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One more thing: Leopard’s key feature to be Multi-Touch.

February 28, 2007 at 12:06 pm · Filed under Consuming · Tagged: ,

touch meOver the weekend, V and I randomly stopped in Best Buy to browse around. We stumbled across the new HP Touch Smart PC, and man is that thing ever something. Aside form being a pretty snappy all in one with some nice media center features, the key element is a large, glossy touch screen. And it’s awesome. Simple task like launching appsoff the desktop feels neat- almost fun.The version of IE it’s loaded with has a special, wider scroll bar that’s easier to “grab”. We both really liked playing with the machine, and when we walked away the thought on our mind was “How is Apple going to respond to this”?

Well, I think we got a clue about this on a recent Ars post.

There will be no Logic 8. The successor to Logic 7 will have a new name. The unnamed application will be 10.5 only and will work with a new line of touch sensitive Apple displays. Also, it will be an OMG PROTOOLS KILLER!

Interesting. Very Interesting. Not the Pro Tools thing as much- though I am curious if they can turn Logic into the audio eqivalent of Final Cut Pro- but the idea that Multi-Touch is coming to Pro Apps (and displays!) is big.

After playing with the Touch Smart, the idea that the tech should move to the imac is a no brainer. Cover Flow was made for this kind of thing, and Front Row would benefit as well. I hadn’t thought about the Pro apps, but in the case of Logic it makes alot of sense. I am sure other can think of good Pro uses once the gears start turning.

With this in mind, I think the “secret” feature that Jobs has been hinting at with Leopard but has to date been unnanounced is system wide Multi-touch across the board in 10.5. The fact that ALL Apple hardware is due for a refresh seems to coincide nicely with this new ability.

It’s not science fiction, the tech is currently shipping. I don’t imagine Apple letting HP make “cooler” computers, and I think Job’s plans for multi-touch will go further than simply widening a scroll bar so you can fist it. Can’t wait to see how this shakes down, buI have a very good feeling this is what’s coming down the pipe in a big, big way.

Chris said,

February 28, 2007 @ 3:08 pm

Apple is not about who is cooler. They are about having the best usability. The touch screen interface has been a possibility for computers for a while now and there is a reason it hasn’t caught on. That is because a mouse is more precise and quick as your hand on a screen while having the added benefit of being less stressful on your muscles for long term use.

Ergonomics are also an issue. Try tapping your finger on the table 1000 times a day for a year. A mouse button provides a cushioned click. A hard display screen does not. It’s not going to be comfortable in the long run and is probably more likely to result in repetitive stress injuries. If you only use a computer for a couple of minutes a day then the idea of a touchscreen is probably appealing. If you spend hours per day using a computer then you are likely to think the ergonomics of using a touchscreen are terrible. Tired arms and fingers will result from extended use.

The HP computer you mentioned above is a media center, not a general use computer. Why do you suppose that is? Maybe it has something to do with the issues I mentioned above.

The mouse:

More precise - screen elements can be smaller for a mouse driven interface than a finger interface

Quicker - I can scroll through a long stack of albums in coverflow view faster and with less effort with the scroll wheel than I could with a finger on the screen. Trust me on this.

I’m confident that the touchscreen interface will stay with hand-held devices for a while.

Damond said,

March 1, 2007 @ 7:42 am

Agreed. I think Jobs has it all worked out by now. We will see once Leopard is released.

Wim Leers said,

March 1, 2007 @ 7:55 am

If this would turn out to be true, it would also partially explain why the resolution independence feature is included in Leopard (and the bump to 512×512 icons)!

fryke said,

March 1, 2007 @ 8:10 am

Jobs’, not Job’s. Plus: Forum comments as sources… Oh well. ;)

Pete Rei said,

March 1, 2007 @ 8:22 am

You should check out this video:
http://www.ted.com/tedtalks/tedtalksplayer.cfm?key=j_han

I would have liked to find a version without the BMW ad ;), but watching him manipulating images was pretty impressive.

