Andrew Liszewski, writing at The Verge, about a thing that should probably not be made:
Apple may have said goodbye to the MacBook Pro’s Touch Bar last year, but a team of four engineers believes the concept deserves a second chance. They’ve created the Flexbar, which is essentially a standalone version of the MBP’s thin touchscreen display that can be used with multiple devices and platforms through a USB connection.
The Flexbar’s creators have started a new company, Eniac, which is attempting to bring the accessory to consumers through a Kickstarter crowdfunding campaign. The earliest backers can preorder one discounted to $119 from the full MSRP of $179, with delivery expected as early as February 2025.
I don’t know anything about the folks behind this project, but it seems to be that this a little like the time the Germans opened the Ark of the Covenant in Raiders of the Lost Ark. It’s best to keep your eyes shut when it comes to the Touch Bar. Let it rest in peace.
Existential concerns about the fabric of space and time aside, the $2,569 goal for the Kickstarter immediately caught my attention. That is basically no money when it comes to manufacturing hardware like this and to build the accompanying software.