Touch Bar discussion [merged]

[MartyCan]

If I have a concern about the touchbar is how well will it hold up?



I've not read the entire thread, but discovered you can reassign a key as a hard wired Esc key. I prefer this and am using my Cap's lock key for ESC. As this thread said, who uses a caps lock any more?

https://9to5mac.com/2016/10/25/rema...cbook-pro-macos-sierra-10-12-1-modifier-keys/

Um, I use caps lock from time to time.

 

[bartvk]

Um, I use caps lock from time to time.

I had fully expected to be able to swap Escape and Caps Lock in System Preferences. Right now, you can give up Caps Lock for an additional Escape key. But no built-in way to put the Caps Lock in the touchbar.

 

[ihatetoregister]

So, any use for programmers ? Any use for casual user ?
I have this mbp with touchbar for a while now and while a good part of the time I can't use it (external keyboard) the rest of the time it seems more annoying than useful (to change luminosity and sound).

 

[bartvk]

So, any use for programmers ? Any use for casual user ?

Yes if you use Xcode then the TouchBar gains a bunch of debugging buttons. Quite useful.

 

[ihatetoregister]

Yes if you use Xcode then the TouchBar gains a bunch of debugging buttons. Quite useful.

Not using xcode, but thanks. I'm doing webdev so basically I'm looking for text editors taking advantage of this or IDE like intelli-j or anything terminal (or iTerm) related.

 

[bartvk]

Not using xcode, but thanks. I'm doing webdev so basically I'm looking for text editors taking advantage of this or IDE like intelli-j or anything terminal (or iTerm) related.

iTerm already has support in the latest nightly builds I believe, haven't tried it yet. For the rest, no support yet.

 

[ihatetoregister]

Thanks bartvk, I'll post here if something comes up.

 

[Wakey87433]

Its funny you say that, because last week I bought a surface pro 4. I find touching the screen while using it like a laptop to work just fine, half the time its just simpler and easier than moving my hand to the track pad and drag the pointer to where I want to click. It apparently is how Apple expects us to use the iPad pro when we have the smart keyboard attached.

Try using it repeatedly for your workflow over the space of weeks where you start to develop touchscreen shoulder. Its not that touchscreen can't work (if you can put up with fingerprints on the screen), its the format when added to conventional devices causes physical issues.
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In macOS I kinda enjoyed the touchbar, although I found shortcuts still much faster in e.g Photoshop. Unfortunately I need to do most of my work in Windows either through parallels or bootcamp, and as a replacement for F keys it's pretty terrible. Having no feedback and not needing to press means it's easy to miss the "key" or hit it accidentally e.g. I tend to rest my hand over F9-F11 in visual studio when debugging, and that's not something you can do without obviously triggering the key. No physical Esc key is not nice either. I ended up taking my Mac back which was really heartbreaking as in every other regard the new MacBook Pro was perfect. If they add force touch style feedback to it and actually require a press I think that would help immeasurably.

You can force the F keys to show in defined apps if that app needs them rather than pushing Fn

 

[MDull]

Just updated Photoshop CC with the TB compatibility this is going to be very cool. Ajdusting hue, sat, on the fly with TB and also using brushes etc. Just wish they would make the giant touch pad iPad pen compatible

 

[Carilyn]

Just updated Photoshop CC with the TB compatibility this is going to be very cool. Ajdusting hue, sat, on the fly with TB and also using brushes etc. Just wish they would make the giant touch pad iPad pen compatible

I Agree! Apple Pencil support would make me the happiest person ever. I love the touch bar in photoshop. So useful.

 

[Dave245]

Just updated Photoshop CC with the TB compatibility this is going to be very cool. Ajdusting hue, sat, on the fly with TB and also using brushes etc. Just wish they would make the giant touch pad iPad pen compatible

Is it possible that they could add support for it with a software update? I think they could do it with iOS 11.

 

[Carilyn]

Is it possible that they could add support for it with a software update? I think they could do it with iOS 11.

I'm honestly hoping my gut feeling is right and the giant trackpad actually has the tech and the upcoming Apple Pencil 2 will work with the new MacBooks. I would love to ditch my Wacom for the Apple Pencil/trackpad combo. I just have a feeling thats the direction Apple has planned with this mondo trackpad. Crossing my fingers because at that point my MacBook Pro and I would really be inseparable.

 

[Dave245]

I'm honestly hoping my gut feeling is right and the giant trackpad actually has the tech and the upcoming Apple Pencil 2 will work with the new MacBooks. I would love to ditch my Wacom for the Apple Pencil/trackpad combo. I just have a feeling thats the direction Apple has planned with this mondo trackpad. Crossing my fingers because at that point my MacBook Pro and I would really be inseparable.

That's what I was thinking, Apple usually do everything for a reason, so that giant trackpad being the size it is could be for use with the Apple Pencil. There have also been rumours that Pencil support will be added to the iPhone Plus.

 

[Carilyn]

That's what I was thinking, Apple usually do everything for a reason, so that giant trackpad being the size it is could be for use with the Apple Pencil. There have also been rumours that Pencil support will be added to the iPhone Plus.

It makes sense to me that the reason it is that large would be to implement use of the Apple Pencil. I'm holding out hope but the minute it becomes possible, even if its on the next year version of MBP I will get my hands on it. As a photographer and long time Wacom user it would be perfection for my needs. I love the pencil on my iPad Pro so it would be a huge bonus to be able to use it with photoshop and Lightroom.