Oyvind said,

March 1, 2007 @ 8:33 am

This is exactly what I have been thinking too. Have a look at:

http://brilliantdays.com/multitouch-will-revolutionize-your-computer/

And the corresponding article:

http://brilliantdays.com/multi-touch

URFIR3D’s Feed » Blog Archive » Leopard to bring Multi-Touch to the Desktop said,

March 1, 2007 @ 9:12 am

[...] Signs point to Apple bringing multi-touch across the lineup, especially considering competitors are shipping systems with the same technology.read more | digg story [...]

rob enderle said,

March 1, 2007 @ 9:25 am

So HP has one out? Dont matter, soon we will be hearing how Apple invented the concept, just like they invented the mp3 player, touchscreen phones and the internet. Oops, sorry, that was Al Gore.

Considering touch screens have been around for 20some years, how is this gonna make you more productive? I use a mouse and a pen and barely move in hands. You want me to reach over with my arm extended for 8-10 hours a day while working at the computer?
Really?

For the home entertainment unit like HP’s, it makes sense since there is minimal interaction and a keyboard takes space.

Dont get me wrong, Im glad Jeff Han’s Minority Report computing is a reality (he did say affordable and very scalable) but we tried to figure out this morning who in our company (1,000+) would need this stuff (price non-withstanding) and I dont think we hit 5% of our staff..

Id still want one though.

Steven said,

March 1, 2007 @ 9:46 am

Actually it’s Jobs’s, not Jobs’. Common mistake. Turning something that is singular regardless of if it ends in “s” or not into something possessive requires that you always add the apostrophe s ending. You add just the apostrophe only if it is plural.

singing my way through life said,

March 1, 2007 @ 9:56 am

[...] Multi-Touch Thursday March 01st 2007, 10:55 am Filed under: Uncategorized Very cool. Apple, Inc. patent thatthe upcoming iPhone possible. This article is rumoring that Multi-Touch will be system-wide in OS X Leopard. Faster Macs, a 50-inch Multi-Touch screen — it’sfictiony, but totally real world. I mean, Multi-Touch is already shipping (or something rather like it) on HPdevices. [...]

Maclive said,

March 1, 2007 @ 9:57 am

A previous announcement about 10.5 also explained that there would be a big upgrade to a new scalable resolution interface. This would be key if the UI is to support multi-touch!

owen said,

March 1, 2007 @ 10:00 am

I’m still confused as to how touching the screen is going to improve porn. I just don’t see the advantage

Dave said,

March 1, 2007 @ 10:01 am

As a designer a pro screen that you touch would not be top of my list.
Fair enough it would be awesome, but designers are anal enough about correct colours/calibration never mind bloody big smudges.

Although in saying that ……..yeah put me down for one.

rahrens said,

March 1, 2007 @ 10:15 am

Steven, you are wrong.

If a name ends in ’s’, and one needs to add a possessive to it, that is done by adding the apostrophe. The CEO of Apple is named Steve Jobs. The possessive form therefor, is Jobs’. You don’t add an ’s’, you merely add the apostrophe.

Obscure Logic said,

March 1, 2007 @ 10:25 am

Macbook DS?…

I briefly mentioned the possibility of Apple producing, for the lack of a better term, a “Macbook DS” (a Macbook that replaces the keyboard with a multi-touch screen) in a previous post. If Apple is really including Multi–touch technology support in…

Dr. Fade said,

March 1, 2007 @ 11:00 am

Apple will make it work in some way we haven’t thought of, that’s their strenth. Maybe some thing like a programable guesture technology. The HP TouchSmart has not had the best reviews. The attached review is from a guy that usally gushes over windows stuff. He blames windows, not the hardware, which would most likely be similar if not the same on the Apple product.

