Touch Bar coming to iMacs?

[Magwin]

Maybe you want to say it. To me, this so-called internet of things in another 3D LCD non-starter.

You did not pick up on the sarcasm re: IoT, but obsesses on that small moot point in my post. The theme of my post was the ushering in of BT5, and that it makes what you say unimportant and old tech talk. Would BT5 standard be able to support an Magic Toolbar on a Magic keyboard 3? I would think so.

Hope you get better reading comprehension!

 

[protoxx]

If the toolbar doesn't become available on desktops, that bring into question it's value.

 

[tuc]

Remember you're driving a display to get the touchbar. That is unlikely for wired keyboard and there isn't enough bandwidth in Bluetooth for such, so it's a nonstarter.

There's plenty of bandwidth available via a cable with USB-type-C connectors. "USB 3.1 Gen 2" should be adequate. But if somehow it wasn't they could use Thunderbolt, which can support PCIe speeds.

I have always preferred my input peripherals to be wired, but obviously Apple feels differently.

(And not just Apple. I've been waiting for years for Logitech to produce a wired mouse with DarkField technology, but I'm not holding my breath. I tried a wireless one and it was nice, except for having to mess with batteries and charging.)

 

[redheeler]

Remember you're driving a display to get the touchbar. That is unlikely for wired keyboard and there isn't enough bandwidth in Bluetooth for such, so it's a nonstarter.

The Touch Bar is a standalone device driving its own display. MacOS only needs to communicate instructions to and from it, but sometimes the loading of picture thumbnails would be necessary as well.

 

[Firebrand]

I say we wait one year and then evaluate Touch Bar 1.0.

 

[turbineseaplane]

Maybe they should just jam a complete MacBook (no screen) underneath a keyboard/trackpad and it can be the new Mac Mini. Just need the new LG display and you have a desktop Mac with Touch Bar + Touch ID with laptop internals, which many iMac's have had anyhow.

 

[jquest68]

I was wondering do you think they would create a touch bar keyboard for the desktop? I think it would look pretty cool.

 

[Floris]

If they do, they will wait until the spike of sales for mbp has been reached. Otherwise people will just buy the keyboard and then a mac mini and enjoy the same features (in that regard)

 

[jquest68]

I think it would be cool to have that as a new keyboard. Wired or wireless I definitely would get it. I'm like a kid with these new gadgets coming out.

 

[Firebrand]

Don’t think Touch Bar, think iMac

 

[Logger225]

So the new MacBook Pros have arrived and the lovely addition of the Touch Bar and Touch ID.
The question that remains unanswered is, "Is it a serious attempt to improve productivity or a glamorous marketing tool?
I have to admit that i have not seen it in the flesh and so have not had the opportunity to try it out.
But if it turns out to be a real attempt at driving better productivity, can we, and this is the biggest question of all, expect to see something similar in the 2017 iMac and Mac pro?

 

[Samuelsan2001]

So the new MacBook Pros have arrived and the lovely addition of the Touch Bar and Touch ID.
The question that remains unanswered is, "Is it a serious attempt to improve productivity or a glamorous marketing tool?
I have to admit that i have not seen it in the flesh and so have not had the opportunity to try it out.
But if it turns out to be a real attempt at driving better productivity, can we, and this is the biggest question of all, expect to see something similar in the 2017 iMac and Mac pro?

Well I wouldn't expect them to be added to the keyboards if that's what you mean

 

[colodane]

It is possible that the TouchBar technology could be added to future updates of keyboards and TrackPads.
Could be a useful feature.

 

[cynics]

I would think they'd be able to integrate the Touchbar itself somewhat easily.

TouchID on the other hand might be a bit trickier. Apples security chip would need to be integrated into the keyboard then information would need to be transmitted securely. Apple generally takes a heavy handed approach when it comes to security with TouchID. Not sure if any BT standard is up to their standards. Also if they pulled it off I imagine that would be a very very expensive keyboard.

I could see them having the TouchBar but not TouchID on an iMac version.

Honestly to me if seems ever so slightly gimmicky, for my usage anyway. Thumbnails in photos on my keyboard? I have a 27" monitor I prefer to look at them on. The same with tools, music, etc etc. Even for video editing I want to scrub through with gestures. I rarely look at my keyboard. But thats just me I'm sure others have good uses for it.

 

[Logger225]

Well I wouldn't expect them to be added to the keyboards if that's what you mean

As a gadget man I am itching to try it out. However, I personally think that the touch bar is the result of Apple being caught out by the demand for touch screens in laptops. It doesn't have a plan for this so it offers up what is either an attempt to convince people they don't need touch screens, or an attempt to buy time while they develop a touch screen. All a little bit to late I believe.

You are right though, Apple's imagination and innovation died with Steve Jobs. The company lags behind the rest of the world on most fronts. A brilliant computer company that today is nothing more than another mobile phone company.

Long live the Macintosh. RIP