Apple just added a mini touch display on the keyboards of its new laptops — here's what it can do (AAPL)

October 27, 2016 at 15:22 PM EDT

Apple

Apple has taken the wraps off its new MacBook Pro, and it’s ditched the row of physical function keys that's been on every personal computer for decades.

In their place, there’s the “Touch Bar,” a thin touch display that provides different settings and shortcuts based on what you’re doing.

It'll be available in one model of 13-inch MacBook Pro, which starts at $1,799, as well as the 15-inch version, which starts at $2,399. Both will ship in the next two to three weeks.

It also looks pretty wild! So to give you a sense of how it works, here’s a quick look at some of the things it can do.

The Touch Bar is an OLED, multitouch, high-def strip that adjusts dynamically, depending on what app you're using. If you're browsing the web, for instance, it can preview your open tabs. If you're checking Calendar, it can give you shortcuts for each day or week. It can still work like a usual set of function keys, too — so no, the Escape key isn't gone completely.

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On a system level, you can use it to quickly adjust your volume and screen brightness.

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While you're web browsing, you can quickly scroll through your saved favorite sites, then open them with a tap.

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It can also suggest words while you're typing, much like the on-screen keyboard on the iPhone and iPad. If your word corresponds to an emoji, one of those will pop up too.

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In the Mail app, you can quick select certain contacts, then add them to a message. You can also access typical commands for creating a new message, replying, trashing, and the like.

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See the rest of the story at Business Insider