“Apple is one of the major leaders in the multitouch space and yet, the company’s desire to bring a full-fledged touch-screen device to store shelves has stopped with the iPhone. In fact, the most it has done in bringing multitouch to its computers is offering the functionality in the track pad on its MacBook Air,” Don Reisinger writes for CNET.
“But simply offering multitouch on a trackpad isn’t enough to make consumers want to flock to Apple products instead of HP or Dell machines,” Reisinger writes.
MacDailyNews Take: Apple’s Mac sales are currently growing at 20 times that of the PC industry, Don. That’s a considerable amount of flocking.
Reisinger continues, “Apple needs to embrace the fact that many people prefer touch-screen technology and create a Mac that offers the same basic functionality found in the iPhone.”
“Innovation has been a key to Apple’s success over the past decade and without it, the company would be nothing more than another computer vendor. But by releasing a Mac that eclipses the functionality of the tablet PC and fully harnesses the power of multitouch in a way that no one has seen before, Apple can create the computing world’s first iPhone-like success,” Reisinger writes. “And in the process, Apple could single-handedly propel the computing market forward into a new era where vanilla products are the exception and establish itself as the de facto leader in innovation.”
MacDailyNews Take: Apple is already firmly established as the de facto leader in innovation, Don. As has been the case since the company’s inception.
Reisinger continues, “So what would it look like? Ideally, the computer could be controlled with the touch screen and if you prefer, you can type on it as well. For those who aren’t so keen on typing on a virtual keyboard, Apple’s touch-screen Mac should sport a physical keyboard that can be slid out. In terms of aesthetics, I’ll leave that up to Apple–I think it has proven to be quite capable in designing handsome products.”
Full article here.
MacDailyNews Note: We are working to develop new products that contain technologies that our competition will not be able to match. I cannot discuss these new products, but we are very confident in our product pipeline. – Apple CFO Peter Oppenheimer, during Apple’s Q308 Financial Results Conference Call, July 21, 2008
Another article based on nothing more than guesses…
Well, vast majority of articles about Apple’s new products are based on guesses, since, as we all know very well, Apple doesn’t talk about their new products.
This is perfectly valid type of journalism. It isn’t called reporting the news; it is called providing analysis and opinion.
@shen
> you say tomato, or rather desktop vs tablet, and i say “who cares they are all running OS X.
Who cares? There is a huge difference. They may be “OS X,” but the interface is completely different between a Mac and iPhone. The interface is what makes Apple products succeed, and Apple is too smart to simply patch up the Mac desktop interface to work on a touchscreen computer. That’s Microsoft’s game.
“Who cares? There is a huge difference. They may be “OS X,” but the interface is completely different between a Mac and iPhone. The interface is what makes Apple products succeed, and Apple is too smart to simply patch up the Mac desktop interface to work on a touchscreen computer. That’s Microsoft’s game.”
which is exactly what predrag and i are both saying.
over and over people pan the touch screen because the current interface model doesn’t work on it.
did Apple use the current interface model for the iPhone? no. it wouldn’t work. so why do you all keep assuming they will use the current interface model for a touchpad style of working? that would be stupid. and people keep pointing it out….
so why not use an interface that actually works on that style of system, and create a whole new model?
they seem to be trying hard, but all the mindless zombies keep saying it will never work.
….i guess that is why they are doing it in little steps. so that some day you will all look back and see this as a natural evolution you where involved with rather than the reality. that you fought it every step of the way.
what vision!
new rule, none of you who totally fail to have even enough imagination to consider this can ever make fun of Bill Gates again. after all, you all seem to think just like him!
I’ve been reading some other articles on possible Apple tablets that was posted on the internet today. Just google for em if you want to read.
Its looking more and more like the great iTablet or MacTouch will be debuting at MacWorld 09. This september will be about ipods for sure and quite possibly new macbooks. No tablet in 2008. 🙁
Oh well, most of the year is gone already so we might as well sit tight till MacWorld. OMGZ I can’t waittttttt but for some reason I’m enjoying the torture! 😀
Actually, Apple already has a design that is perfect, ergonomically, for a touchscreen Mac. It is the “iLamp” iMac. I am using one right now.
It has a wonderful, and wonderfully smooth, articulating arm: with one finger, you can pull the LCD forward about six or eight inches and down to about an inch above the surface of your desk; the LCD “floats” there above the desk at a perfect distance for using touch gestures. It is basically limitlessly and effortlessly adjustable. Then, with a finger you can slide it back to “desktop” height and distance.
People forget- many hated the new “computer behind the LCD” iMac when it first came out- because it was so poorly adjustable by comparison to the previous model.
If you’ve never tried moving the screen of one of these iMacs, you should- it really is a revelation. It has perfect ergonomics and mechanics. Apple could easily build a cooler, sleeker version of the “iLamp” with a touchscreen. A “desktop tablet”.
Sure, I won’t buy one but sure. My main PC needs the keyboard and mouse. Leave multi-touch for handhelds….
If my iMac had multi-touch, I would NEVER leave my desk… if you know what I’m sayin’ grrrooOOoowwww!
@ Olternaut
> This september will be about ipods for sure and quite possibly new macbooks. No tablet in 2008.
No tablet? The iPod touch is a small tablet computer. And it’s an iPod. If there is a new version of an iPod touch (or one with a larger screen), there’s your “tablet.”
Even in 2009, Apple is not going to be releasing a “Mac” tablet computer. That’s why Apple has no problem with the Axiotron Modbook
http://axiotron.com/index.php?id=modbook
and is even cooperating with Axiotron to support the standard warranty for the MacBook parts they use. Apple’s eventual tablet computer will be the evolution of the iPod touch and iPhone, not a Mac.
