Surface-like iMac soon...

[Punkwaffle]

Just thinking, looking back watching Steve sit with Bill the other day, and someone threw the a question that went like this (I'm paraphrasing):
Moderator: What kinds of fundamental changes will be different in computing in 5 years?
Bill Gates: More interactivity, vision, internet, etc, etc, etc
Jobs: You'll see real soon. (with smug grin on face)

Leopards big new secret thing has to be multi-touch, be it on new hardware or in conjunction with iPhone. This WWDC feels like its going to be a huge and decisive changes in how we interact with all technologies and the unexplored avenues it leads us, stuff no one has even thought of yet.

Wow, just read what i wrote real quick, and I am such a nerd. Oh well.
Anyone think something different?

 

[LoganT]

Just thinking, looking back watching Steve sit with Bill the other day, and someone threw the a question that went like this (I'm paraphrasing):
Moderator: What kinds of fundamental changes will be different in computing in 5 years?
Bill Gates: More interactivity, vision, internet, etc, etc, etc
Jobs: You'll see real soon. (with smug grin on face)

Leopards big new secret thing has to be multi-touch, be it on new hardware or in conjunction with iPhone. This WWDC feels like its going to be a huge and decisive changes in how we interact with all technologies and the unexplored avenues it leads us, stuff no one has even thought of yet.

Wow, just read what i wrote real quick, and I am such a nerd. Oh well.
Anyone think something different?

Not it's not. Well at least not for desktops. I really don't see the point in it. But for laptops, now that's a different story.

 

[nichos]

While it's really cool technology, my arms would get tired using it as a desktop/laptop input device. When I use the mouse, my arm/hand is also resting on the table, not sure how long I could hold my arm up just to browse the web. Maybe I'm lazy

 

[Punkwaffle]

well that would be the genius. it's a dual input system. you have a choice. some tasks will be best suited for traditional, others for multitouch.

on another note, steve's one glaring juxtaposition with bill was that he thinks these portable devices in our future, will have editing abilities (think portable photoshop, imovie to-go). iLife was never introduced this year. me thinks that there will be an iLife on the mac and an iLife suite on the iPhone soon.
Perhaps iLife will be the first applications to incorporate multitouch and set the example, much like Wii Sports does for the Wiimote.

 

[bprice]

While it's really cool technology, my arms would get tired using it as a desktop/laptop input device. When I use the mouse, my arm/hand is also resting on the table, not sure how long I could hold my arm up just to browse the web. Maybe I'm lazy

I use a small primitive (grids) touchscreen on a standalone digital reocrder(Korg D-16).I don't get tired and it's not awkward.it's a million time better than clicking through menus.I'm sure ergonomics will be a huge factor in their R&D.

it'd be unwise for it to be cutting edge technology but unusefull.If they release it...it will work...it already does.

I'll happily get one (as soon as they are reasonably priced) for audio work(Logic)

but I'll be happy as hell with a new Mac mini with C2D and a 3.5 7200rpm HD(250 gig be nice) under $500 (I'm easy)

bp

 

[lazydog]

I think there might be a multi-touch mouse soon. No buttons, just tap the top of the mouse with one finger or two for clicks. Move two fingers apart to make a window bigger… and so on.

b e n

 

[yetanotherdave]

People people, can we stop obsessing about touch screen macs without having an application to use touch screen for? I have yet to see anyone say "I would love a touch-screen mac, it would be useful for X and good for Y." other than a few specalised applications or uses.
1) it would be an ergonomic nightmare. RSI anyone?
2) it would mean that Leopard would not be fully compatible with ALL current apple computers. PR nightmare, having a "killer app" that is incompatible with 100% of your consumer bases hardware.

 

[murfle]

Why do people seem to imply they think a multitouch surface will replace mice? (thats the feeling I get when reading these threads, anyways) At least its not going to happen in the first generation devices... I am pretty sure that when the first consumer grade multitouch platforms are released to the public, they will also ship with a mouse, because of the lack of applications that use it.

 

[netdog]

A touch screen iMac, MacBook and MacBook Pro would be great for...








...companies that sell screen-cleaning products.

 

[Vidd]

The worst thing about Leopard being pushed back is the uncertainty of hardware updates.
They better release the new iMac soon!

 

[Scarlet Fever]

Apple won't screw it up. They are on a massive rush at the moment, and anything which might take the momentum away in the slightest is stupid. Judging by Steve's comment there, there will be new iMacs at WWDC.

