Multi-finger MacBook trackpad gestures demonstrated on video
By Thomas Ricker 
posted October 15th 2008 5:22AM
posted October 15th 2008 5:22AM
posted October 15th 2008 5:22AM
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I think if we complain to apple enough then they may give us back functionality support for this. I was one of the unlucky many who bought a MBP 3 weeks before the new ones came out. One of my professors in college bought the new MBP and I watch him use it in every lecture. Major suckage!
I've got a nice one finger gesture for Mr. Jobs.
I want to multifinger someone for dropping firewire.
It's a crappy dilemma to be left with.
Whereas the old Macbook had FW400 and 800, the new ones have nothing. Wish there was a little tack-on $100 in checkout thing that would give me back my ports.
Transformation - Used to use 2 buttons on Windows notebook, Then 1 button on MacBook and now, no button at all !!
Who needs the buttons when you have multi-touch !! And a great designer like Steve....
What's next: Who needs the function keys...? Now it has a strip of touch-screen like HP notebooks.... And later, a virtual touch keyboard.....
I don't see a reason for the early 08 MBPs to not have this functionality. Since the early and late 08 models' trackpads have almost the same tech, why can't they just update the early 08 MBPs' trackpads' firmware?
What am I thinking? That would make too much sense for Apple!
Way more profitable to Apple to make you by a new machine. I prefer Apple's share over there products.
I was wondering the same thing...I love the two finger tap as right button functionality....
WHY CANT APPLE JUST PROVIDE A SOFTWARE UPDATE TO ENABLE THESE FEATURES ON THE F'ING MACBOOK I BOUGHT 6 MONTHS AGO!!!!????
BS!
All these nifty photo touch finger majiggys and no way of actually getting the pics from the camera to the macbook?
You gotta wonder if Stevo starting to lose the golden touch.............
I guess card-readers are not cool in MacBooks. Just carry your camera's cable all the time. It's SO easy!
I can do all that and more on the EeePC 901 and don't ever need four fingers. It's not all that usefull though and is only a lame step towards switching to touch screen systems, which everyone will be doing in a about a year anyway.
Is this video also on youtube? If so, could someone post me a link? Because I am not able to watch it here.. :(
People who have had to amputate a few fingers for whatever reason......have been completely f***ed by Apple (not to mention life in general).
this is going to cause some finger pains ain't it? constantly moving all your fingers. Like people get arthritis from just too much clicking right? How do you think 4 is guna be.
Arthritis is linked to repetitive motions, not simply using your hands.
If anything, forcing you to switch it up is going to help.
Touch screen works best for systems that are laid out flat (or at slight angle) The distance the arm travels away from the body is not that much. It might work in vertical screens in situations when the interaction is for a short duration such as an ATM.
Imagine the amount of arm fatigue if you use touchscreen on a notebook. This kind of use entails arm being extended and floating away from the body for a long period of time. I doubt Apple will move to a touch screen system. Full touch keyboard is more likely.
With a full touchscreen system it will be possible to use a part of it, as a scaled version, to control the full screen. You can designate any part of the screen to use for that purpose and make it as big or small as you feel comfortable with.
I'm kinda disapointed at the no half finger gesture... I'm all for minimalist stuff.
So can all this gesturing be disabled? Like if I don't want to perform those gyrations? With my current MacBook, the first thing I did was disable trackpad tapping. I was always clicking something accidentally. I prefer to click with the button.
"So can all this gesturing be disabled?"
Of course, just like you've been able to disable them in previous MacBooks. Actually they're not even turned on by default.
Any information whether the "old" multitouch-trackpad of the last version MBP will support the 4finger gesture?
I so much like the expose gesture, I want to have it :)
Generally, the mouse has been a negative in terms of user efficiency (which is why VI still has so many fans). This doesn't change that, but I think it is making using the touchpad a little bit more efficient than it was before.
I 'm wondering if we'll be able to use our iphone/ipod as a trackpad on old macbook.