 

[Dave245]

It makes sense to me that the reason it is that large would be to implement use of the Apple Pencil. I'm holding out hope but the minute it becomes possible, even if its on the next year version of MBP I will get my hands on it. As a photographer and long time Wacom user it would be perfection for my needs. I love the pencil on my iPad Pro so it would be a huge bonus to be able to use it with photoshop and Lightroom.

Yea it is great, I love using it to draw on my iPad Pro, and it's only the first gen. I think we could see more features for it with iOS 11 as well, Apple have apparently been looking into more professional use such as being able to annotate on things like Safari, mail and so on. Be very interesting to see it on the MacBook Pro as well tho, you would probably get more control when using apps such as photoshop, which with you being a photographer will probably make your life much easier.

 

[SoyCapitanSoyCapitan]

It makes sense to me that the reason it is that large would be to implement use of the Apple Pencil. I'm holding out hope but the minute it becomes possible, even if its on the next year version of MBP I will get my hands on it. As a photographer and long time Wacom user it would be perfection for my needs. I love the pencil on my iPad Pro so it would be a huge bonus to be able to use it with photoshop and Lightroom.

There is Astropad but it can't hold a candle next to Wacom.

The MacBook Pro trackpad doesn't support the levels of touch pressure that would make a stylus usable.

 

[Carilyn]

There is Astropad but it can't hold a candle next to Wacom.

The MacBook Pro trackpad doesn't support the levels of touch pressure that would make a stylus usable.

Ya, Astropad was cool but not perfect for my workflow.

We will see. Apple has a patent out for the pencil/ trackpad combo so the glimmer of hope is there. I see it on the horizon.

 

[BarracksSi]

The MacBook Pro trackpad doesn't support the levels of touch pressure that would make a stylus usable.

The Pencil has the pressure sensors (multidirectional, too), no the iPad Pro -- right? If that's the case, it could potentially work on the new MB/MBPro trackpads.

They'd have to get around the chance that a Pencil press would invoke a trackpad click. But, maybe it could know that the Pencil is touching, and then disregard presses accordingly.

Seems like this would be easier on a Force Touch trackpad than an older mechanical one.

(there's also my opinion that drawing on a blank piece of glass makes less sense than drawing on an iPad because of zero visual feedback without an underlying display, but I'll set that aside)

 

[SoyCapitanSoyCapitan]

The Pencil has the pressure sensors (multidirectional, too), no the iPad Pro -- right? If that's the case, it could potentially work on the new MB/MBPro trackpads.

It's not just about pressure. The iPad Pro features a custom lower-latency display using a bespoke subsystem, sampling Pencil-to-screen interaction at 240 times per second. The iPhone screen and MacBook Pro trackpad don't feature this subsystem. Without it macOS wouldn't be able to keep real time track of the Pencil's pressure and angle. The latency would make it impractical.

 

[BarracksSi]

It's not just about pressure. The iPad Pro features a custom lower-latency display using a bespoke subsystem, sampling Pencil-to-screen interaction at 240 times per second. The iPhone screen and MacBook Pro trackpad don't feature this subsystem. Without it macOS wouldn't be able to keep real time track of the Pencil's pressure and angle. The latency would make it impractical.

Ah, I forgot about all that.

 

[beowulf70]

Is anyone else having a total failure of the Touch ID feature on the Touch Bar?
I've set it up twice... but it doesn't work at all...

 

[Kjung7]

Ya, Astropad was cool but not perfect for my workflow.

We will see. Apple has a patent out for the pencil/ trackpad combo so the glimmer of hope is there. I see it on the horizon.

I'd imagine using the Apple Pencil on the trackpad to be a ergonomic nightmare. First, the edges of the MacBook Pro are way way too sharp and would dig into your hand. Second, you can move around the trackpad as easily as a Wacom since the screen would move with the trackpad if you change angles. And lastly, I would think that using the trackpad as your method of input and method of moving the cursor would be really difficult to use.

 

[Carilyn]

I'd imagine using the Apple Pencil on the trackpad to be a ergonomic nightmare. First, the edges of the MacBook Pro are way way too sharp and would dig into your hand. Second, you can move around the trackpad as easily as a Wacom since the screen would move with the trackpad if you change angles. And lastly, I would think that using the trackpad as your method of input and method of moving the cursor would be really difficult to use.

Trust me, I would adjust to anything if they made it happen somehow. I use a Wacom full time on my iMac. I can't recall the last time I touched a mouse of any type so a pen input is something I am right at home with. It may not be this variation of the MBP that offers it but I am hopeful its in their minds and will happen at some point. I am hoping the patent they got with the idea of it will come to life. If it doesn't though then I will continue to use my Wacom pen and touch on the MBP and my intuos pro on my iMac.

 

[Kjung7]

Trust me, I would adjust to anything if they made it happen somehow. I use a Wacom full time on my iMac. I can't recall the last time I touched a mouse of any type so a pen input is something I am right at home with. It may not be this variation of the MBP that offers it but I am hopeful its in their minds and will happen at some point. I am hoping the patent they got with the idea of it will come to life. If it doesn't though then I will continue to use my Wacom pen and touch on the MBP and my intuos pro on my iMac.

Haha fair enough. Hopefully one day Apple will start entertaining the idea of a MS Surface type of machine.

 

[Carilyn]

Haha fair enough. Hopefully one day Apple will start entertaining the idea of a MS Surface type of machine.

I have a 12.9" iPad Pro and Apple Pencil. I don't like doing my photo retouches directly on screen. I much prefer pen tablets. I also returned a Wacom Cintiq for the same reason. Old habits die hard I guess, at least for my photo retouching and general editing. creature of habit to a point but also know I could easily get used to a trackpad, Apple Pencil combo. C'mon apple...make me happy.lol