Why Is the Touch Bar Absent from the Apple Magic Keyboard?
The absence of the Touch Bar on the Apple Magic Keyboard has been a topic of debate among users and tech enthusiasts. Some users and experts believe that technical challenges played a role, while others argue that it is merely a marketing strategy rather than a necessity.
Is There a Genuine Technical Challenge?
Surprisingly, there are minimal technical challenges that would prevent the inclusion of the Touch Bar on the Apple Magic Keyboard. The Touch Bar itself, while innovative, is not a highly complex component in terms of hardware or design. Instead, the absence of the Touch Bar on the Magic Keyboard can be attributed to strategic decisions and support concerns.
Technical Considerations
One of the main technical reasons cited for the absence of the Touch Bar on the Apple Magic Keyboard is the requirement for high-speed and high-resolution connectivity.
The Touch Bar does require a significant amount of bandwidth due to its high resolution and low latency. It is connected internally via the USB-C bus with short, high-bandwidth cabling to ensure quick response times. Additionally, the Touch Bar, including the fingerprint touch sensor, needs to be trusted hardware to secure the data stream. An external connection could compromise this security, which is a major concern for Apple.
Another factor is the power requirement for an illuminated display, which would make the Magic Keyboard less appealing for a battery-powered device, especially in its wireless variant.
Other Considerations
The main reasons for the absence of the Touch Bar on the Magic Keyboard are more related to support and practicality rather than technical limitations.
Support Hassles: Even without technical challenges, the Touch Bar requires specific hardware compatibility. Inevitably, someone could buy the Magic Keyboard and try to plug it into an older Mac or a Windows box, only to find that it doesn’t work. Most systems expect USB HID hardware to be low-powered and low-speed, and while the OLED display would not consume a lot, it may still be a factor.
Chain of Trust Issue: The Touch Bar, especially with its fingerprint touch sensor, relies on a secure connection. Having an external connection compromises the 'chain of trust' that enables features like TouchID. This is particularly important for devices that need to be secure, as even with an A-Series coprocessor with Secure Enclave, external connections can introduce security vulnerabilities.
Future Prospects: It is likely that an external variant of the Touch Bar, with onboard processors and secure connections, would make its debut on Apple Silicon desktops. This would address the current limitations and potentially make it a viable option for external keyboards.
Conclusion: While the absence of the Touch Bar on the Apple Magic Keyboard may seem like a missed opportunity for some, it is more likely due to practical and support issues rather than technical limitations. As technology advances, it is plausible that future versions of the Magic Keyboard will feature an external Touch Bar with enhanced compatibility and security.
For more information on the evolution of Apple’s keyboard designs and the future of external accessories, continue reading below: