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Touchscreen iMac rumor snuffed

Taiwanese talker shocker

Remember that report from late last week that Apple was sampling displays for an upcoming touchscreen iMac? Well, fuggedaboutit.

For now, at least.

Last Friday, the Taiwanese market-watchers at DigiTimes reported that the touch-panel and solar-panel manufacturer Sintek had supplied Apple with samples of their projected capacitive touch panels for a Cupertinian once-over.

This Tuesday, DigiTimes issued a concise retraction: "Barry Wu, VP and spokesperson of Sintek Photronics has denied reports that the company is sampling projected capacitive touch panels for Apple's iMac."

Well, that's that.

Those uninitiated in the ways of Jobs & Co might think: "Wu could merely be covering up, denying involvement to keep the secret a secret." But they'd be wrong.

In you humble Reg reporter's experience since the Jobsian Second Coming in the late '90's, the first rule about working with Apple is that you don't talk about working with Apple. That means no confirmations, no denials, no hints, no facial tics, no hand gestures, no nuthin'.

As one industry rep recently told your reporter when asked about his company's involvement in a known Cupertinian endeavor: "Apple? I can't even talk about the fruit!"

So if Wu says he's not working with Apple, odds are high that he's not working with Apple.

Touchscreen iMac rumors — intriguing patent or no intriguing patent — will have to wait for another day. ®

Latest Comments

Touchscreen-based iMac

Apple has been working on a touchscreen-based iMac have been circulating for some time, and last week’s report seemed to add more fule to that fire. With the company’s denial, however, it seems less likely that Apple is working on bringing a touch-based iMac to market any time soon.

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Anonymous Coward

Touchscreen? Pah!

Touchscreens are a royal PITA. Suddenly you need to sit within easy reach of your screen. I'm only using a 19" screen - small by modern Mac standards and I can't touch it without leaning forwards. With a bigger screen I'd be sitting even further back. I'll stick to a mouse thanks.

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No touchscreen iMacs...

That's okay, I can live with that.

But at least consider support for consumer grade touchscreens like the Acer T230H (reviewed by Reg Hardware in the past) for people who buy a Mac Mini and Mac Pro. No touch support can easily be an argument for Win7.

Tux, because even Linux supports multi-touch.

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Maybe...

Sintek doesn't know about Apple rules. However, touchscreen iMacs are coming; it's a given. It's the next natural step, and of course, there's that damnable patent filing showing a new paradigm in desktop monitor handling.

Maybe Apple may be recreating the MacOS to make it more touch- suitable/friendly. They don't rest on their laurels.

It's coming; if I could, I'd bet on it.

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