Apple announced a new Retina display 'Touch Bar' replacing the function key strip on the keyboards of its two top-tier MacBook Pro notebooks at its "Hello again" event today.

Apple software engineer Craig Federighi showed off the customizable sapphire crystal Touch Bar in action, which can also be used as a traditional Function key set and supports a host of native and third-party apps.

touch bar
Apple says the Touch ID component in the Touch Bar features an Apple T1 chip with a secure enclave for security purposes.

The Touch ID sensor recognizes account holders instantly and also supports account switching. System controls can be used and they also support gestures and swipes for controlling brightness, for example.

Contextual controls in apps are fully supported. For example, the Mail app gains Touch Bar controls for composing messages, replying, flagging, filing, and formatting options.

When composing, Quick Type options like in iOS appear on the bar, with like Siri predictions. Emojis are also displayed in the Messages app: browsing emojis by frequently used or by category can be achieved with simple swipes.

Naviagation in and between apps is also included. The touch bar can be used to move between tabs, previews, previews. and opening new tabs with favorites ready to select.

Lastly, Final Cut Pro, Photoshop, and Photos are also supported - users can use Photoshop tools, swipe through photo collections, and use playback controls when viewing photos and editing videos.

Related Forums: MacBook Pro, macOS Sierra

Top Rated Comments

RowellE Avatar
90 months ago
I feel like most of the stuff you do on the Touch Bar is what the trackpad is for...
Score: 11 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Mac 128 Avatar
90 months ago
While I think there's some great potential here ... a lot of the touch bars just replace things that could be accessed by the mouse, requiring a person to take their hands off the trackpad.

I suppose this is all getting us ready for Touch-based macOS...
Score: 7 Votes (Like | Disagree)
thisisnotmyname Avatar
90 months ago
I like the concept. Hope they provide a new magic keyboard too so I can be consistent on my Mac Pro too.
Score: 5 Votes (Like | Disagree)
netsped Avatar
90 months ago
I feel like most of the stuff you do on the Touch Bar is what the trackpad is for...
And keyboard shortcuts.

The lady demoing Final Cut appears to find Touch Bar really uncomfortable using it though.
Score: 5 Votes (Like | Disagree)
lhymes Avatar
90 months ago
I find it odd that Apple has developed a means of interacting with content creation that takes your eyes away from the content... hate to be the one to say this, but the whole thing is very counter-intuitive.
Score: 5 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Scoobysnack1 Avatar
90 months ago
Wow! That was completely underwhelming. And the prices are just incredible. I don't think I can justify this kind of expense for a laptop. They've completely price themselves out of the range of 99% of the population. Computers for the 1%. Just like the iPad pros, way too expensive. I guess I'm gonna have to learn to live with windows 10. Apple has completely done away with their entry and mid level computers and gone super ultra high premium. For the first time in 35 years I will have to be a Windows user. Too bad. I'm a little sad to say goodbye community. It's been nice being one of you.
Score: 5 Votes (Like | Disagree)

Popular Stories

iphone se 4 modified flag edges

iPhone SE 4 Details: Action Button, USB-C Port, Face ID, and More

Wednesday September 27, 2023 1:34 pm PDT by
Significant changes are expected to arrive with Apple's fourth-generation iPhone SE, in terms of both design and hardware, MacRumors has learned. The iPhone SE 4, known internally under the codename Ghost, is expected to receive a new design derived almost entirely from the base model iPhone 14. According to our sources, the iPhone SE 4 will use a modified version of the iPhone 14 chassis...
Multi Display CarPlay 1

All-New Apple CarPlay Launching Later This Year With These 5 New Features

Friday September 29, 2023 11:29 am PDT by
At WWDC 2022 last year, Apple previewed the next generation of CarPlay, promising deeper integration with vehicle functions like A/C and FM radio, support for multiple displays across the dashboard, personalization options, and more. Apple said the first vehicles with support for the next-generation CarPlay experience would be announced in late 2023, but it has still not shared any additional...
iOS 17

Everything New in iOS 17.1 Beta 1

Wednesday September 27, 2023 1:57 pm PDT by
Just a week after releasing iOS 17, Apple has seeded the first beta of iOS 17.1 to developers. iOS 17.1 adds some features that Apple promised were coming to iOS 17 in the future, plus it refines and improves some existing features. This guide covers everything new in the first iOS 17.1 beta. Apple Music Favorites You can favorite songs, albums, playlists, and artists in the iOS 17.1...
iPhone 15 Pro lineup

iPhone 15 Pro Overheating Concerns Highlighted in Two More Reports

Thursday September 28, 2023 6:25 am PDT by
iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max overheating concerns continue to make headlines this week, with the topic highlighted by The Wall Street Journal and Bloomberg. Both of the reports document anecdotal complaints from customers, and outline potential causes, but it's unclear how many devices are actually affected. Bloomberg said the overheating could be caused or compounded by the iPhone's setup...
iPhone 15 Pro lineup

Apple to Address iPhone 15 Pro Overheating Issue With iOS 17 Update

Saturday September 30, 2023 9:28 am PDT by
Apple plans to release an iOS 17 update to address a bug that may contribute to the reported iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max overheating issue, according to a statement the company shared today with MacRumors and Forbes reporter David Phelan. Apple also says some recent updates to third-party apps have overloaded the system and contributed to the overheating issue. The report notes that...
iPhone 15 USB C Port Keynote

Some USB-C Power Banks Fail to Work With iPhone 15

Thursday September 28, 2023 2:06 pm PDT by
Apple added a USB-C port to the iPhone 15 lineup this year, allowing it to work with USB-C cables, USB-C power banks, and more. It turns out that some USB-C battery packs are not working properly with Apple's iPhone 15, resulting in charging issues. As highlighted on Reddit and the MacRumors forums, not all existing USB-C power banks can be used with the iPhone 15 models, perhaps due to the...
iOS 17

Apple Releases iOS 17.0.2 and iPadOS 17.0.2 for All iPhones and iPads

Tuesday September 26, 2023 12:47 pm PDT by
Apple today released iOS 17.0.2 and iPadOS 17.0.2 updates, with the software coming five days after the releases of iOS 17.0.1 and iPadOS 17.0.1. Today's iOS 17.0.2 and iPadOS 17.0.2 updates arrive as build 21A351 and can be downloaded on eligible iPhones and iPads over-the-air by going to Settings > General > Software Update. Note that iOS 17.0.2 was previously made available for iPhone...