To me, the most mind-blowing addition of all would be the integrated sensing display, which effectively would integrate iSight camera technology into the displays themselves, allowing for true eye-contact Jetsons-and-Spaceballs-style video conferencing. Anything short, in my opinion, leaves the iSight one generation short of the future.
The patent was filed nearly 3 years ago. I'm ready.
I'm still wrapping my head around whether that patent could really work, but that would be absolutely fascinating. To my mind -- even more than integrated iSights -- such technology opens the door to a supplemental/app-specialized gesture-based UI in Leopard. Google Perceptive Pixel's demos, google Kickaha's Facetop, and think about Google Earth with that kind of UI, plus Apple elegance and polish... and you'll see what I mean.
In any case, something is definitely brewing. Silence on Leopard. Silence on iLife '07. Not a single Mac update in 5 months. It's the quiet before the storm.
I'm becoming increasingly convinced that there's a good chance Apple is about to introduce multi-touch in Leopard... and even possibly *without* a touch-sensitive screen.
I'm still wrapping my head around whether that patent could really work, but that would be absolutely fascinating. To my mind -- even more than integrated iSights -- such technology opens the door to a supplemental/app-specialized gesture-based UI in Leopard. Google Perceptive Pixel's demos, google Kickaha's Facetop, and think about Google Earth with that kind of UI, plus Apple elegance and polish... and you'll see what I mean.
Hey, relax brother! I just want to be able to make eye contact with the guy I'm talking to!
Tell you what: I'm trying my darndest to get out of debt right now, but tech like this could slip me right back in... (maybe I shouldn't be so hopeful.)
I'm becoming increasingly convinced that there's a good chance Apple is about to introduce multi-touch in Leopard... and even possibly *without* a touch-sensitive screen.
I remember seeing that awhile back. It was a link in another thread. I thought at that time it was very 'applesque'. No doubt the way of the future.
Forget about touch-sensitive displays... what about multi-touch mouse (with touch surface on top where the buttons would usually go)?
I'm not sure how feasible a curved display would be, but one of the nicest things one could have would be a little touch-sensitive area instead of the scroll ball. I think the scroll ball is extremely elegant, but it's also very prone to jamming just from dust - a smooth, touch-sensitive surface would never have that problem, and would be just as easy to scroll with. An actual touchscreen on the mouse would be interesting, since it could actually display different button fields depending on whether you had it set for one-button use, two-button use, or several-button use (as you can do with the Mighty Mouse, but with the advantage of visible buttons).
Anyone else remember Steve and the Sony CEO on stage at one of the conventions? They spoke of things to come in a collaboration that I assume was expected to be more involved than flaming notebook batteries...
I think the huge multitouch screens are a crummy gimmick and that for most purposes, they will be nothing more than an awkward and tiring inconvenience. On the desktop, the multitouch device is either a replacement for a conventional screen or the keyboard/pointing device. Either way it's totally awkward. Think about it... If it replaces the conventional screen you have to sit up straight and hold both of your arms out in front of you for extended periods of time. If it replaces the keyboard you have to lean over your work surface and stare down at it because there is no tactile feedback. I think it's going to be one of those things that people think is a good idea until they actually have to try and use them. Anyone who injures themself now with repetitive motion on keyboards and mice will be in a whole new world of pain with the weird shapes that multitouch could potentially squash your body into.
I think the huge multitouch screens are a crummy gimmick and that for most purposes, they will be nothing more than an awkward and tiring inconvenience. On the desktop, the multitouch device is either a replacement for a conventional screen or the keyboard/pointing device. Either way it's totally awkward. Think about it... If it replaces the conventional screen you have to sit up straight and hold both of your arms out in front of you for extended periods of time. If it replaces the keyboard you have to lean over your work surface and stare down at it because there is no tactile feedback. I think it's going to be one of those things that people think is a good idea until they actually have to try and use them. Anyone who injures themself now with repetitive motion on keyboards and mice will be in a whole new world of pain with the weird shapes that multitouch could potentially squash your body into.
I don't think pain will be so much an issue. I actually think it will give the majority of people some much needed exercise. But I could see it being hard to use being so close to the screen. I imagine it could cause more eye strain than anything. I could see the biggest advance is for laptop users. When I owned a laptop, every time I used it while sitting down or in bed, I just wished someone would come up with a way to stop it balancing awkwardly and I always wanted just a display.
I like the idea of a 3D interface, thanks to Leopard and Core Animation. Also, iLife '07 integrated with/dependent upon Leopard due to new functionality. Leopard is a 64-bit OS and all new Macs support it.
The new Macs should come between April and June and I think most will feature new looks. The iMac, MacBook Pro, and MacBook will all feature Santa Rosa and will come with some amount of flash memory onboard for Robson. The speed of these Macs will only be slightly more than what we have now in terms of GHz but they'll have better graphics and the flash will speed some things up.
