Possible references to MacBook Pro OLED 'Function Row' spotted in Pages code

A reference to a "Dynamic Function Row" has been spotted in Apple's latest release of the Pages word processing app, potentially confirming a rumored name for the OLED touch bar on the new MacBook Pro.

Spotted by Consomac, a text entry has been found in the MenuCommands.strings system file for Apple's Pages, with a menu option titled "Customize Function Row."

The entry may be for something else, however. Presumably, multiple applications would require the ability to modify an OLED touch sensitive function row, and AppleInsider searches of the latest beta's files have as of yet found no other references to the feature.

Monday's report reiterated previous rumors about the OLED function bar, giving it a name for the first time. The "Dynamic Function Row" is said to display both a virtual row of function keys and may be tailorable by developers or users app-specific commands.

MacBook Pro render. | Source: Martin Hajek

Still not known is any prospective announcement date for new Apple hardware. Any new MacBook Pro announced in the fall is expected to have a "Polaris" AMD GPU, Thunderbolt 3, and USB 3.1 generation 2 in addition to the rumored "Dynamic Function Row."

16 Comments

macapfel 15 Years · 575 comments

About 8 years ago

I am so much waiting for the new MacBook Pro! About time they release a new notebook machine. I am equally looking forward to a new Pages. There are still quite some important features missing that were available in the old '09 iWorks.

jbishop1039 9 Years · 258 comments

I have no problem if the new MBP looks exactly like it does in that picture above. That looks great actually. I only hope they do one thing like they used to, even though it affects the machine in no way other than cosmetic reasons. I do hope they put the MacBook Pro text back in at the bottom of the screen. Don't know why but I really liked it there haha.

vukasika 10 Years · 103 comments

Seriously? I don't want a touch row, I want a touch screen. What's so damn hard about that? How about a 1:2 that's a Mac OS when connected & iSO when I have the screen detached. I use to love the Apple Events, now it seems all the real innovation is happening at Microsoft & Google. Just sad.... damn a touch sensitive row.

MrAnon 8 Years · 1 comment

@Vukasika So what you want is...an iPad Pro?

foljs 15 Years · 390 comments

vukasika said:

Seriously? I don't want a touch row, I want a touch screen. What's so damn hard about that?

It's hard to find a utility for it, outside of MS Surface commercials.

First, holding your hand horizontally for even 5 minutes is both unnatural and painful.

So, unless it's detachable (and that comes with serious tradeoffs in construction, e.g. suddenly you need to put the cpu, batteries etc. in the screen side, not under the keyboard, and make it bulkier) it doesn't make any sense.

Second, for tablet like use Apple already has a far more suitable and task oriented machine out there. Which has applications AND OS optimized for touch input.