02/13/2008, 9:20am, EST
Wednesday, February 13th
Apple: MacBook multitouch merely software update [U]
(Updated with T3 removal) Spreading advanced multitouch technology to other MacBooks may be simpler than expected by the public, an Apple spokesperson has revealed. While the Air is currently the only MacBook to support gestures such as pinching and swiping, the Apple representative notes that this is entirely software-based. As a result, existing MacBooks and MacBook Pros may gain the extra commands in the future, though no official release plans have been laid out.
Concern had been raised in the industry that earlier MacBooks would be left behind in terms of interface, requiring a hardware refresh that has yet to manifest. Multitouch on these systems is currently limited to scrolling through browser windows, or performing right-click commands. The addition of Air-like controls to the Pro could prove especially useful, allowing new commands in programs like Aperture, Final Cut and Photoshop.
Update: T3 has pulled the article from its website, a move that suggests it was posted in error. Previous information from a teardown by iFixit suggested that the Air's multitouch is handled by a Broadcom chip, the same one used in the iPhone and the iPod touch.
Filed under: Apple
Other story tags: MacBook, MacBook Air, MacBook Pro
, 
, 15
, 
, 
, 
, 
, 
Top
subscribe to comments
for this article
This post confirms my suspition months-long that it may be possible through an update. I would certainly be willing to pay a small fee for such an upgrade.
As it stands now, my hat goes off to Apple for their trackpad design. On no other laptops do a find myself preferring the trackpad to a regular mouse during text-intensive, mouse-edit work. 8 fingers on the keys, 2 thumbs for spacebar and trackpad.
I made inroads with an iPod mini and iTunes for her a few years ago (soon to be replaced with a gifted nano), so there's a chance :-P.
I'm still a little disappointed though that the screen on MBA can't flip around & doesn't include multi-touch capability, would have been nice if at least it was an upgrade feature. Course maybe that is something only useful for to few to spend time & money on.