Touch Bar discussion [merged]

[nmeed]

With moderate use, safari (no youtube) WhatsApp and telegram, with 60% brightness I get max 6 hours. When I also watch youtube or play music with higher brightness (+-90%) it drops to around 3-4 hours. How about you?

I haven't gotten it actually, I'm still deciding. But right now on my 2015 MBPr I can easily get 8 hours. I haven't worried about battery life since I got it. I'm beginning to lean heavily towards the one without the touch bar.

 

[ManuCH]

Believe me, I'm a bit shocked too..

With an energy impact of 27.5 for Safari, I'm pretty sure you'd get double battery life if you managed to solve your Safari issue, whatever it might be.

Sorry for the off-topic but: try using Opera instead of Safari (that's quicker than trying to solve all Safari issues) and see if you get more battery out of it.

 

[rsg1010]

Not sure if this has been mentioned but is it possible to turn off the touchbar or adjust the timing of when it sleeps. Maybe a 3rd party app that has been developed making this feature possible?

 

[Zigman]

Does anyone else have a touch ID button that feels a little cheap? Mine clicks and clacks back and forth when you touch it.

Yup mine is the same on my 15" as well.

 

[edgeQV]

I updated my Spotify controller app to use system-wide now playing controls, just like iTunes.
Check it out

 

[farkasam]

Yup mine is the same on my 15" as well.

It's messed up. The redt if the build quality is good except for stupily short battery life, a buggy non-dimmable touch bar, a touch id button that no longer works after 2 days, weird graphics splashes on the screen periodically, and overall stuttering between applications. Im returning this pos today.

 

[mclld]

I picked up a 15" Touchbar off craigslist for $1500, the price was too good and I know I can play with it a bit and make money on it. The touchbar is neat and all but I would rather have the physical keys, it doesnt really affect my uses though.

 

[Xombie11]

There is no verdict, you get the model that best fits your needs, wants and budget.

Some people prefer the non-TB version, others opt for the TB version. There's no wrong answer.

A 256GB SSD is the wrong answer.

 

[jackoatmon]

I suppose I should put these here for the record.

My touch bar does not work at all, and behaves completely randomly in all contexts. Here are some photos:

 

[jk111]

I do not own a MBP with tb but after reading that people are having issues with the dynamic changes in the display and muscle memory I just had some random thoughts. I think an app that allows static "widgets" on the touch bar no matter what app you are in could be useful.

Maybe things such as:
- stock prices
- Weather conditions and temp quick glance widget
- Top news headlines could scroll by and you press to enter the news app and are directed to the article
- Quick glances at notifications such as iMessages would be useful when presenting. DND could be activated so that messages aren't displayed on the presentation display, but you could quickly read the messages on the touch bar

Just some random ideas I had. Now I'm sure not everyone would prefer this, but could be useful in certain situations depending on your workflow.

 

[ThisBougieLife]

Just got my MacBook today. Overall I'm not finding a lot of use for the TouchBar. It's not bad, but when I'm listening to music I'm going to just want it to display play/pause constantly and not have that be a two-step process. The "recommended words" don't do much for me as I type so fast (I usually average 110 WPM) as to completely pass them up and they've proven to be no use (unlike with say, the slow thumb-typing that you do on an iPad or iPhone).

So...meh. I just hope it doesn't use too much battery.

 

[max99]

Is there anyway to put the time in the touchbar? would be useful if it i could add a mini clock or digital time always showing

 

[edgeQV]

I do not own a MBP with tb but after reading that people are having issues with the dynamic changes in the display and muscle memory I just had some random thoughts. I think an app that allows static "widgets" on the touch bar no matter what app you are in could be useful.

Maybe things such as:
- stock prices
- Weather conditions and temp quick glance widget
- Top news headlines could scroll by and you press to enter the news app and are directed to the article
- Quick glances at notifications such as iMessages would be useful when presenting. DND could be activated so that messages aren't displayed on the presentation display, but you could quickly read the messages on the touch bar

Just some random ideas I had. Now I'm sure not everyone would prefer this, but could be useful in certain situations depending on your workflow.

Just got my MacBook today. Overall I'm not finding a lot of use for the TouchBar. It's not bad, but when I'm listening to music I'm going to just want it to display play/pause constantly and not have that be a two-step process. The "recommended words" don't do much for me as I type so fast (I usually average 110 WPM) as to completely pass them up and they've proven to be no use (unlike with say, the slow thumb-typing that you do on an iPad or iPhone).

So...meh. I just hope it doesn't use too much battery.

