Apple Magic Toolbar – Trademark Exclusive – New Macbook Details

Apple Magic Toolbar – Trademark Exclusive – New Macbook Details(thetrademarkninja.com)

15 points by alex_marchant 9 years ago | 10 comments

Keverw 9 years ago |

Interesting. I just Google imaged searched for "Apple Magic Toolbar" and I noticed one of the images had the power button as part of the bar... So I'm assuming it's a touch screen bar, so if your computer freezes or acts up how do you force it off? unless the bar would be a separate CPU/device which talks to the rest of the comp...

Can't remove the battery, and if the power button is part of the GUI and not a actual button seems like it could lead to some problems in theory unless they engineered a way around it...

Otherwise this seems cool. Another pic had the F1, F2 keys, etc so probably would be a way to switch between them for apps that need the F Keys. Will be interested in learning more about this.

draw_down 9 years ago |

Yes, it most likely the rumored OLED strip above the keyboard in the new MacBook Pro. From what I have heard, it acts as an extra toolbar for the current app, as opposed to a more system wide toolbar.

mixedCase 9 years ago | |

I don't quite get the justification of something like this over simply having more screen real estate. It's undoubtedly more expensive; is it just supposed to be a marketing gimmick to woo people? Or is there are reason why I'd want something like it?

tinus_hn 9 years ago | | |

Most people never use the function keys because it's too difficult to figure out what they do. So on many keyboards already you can't use the f1-f12 keys without a modifier, otherwise you get multimedia functions that are printed on the keys.

Having the functionality shown on the keys would help.

Also Apple is probably trying to create something new to get people to buy the hardware, that's how it works. Apple does try harder than most to make their features actually useful though.

Terretta 9 years ago | | |

If it could be the Dock, tap to launch/switch your own lineup of apps, that'd be slick and resolve the dock hiding versus vertical screen space problem.

zimpenfish 9 years ago | | |

More screen estate in the same space would mean a denser panel - higher hardware cost. Also would mean lower battery life - higher user cost.

shwash 9 years ago | | |

faster context switching maybe? glancing down at your keyboard is quicker than switching apps or bringing another screen up.