What is a MacBook Pro Touch Bar & What Does it Do?
What Is a Touch Bar?
Microsoft and Google have long been advocates for adding touch screens to laptops. It is present in both Google’s Pixel Chromebook and Microsoft’s own Surface Laptop. In addition to these two, a number of laptops running Chrome OS or Windows 10 include touch-enabled screens.
Apple, on the other hand, has long opposed the notion of including a touchscreen on PCs. Steve Jobs stated during the 2010 iPad launch that using a vertical touchscreen for an extended period of time might be unpleasant and “make your arm fall off.”
The MacBook Pro Touch Bar is a thin strip of glass located at the top of the keyboard on certain MacBook Pro models. This strip acts as a secondary display and offers a dynamic and intuitive way to interact with your Mac. With its multi-touch capabilities, the Touch Bar allows you to perform various tasks with just a few taps and swipes.
When It Was First Launched?
The Touch Bar was introduced in 2016 as a feature of the MacBook Pro and is available on select models. It replaces the function keys that were traditionally located at the top of the keyboard and adds a new level of customization and convenience to the MacBook Pro experience.
Touch Bar Functionalities
The Touch Bar is not a fixed display and its contents can change based on the application or task you are working on. This means that the Touch Bar can offer relevant shortcuts and options for the current task at hand.
For example, when you’re using Safari, the Touch Bar can show you a list of your favorite websites and bookmarks, allowing you to quickly navigate to your desired destination. When you’re in the Photos app, the Touch Bar can show you a slideshow of your photos. In Final Cut Pro, the Touch Bar can provide quick access to editing tools and features, making the video editing process faster and more efficient. The Touch Bar can also be used to control volume, brightness, and other system settings, and can even be used to type emoji.
The Touch Bar is also customizable, allowing you to personalize the shortcuts and controls that appear on the bar. This customization can be done using the System Preferences app on your Mac. Here, you can choose which controls appear on the Touch Bar and in what order they appear. You can even add custom shortcuts to the Touch Bar, making it easier to access the tools and features you use most frequently.
Another great feature of the Touch Bar is its integration with Siri, Apple’s virtual assistant. With the Touch Bar, you can quickly access Siri and ask for help with various tasks. You can ask Siri to find a file, send an email, set a reminder, or even search the web. Siri integration with the Touch Bar makes it easier and more convenient to use your Mac and get things done.
The Touch Bar is also a great way to keep your work organized. With the Touch Bar, you can switch between open applications, view your desktop, and access the Dock. You can also use the Touch Bar to create a new Finder window or start a new note in the Notes app. The Touch Bar even provides quick access to the Siri Suggestions, which are personalized recommendations based on your recent activity on your Mac.
In terms of security, the Touch Bar also offers an added level of protection. With Touch ID, you can use your fingerprint to unlock your Mac and make purchases with Apple Pay. Touch ID is available on select MacBook Pro models and is a quick and secure way to access your Mac and make purchases online.
Bottom Line
The MacBook Pro Touch Bar is a dynamic and versatile feature that offers a new level of convenience and customization to the MacBook Pro experience. With its multi-touch capabilities, the Touch Bar allows you to perform various tasks with just a few taps and swipes, and provides quick access to the tools and features you use most frequently. Whether you’re using your Mac for work or play, the Touch Bar is a great way to stay organized and get things done more efficiently.