Is there anyway to put the time in the touchbar? would be useful if it i could add a mini clock or digital time always showing

I think static widgets/controls in the TouchBar are not going to happen. Apple has designed it to be contextual only, that is, always dependant from an active window on the screen. In other words, it's supposed to be an actual row of (dynamic) keys, and not a standalone display. And, frankly, I think this is the most sensible choice to provide a cohesive and not confusing user exp.
Developers are not officially allowed to append persistent (aka system-wide) buttons on the TouchBar apart from playing controls for media apps (like mine), even though some (such as BetterTouchTool) have discovered a way to do that through reverse-engineering DFRFoundation private framework.

 

[ThisBougieLife]

^Well, you can make it static if you have it set to always display the brightness adjust, volume, etc. which is an option under "System Preferences". I'm not sure if I'd want to do that, but when listening to music, I kinda do, since I'm a chronic volume-adjuster.

 

[MidnightSVT]

Does anyone know if it is possible to toggle WiFi on and off through the Touch Bar?

 

[Awjvail]

Does anyone know if it is possible to toggle WiFi on and off through the Touch Bar?

no.

 

[Fuzzi]

Does anyone know if it is possible to toggle WiFi on and off through the Touch Bar?

Yep, using BetterTouchTool ;-) see https://twitter.com/bobjouy/status/806850248329089024

I think static widgets/controls in the TouchBar are not going to happen. Apple has designed it to be contextual only, that is, always dependant from an active window on the screen. In other words, it's supposed to be an actual row of (dynamic) keys, and not a standalone display. And, frankly, I think this is the most sensible choice to provide a cohesive and not confusing user exp.
Developers are not officially allowed to append persistent (aka system-wide) buttons on the TouchBar apart from playing controls for media apps (like mine), even though some (such as BetterTouchTool) have discovered a way to do that through reverse-engineering DFRFoundation private framework.

Well, there are many use cases for which static controls / widgets are great. System tools like BetterTouchTool/HammerSpoon etc. could really make the Touch Bar very helpful for special use cases and add Touch Bar capabilities to apps that don't support it natively. Also you dont need DFRFoundation for that (but other private API)

 

[MidnightSVT]

Yep, using BetterTouchTool ;-) see https://twitter.com/bobjouy/status/806850248329089024

Thanks!! I'll look into it!!

 

[Dick Whitman]

Probably the best review I've seen of the new TB MBP.

 

[joejoejoe]

Having a touchbar is 'great' from creating a new interactive display, but it creates additional stress and distractions for our brain. If Apple later on built in a multitouch screen into the large trackpad along with the touchbar, its great that you have 3 displays, and cool that the Macbook Pro has built in iPhone like functionality.. but consider the fact that now your brain and eyes have to constantly shift from the main screen, touchbar, to touch pad. You can't rely on your physical senses to know what you need to touch without stopping you from looking away.

Great on 'cool' factor, but not so hot on reducing distraction. If anything, it's just increasing the number of distractions and the amount of information your brain has to process. Versus just looking at what you want to do on one display, and touching one place directly.

as others have asked have you actually used it?

i've had my TB a week and although apps aren't making the best use of it yet, I find it to magically put the perfect button at my fingertips quite often in finder and with dialogue boxes. that alone has made it useful.

i'm looking forward to seeing how devs continue to take advantage of it.

your thought kinda... maybe... makes sense in theory? but it doesn't seem like you have that much real experience on it and are just analyze a situation based off of how you think the human brain works.

 

[Seed101]

Wonder how many would opt for the TB version given the choice?
Let's say between having it or perhaps the same computer without TB and maybe £200 (you name your price) off the cost...

Maybe someone should do a poll

 

[runner77]

I'm using the touch bar on the 15" MBP for 5 days and muscle memory already kicks in for at least the volume and brightness control. No need to watch at the bar anymore for these. Apple thought this more through than I've expected.

 

[Nuc]

Wonder how many would opt for the TB version given the choice?
Let's say between having it or perhaps the same computer without TB and maybe £200 (you name your price) off the cost...

Maybe someone should do a poll

I would have gone with the nTB if given the choice. I use MS office on VMWare Fusion a lot and use the function keys all the time, so I could care less about it. Plus if it saves me $300-$400. I haven't got mine yet so I guess I'm biased at this point...

 

[jozero]

I'm using the touch bar on the 15" MBP for 5 days and muscle memory already kicks in for at least the volume and brightness control. No need to watch at the bar anymore for these. Apple thought this more through than I've expected.

Honest question, how is muscle memory kicking in for something you need to tap down on, and then slide your finger back and forth ? So you are able to hit the icon you want consistently without looking and then start sliding with absolute confidence you selected the right thing ?

Except for the coveted corner points, ESC key and whatever is on the right, so far I've had zero ability to guess what the right position is.

 

[vinsalducci]

Affinity Photo just updated to include Touch Bar controls.