JZ said,

March 1, 2007 @ 11:02 am

I have to say that this sounds fun but it’s the last thing I’d really want and use. I’m a graphic designer and the idea of fingerprints and grime all over my display after hours of use sounds terrible.

TheThirdeye said,

March 1, 2007 @ 11:12 am

I think this is definitly possible and would make Apple PCS increadble. I cant wait to see if this is introduced! just have to wait and see!

KA said,

March 1, 2007 @ 11:37 am

rahrens:

Actually Steven is right. You only append an apostrophe if the word in question is plural. If it is singular, but happens to end in an s, then you still add the ’s.

Just do a google search on “grammar apostrophe usage” and you’ll see that this is correct.

TheMacThinker said,

March 1, 2007 @ 11:38 am

Great post. From my internal sources, Apple feels strongly about this year. And you know that they know what they count on. I expect an upgrade of their Cinema Display as well with the isight built in and touch screen …

——
http://www.mostofmymac.com

Jimmi said,

March 1, 2007 @ 11:38 am

I see how a multi-touch screen could be *really* useful for something like Aperture - but for general use, mouse and keyboard still seems much more efficient.

Miguel said,

March 1, 2007 @ 12:24 pm

KA:

Rahrens is right, When the noun is a normal plural with an added s, no extra s is added in the possessive, so pens’ lids (where there is more than one pen) is correct rather than pens’s lids. If the plural is not one that is formed by adding s, add an s for the possessive, after the apostrophe: children’s hats, women’s hairdresser, some people’s eyes, some peoples’ recent emergence into nationhood (peoples being the plural of the singular people, here). These principles are universally accepted.

Wikipedia is your friend.

Leopard to bring Multi-Touch to the Desktop « Rick van de Laar said,

March 1, 2007 @ 1:25 pm

[...] read more | digg story Posted by rickvandelaar Filed in Uncategorized [...]

Chase said,

March 1, 2007 @ 1:27 pm

Picture this: a touch sensitive device to replace the keyboard. It’d be the size of a regular keyboard, but just one big touch sensitive surface. It’s default view is the keyboard, of course, but with the slide of a few fingers left or right across the surface, the keyboard slides away and you are free to manipulate pictures or use other gestures for other applications. So no messy screen for your display, just a slight messy input device (which, aren’t they all anyway?)

THIS is how Apple would implement this technology, IMHO.

Casey said,

March 1, 2007 @ 1:32 pm

I too was drawn to the new HP at my local best buy on Monday, and found the touch screen innacurate, clunky and full of problems. Even the sales-rep had problems selecting things. Maybe it was just a miss-calibrated display? Maybe I’m just used to the precision of my Wacom Tablet? I dunno. If Apple or Wacom can create a multi-touch that is more user friendly (and registers pressure as well), I’d be all for it.

KA said,

March 1, 2007 @ 1:43 pm

Miguel:

The section from Wikipedia you quoted is about plurals, not singulars. “Steve Jobs” is not plural, it is singular. Actually, according to Wikipedia, it appears that both methods can be considered correct depending on circumstance.

“If the word ends in an s but is singular, practice varies as to whether to add ’s or only an apostrophe. (For discussion on this and the following points, see below.) In general, a good practice is to follow whichever spoken form is judged best: Boss’s shoes, Mrs. Jones’ hat (or Mrs. Jones’s hat, if that spoken form is preferred). In many cases, both spoken and written forms will differ between people.”

If you read the section on singulars you will find that “respected sources require that almost all singular nouns, including those ending in an s, a z, or an x, have possessive forms with an extra s after the apostrophe.” There are exceptions, however, if the singular possessive is awkward to pronounce, such as Jesus’ rather than Jesus’s, or James’ rather than James’s.

So perhaps it is debatable whether or not Jobs’s is sufficiently awkward to pronounce to necessitate dropping the s.

