Cupertino (CA) – Apple has been quite clear about the multi-touch in desktop and notebook computers – this feature will not be available in the near term. However, contrary to the public statement, we received word that Apple may be working on a multi-touch project due for a Macworld introduction in January 2009. Supporting this information is a report that iMac display maker LG is currently taking steps to mass-produce multi-touch displays.

According to Stuff.tv, which recently visited one of LG's display factories, the company is pretty much ready ship multi-touch devices. "The screen itself looks like it's good–to–go," says the post. "LG’s done it's bit, so Apple, it's over to you."

Of course, LG is making LCDs for other manufacturers as well and sells LCD displays under its own brand. Let’s not forget that Windows 7 will be released in late 2009 and these multi-touch displays could simply be Windows 7 LCDs. And if Apple is really preparing a multi-touch iMac, it would not even represent the first foray of a major computer maker into multi-touch desktops.

If we put aside Microsoft’s Surface technology for a moment, it was widely believed that Apple would follow last year's commercial debut of multi-touch technology in iPhone with the technology deployment across its entire desktop line. This has not happened yet. In the meantime, HP beat Apple at its own game with its TouchSmart series of all-in-one desktops unveiled this summer.

Priced against Apple's Mac desktop, HP's TouchSmart desktops distance themselves from the iMac with built-in touchscreen display used to navigate around the system and manipulate media. On top of that, higher-end TouchSmart PCs offer much more performance than iMacs in terms of graphics, memory and storage. In addition to the TouchSmart desktops, HP last week unveiled the TouchSmart tx2 notebook.

At the same time, the lack of any kind of system-wide multitouch support in Snow Leopard, due in March 2009, makes multitouch iMac somewhat uncertain at this point. Of course, it is entirely possible that the company comes up with a multi-touch iMac for the January 2009 Macworld Expo and introduce comprehensive multi-touch support in Snow Leopard in the last minute.

i dont think Apple can defeat HP’s 25 years o...

Nov 25, 2008 12:02     

i dont think Apple can defeat HP’s 25 years of touch technology experience, which began with the introduction of the HP-150, with a touch screen PC that was well ahead of its time, in 1983. and the new TouchSmart PC's use “capacitive multi-touch technology,” which enables the use of gestures such as pinch, rotate, arc, flick, press and drag, and single and double tap.
siddhu report abuse vote down vote up Votes: -2

finger print!!!

Nov 25, 2008 14:15     

just when I hate my iphone's little screen's many finger print all over the place and the glass service is hard to wipe clean... I certainly does not want to have 22 inch of LCD screen full of finger prints and body oil all over it.... I mean I am not running a restaurant and in a restaurant, it's easy to press huge button to finish the job with software written with that in mind. As for PC functions, how can you make use of the touch screen? unless someone re-writes all sofware to use touch screen....which is not laying flat on the table and make it even harder to use...

yo report abuse vote down vote up Votes: -1

Oh look there copying windows 7...

Nov 25, 2008 15:06     

I remember all the mac heads saying how dumb it would be to have a multi touch desktop (which I kind of agree with) but now I bet they'll be out saying what a great idea this is and only Apple would think of such a thing. All bow down and give ur paychecks to Steve Jobs.
Action Jackson report abuse vote down vote up Votes: -3