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Patent: Invisible button on future MacBook Pros

by Megan Lavey-Heaton Apr 30th 2010 at 9:00AM

AppleInsider has the story of a patent application that would turn any place on the aluminum shell of a MacBook Pro into a disappearing input space by utilizing invisible backlit holes.

The application describes an input device made of the same material as the computer housing, so when not in use, it disappears. Light, combined with a capacitive sensor, would enable it to work. The patent example showing this in action displays a control wheel that's similar to the iPod's.

Comparisons are made in the patent to the iPhone's touchscreen surface and its drawbacks -- mainly the seams and the fragility. Indeed, something made of aluminum would be a lot tougher and not look as tacked-on as plastic or rubber.

Other uses for such a device would be a trackpad, external button, a display when the computer lid is closed, Wi-Fi signal/battery indicators and more.

[via Techcrunch]



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AppleInsider has the story of a patent application that would turn any place on the aluminum shell of a MacBook Pro into a disappearing...
 

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claude.suddreth

Absolutely cool technology. Always from Apple! Way to go!

June 02 2010 at 12:31 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
turbochargedbrick

Sounds exactly like how they hide the green webcam light on the pre unibody macbooks, it appears to shine through tiny holes in the aluminium.


May 01 2010 at 7:14 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
turbochargedbrick

Sounds exactly like how they hide the green webcam light on the

May 01 2010 at 7:12 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
nik.cooper

Did anyone else click on that title expecting to read about a patent on a button that turns your MacBook Pro invisible?

No?

April 30 2010 at 11:23 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Metryq

"Transparent aluminum?"

April 30 2010 at 3:00 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Les

It reminds me of Wall-E's significant other, EVE.

April 30 2010 at 12:00 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
(01)

This seems weird to me, as the location of the button is where I generally rest my palms when typing on my MBP.

April 30 2010 at 11:07 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Mike

I can see Steve introducing a new line of MacBook Pros with no trackpad, but then being like "That's because the whole area under the keyboard is actually an invisible trackpad/button combo like on the old MacBooks and MacBook Pros." And of course, he would say "boom" when demonstrating.

April 30 2010 at 10:39 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
James

Clearly, I think you've missed the point, Anthony.

April 30 2010 at 10:33 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
2 replies to James's comment
Anthony La

I was talking more about the lights for stuff like battery indicators (which probably belong on the side of the MacBook) more than anything else, actually. It'd still seem a little unusual (though maybe futuristic) to me to have a dial on the trackpad or anything.

April 30 2010 at 11:16 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Stripes

"was talking more about the lights for stuff like battery indicators "

It would still be "minimal" if you had to touch a spot to see the battery indicator (I'm not sure how useful that would be). It also might fit in with "minimal" if there isn't a battery level indicator UNTIL the battery gets low (i.e. it isn't constant visual noise to ignore, it is a clear and valuable warning).

Donno if it would happen of corse, just that it wouldn't be inconsistent with a desire to keep things looking clean and sleek.

April 30 2010 at 12:42 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Anthony La

I doubt we'd see indicators. Apple's obviously dead against them.

Though wouldn't anything like this sorta destroy the minimalism in their laptops?

April 30 2010 at 9:21 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
2 replies to Anthony La's comment
Rudi

you can't get much more minimalistic than invisible now can you

April 30 2010 at 9:41 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
JustinX

If Apple wants to add a 'button', this is pretty much the most minimalistic way to do it.

And the phrase is "dead set against" not "dead against"

April 30 2010 at 10:46 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
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