Katie MarsalFiled on Monday, the publicly available application from Apple seeks control of the trademark in relation to computers and devices in both hardware and software. It does not give any indication whether a Magic Trackpad would represent a standalone product, or a rebranding of the multi-touch trackpad on existing MacBook hardware.
The naming would correspond with the new multi-touch Magic Mouse introduced by Apple last fall. The entire surface of the device can track independent fingers for activities like scrolling and zooming, much like on an iPhone or iPod touch.
Last October, before Apple introduced its new line of iMac desktops, Daring Fireball's John Gruber shared a rumor that the company could introduce a multi-touch trackpad for desktop Macs. However, the supposed product was not unveiled and nothing has been said of it since.
The multi-touch trackpad was first introduced to the MacBook Air family of notebooks, though it was later brought to the MacBook Pro and MacBook line of portable computers.
In December, it was discovered that a dummy corporation set up by Apple called Slate Computing had obtained ownership of the "Magic Slate" trademark. That same company owns the "iSlate" trademark, and Apple owns the islate.com domain name.
At the time, the slate names were seen as a possible brand for Apple's then-unannounced tablet device. In January, Apple revealed its final, true name: the iPad.
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31 Comments
iSlate = iPad on steroids?
I could see it happening. It would be the same size roughly, but with camera, usb port, etc, so it's more resemblant of a real laptop in connectivity and functionality.
It's a thought.
And whats the big deal with Apple and the word magic? Did you watch the video about the iPad on Apples site? They're all taking turns calling it magic this, magic that. It seems like they are all just kind of circle jerking themselves by calling it magic and going on and on about how "Amazing" "Wonderful" "Awesome" and "Fantastic" it is. I couldn't find the video on youtube again after a quick search, but i saw a good couple minute video using just the superlatives all the presenters were using during the keynote, not repeating any. It was really funny.
Apple sure does make great products, and they are great at marketing, and all that, but sometimes its just... weird.
Standalone/desktop multitouch trackpad? Count me in!
The day will come I will install AirMouse application on iPad and then I would maybe miss only truly magic trackpad and keyboard. But I know right out of here, that the latter doesn't actually exist...
Hopefully this will materialize. I'd rather a trackpad for desktop Macs over the magic mouse.
Hopefully this will materialize. I'd rather a trackpad for desktop Macs over the magic mouse.
Agreed, Apple moving to the iMac's 'chick-let' style keyboard (a la the laptops) was a good idea. I much prefer it to the old style keyboards. I thought it was a nod to the fact that more people are buying laptops and a lot have both desktops and laptops, as I do.
I could see an iMac keyboard with a glass track pad in the same orientation as a laptop and do away with need for a mouse altogether!