“A device known by the model number A1339 and described as a ‘Bluetooth Device’ has just shown up in the FCC’s database,” Kahney reports. “Given how quickly Apple has in the past announced devices that have just approved by the FCC, the Magic Trackpad could be officially launched within days.”
Kahney reports, “The device would act as a big touch-sensitive trackpad for desktop computers, such as an iMac. It looks as though the device supports handwriting recognition, as well as the swipes and gestures found on the Magic Mouse and MacBook Pro trackpads.”
Full article, with photos of the device, here.
[Thanks to MacDailyNews Reader “Judge Bork” for the heads up.]
Newton lives!!!!!
Or at least its handwriting recognition software does.
On the other hand:
“There is no evidence that people want to use these things.”
Finally! Looks like Mr. Jobs is reading my e-mail to him. I suggested this product months ago, because I would like to have a trackpad for my Mac Pro (MacPro1,1). Thanks Apple!
Maybe we’ll see the illuminated keyboards like I’ve suggested, like the MacBook Pro has.
I have heard that if you touch it a certain way, you could lose two bars of your Wi-Fi.
you realize that this device was started well over a year ago. If your email was read, this device was already well under way.
I’m sure it only took a few months for Steve to read your email, set his design team, design the product, create prototypes and get it approved by the FCC.
Yes, it was your email that set this in motion!
Aside from all of that, this is a welcome addition to bring multi-touch to the Apple desktops without inducing Gorilla Arms.
Looks like the bottom of my old Macintosh LC.
So, do you think it will have a pop up keyboard on the screen?
Why not a touch keyboard? That’s what I would buy.
@Quad Core
Not. Funny.
This will double as an Apple TV remote. iCal it!
I hear that do to serious design flaws, if you smash it with an anvil, it will break. Apple is considering a recall already.
BTW, WTF does this thing do? Off to google…
So it’s like a small Wacom tablet that you operate with your fingers? For this kind of application, I really don’t see the benefit over a conventional pen-driven tablet. Sure, the touch gestures are nice, but the human fingertip is NOT a very precise pointing device. It just isn’t.
Adios mouse and mousepad.
Hey, A Flock of Budgies invented the Magic TrackPad. Just wait ’til you see the Microsoftesk commercial.
@alansky… No kidding. WACOM already has a combo pen/touch tablet. I have one, it’s quite nice. The Apple thing may be compelling for some, but the pressure sensitive stylus blows away finger input.
Pen tablets excel with software written expressly for the purpose, i.e., PS, ZBrush, etc., and my current tablet supports 512 levels of pressure, but I wouldn’t dream of using a stylus to navigate the Mac’s user interface.
A wireless touchpad that can drive my iMac’s cursor, that icludes gestures, would take its place beside my pen tablet and after thirty-some years I could finally ditch the mouse.
I would also be able to retire my Touch as a remote control for my Mac, because the touchpad’s capability would exceed that of my
Touch.
Correction, my Intuous 4 supports 2048 levels of pressur sensitivity.
This could be very handy for Chinese input with desktop Macs.
I have been using nothing but a Wacom tablet for everything for years now. I wouldn’t go back to a mouse.
This could be interesting, especially if it has decent pressure sensitivity and the styluses for iphone/ipad work on it.
Wish there was a wired version Looks cool otherwise. Maybe I should look at a Watcom.
Regards.
Hey Steve Balmer, “Fingers were made 2b on the Keyboard, not the Computer Display u Moron”
Wacom Bamboo Craft has pressure-sensitive stylus AND multi-touch input.
http://www.wacom.com/bamboo/bamboo_craft.php
http://www.wacom.com/bamboo/bamboo_pen_touch.php