Apple vehemently Denies the Imminence of Touchscreen Macs, a Claim Met with Skepticism.
In the realm of tech whispers, when Apple unveiled macOS Big Sur back in 2020, boasting its iOS-inspired icons, reimagined menus, and Control Center clone, many, including yours truly, jumped to the conclusion that the tech giant was orchestrating the long-awaited entry of a touchscreen MacBook. After all, what better time for Apple to dip its toes into this touchy territory? However, as Craig Federighi, the soft-spoken overseer of Apple's software, informed us in a recent interview with the Independent, this touch-centric MacBook isn't exactly on the company's roadmap just yet.
In the engineers' corners of Silicon Valley, Federighi and marketing chief Greg Joswiak talked shop about the new M1 chip, its impressive prowess, and the challenges involved in transitioning to a new CPU architecture. Yet, amidst these techy tidbits, it was Federighi's poo-poo on the potential touch-driven MacBook that left a lasting impression.
"When Big Sur hit the stage, and articles started popping up, saying 'Oh my God, look, Apple is preparing for touch,' I was thinking, 'Whoa, why?' I swear, we didn't design and evolve the macOS Big Sur look with touch in mind," Federighi asserted, almost incredulous.
He further clarified that while the iOS and iPadOS-leaning aesthetic of macOS Big Sur was undoubtedly inspired, this was more of a family resemblance borne out of shared heritage rather than an active attempt to incorporate touch functionalities into macOS.
"You see, they all feel like the natural instantiation of the experience for that device. And that's what you're witnessing, not some subtle hint at future input methods changes," Federighi explained, squashing hopes that a touch-enabled MacBook might soon make its way onto our desks.
Now, if you believe Federighi's sincerity (and we wouldn't blame you if you had your doubts), that means a MacBook Touch wouldn't be gracing our laps anytime soon. And that's a tad perplexing, given that macOS Big Sur seems to offer a touch-friendly interface and has a growing library of iOS and iPadOS apps at its disposal. Nonetheless, with Apple more than likely busy polishing its x86-based Intel processors to transition seamlessly into its Apple-designed silicon, I guess we'll just have to wait and see how this saga unfolds.
On a slightly different note, it's also worth mentioning that the latest MacBook fleet lacks an optional cellular module, a curious absence considering that Apple's main competitors offer cellular-enabled laptops. Perhaps, in these socially distanced times, the appeal of a laptop with built-in 4G or 5G connectivity waned, but one can't help but feel that such an omission makes Apple stand out like a sore thumb in a crowd of connectively inclined laptops.
Are you baffled by Apple's choices (or lack thereof) as well? Let's chatter away in the comment section below and express your thoughts!
References:
- When will Apple release a touchscreen MacBook?
- Apple to follow MS Surface with touchscreen MacBook Pro – rumour
- Apple’s Touch-Enabled Macs May Have To Wait Until 2025 (or Later)
- Apple to Delay Release of Touch Screen MacBook until 2023, Reaches 1TB SSD Capacity – Report
- Apple planning to release touchscreen MacBook by 2022 (Report)
- Why Apple Didn't Release a Touchscreen MacBook at WWDC 2020, and What the Future Holds
- Why Apple's Touchscreen MacBook Isn't Happening Yet, And What Comes Next
- Despite the touch-friendly interface of macOS Big Sur and the growing library of iOS and iPadOS apps, Apple's chief software engineer, Craig Federighi, dismissed the idea of a touchscreen MacBook in the near future.
- In a recent interview, Federighi clarified that the iOS and iPadOS-leaning aesthetic of macOS Big Sur was inspired by shared heritage, not an active attempt to incorporate touch functionalities into macOS.
- The absence of an optional cellular module in the latest MacBook fleet is a curious omission, as Apple's main competitors offer cellular-enabled laptops.
- Hopefully, Apple will reconsider the idea of a touchscreen MacBook in the future, given the potential benefits it could offer to users who value portability and connectivity.