Now, if we take his last name and make it plural, as in “The Jobs” (meaning the Jobs family), and turn it into a possessive, such as “The Jobs’ House”, then you do not add the s under any circumstances.

xxdesmus said,

March 1, 2007 @ 2:44 pm

I think touch screens are a gigantic waste of time for 99% of cases. Ignoring the fact that they are significantly more expensive than standard LCDs and the fact that they smudge, scratch, and generally get mucked up easily …I think touch screens would be a huge mistake.

Granted, this sounds remarkably similar to Windows Tablet Edition *cough* (Copy Machine who?)

Alain Azzam said,

March 1, 2007 @ 2:56 pm

I would not want multi-touch on my screen, but I would LOVE to have it on a mousepad. The reason is simple: on all these videos of multitouch I’ve seen, you see a user working on a vertical monitor. That is INSANE, as it will tire your arms and no one on earth will ever be able to work all day like this. You need an angular table, like the common architect’s drawing tables. And such an angle is not ideal for viewing a screen, so my solution is very simple:

- leave your screen in front of you, as we currently have
- add a big multitouch mousepad that when used, will show a cursor or multi-cursors on-screen, just like we have now with mice

I’m begging for this, as my right-hand is almsot useless now because of too much usage over the years. I have a huge kyst coming out of my wrist that is caused by major bone friction at the articulation. This is all caused by too much mice usage - more than 15 years at 8-10 hours a day.

I NEED A MULTITOUCH MOUSEPAD PLEASE SOMEONE POINT ME TO A LINK OF A MANUFACTURED ONE!!!

links for 2007-03-01 | blog.ftofani.com said,

March 1, 2007 @ 7:50 pm

[...] MSBS ‘07 » One more thing: Leopard’s key feature to be Multi-Touch. (tags: apple leopard multitouch) [...]

pristina.org | everything design » links for 2007-03-02 said,

March 1, 2007 @ 10:26 pm

[...] MSBS ‘07 » One more thing: Leopard’s key feature to be Multi-Touch. (tags: apple leopard multitouch) [...]

MAC-SYS LTD » Blog Archive » MultiTouch Macs soon? said,

March 4, 2007 @ 12:16 pm

[...] Rumours that Apple might use multi-touch on the Mac are very compelling especially when you consider that they have software that does audio and video mixing. [...]

markoos said,

March 4, 2007 @ 3:24 pm

what about integration with, say photoshop/illustrator? paths, strokes etc, with a fingertip and a tap to create a new point; or editing an image by lightly brushing your fingertips over it… I see this thing being very heavily applied in the visual field as well as live audio, as it would make a fantastic real time controller for audio apps.

Apple TechCast 19 - Multi Touch-- TechCast Network said,

March 4, 2007 @ 5:25 pm

[...] Multi-touch on the desktop [...]

MSBS ‘07 » Apple hiring multi-touch engineer? said,

March 8, 2007 @ 1:14 pm

[...] How this pans out is anyone’s guess, but I still stand by what I wrote last week. [...]

julian said,

March 22, 2007 @ 2:20 am

i think that they could put this to use in their laptop line by not having a keyboard or trackpad…just have a screen were they currently are. Instead of having it fixed in plastic you could manipulate the look and feel of your keyboard.. i would like to ba able to download designs as a keyboard =D it would be amazing..also have the keyboard dissapear wen not in use or needed and have a screen saver turn on. also you could use it as a second screen and just make it be able to visually join with the real screen (just like you could have 2 or 3 screens side by side function as one) and when you need the keyboard you could make a gesture that maked it float over the current windows open, in the exact same way that dashboard fades into the screen on macs. idk just a thought…tryed to explain what im visualizing but it may not make sence to most of u =) this is kinda wat i imagine thoe its a horrible drawing XD sorry im not an artist =D idk if that shows on here but i hope it does =)

sens8shun.com » The Multi-Touch Gimmick? said,

May 31, 2007 @ 9:58 pm

[...] Commenting on my post about Microsoft’s botched marketing initiative for Surface, my friend Angel checks in from Florida and directs me to this post suggesting that multi-touch will be Steve Jobs’ “one more thing” when he does the official introduction of Leopard. [...]