Great now we have sign language for a trackpad. Nice gimmick but i dont see this as being groundbreaking most people will prob forget all these gestures.
Once you get used to something like this a machine without it seems crippled.
I wish he would of demonstrated using three fingers on the girl.
I'm making a One finger gesture at you. Can you guess what it is?
Apple is forgetting the most important gesture . . . the middle finger gesture. Way to go apple, your innovative design gets in the way of normal operation.
I can understand the usefulness of multi-finger gestures but why don't they just go whole-hog and make a touchscreen. The tech is obviously there. I mean lets get with the creativity again Apple!
It won't be long before we can attach a USB artificial vagina to our dicks and just fuck the dam thing..
one to four finger gestures from apple? i thought one way to do it makes simpler & intuitive just like one button mouse from apple.
perhaps apple should make one button laptop...from a to z to make it simpler & no confusion...one click=>a two clicks=>b etc
Why do they have to be 'creative' and make it like that, what's wrong with having a NORMAL touch pad.
Looks cool when you show people but has zero practicality.
This dude is very annoying.
no claps at the end?
"glossy displays" AND no firewire ports. What the H, Apple?!?
what is next? seven fingers combinations?
I can't wait to get my MBP. Going to wait for a couple of weeks before getting it, but how do you highlight a selection for copy and pasting or did they get rid of that too :)
Sadly, this is not designed for people with 3 or fewer fingers. Just sayin...
first of all they keep saying its a glass trackpad but it looks the same way my 2 year old macbook pro looks. they shouldve put in a REAL glass track pad like the one on the iphone that woudve been hot and beautiful. i feel like apple is the greatest player out there, but there letting there competition catch up to them. 1) blackberry has the storm out now that can do most of what the iphone can if not a bit more, and 2) hp has a full on touch desktop. apple needs to stop holding back and put sick shit out. the 3rd iphone better have some sick features like 1) video confrencing, 2)tehering ur phone with your mac, were paying 30 dollars a month for data plan, are home internet service cost the same we should at least be able to tether 3)paying with your phone, a technology thats used in japan but it would be sick if apple brings it over 4 )and all the basic features a phone should have!! if apple comes out with this in 2009 the competition will be left far behind!
This trackpad feels really goofy in person. I'm not sure that I could get used to it. Well, that and the glossy scren.They should have just kept the one button.
Those gestures look so sweet. I might sell my desktop mac and buy one of these laptops instead.
Actually, I hope Apple releases a netbook that can dock your iPhone so you can use it as a trackpad and as the brain of the netbook.
Like this thing: http://www.engadget.com/2008/10/13/olo-dreams-up-iphone-powered-netbook-celio-shouts-dont-do-it/
The only reason Apple doesn't use two mouse buttons: pride. They're so shallow and insecure in wanting to position themselves as being artsy and progressive, that they can't stomach the notion of Microsoft doing something right (for once).
The first thing I do with a laptop is turn off tap button functionality. It never works well enough to interpret your actions correctly. That's esp. annoying in photoshop, when it thinks you're tapping instead of dragging.
This to me is an obvious case of form over function, which Apple seems to be doing more of. Less buttons isn't always better, even if it better matches your minimalist aesthetics.
How can you argue with the slick Aluminum? Ok- you all have good points. But sucha beauty. Had to order one along with a new sleevecase from www.sfbags.com. Shipping next week. Sweet sistas.
Except I normally use my thumbs on the touchpad since my thinkpad has buttons above the pad as well (designed to match the stick in the keyboard) - multifingering the pad is not something I ever want to do since that means moving my hands, which is inefficiant.
My Asus EeePC 1000H makes almost all the same, costing € 349.00 ...
i do like the full button track pad.... interesting.
Apple hasn't made a single button mouse or single-click trackpad for years now.
is there such thing as a external trackpad? i like using a trackpad more than a mouse, any hacks or mods if there is no product?