magic

How the Magic Trackpad could be more magical

Apple seems to be in the later phases of a touch revolution as of late--or, at least, it seems to be trying to complete the loop. In a movement started by the iPhone and continued in MacBook multitouch trackpads, the Apple Magic Trackpad extends multitouch to non-laptop Mac owners who might feel left out of the pinch-to-zoom/multi-finger swipe party.

Touch is hardly an Apple-only trend--in fact, many desktop Windows all-in-ones already incorporate touch-screen environments. Apple does, however, seem to be keen on possibly phasing out the mouse from its plans and working a common language of touch gestures across all Apple products. Could this portend iOS creeping its way into OSX? That's still unclear, but the Magic Trackpad does offer some possibilities all its own, whether or not iOS makes a Mac debut.

As a compact square slab, the Trackpad could ideally do things that a regular mouse just can't, including be a lap device for living-room use. While we found the Magic Trackpad to work well and do what it advertises, it really could go a lot more places in the future. Right now, the Magic Trackpad isn't really "magic." But it could be, in the future. Here's what we'd like next: … Read more

The 404 632: Where we give them something to talk about (podcast)

All week long we've been discussing this year's Comic Con(vention) in California, an annual gathering where Conheads can buy, sell, and trade all manner of nerdly paraphernalia. It's also a good opportunity for companies to introduce new products, and our buddy Claire brought us back a bottle of SULU Pour Homme, the new fragrance from the folks at Genki Wear.

Designed for the man "wielding a rapier in a swordfight or commanding the helm of a Constitution-class starship," SULU is actually Genki's SIXTH Trek-inspired frangrance- past colognes include Tiberius, Red Shirt, Pon Farr for Women, … Read more

Is Apple's Magic Trackpad a gesture too far?

Remember just a few years ago when Apple was lambasted for shipping a one-button mouse with its Macs, and there was constant speculation as to why the company stubbornly refused to offer a multibutton option? The given reasoning was that more buttons would confuse people, even though PC users seemed to do just fine with them. Not that Apple has always shied away from a bit of complexity in the mouse arena--just look at the first Mighty Mouse--but still, there has been something about one-button products that Apple has consistently liked; both the iPhone and iPad have only one button … Read more

Making the switch to Apple? Get the perfect setup

With the undeniable popularity and success of the iPhone 4 (despite the antenna debacle), iPad, and ever-increasing Mac sales, Apple is gaining customers faster than ever. If you're thinking about making the switch, this could be your perfect setup.

Component one: iPhone 4 Now in its fourth iteration, Apple's iPhone has forever changed the mobile phone landscape by thrusting touch-screen technology to the tips of every tech geek's tongue and every consumer's wish list. Despite its early and somewhat overblown issues, iPhone 4 has had record-setting sales. With the exception of the complaints from a vocal minority regarding its antenna, … Read more

Apple releases OS X 10.6.4 update for iMacs; trackpad driver

Apple has released an update to OS X that is specifically for the newly released iMac systems. The update addresses some graphical anomalies that occur in the new systems with the current version of OS X 10.6.4, and also fixes some compatibility issues with reading SDXC memory cards.… Read more

The 404 631: Where we touch our magic trackpad (podcast)

Apple refreshed its lineup of iMac desktop computers this morning to include faster CPUs and an improved graphics chip for games and video editing. The new computers also support larger hard drives (and even solid-state drives) with a higher capacity SDXC card slot for your media and start at $1,199.

Apple also announced a new line of Mac pro machines that offer up to 12 cores and Turbo Boost, a technology that can deliver even higher processor speeds. And the company unveiled a gorgeous 27-inch LED display to complement the new system.

Finally, Apple showed off the Magic Trackpad, … Read more

Hands-on look at Apple Magic Trackpad

UPDATE: Post-software update multitouch impressions below.

Not too long ago, one of us at CNET foretold a future without mice where touch peripherals would dominate. We may not be there yet, but Apple's Magic Trackpad certainly takes us one step closer to fulfilling that prediction.

Announced and available Tuesday, Apple's $69 Bluetooth device is minimalist and not particularly cheap. It is what it seems to be at first glance: a large aluminum square mounted on a slight riser, just like Apple's Bluetooth keyboard. In fact, it's the same depth and height as the keyboard, which lets … Read more

Apple updates iMac line, intros Magic Trackpad

Apple on Tuesday released new iMacs, adding faster processors and new graphics cards. The company also introduced what it calls the Magic Trackpad, allowing users to have the same type of gesture control that they use on the iPhone and iPad.

The iMacs now use Intel's newest processors, the Core i3, Core i5 and Core i7. David Moody, Apple's vice president of worldwide Mac product marketing, told CNET that the processors provide up to a 50 percent increase in processing power over the previous generation.

The 21.5-inch iMac starts with a 3.06GHz i3 processor and the … Read more

New Apple Bluetooth device gets FCC approval, could be rumored Magic Trackpad

The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has granted approval for a yet-unnamed Apple Bluetooth device. Many are speculating this could be the rumored Magic Trackpad device, originally thought to debut with Apple's Magic Mouse last October.… Read more