naisioxerloro said,

November 28, 2007 @ 8:26 pm

Hi.
Good design, who make it?

groov'bro said,

March 5, 2008 @ 6:25 pm

CHRIS SAID : “- a mouse is more precise and quick as your hand on a screen while having the added benefit of being less stressful on your muscles for long term use.” (…) “- More precise - screen elements can be smaller for a mouse driven interface than a finger interface”

- Nothing remains impossible in the fact that we can simulate a virtual pointer that would be directed by the finger on the screen. That pointer can even remain at the actual mouse size.

CHRIS SAID : “- Try tapping your finger on the table 1000 times a day for a year. A mouse button provides a cushioned click. A hard display screen does not. ”
Well i must have done that a lot since i had my iphone and can assure that it is not a problem…

CHRIS SAID : “- It’s not going to be comfortable in the long run and is probably more likely to result in repetitive stress injuries. If you only use a computer for a couple of minutes a day then the idea of a touchscreen is probably appealing. If you spend hours per day using a computer then you are likely to think the ergonomics of using a touchscreen are terrible. Tired arms and fingers will result from extended use.”

- I can assure you that i must use the computer more than 10H a/day and can (too) easylly imagine the same time spent on a tactile surface… esp for musical apps. And mone more time : it would certainly not be a problem to build apps compatibles touch & mouse+key.

CHRIS SAID : “- The mouse : Quicker - I can scroll through a long stack of albums in coverflow view faster and with less effort with the scroll wheel than I could with a finger on the screen. Trust me on this.”

Oula i would certainly not trut you on this. A simple tap on the “elevator” the way we do it with the mouse and the scrolling will be exactly the same. Actually it is already…

xxdesmus said,
March 1, 2007 @ 2:44 pm

“I think touch screens are a gigantic waste of time for 99% of cases. Ignoring the fact that they are significantly more expensive than standard LCDs and the fact that they smudge, scratch, and generally get mucked up easily …I think touch screens would be a huge mistake.

Granted, this sounds remarkably similar to Windows Tablet Edition *cough* (Copy Machine who?)”

haha ! i really do not think that that type of screen is “unaffordable”, look at the iphone, we mostly pay for the concept & idea than the building cost itself - esp. regarding the screen
I have an iphone and can assure you that the scratch thing you’ve been mentioning is no problem at all. And surely wont get scratched the way do say nor as fast.

Alain Azzam said,
March 1, 2007 @ 2:56 pm

I would not want multi-touch on my screen, but I would LOVE to have it on a mousepad. The reason is simple: on all these videos of multitouch I’ve seen, you see a user working on a vertical monitor. That is INSANE”

Okay there is some of the video that you don’t have seen then…
One more time (i say it evruwhere), i don’t think this is an argumentation because it is easy to built a work space around “a tablet” (no matter how big it is), and have it on a table as the ones used by the architectes, drawers… and remember the times where you could have the CRT screen built in the desktop at your office ?

a double screen notebook… yeah, it should be nice…
what ?… no keyboard & mouse ? - i don’t care : i have ‘em at home and still can plug ‘em in USB… the screen will get dirty ? …. neeeee, i don’t mind, i see what it is like with an iphone, i don’t see the traces because of the screen luminosity.

Apple will realese something this year… it’s about time…
have you noticed ? … (regarding the computer bizness), some good things are happening since a few years… SSD HDD, multi touch interfaces…

you have noticed : i’m with the ones who can’t wait to see apple realese something real when multitouch speaking ;) ;)

Leopard to bring Multi-Touch to the Desktop said,

April 13, 2008 @ 5:36 am

[...] Signs point to Apple bringing multi-touch across the lineup, especially considering competitors are shipping systems with the same technology.read more | digg story [...]

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