News of an OLED Bar or Touch Bar being included in the new MacBook Pro has been roaming the web sine early this year. No one, at lest from the general public, really know when or where the news came out. Various reports say that the Touch bar is just a rumor, and some sources only have rendered photographs, while some say that someone in Apple leaked it.
Today, Apple fans have been delighted that the rumors can finally lay to rest as Apple CEO Tim Cook announces that there is indeed a Touch Bar in the new MacBook Pro. While some are excited with this feature, some may be disappointed, since there are no function keys on the MacBook Pro with the Touch Bar.
The Touch Bar is a first among computers, but being the first may not mean the best. With just less than 24 hours away from the unveiling, it may be too early to judge. However, MacBook Pro users cannot help but think of ways to learn and adjust to the new Touch Bar. Users are speculating that losing the "FN keys" or function keys may not be beneficial for everyone.
Each FN key has its own intended purpose; they can do so much more than just adjusting the brightness of the screen, dimming the keyboard and turning the volume up or down. The ESC key will also no longer be available with the Touch Bar, and this makes developers and other power users disappointed.
Some may never use the ESC Key, but that is not true with people using their machines for work purposes. Power users commonly utilize almost 100 percent of their keyboard to maximize productivity. Missing one key may affect them in ways that are way bigger than people who only use their MacBook Pros for streaming and simple internet browsing.
What is the Touch Bar anyway? It is a mini retina display located on top of the keyboard and replaces the FN keys placements. It is a multi touch screen that is supports up to 10-finger touch all at the same time and also utilizes gestures and taps.
According to Apple, it is a feature that makes the function keys even more versatile and capable. The mini retina display changes automatically based on what the user is doing, show relevant tools, and can also give access to the systems controls. A Touch ID is also located on the bar for additional security and integrates with Apple pay for authentication
The display is supposed to change icons and available menu items depending on what the user is doing, an example is when a user is chatting with someone, the mini display can show word suggestions or emojis on the screen. The Touch Bar can also show your favorite websites when you open a new blank page in Safari.
The Siri button can also be seen and used in the Touch Bar, instead of pressing on Command (CMD) plus Space bar. Aside from these, the Touch Bar will also be able to take advantage of third-party apps such as Adobe Photoshop by showing tool icons to make it easier to the graphic artists. Editors should be able to manipulate pallets and add layers by using the Touch Bar.
To sum it up, the Touch Bar is a wonderful feature that not everyone may agree. It is a wonderful innovation for some, while it may be devastating for others who are used to using the keys that the bar replaced. Aesthetically, it looks great! But is not really necessary. Either way, change is constant and it does not hurt to learn something new everyday. We need to wait for feedback from the new owners but until that day, the Touch Bar will stay with the 2016 MacBook Pro.