Again, for all you idiots that don’t get it. Apple isn’t creating a touch screen monitor/iMac. It isn’t going to happen. Will they create a device the size of a keyboard (or about) that works like the remote app for iPhone/Ipod Touch, absolutely.
July 4th, I took 200 photos of the fireworks show here in Tucson, I took these photos with my iPhone. Try taking that many pictures with your iPhone and see how sore your shoulders get. Now after you do that you will understand why none of us will ever be standing or sitting in front of a screen that requires you to constantly swipe and pinch. It isn’t going to happen.
Or go use the HP touch computer, whatever it is called. And you will see how a great thought turns into a disaster of a product.
I’ll take a physical keyboard that has a touchscreen surface instead of keys.
That will be more than enough. I’ve played around on the HP PC with the touch screen monitor. It’s not all that it’s cracked up to be.
““Apple needs to embrace the fact that many people prefer touch-screen technology…”
This guy is totally (like TOTALLY) out to lunch. What is this so-called touch-screen Mac going to look like? An ergomically viable form factor hasn’t been invented yet. Maybe Apple will invent one someday, but that day is still far in the future imho. People cannot possibly “prefer” something they have never used. An iPhone is similar to a touch-screen Macintosh the way a pineapple is similar to a screwdriver.
It’s simply practical and realistic to think that they will very soon release all Multi-Touch iMacs, MacBook’s and other products. It would be dumb for them not to.
Perhaps a little bit more over the edge, but touchscreen seems to be yesterday’s gee-whiz. Tomorrow is the interface from sci-fi: a Minority Report virtual input is actually technically feasible now. But the software is what needs to catch up.
So what *is* Apple working on that they can’t let out yet? Specious speculation spews sporadically from the hacks with nothing else to write.
Mac’s should have a touch screen – a touch screen mouse!
The size of a mouse pad, the user can tap a mirror image of the deskstop! I don’t want my fingerprints all over my computer screen, but the mousepad can be wiped after finishing tasks, if needed.
On the new macbook pros, this new touch mouse replaces the touch pad. Double-tap to move the cursor to desired location. Hold down and scroll pages with a fingertip.
The new Macbook Pro Elite featurs a fullsized touch screen, replacing the keyboard. Tapping a selected corner of the touch screen toggles the keyboard to a mirror image of the LED allowing the user full touch access to the screen without smudging the LED!!! Perfect for arts and entertainment pros and those that don’t need the pressure of keys to aid in typing.
THIS WILL HAPPEN!!!
No. I don’t see how having to touch the screen when it’s farther than arm’s length away from me is going to be helpful.
Mark,
You’re onto something here….
Who in their right mind would ever want to have a touch screen upright, at arm’s length???
Let me try to spell this out a bit more specifically, since obviously many here aren’t able to imagine how touchscreen-only Mac would work:
The display would be thin, flat and HORISONTAL. It would be lying flat on your desk, just like an old-fashioned spreadsheet, a legal pad or a book. You’d be working with it precisely the same way you would an ordinary legal pad, piece of paper, a book, a spreadsheet, etc.
Is anyone here able to figure this out now.
I think you’re right on the money, Predrag, but I don’t think it will take five years.
I work with a lot of audio for fun–I would LOVE to have Logic work on a device like Predrag describes. Multi-touch faders and knobs woo hoo! Plenty of other great ideas out there as well, once you accept the inevitability of a paradigm shift.
Touch Keyboard. That is what they will do. Who the hell wants to smudge up their monitors or HDTVs or whatever? I don’t.
I own a busy pharmacy. I have worked on several different pharmacy systems one of which was touch screen based. We were evaluating several systems that were currently operating in stores in order to upgrade our store.
When we watched the touch screen system, it was really neat. It got me excited and served to sway my decision to install that system.
Now, of course, there are many variables that factor in the actual performance of “systems”. I gave a greater weight to touch screen ability than I gave to other factors, so that did affect our purchasing decision. However, we were only able to test the touch screen system for about 1 hour. It was fun and exciting while we were there and I couldn’t wait to get it installed.
It took only 1 week of full-time use to realize that the touch screen system was not what we needed. It wore us out physically. And that was just the touch screen part. (I would say that it did help with our exercise program though!) After 10 days, we were dying and had to beg another vendor to put us front and center to get another system installed ASAP. I would say that most of the problem was directly related to the pharmacy software programming itself not to the touch screen. After careful consideration and some real world experience, I would say to be real cautious and deliberate before jumping into another data entry paradigm. We are not at Star Trek levels yet. (Although I would love to have a transporter!!!!)
My wife and I have an iPhone. And we love them. But, honestly, I do not like to type on the touchscreen. I am a touch typist for the most part and would love to have an easier way to enter data. Voice(iSqueak), eye movement(iEye), body signals and gestures (iShrug) need to all be implemented. Way down the road probably brain waves or some kind of nerve synaptic interface will be utilized (iBrain). But for now we just move incrementally ahead.
So, until then, type away.
@Predrag
I guess we’re all too stupid to see the brilliance of what you can foresee, because none of us knew that you are in the prone position when you work at your computer.
What makes the Mac experience is mostly the software … the OS.
You can invent the greatest computer on the planet [read: the greatest hardware], but when the OS that runs it is wanting; well, you just loose out in the long run.
The proof is in the pudding.
to Upright:
It seems that you didn’t quite understand the concept. The computer of today splits your work into two components: one where you interact with it by providing input, the other, completely separate, that provides feedback. Current paradigm requires ordinary, upright seating, with the input device located below one’s hands, and feedback device at eye level, about arm’s length away.
However, before we learned to use these devices, we all used ordinary notebooks (and today’s generations still do that in school) writing stuff in. We do that seated at a desk, slightly leaning forward, against that desk, looking down at our work.
I’m not sure where you inferred prone position from this.