more than 2K on a new laptop that I don't need.

 

[kaminsky]

It seems very un-Apple-like that we didn't see a keyboard for iMac/Mac Pro/Mini (and docked MacBook Pros) with this feature at the same event.

I don't think even Apple are convinced of the Touch Bar judging by comments such as" marks a beginning... of a very interesting direction", "big, big step forward", "create many things to come," some of which "we can't envision yet." create "new innovations" in the Mac line.

All vague wishy-washy marketing BS.

Sounds like a case of throwing some sh*t and seeing what sticks. Then perhaps if sales are good, more products with the touch bar feature.

 

[mazz0]

I just can't believe it doesn't have haptics. Crazy.

Also, that blank bit at the end making the escape key offset bugs me, kinda like the bezels on the Watch.

 

[Essaux]

The only thing saving Apple at the moment is their OS. The hardware is a disappointment, always shipping inferior components.

If only another company would come close to MacOS we would have a serious alternative to jump to, because personally I'm done being robbed blind by Cook and co.

 

[robertosh]

Wonder if it's too little too late.
I haven't seen this much negative feedback on a Mac portable since the original MacBook Air.

At least the MacBook Air was innovative due to its thinness and portability.

 

[69Mustang]

That is true, but if you make something a touch screen it will be touched, therefore by default your HP Touchscreen laptop will attract more fingerprints than a MBP.

Why are you so hung up on fingerprints? People are very used to wiping fingerprints from touch devices. We wipe them from our phones. We wipe them from our tablets with keyboards. We wipe them from our 2-n-1 convertibles. Hanging your hat on the fingerprint argument is a losing proposition.

How's this argument going to work for you when Apple finally goes full touchscreen convertible? It's just my opinion, but I have no doubt their slowly preparing their users for it. Any person who has used an iPad with a keyboard is already prepared. Please let go of the fingerprint argument.

 

[hairydawgy]

This should be the updated MacBook. This machine doesn't deserve the 'Pro' label.

 

[Vjosullivan]

Sounds like a case of throwing some sh*t and seeing what sticks.

That would certainly be a welcome improvement over their current laptop strategy.

 

[Jsameds]

Why are you so hung up on fingerprints? People are very used to wiping fingerprints from touch devices. We wipe them from our phones. We wipe them from our tablets with keyboards. We wipe them from our 2-n-1 convertibles. Hanging your hat on the fingerprint argument is a losing proposition.

How's this argument going to work for you when Apple finally goes full touchscreen convertible? It's just my opinion, but I have no doubt their slowly preparing their users for it. Any person who has used an iPad with a keyboard is already prepared. Please let go of the fingerprint argument.

Because the MBP is designed for editing high quality professional photo and video, unlike all the other products you have mentioned. In those industries constant screen blemishes are a no-no (before you ask, my family run a professional portrait studio).

 

[pubwvj]

Ugh. Apple should not have sacrificed the function keys for the touch bar. I use the function keys extensively for controls and for switching between apps (OneKey). I do it by touch, not visually. I don't want to be looking down to figure out where things are. I want the tactile feedback of the keys. The TouchBar is a nice addition but it is an extra, not a replacement for function keys and should appear above the function keys.

I also don't like the wider track pad. My hands are going to end up resting on it. Ugh.

 

[cicalinarrot]

I want all new Apple keyboards to get the touch bar. That's how they'd get proper development around it.
This is the best move Apple made in years anyway. It respects Jobs' will to keep the "touch" stuff horizontal and kills the shameful and obsolete function keys that deserved to die with Mac OS 9.

 

[Tunster]

Interesting video; the guy in the video mentions HP Pavilion dv7 and Hairforce One says "Sorry about" [that he used that laptop], and then the interviewer mentions the webcam on the HP laptop, which I'm almost wiling to bet is better than the 480p that is on the 12" Macbooks (!)

I was expecting Hairforce one to extend his apology to everyone that bought a MacBook and expected the webcam to be at least 720p.

Stop hyping up the negatives. That video is a ton of crap and is trying to justify the machine as a professional laptop when Apple isn't even marketing it as that. The reviewer hasn't even considered the previous lines of MacBooks (not Pros) to find out that it was not ever to be designed as a workhorse for video/gaming. The original white plastic ones and previous; they were entry level. Look at where it's placed on the Apple website. At the the far left. It's a documenting/web machine that doesn't compromise too much to the netbook/ultrabook days of the mid/late noughties.

