What would make Apple’s iMac even cooler, sleeker and sexier than it already is? Well, an interactive touchscreen, of course!
Sounds to good to be true, right?
Wrong!
Yes, Sintek Photronics has reportedly sent samples of projected capacitive touch panels to Apple – which could be integrated into the next-gen iMac all-in-one (AIO) lineup.
“Projected capacitive touch panels are typically produced by placing touch sensors over the panel and then a cover glass over the sensors,” explained Susie Pan of DigiTimes.
“The conventional method is not only costly and complex, but affects display brightness.”
However, according to Pan, the new iMac will boast a capacitive panel that integrates both the touch sensor and cover glass to reduce thickness as well as weight.
The next-gen display is also expected to feature a “good” vertical and horizontal viewing angle.
Still, as Sam Oliver of AppleInsider notes, DigiTimes did not provide a release date for the rumored hardware.
“In January of this year, [reports] indicated that a 22-inch touchscreen iMac would launch in 2010. But the claims in Friday’s report that Apple is still testing touch panels would suggest that a 2010 launch is not likely.
“[Nevertheless], a number of [recent] patent applications from Apple show touch-capable iMac-style desktop computers [may be in the works],” he added.
