Removable Key That Works as a Mouse Could Come to Future MacBook

[Janichsan]

Yeah, no, won't happen. Ever.

Companies patent pretty much everything, indepent of whether they want to actually use the patented technology or not. This is mainly about preventing competitors from doing something like this.

Secondly, I can't think of a single published Apple patent that ever became an actual product after publication. Apple keeps it's hand very close to their chest and whatever new stuff they are working on won't be publicised in any way before the actual product has been announced. What you see in such patents are the left-over scraps that Apple worked on but decided not to follow through.

 

[sack_peak]

How about something useful like removable touchID so I can use any keyboard with my Mac? This removable mouse key is a device NO ONE asked for.

Better yet placing TouchID onto the power button of the iMac, Mac mini, Mac Studio or Mac Pro?

They're already doing that with the MBA & MBP already.

 

[Stiksi]

How about moving the charging port from the bottom on the Magic Mouse?

Or move all of them to the bottom. They need to be consistent!

 

[h.gilbert]

That would be actual courage

 

[sw1tcher]

Apple has researched a MacBook keyboard that features a removable key designed to be used as a precision mouse, according to a newly granted patent application.

And when you're typing and your finger reaches to press that key, you're SOL.

 

[navier]

It's a gimmick. I tried it, and I am not that impressed...

 

[coolfactor]

But, won’t a key sized mouse be too… small?

Yah, Disney already owns Minnie Mouse.

 

[nimitz9]

Seems like a really complicated version of IBM's thinkpad red pointer from 20 years ago.

 

[sw1tcher]

But, won’t a key sized mouse be too… small?

Apple will gladly sell you a $39.99 mouse adapter that covers/goes over the key to make the mouse larger and easier to hold

 

[ignatius345]

Better yet placing TouchID onto the power button of the iMac, Mac mini, Mac Studio or Mac Pro?

Good lord, why? Nobody wants to reach around the back of their Mac to hit the TouchID sensor. Unless you're also proposing moving the power buttons to the front for some reason. TouchID makes a lot more sense exactly where it is: on the keyboard, where the user's hands already are.

The only reason the TouchID sensor is on the power key of the MacBooks you mention is that those power keys are (wait for it)... on the keyboard.

 

[SanderEvers]

Maybe they should work on making an actual good keyboard?

 

[alexandr]

I hope the charging port will still be at the bottom.

 

[sack_peak]

Good lord, why? Nobody wants to reach around the back of their Mac to hit the TouchID sensor. Unless you're also proposing moving the power buttons to the front for some reason. TouchID makes a lot more sense exactly where it is: on the keyboard, where the user's hands already are.

The only reason the TouchID sensor is on the power key of the MacBooks you mention is that those power keys are (wait for it)... on the keyboard.

How frequently do you use TouchID on desktops that it would results in a lengthy reply?

Having the freedom to have TouchID on all Macs without care of what keyboard you choose is highly desirable.

 

[klasma]

This will for sure be a key feature.

 

[ignatius345]

How frequently do you use TouchID on desktops that it would results in a lengthy reply?

Easily one or two dozen times on a given work day?

 

[coolfactor]

Maybe they should work on making an actual good keyboard?

Mac keyboards are excellent, but wish Apple would make an ergonomic keyboard. Straight keyboards are terrible for long typing sessions.

 

[klasma]

Seems like a really complicated version of IBM's thinkpad red pointer from 20 years ago.

I was just about to say, Apple should get over themselves and just license the trackpoint tech.

 

[coolfactor]

How frequently do you use TouchID on desktops that it would results in a lengthy reply?

Having the freedom to have TouchID on all Macs without care of what keyboard you choose is highly desirable.

Safari 17 added locking of Private windows, and Touch ID is used to quickly unlock. Private windows lock after just 1 minute or so of being inactive. So I'm unlocking many times a day. I couldn't imagine having to type my password every time.

 

[happydude]

replacement cost for lost magic key thingy ~ $149

 

[coolfactor]

I was just about to say, Apple should get over themselves and just license the trackpoint tech.

Trackpoint (?) on Thinkpads was terrible when I used it. Like pressing on a nipple to steer a bus.

 

[klasma]

Mac keyboards are excellent, but wish Apple would make an ergonomic keyboard. Straight keyboards are terrible for long typing sessions.

I just bought a couple of Microsoft ergonomic keyboards because MS is discontinuing their standard PC peripherals business. Sad times.

Logitech has the Ergo K860 (dual-labelled for PC and Mac), which however I don’t like as much.

 

[iamgalt]

Apple makes by far and away, the best track pads in the industry. For the small proportion of people working in graphic design, or CAD, let them carry around an extra mouse, which I'm assuming most of them already do. Most people don't need this built in mouse "feature". I got a feeling other people on here today are right; this won't see the light of day (I hope).

 

[timber]

A lot of years ago Hewlett Packard (if I remember correctly) had a laptop with a mouse that came out of an indented slot but was kept attached with a thin bar (and whose displacement was used as the moving detector instead of the then common ball).

It was too small and weird to catch on despite pointing devices at the time being a lot worse than the current touch pads.

This one seems a lot like that, probably a bit better than the pad but not good enough.

PS: I managed to find it.

The HP Omnibook 800 CT

 

[ShiftHappens]

Probably the most useless invention since the DVD rewinder…

 

[SanderEvers]

Mac keyboards are excellent, but wish Apple would make an ergonomic keyboard. Straight keyboards are terrible for long typing sessions.

They're decent, but I do hope that they will make a mechanical keyboard someday. I completely switched to my Logitech Keys Mechanical on my PC and Mac Mini and it's absolutely better than the Apple keyboards. Though I miss the touch id.