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Testing Apple's New Standalone Touch ID Keyboard With an M1 Mac
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I did not read through all the comments, but they need to update the OS to allow Touch ID to work when the clamshell is closed. That's more or less the main reason I wanted to give this a shot. Talk about an oversight.
That's... that's not how radiation works. Please look into the differences between ionizing and non-ionizing radiation.
What makes you think it doesn't already do this? It works fine in clamshell on my M1 MacBook Air. But I am on Monterey and haven't tested on Big Sur.
Ah, that might be the key factor (pun semi-intended). I'm on Big Sur with my MacBook Pro in clamshell mode and had to type my password (no Touch ID option) and even 1Password (I know, I know - 3rd party) reports that Touch ID is "unavailable when your MacBook lid is closed". Don't really want to use a beta OS right now. Oh well - thanks for letting me know that it should work once Monterey is GA.
You always have to type your password when you restart your Mac. Once it is typed in once though you can use the Touch ID for subsequent wakes from sleep and other authentication. The third-party 1Password problem is probably a bug on their part. I don't use 1Password so I haven't seen that.
From what I can tell, it's the latter. I have to turn on the TV and I just rest my finger on the sensor and by the time the TV lights up, I'm logged in.
If you connect it with a lightning cable, it's just a wired keyboard - the BT is off.
But this presumes you have the Apple Watch on you...
The keyboard is always there.
Additionally, the keyboard supports multiple users.
My takeaways after a week:
Liking and using the fingerprint sensor more than I figured I would - Apple Pay, passwords and unlocks.
...and the lock function (easier than Cmd-ctrl-Q).
Extremely fast unlock too.
For the price it should be backlit.
Why did they put a Chrome style "Google Button" on it - when you have Cmd-Space?
The "Do not disturb" toggle on the other hand is a great addition.
It has a slightly "springier" travel than last gen - like the new MBA keyboard but IMO not as good as the iPad Magic
Keyboard. Still great to type on.
Bottom is now matte white and not as scratch-able as previous model.
Looks nicer with the new rounded trackpad to match - old model looks a little clunky next to it (FWP I know).
No regrets in purchasing - but only because my old one is now pretty battered and I can use that one with an iPad too.
If it were £100 it would be more palatable especially without backlighting.
But it IS feather-light, discreet, stow-able, has great battery life and has a fast reliable fingerprint sensor with a comfortable typing action.
Liking and using the fingerprint sensor more than I figured I would - Apple Pay, passwords and unlocks.
...and the lock function (easier than Cmd-ctrl-Q).
Extremely fast unlock too.
For the price it should be backlit.
Why did they put a Chrome style "Google Button" on it - when you have Cmd-Space?
The "Do not disturb" toggle on the other hand is a great addition.
It has a slightly "springier" travel than last gen - like the new MBA keyboard but IMO not as good as the iPad Magic
Keyboard. Still great to type on.
Bottom is now matte white and not as scratch-able as previous model.
Looks nicer with the new rounded trackpad to match - old model looks a little clunky next to it (FWP I know).
No regrets in purchasing - but only because my old one is now pretty battered and I can use that one with an iPad too.
If it were £100 it would be more palatable especially without backlighting.
But it IS feather-light, discreet, stow-able, has great battery life and has a fast reliable fingerprint sensor with a comfortable typing action.
Is there any difference in typing feel from the previous magic keyboard?
Thanks for your review.
Is this what you are after?
Switch accounts using Touch ID
When two or more users are logged in at the same time, you can quickly switch between users using Touch ID.- If your Mac has a Touch Bar: Place your finger on Touch ID until “Click to switch to [your name]” appears, then press Touch ID until it clicks.
- If your Mac or Magic Keyboard has Touch ID only (no Touch Bar): Press Touch ID until it clicks.
Switch quickly between users on Mac
If your Mac has multiple users, turn on fast user switching to quickly switch between accounts.
support.apple.com
It has a noticeably different sound and feel to the previous generation, but not in a bad way.
It might be that my old one is worn but the keys feel slightly textured as opposed to slick.
And the typing has more spring & travel like the M1 MacBook Air.
It's way way better that the carpel tunnel inducing thud of the butterfly keyboards!
Not that I would ever buy this, but what’s their excuse for not working with intel macs? Seriously lame.
Probably because it's what they did with the M1 keyboards, so the externals are following suit.
Now as to why they did that vs the Cmd-Space, I have no idea.
Referenced earlier in the thread, I think, something with differences in the secure enclave prevent the external TouchID working with Intel macs.
Doubtful that anyone outside of Apple has actual knowledge of the details of the differences, so maybe it's true or maybe it's bull, but either way it is what it is.
Reportedly everything other than the touchid works fine intel macs, so if you were buying with an eye to future upgrades you'd likely be okay.
Or just buy the less expensive non-touchid models.
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Latest version of 1Password (7.8.7) fixes this issue and works just like it does when using the laptop alone; that is, after a restart in clamshell mode, when 1 PW starts up, it "sees" and uses Touch ID without that warning.
Ken
Yes, I know you have to always type your password when you restart. Same deal with entering your passcode on the phone. Also the same deal with using your fingerprint on a Windows machine to "unlock" the TPM.
This was done when the MBP was already started and logged in and I literally just opened and closed the clamshell to test it several times.
Looks like 1Password released a fix for the oversight. I will check it out when I switch to my personal machine later.
Yes
I have user accounts for everyone in my family. I don’t want my kids seeing “my” stuff on the computer. Touch ID on my iMac really makes this easy.
I'm saying, if you put the finger print keyboard away, and used another keyboard you can still get into your sits with the saved password. Making the fingerprint a wasted step.
I'm saying, if you put the finger print keyboard away, and used another keyboard you can still get into your sits with the saved password. Making the fingerprint a wasted step. It's a gimmick. It's not like you set up the finger print reader and now there's no way to get into anything without it.
Not really sure what "get into your sits" means?
Also not sure what "extra step" you're thinking exists?
I'm curious how much experience you have using TouchID on macos? How long have you been using it with an MBA or MBP? I ask because it sounds like you don't have hands-on experience under macOS. Perhaps I'm wrong, so I'm asking.
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Apple's TouchID replaces the step where you need to type in your administrator password (except in a few specific situations). Putting your finger on the pad is quicker than typing in your password. Clearly not an "extra" step.
As for it being a gimmick, well, if you know someone's administrator password, then I guess it's a gimmick. If you don't, then there's no going past it.
If you're talking about saved passwords in Safari -- you need the admin password or TouchID to get to them. If you're comparing that to the saved passwords in Chrome, for example, which does not authenticate before giving up one of your passwords, well... that's on you for using Chrome.