Even to the detail of moaning about the lack of illuminated logo on the back. It's a design feature that continues the MacBook line. None of them ever had the illuminated logo.

Anyway, will the touch bar have potential to be of great use? Yes. If it's really easy to implement code to support it, I don't see why most of the popular apps won't have it included in their product within the next year. It doesn't step the product too far into the future by replacing the keyboard totally with a OLED without thinking about the practicalities. Will we see it in new wireless keyboards? I think so, and that's why we haven't seen the new iMac/Mac/Mac Mini's yet. Maybe that's why we're seeing the adoption of USB-C so we can get a wired keyboard also with a constant power supply.

Was it a disappointing event? Yes (most are now-a-days). Are we expecting too much from Apple? Maybe so because the Steve Jobs magic factor has gone now. Until we see Tim Cook go, I don't think we'll much more from this steady-eddy Apple that just makes small improvements to all the lines. Unless 2017 is going to be the bigger year and they're holding back on announcements.

 

[Someyoungguy]

In all fairness, how many times have you tried using it?

It is ridiculous to hear people like you talking with such absolutes about how useless this feature is, how it is not needed and so on, when you have never even used it.

When Steve Jobs introduced the iPad, a plethora of people online were mocking the product, the name, the need for a laptop with no keyboard, and so on. Even Steve Jobs, if you read his biography, was wondering if they had made a huge mistake.

I'm not saying this is necessarily a massive breakthrough, but I think it will be a pleasant addition. And I certainly won't pass judgement until I've been using it for several months. My thought is that even if I never use it, it looks kind of cool. But I have a feeling it will be useful.

As for those people demanding a touch screen, thank GOD none of you work at Apple. I can't even imagine how annoying it would be trying to alternate between trackpad, keyboard and touch screen, touching a movable hinged screen that then gets finger prints all over it. Ew. Terrible idea. If I want to use a tablet and touch that, I have an iPad Pro, which I use to interact with my patients. But the last thing I want to do is wipe my fingers all over my laptop screen.

Your response is fair, but the lack of coherence across the Mac line means this feature won't be used by developers in any significant way. It's not an unreasonable guess that it will be an afterthought to throw some keys up there for the one model to use.

 

[Stella]

Deleted

 

[Jsameds]

I don't think you understood my post.

I think he was replying to me

"Jsameds, I don't even..."

 

[Ramius]

The problem with the way the whole tech press works, is that it is driven by a bunch of fanboys, such as this guy in the video. And they do not ask the hard questions.

He´s standing there and telling him "obviously it works great with final cut" without even having tried it as a professional tool. These reporterts are probably handpicked. If you guys know how high ranking PR teams operate, it´s disgusting.

So already now on day two after launch, we´re seing this being blown out of proportion. Nobody even mentions that they have left this out of the low end device, causing segregation in their demographic between rich versus poor. And the fact that this thing is coming at the expense of battery life, where the low end device has higher battery life than the others. Because of the lack of an oled bar.

Apple was reported to revamp the whole product line of Macbooks yesterday. But instead only the pro line was affected. And now we´re in the situation where we have an insane high number of different Macbook products. Pro, not pro, air, pro without retina display, pro without oled bar, pro with dvd drive still in production, new new Macbook 12 inch. And of course, different spec configs of all these products.

Where are the people who were so good at narrowing the product line down to minimum and just have ONE of each.? In their grave?

 

[Stella]

I think he was replying to me

"Jsameds, I don't even..."

Ah makes sense - though a lot of my post was quoted.

Seems I didn't understand that post!

 

[jonnysods]

I see what he's saying and I agree. My complaints are these:

1. I use keyboard shortcuts so I don't have to look at my keyboard. It allows me to work at a very fast rate in all sorts of programs, even the blasted 'save for web' shortcut in PS! But now because this thing is dynamic and has a flat surface I'll never be able to reach out in the dark or in any situation without looking down to see if the display is showing what I want, then I need to press it. So it will slow me down I feel, but it does look awesome.

2. At my home and office my computer is docked to my monitor on a mdesign rainstand with an apple keyboard, so I'll rarely get to tap into this things features.

 

[Tunster]

Ugh. Apple should not have sacrificed the function keys for the touch bar. I use the function keys extensively for controls and for switching between apps (OneKey). I do it by touch, not visually. I don't want to be looking down to figure out where things are. I want the tactile feedback of the keys. The TouchBar is a nice addition but it is an extra, not a replacement for function keys and should appear above the function keys.

