“Sintek Photronics has reportedly sent samples of projected capacitive touch panels to Apple to be incorporated in the latest iMac all-in-one (AIO) PC, according to industry sources,” Willie Teng reports for DigiTimes.
“Since current capacity for 20-inch and above projected capacitive touch panels is limited and the technology involved quite complex, Sintek, which is equipped with 5.3G generation production lines, has a good chance of becoming a supplier of the new models,” Teng reports.
“The new iMac is rumored to have a good vertical and horizontal viewing angle, and its projected capacitive touch panel will adopt a one-glass solution, which integrates the touch sensor and cover glass, to reduce thickness and weight,” Teng reports.
Full article here.
Presuming that the screen could be adjusted to nearly a flat position, such a device would appeal to the elderly populations, because of its simple point-and-touch approach — for this group, with their diminishing eyesight and less-than-coordinated limb control, operating a mouse can be difficult.
I would consider such a hybrid as useful for ‘regular’ folks — utilizing a combination of mouse and screen touch/gestures to accomplish a computer task would not necessarily result in “gorilla arm.”
Niffy
Who wants to type on a screen where you can’t feel the buttons and smudge up the screen? And how are you going to type on an iMac screen when it’s facing straight up? Flipping it whenever you want to type is cumbersome and going to get old.
Who wants to type on a screen where you can’t feel the buttons and smudge up the screen? And how are you going to type on an iMac screen when it’s facing straight up? Flipping it whenever you want to type is cumbersome and going to get old.
Remember, folks, that iOS is really just a subset of OSX with touch features incorporated. There is now reason in the world why touch couldn’t be incorporated into the full OSX. Also remember that APPLE has iWorks already working in iOS. This will be an easy move.
As for the hardware, think of a new iMac as a yellow pad of paper on your desk. You have no problem working on the pad of paper. Why would you have a problem if it was a computer screen. It may have a bluetooth keyboard for hard-core writers but the onscreen keyboard would still satisfy many people, just like the iPad.
It would just have more RAM and storage.
Remember, folks, that iOS is really just a subset of OSX with touch features incorporated. There is now reason in the world why touch couldn’t be incorporated into the full OSX. Also remember that APPLE has iWorks already working in iOS. This will be an easy move.
As for the hardware, think of a new iMac as a yellow pad of paper on your desk. You have no problem working on the pad of paper. Why would you have a problem if it was a computer screen. It may have a bluetooth keyboard for hard-core writers but the onscreen keyboard would still satisfy many people, just like the iPad.
It would just have more RAM and storage.
Bizzarro,
*shutters at the thought*
English speakers would write, ‘Shudders at the thought’.
Bizzarro,
*shutters at the thought*
English speakers would write, ‘Shudders at the thought’.
Not iMac. Prototype AppleTV.
Not iMac. Prototype AppleTV.
@ Predrag,
One small addition to what you said. It is through our tools that mankind has been able to exceed the restrictions imposed on us by our weak limbs, dim sight, forgetful brain, crappy hearing, and fat fingers. There are an inconceivable large number of limitations we’ve overcome since we became toolmakers.
While I agree with what you said, we have to remember that a mouse lets us point and manipulate with a much higher-level of precision (at a penalty of directness and intuitiveness). We don’t stop using specialized tools like microscopes because they’re hard to learn — on the other hand we don’t force everyone to use one to do their banking.
I suspect the mouse will become a specialized tool. Good for a whole lot of things, but not necessary to do the things 90% of the population want to do with their computers.
@ Predrag,
One small addition to what you said. It is through our tools that mankind has been able to exceed the restrictions imposed on us by our weak limbs, dim sight, forgetful brain, crappy hearing, and fat fingers. There are an inconceivable large number of limitations we’ve overcome since we became toolmakers.
While I agree with what you said, we have to remember that a mouse lets us point and manipulate with a much higher-level of precision (at a penalty of directness and intuitiveness). We don’t stop using specialized tools like microscopes because they’re hard to learn — on the other hand we don’t force everyone to use one to do their banking.
I suspect the mouse will become a specialized tool. Good for a whole lot of things, but not necessary to do the things 90% of the population want to do with their computers.
Apple has tons of prototypes in Jonny Ive’s work area. They request samples all the time of the latest tech that they might be able to use. That doesn’t mean that it will see the light of day.
Apple has tons of prototypes in Jonny Ive’s work area. They request samples all the time of the latest tech that they might be able to use. That doesn’t mean that it will see the light of day.
@ predrag
Nuts……
successor of A4 processor???? I work with Excel files what would crash quad A4’s.
Good luck. The computing power it takes to run native DB applications can’t be handcuffed by a mobile processor.
Next … The limited functionality offered by iOS will not replace OSX anytime soon. I’m not saying never but no time soon.
Can you create on the iPad, sure, but not near as easy as on the iMac.
@ predrag
Nuts……
successor of A4 processor???? I work with Excel files what would crash quad A4’s.
Good luck. The computing power it takes to run native DB applications can’t be handcuffed by a mobile processor.
Next … The limited functionality offered by iOS will not replace OSX anytime soon. I’m not saying never but no time soon.
Can you create on the iPad, sure, but not near as easy as on the iMac.
Makes no sense? Are you kidding me?!! Boy if you dorks on this site have no sense of vision, then maybe not. Simplicity of the iOS in a desktop touch panel makes perfect sense! Get with the direction of the computer industry!
Makes no sense? Are you kidding me?!! Boy if you dorks on this site have no sense of vision, then maybe not. Simplicity of the iOS in a desktop touch panel makes perfect sense! Get with the direction of the computer industry!
@ Predrag… By George I think you’ve got it!!!
@ Predrag… By George I think you’ve got it!!!
I think the bigger questions are:
1. What’s the battery life?
2. How will it fit in my pocket?
I think the bigger questions are:
1. What’s the battery life?
2. How will it fit in my pocket?
I hope not. Sounds like a Ballmer idea.
I hope not. Sounds like a Ballmer idea.
It’s pretty obvious this is intended for a 27 inch iPad. Yes it would take two people to carry it around but would allow PALM gestures and in limited cases even foot gestures. Talk about multiple gestural input!
It’s pretty obvious this is intended for a 27 inch iPad. Yes it would take two people to carry it around but would allow PALM gestures and in limited cases even foot gestures. Talk about multiple gestural input!