I don't think I want a touch-sensitive screen on a MBP but how about a trackpad that responds the same way as the iPhone? It already responds to two fingers so why not Multitouch? The trackpad could be a small screen itself.
I think the huge multitouch screens are a crummy gimmick and that for most purposes, they will be nothing more than an awkward and tiring inconvenience. On the desktop, the multitouch device is either a replacement for a conventional screen or the keyboard/pointing device. Either way it's totally awkward. Think about it... If it replaces the conventional screen you have to sit up straight and hold both of your arms out in front of you for extended periods of time. If it replaces the keyboard you have to lean over your work surface and stare down at it because there is no tactile feedback. I think it's going to be one of those things that people think is a good idea until they actually have to try and use them. Anyone who injures themself now with repetitive motion on keyboards and mice will be in a whole new world of pain with the weird shapes that multitouch could potentially squash your body into.
Your totally right about the comparisons to the iPhone Multi-touch, and these huge multi-touch displays. It's looks awkward and obtrusive on the big one let alone trying to use that crap on a laptop, or desktop display. I doubt Apple is that far gone. If they tried it, they obviously abandoned it for anything other than the iPhone. That has got to be the most clunky way of working I've ever seen. I'm sure that's what SJ said the first time he tried it.
The "M" part of WIMP isn't going away anytime soon.
Multi-touch works much better for small screens than for large screens (no question).
If Apple does introduce gestural/multitouch features to Leopard and new Macs, it will be supplemental and focused on specific kinds of interaction/navigation for specific apps.
At least at first, it will probably be more of a "wow" feature aimed at seducing potential new Mac users than something truly revolutionary.
Supplemental is the word, and it all hinges on what kind of cool applications they come up with for it. Placement is also key. Putting the multitouch device near the monitor means you have to adjust your field of vision less, but you have to stretch your arms further. Putting it near the keyboard means you don't have to move your arms as much but you have to look down lower. Maybe there is a sweet spot somewhere inbetween? Even so, I can't really grasp the major benefits over conventional interface methods.
If you had a small 4" x 6" trackpad that used multi-touch next to your desktop much like how a wacom tablet works some of those things wouldn't be such a pain in the arse, but the touch screen stuff seems really bad. Even a keyboard that had a trackpad built in would be better than what I've seen, or read.
If you had a small 4" x 6" trackpad that used multi-touch next to your desktop much like how a wacom tablet works some of those things wouldn't be such a pain in the arse, but the touch screen stuff seems really bad. Even a keyboard that had a trackpad built in would be better than what I've seen, or read.
Problem is, that's nothing new at all. Fingerworks have had multitouch pads out for years and there are several keyboards with laptop style trackpads. When Apple do introduce multitouch to the consumer desktop market, it will be in a significantly new way.
Problem is, that's nothing new at all. Fingerworks have had multitouch pads out for years and there are several keyboards with laptop style trackpads. When Apple do introduce multitouch to the consumer desktop market, it will be in a significantly new way.
I wasn't aware you could do two finger scaling, and all the unique things associated with multi-touch on a trackpad. It's almost crazy that some patent holder hasn't gone after the multi-touch display guy for that.
Comments
To me, the most mind-blowing addition of all would be the integrated sensing display, which effectively would integrate iSight camera technology into the displays themselves, allowing for true eye-contact Jetsons-and-Spaceballs-style video conferencing. Anything short, in my opinion, leaves the iSight one generation short of the future.
The patent was filed nearly 3 years ago. I'm ready.
I'm still wrapping my head around whether that patent could really work, but that would be absolutely fascinating. To my mind -- even more than integrated iSights -- such technology opens the door to a supplemental/app-specialized gesture-based UI in Leopard. Google Perceptive Pixel's demos, google Kickaha's Facetop, and think about Google Earth with that kind of UI, plus Apple elegance and polish... and you'll see what I mean.
In any case, something is definitely brewing. Silence on Leopard. Silence on iLife '07. Not a single Mac update in 5 months. It's the quiet before the storm.
Just saw this 20 minutes after I posted.
I'm becoming increasingly convinced that there's a good chance Apple is about to introduce multi-touch in Leopard... and even possibly *without* a touch-sensitive screen.
I'm still wrapping my head around whether that patent could really work, but that would be absolutely fascinating. To my mind -- even more than integrated iSights -- such technology opens the door to a supplemental/app-specialized gesture-based UI in Leopard. Google Perceptive Pixel's demos, google Kickaha's Facetop, and think about Google Earth with that kind of UI, plus Apple elegance and polish... and you'll see what I mean.
Hey, relax brother! I just want to be able to make eye contact with the guy I'm talking to!
Tell you what: I'm trying my darndest to get out of debt right now, but tech like this could slip me right back in... (maybe I shouldn't be so hopeful.)
Speak of the devil.
Just saw this 20 minutes after I posted.
I'm becoming increasingly convinced that there's a good chance Apple is about to introduce multi-touch in Leopard... and even possibly *without* a touch-sensitive screen.
