February 15, 2008
Multi-touch trackpad more than meets the software
Posted Feb. 15, ’08, 11:53 AM PT by Dan Pourhadi
Category | Hardware
There was some initial speculation that current MacBooks and MacBook Pros could receive a simple software/firmware update to activate the various multi-touch features of the MacBook Air’s trackpad (three finger swiping, rotating, pinching, etc.). The argument was that these older trackpads already have multi-touch technology in the form of two-finger scrolling. And hey, if they can do that, why not the other stuff?
Because these notebooks don’t have the appropriate multi-touch hardware, that’s why. Duh.
A tear-down of the MacBook Air revealed that it uses the same multi-touch controller chip as the iPhone, something the MacBooks and MacBook Pros lack. T3 claimed a software update would enable these features on the older machines, but they pulled the article when Apple sent them a statement basically denying that possibility:
“MacBook Air features the most advanced trackpad we’ve ever made, integrating the multi-touch technology from the iPhone. This integrated feature is unique to MacBook Air.”
So, sorry MacBook Bulk owners, no multi-touch goodness for you. There are of course rumors that the next generation of these machines will receive the multi-touch touch, which seems pretty inevitable.
Now if you’ll excuse me, I’m going to pinch some pictures in iPhoto…just because I can.
[via MacRumors]
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And why does "the pinch" works on Google Earth?
"Now if you’ll excuse me, I’m going to pinch some pictures in iPhoto…just because I can."
Wow.
Air owners are an even MORE arrogant breed of Mac user than the rest of us.
Enjoy your $1800 word processor, jackass.