I reckon strap yourselves onto your seats, coz the next iMac will be a killer machine. Apple have changed the way people use technology before, and i reckon they will do it again, in a way people wouldn't have thought possible.

god i hope i'm right...

 

[classof2011]

A touch screen iMac, MacBook and MacBook Pro would be great for...








...companies that sell screen-cleaning products.

 

[clevin]

it would be too expensive, maybe a different line of product rather than put it on a mac,

also, wonder if M$ will patent that thing, and if SJ want to be a photocopier.

 

[Cooknn]

I get the feeling that Steve did the iPhone press conference so early just to beat Microsoft to the punch regarding multi-touch. I also think that Microsoft mocked up Surface for D: because they know that Apple is going to blow them away with their multi-touch implementation in Leopard - as well as some revolutionary new device(s). Gotta give it up for Microsoft though. They think business. The restaurant application for Surface was sweet. I bet that video was completely faked, though. Some creative team came up with all of that, and now the programmers have to make it happen. Knowing Microsoft, it will get screwed up in the process...

I read one user's comment that cracked me up. I wonder if Surface will get a virus if someone drops a kleenex on it.

 

[iToaster]

Is anybody thinking the impossible here... a dual screen laptop (MBP), no keybard or trackpad, just touch screen(s). It would change whenever you pressed shift or whatever to display commands... think about it, it could be useful for all those keyboard shortcut in programs. However battery life woud suck... but that would be a nice innovation, yesh? I doubt it likely, but that would be awesome, along with santa rosa, robson cache, over 3GB or RAM, thinner and stronger case, and a massive battery, 250 GB 5400 RPM HD or a user replacable HD .

 

[netdog]

Is anybody thinking the impossible here... a dual screen laptop (MBP), no keybard or trackpad, just touch screen(s).

The tactile nature of the keyboard makes it very useful.

 

[DeathChill]

I get the feeling that Steve did the iPhone press conference so early just to beat Microsoft to the punch regarding multi-touch. I also think that Microsoft mocked up Surface for D: because they know that Apple is going to blow them away with their multi-touch implementation in Leopard - as well as some revolutionary new device(s). Gotta give it up for Microsoft though. They think business. The restaurant application for Surface was sweet. I bet that video was completely faked, though. Some creative team came up with all of that, and now the programmers have to make it happen. Knowing Microsoft, it will get screwed up in the process...

I read one user's comment that cracked me up. I wonder if Surface will get a virus if someone drops a kleenex on it.

Microsoft obviously did not mock up Surface. You could clearly see it was a real working machine and they explained exactly how it worked so why would they need to mock it up.

This is not Microsoft's answer to the home and therefore it's not Microsoft's answer to anything Apple is releasing. They are not always at war trying to one up each other, you know.

 

[Cooknn]

Microsoft obviously did not mock up Surface. You could clearly see it was a real working machine and they explained exactly how it worked so why would they need to mock it up.

If it's not a mock up, explain to me how those phones and Zunes are communicating with it when they are turned off

[EDIT]Okay, I was referring to the video at www.microsoft.com/surface and not the Bill Gates presentation. Looks like Bill's was on the up. I still believe there was a race to show off the multi-touch functionality though. Regardless of it's application...

 

[Peace]

it would be too expensive, maybe a different line of product rather than put it on a mac,

also, wonder if M$ will patent that thing, and if SJ want to be a photocopier.

That M$ product is an almost exact duplicate of Jeff Han's multi-touch.Even going down to the cameras and projectors under the table.

M$ can't patent something it doesn't have the patents on.They probably licensed it from Han.

 

[ipedro]

I'll steak my bets on Leopard's big Top Secret feature being multi touch.

It will not replace the mouse experience, just enhance it.

I predict that the new iMac will feature a similar setup to the current iMac but allow it to swivel to fully horizontal (like Surface) for Applications such as iTunes, and iPhoto for a truly interactive experience.

As I've been saying since Macworld '07, we've already seen Leopard: it's in the iPhone. I predict that Leopard will look alot like the iPhone OS (which has already been confirmed as a version of OSX) all the way down to the UI and the interactivity.

There's also the possibility that the new Apple Cinema Displays will feature not only the iSight that many are predicting but also multi touch technology to allow any Apple hardware owner to benefit from Leopard's new multi touch.

... indications of all these predictions can be seen in Job's comments, his choice of showing off the iPhone early and even as said above: Microsoft's rush to show Surface before WWDC.

Surface is for the elite. Apple will bring multi touch to the masses next week.