A survey of Apple's input innovations

Deputy editor, reviews

UpdatedFri, September 4, 2015 at 8:00 PM UTC

With Force Touch rumored to arrive on the new iPhones next week, let's take a look back at some of Apple's other notable input methods. Cupertino has always offered a unique spin on the norm, whether it's a mouse with no buttons, multi-touch gestures or a trackpad for your desktop. The pressure-sensitive Force Touch tech that debuted earlier this year on the Apple Watch and new MacBook is just the latest in a line of input innovations from Apple, a collection that's sure to grow in the months to come.

More often than not, the mouse that came bundled with Apple's latest computer featured a new look, too. In fact, Apple's machines were some of the first personal computers to offer mouse input. The company began with one massive button before nixing it entirely in favor of side bumpers. There was even a tiny ball for scrolling on the Mighty Mouse model, and now, a swipe-friendly surface leads the way.

The original iPhone was one of the first mobile devices to accept multi-touch input. What's more, it was also one of the first touchscreen gadgets to favor capacitive touch over a resistive panel, which allowed it to support two-finger input like pinch-to-zoom.

Multi-touch would become a mainstay on Apple devices, arriving alongside OS X Lion. The two-, three- and four-finger swipes handle navigation, offer easy access to apps and more.

Not wanting desktop users to be left out, Apple debuted the Magic Trackpad to handle those multi-touch gestures for iMacs and more. Thanks to Bluetooth connectivity, the add-on offers the feel of laptop navigation for those who prefer it over a mouse.

Apple's latest mouse may not have any buttons, but it surely lives up to its name. The Mighty Mouse does handle clicks, but the real star of the show is the gesture-friendly top panel. Capable of accepting your taps, scrolls and multi-touch gestures, the mouse gives Mac users a more robust set of navigation tools.

While it isn't a feature that helps you navigate around your device per se, Touch ID is still quite significant. Using your fingerprint to unlock a device, verify purchases and more means you don't have to worry quite as much if you misplace the gadget. What's more, the tech is tucked into the home button, unobtrusive and out of the way.

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The Apple mouse: evolution and simplicity

More often than not, the mouse that came bundled with Apple's latest computer featured a new look, too. In fact, Apple's machines were some of the first personal computers to offer mouse input. The company began with one massive button before nixing it entirely in favor of side bumpers. There was even a tiny ball for scrolling on the Mighty Mouse model, and now, a swipe-friendly surface leads the way.

[Lead image credit: Janitors/Flickr]

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