I also don't like the wider track pad. My hands are going to end up resting on it. Ugh.

You can still buy a MacBook without the TouchBar by the way for anyone needing regular access to function keys. Apart from very advanced users in terminal or audio/video editing, losing the function keys isn't a great lose.

I don't think Apple is that bothered by special use cases to be honest. Especially chasing for the pro-sumers rather than professionals. That's the biggest downside with recent updates in all their products.

 

[actinide]

At least the MacBook Air was innovative due to its thinness and portability.

and not as expensive

 

[Thunderhawks]

Even after sleeping on it to digest and calm down, I still feel this morning as if I was subjected to a menacing and frightening clown attack.

I don't care how they spin it, really bad job.

To use "Pro" and then demonstrate how to scroll through EMOJIs faster should have come with a joke disclaimer.

"Gotta be Mobile" did a nice job of adding up what these machines really cost, if you just want the options which make them work as pros do.

Entry model with 8GB is already a joke. My 2008 with OS X 10 has 6GB recognized and lately just quits when I ask it to do too many things at once.
A 128 SSD is less than a memory stick these days and a PRO will fill up 256GB in no time, let alone struggle to put files onto the MBPs without the SD card slot.

We are not always near fast Wi-Fi or internet connections to put everything into the cloud.

If one wants to buy a somewhat future proof MBP 16 GB is minimum, so is a 1TB SSD. Dang $ 3,000 plus with Apple Care.

I can get past the port removals with a dock, but the prices are insane for a gimmick with "potential", they can't even see yet. All I see is that "potentially" I will not use it and and I "potentially" have to pay a lot of extra $$$ if I want an MBP .

What I do not get is that they totally overlooked the fact that many Pros use MBPs to replace desktops by hooking up a monitor and closing the MBP, so the Touch Bar will never be seen.

The actual sequence of typing, moving the cursor with the track pad an then having to look at the touch bar and reach over the keyboard to use the touch bar and then go back to typing is so unMaclike that it boggles the mind.

That touch bar might as well be an on screen option for those who like that kind of interaction.

My saving grace is that long time ago I decided to wait what is next and stay at least one generation behind.

My 2008 17" shows it's age, so I'll move it from work to home and bring my 2014 from home to work, hooking that up to an OWC dock and monitor.

Being that the new MBPs don't seem to be for me, I will now have to quickly buy a 2016 MBP before supplies dwindle.

2016 MBPs the last of the good ones. RIP (sniff)

 

[actinide]

Because the MBP is designed for editing high quality professional photo and video, unlike all the other products you have mentioned. In those industries constant screen blemishes are a no-no (before you ask, my family run a professional portrait studio).

but but what about a pen??? do we have fingerprints then??

 

[0388631]

I'm not all too bothered with the price. But I'm also not in the market for a full blown MBP. Though, as I said in a Pro thread, I wonder if a Mac Pro will be unveiled in spring or summer '17, as those are the historic periods for all Mac Pro versions prior to the 2nd generation.

 

[gopo]

The problem with the way the whole tech press works, is that it is driven by a bunch of fanboys, such as this guy in the video. And they do not ask the hard questions.

He´s standing there and telling him "obviously it works great with final cut" without even having tried it as a professional tool. These reporterts are probably handpicked. If you guys know how high ranking PR teams operate, it´s disgusting.

So already now on day two after launch, we´re seing this being blown out of proportion. Nobody even mentions that they have left this out of the low end device, causing segregation in their demographic between rich versus poor. And the fact that this thing is coming at the expense of battery life, where the low end device has higher battery life than the others. Because of the lack of an oled bar.

Apple was reported to revamp the whole product line of Macbooks yesterday. But instead only the pro line was affected. And now we´re in the situation where we have an insane high number of different Macbook products. Pro, not pro, air, pro without retina display, pro without oled bar, pro with dvd drive still in production, new new Macbook 12 inch. And of course, different spec configs of all these products.

Where are the people who were so good at narrowing the product line down to minimum and just have ONE of each.? In their grave?

Is it correct that they are getting confused and they lost the plot? What measures Steve Jobs took back in 2007 to revive the company? Few BEST products with clear prices and specifications. You remarked very well the jungle of products they have now.