Purported photos of Apple's multitouch 'Magic Trackpad' leaked
Photos of a new wireless multitouch "Magic Trackpad" input device -- an unannounced product rumored for months -- leaked Monday before Apple's WWDC 2010 keynote.
Engadget editor Joshua Topolsky revealed pictures of the device, which shares a similar design with Apple's wireless Bluetooth keyboard. The device appears to offer a large, multitouch input surface for Mac hardware.
"What we appear to be looking at is a brand new input device that Apple has dreamed up which connects to desktops (and laptops, if you like) via Bluetooth, much like the Apple Keyboard," Topolsky wrote. "If you take what you see in the photos at face value, it would seem that the folks in Cupertino are making a play for finger-based input in a big way -- taking the work they've done on Mac laptops and the iPhone, iPod touch, and iPad, and translating it to the desktop realm."
The images also came with a tip that the device would support handwriting recognition, along with "every feature you can find on a Magic Mouse (and possibly features of a MacBook Pro trackpad)." The information reportedly came from a person who claimed to be personally testing it.
The pictures would seem to suggest that the hardware, first predicted by Daring Fireball's John Gruber last October, could be announced by Apple Chief Executive Steve Jobs at today's Worldwide Developers Conference keynote.
The product name may already be known, too, as Apple filed a trademark for ownership of the name "Magic Trackpad" in February That naming corresponds with Apple's Magic Mouse, a multitouch device introduced by Apple last fall. The entire surface of the Magic Mouse can track independent fingers for activities like scrolling and zooming, much like an iPhone or iPod touch.
The multi-touch trackpad was first introduced to the MacBook Air family of notebooks, though it was later brought to the MacBook Pro and MacBook line of portable computers.
Engadget editor Joshua Topolsky revealed pictures of the device, which shares a similar design with Apple's wireless Bluetooth keyboard. The device appears to offer a large, multitouch input surface for Mac hardware.
"What we appear to be looking at is a brand new input device that Apple has dreamed up which connects to desktops (and laptops, if you like) via Bluetooth, much like the Apple Keyboard," Topolsky wrote. "If you take what you see in the photos at face value, it would seem that the folks in Cupertino are making a play for finger-based input in a big way -- taking the work they've done on Mac laptops and the iPhone, iPod touch, and iPad, and translating it to the desktop realm."
The images also came with a tip that the device would support handwriting recognition, along with "every feature you can find on a Magic Mouse (and possibly features of a MacBook Pro trackpad)." The information reportedly came from a person who claimed to be personally testing it.
The pictures would seem to suggest that the hardware, first predicted by Daring Fireball's John Gruber last October, could be announced by Apple Chief Executive Steve Jobs at today's Worldwide Developers Conference keynote.
The product name may already be known, too, as Apple filed a trademark for ownership of the name "Magic Trackpad" in February That naming corresponds with Apple's Magic Mouse, a multitouch device introduced by Apple last fall. The entire surface of the Magic Mouse can track independent fingers for activities like scrolling and zooming, much like an iPhone or iPod touch.
The multi-touch trackpad was first introduced to the MacBook Air family of notebooks, though it was later brought to the MacBook Pro and MacBook line of portable computers.
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unecessary comment removed
Why is the apple logo stretched in the 2nd picture? That doesn't sit too well with me.
Because it's being viewed at an angle.
photos of a new wireless multitouch "magic trackpad" input device -- an unannounced product rumored for months -- allegedly leaked monday before apple's wwdc 2010 keynote.
Engadget editor joshua topolsky revealed pictures of the device, which shares a similar design with apple's wireless bluetooth keyboard. The device appears to offer a large, multitouch input surface for mac hardware.
"what we appear to be looking at is a brand new input device that apple has dreamed up which connects to desktops (and laptops, if you like) via bluetooth, much like the apple keyboard," topolsky wrote. "if you take what you see in the photos at face value, it would seem that the folks in cupertino are making a play for finger-based input in a big way -- taking the work they've done on mac laptops and the iphone, ipod touch, and ipad, and translating it to the desktop realm."
the images also came with a tip that the device would support handwriting recognition, along with "every feature you can find on a magic mouse (and possibly features of a macbook pro trackpad)." the information reportedly came from a person who claimed to be personally testing it.
The pictures would seem to suggest that the hardware, first predicted by daring fireball's john gruber last october, could be announced by apple chief executive steve jobs at today's worldwide developers conference keynote.
The product name may already be known, too, as apple filed a trademark for ownership of the name "magic trackpad" in february that naming corresponds with apple's magic mouse, a multitouch device introduced by apple last fall. The entire surface of the magic mouse can track independent fingers for activities like scrolling and zooming, much like an iphone or ipod touch.
The multi-touch trackpad was first introduced to the macbook air family of notebooks, though it was later brought to the macbook pro and macbook line of portable computers.
first!
first!
too slow
Even with BetterTouchTool there are some things I'd like to split between two devices for specific functions. There are just certain gestures that BetterTouchTool has a hard time with and there are a lot of false positives. This (alleged) touch pad would completely alleviate that.
I'm eager to know how big this device it... It might replace my ($300) wireless bluetooth tablet, for a lot less cash (I'm a teacher, and use the tablet as an input device while walking around the room-- MacOS supports handwriting recognition, so it's a great tool for making notes that the whole class can see, without having to stand at the board...)
I don't think it's much bigger than ~4'' in diagonal. This would make sense if it is aimed to replace the mouse in the long run.
Nice clean Ive design! Clever, making the battery compartment the tilting prop!
I love rumours & speculation, however the leaks are taking the fun out of it.
Am I the only one feeling sorry for Steve here? It's like when he had to introduce the unibody MacBooks and everybody knew about them already. The guy likes to make a show out of these keynotes, but with all those leaks, there isn't much to work with.
I love rumours & speculation, however the leaks are taking the fun out of it.
Just don't check the forums close to a keynote ...
As for a trackpad for desktops, what a ridiculous idea. Trackpads are HORRIBLE compromises for portable computers - the best of a very bad job etc. A mouse blows a trackpad away in every possible way every single time, and no I don't care about pinching/zooming/twiddling when I'm in 3D Studio Max or Photoshop.
I don't understand (and think it's a hoax).
I've got most of Apple's toys, and can see a use for those I have, not to mention I'm the President of the local MUG, and this just doesn't make sense to me. I can't think of anything I use or see, that this device would replace.
I do not like track pads anyway, so even if they came out with a portable track pad (for those who'd want it - instead of the mouse the have), I would not get one.
As for it being the "Surprise" at WWDC, damn I hope not, but I must admit, secrets seem to be something Apple doesn't have right now.
Hey maybe this was leak to throw us off-track from the REAL surprise
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