I remember seeing that awhile back. It was a link in another thread. I thought at that time it was very 'applesque'. No doubt the way of the future.
Forget about touch-sensitive displays... what about multi-touch mouse (with touch surface on top where the buttons would usually go)?
I'm not sure how feasible a curved display would be, but one of the nicest things one could have would be a little touch-sensitive area instead of the scroll ball. I think the scroll ball is extremely elegant, but it's also very prone to jamming just from dust - a smooth, touch-sensitive surface would never have that problem, and would be just as easy to scroll with. An actual touchscreen on the mouse would be interesting, since it could actually display different button fields depending on whether you had it set for one-button use, two-button use, or several-button use (as you can do with the Mighty Mouse, but with the advantage of visible buttons).
See it here.
Okay, so I saw the old video. Now I saw the new video Pogue links to:
See it here.
yeah, it's pretty neat.
Jobs should give this dude a job at Apple or buy his company.
This is pretty kick ass tech.
Stopped reading. Not really the best way to "open" a post.
The point is none of us really know anything, it is ALL speculation. Lighten up.
Apple TV's per chance?
I think the huge multitouch screens are a crummy gimmick and that for most purposes, they will be nothing more than an awkward and tiring inconvenience. On the desktop, the multitouch device is either a replacement for a conventional screen or the keyboard/pointing device. Either way it's totally awkward. Think about it... If it replaces the conventional screen you have to sit up straight and hold both of your arms out in front of you for extended periods of time. If it replaces the keyboard you have to lean over your work surface and stare down at it because there is no tactile feedback. I think it's going to be one of those things that people think is a good idea until they actually have to try and use them. Anyone who injures themself now with repetitive motion on keyboards and mice will be in a whole new world of pain with the weird shapes that multitouch could potentially squash your body into.
I don't think pain will be so much an issue. I actually think it will give the majority of people some much needed exercise. But I could see it being hard to use being so close to the screen. I imagine it could cause more eye strain than anything. I could see the biggest advance is for laptop users. When I owned a laptop, every time I used it while sitting down or in bed, I just wished someone would come up with a way to stop it balancing awkwardly and I always wanted just a display.
The new Macs should come between April and June and I think most will feature new looks. The iMac, MacBook Pro, and MacBook will all feature Santa Rosa and will come with some amount of flash memory onboard for Robson. The speed of these Macs will only be slightly more than what we have now in terms of GHz but they'll have better graphics and the flash will speed some things up.
I don't think I want a touch-sensitive screen on a MBP but how about a trackpad that responds the same way as the iPhone? It already responds to two fingers so why not Multitouch? The trackpad could be a small screen itself.
This is going to be a pretty exciting spring.
I think the huge multitouch screens are a crummy gimmick and that for most purposes, they will be nothing more than an awkward and tiring inconvenience. On the desktop, the multitouch device is either a replacement for a conventional screen or the keyboard/pointing device. Either way it's totally awkward. Think about it... If it replaces the conventional screen you have to sit up straight and hold both of your arms out in front of you for extended periods of time. If it replaces the keyboard you have to lean over your work surface and stare down at it because there is no tactile feedback. I think it's going to be one of those things that people think is a good idea until they actually have to try and use them. Anyone who injures themself now with repetitive motion on keyboards and mice will be in a whole new world of pain with the weird shapes that multitouch could potentially squash your body into.
Your totally right about the comparisons to the iPhone Multi-touch, and these huge multi-touch displays. It's looks awkward and obtrusive on the big one let alone trying to use that crap on a laptop, or desktop display. I doubt Apple is that far gone. If they tried it, they obviously abandoned it for anything other than the iPhone. That has got to be the most clunky way of working I've ever seen. I'm sure that's what SJ said the first time he tried it.
Multi-touch works much better for small screens than for large screens (no question).
If Apple does introduce gestural/multitouch features to Leopard and new Macs, it will be supplemental and focused on specific kinds of interaction/navigation for specific apps.
At least at first, it will probably be more of a "wow" feature aimed at seducing potential new Mac users than something truly revolutionary.
It will still be damn cool.
I would like to be proven wrong though.
If you had a small 4" x 6" trackpad that used multi-touch next to your desktop much like how a wacom tablet works some of those things wouldn't be such a pain in the arse, but the touch screen stuff seems really bad. Even a keyboard that had a trackpad built in would be better than what I've seen, or read.
Problem is, that's nothing new at all. Fingerworks have had multitouch pads out for years and there are several keyboards with laptop style trackpads. When Apple do introduce multitouch to the consumer desktop market, it will be in a significantly new way.
Problem is, that's nothing new at all. Fingerworks have had multitouch pads out for years and there are several keyboards with laptop style trackpads. When Apple do introduce multitouch to the consumer desktop market, it will be in a significantly new way.
I wasn't aware you could do two finger scaling, and all the unique things associated with multi-touch on a trackpad. It's almost crazy that some patent holder hasn't gone after the multi-touch display guy for that.