Apple pulls wraps off 'magic trackpad'
update Apple on Tuesday unveiled the "Magic Trackpad", a touch pad that allows users to operate a desktop computer with finger gestures, eliminating the need for a mouse.
Apple's Magic Trackpad brings multi-touch to the desktop. (Credit: Apple)
The Magic Trackpad costs AU$99 in the online Apple Store.
The battery-powered device, which looks a bit like a notepad made out of glass and aluminium, connects to Apple's Mac desktop computers using Bluetooth wireless technology.
It allows users to operate their machines using the tapping, swiping and pinching finger gestures well known to owners of iPhones or iPads.
Apple said it works from as far as 10 metres away from the computer.
The touch-pad technology has already featured in Apple's MacBook Pro notebook computers.
After closing the Online Store overnight, Apple unveiled new iMac desktop computers, featuring more powerful processors behind the usual 21.5- and 27-inch screens.
The new iMac family — shipping now in Australia — includes options for Intel Core i3, i5 and i7 CPUs, as well as more discrete graphics card options based on ATI's Radeon family and various other additions.
Local prices for the iMacs start at AU$1599 for the 3.06GHz Intel Core i3 with a 21.5-inch screen, 4GB of RAM and an ATI Radeon HD 4670 graphics card. The 3.2GHz Intel Core i3 and 21-inch iMac has a recommended retail price of AU$1999, while the price goes up to AU$2199 for the same model but with a 27-inch display.
The 27-inch 2.8GHz quad-core Core i5 iMac models start at a recommended retail price of AU$2599.
"Configure-to-order options" are available for the 3.6GHz Core i5, 2.93GHz and quad-core Intel Core i7 iMac models — these can include up to 16GB of RAM, a 2TB hard drive and a 256GB solid state drive. All models on the new iMac line feature ATI Radeon graphics cards and 1333MHz memory. The option to purchase a 256GB solid state drive as a primary or secondary drive is available for consumers who purchase an iMac with a 27-inch screen.