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Introducing Touch Bar Support!

This past fall, Apple announced an overhaul of their MacBook Pro line of laptop computers. The overhaul included the usual faster-thinner-lighter mantra that we have all grown accustomed to with new hardware upgrades. They even dumped the glowing Apple logo on the back of the clam-shell lid. Instead, it now has a shiny version—similar to what Apple puts on their iPads and iPhones.

THE REIGN OF THE TOUCH BAR

The highlight from the list of improvements was the introduction of what Apple is calling the Touch Bar. It is a long and thin digital screen that runs along the top of the keyboard and replaces the traditional row of F keys (function keys) that typically use this space on a keyboard. The genius of this screen is that it is touch sensitive and operates like the F keys.

Even more exciting are the infinite tasks this glowing strip of glass is ready to take on. For example, when playing a video, the Touch Bar can jump to any position in the video without needing to toggle the controls on the screen, move the mouse to the tracking bar, seek the new location and toggle the controls back off. With this new feature, just drag the control to any position to instantly change the position in your video.

One of the strengths of the new Touch Bar is that Apple leaves it up to the app developer to decide what shows on this screen. Unleashing the power of the Touch Bar requires app updates to make use of the functionality with this new feature. We are excited to announce that the latest version of the Mac Olive Tree Bible App now supports this! We thoughtfully considered what functionality on the Touch Bar would increase productivity and added it.

For the Mac Olive Tree Bible App!

Bible Study Touch Bar controls
The main Touch Bar controls for the Olive Tree Bible App

The figure above shows the buttons we added to the top level Touch Bar. From left to right, we added this functionality: history back, history forward, Go To, Search, increase font size, decrease font size and margin control.

There are other areas of the app that use the Touch Bar as well. For example, you can use this bar to add a note or highlight to selected text. When editing a note, you will find some useful actions on the Touch Bar such as changing the note’s category or adding a tag.

If you have one of the new MacBook Pros, be sure to try the new features, and let us know what you think. We are always open to suggestions and feedback.

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10 Comments

  2. Bill

    Thank you for your continuing commitment to excellence. I’ve been a customer for many years and have recommended Olive Tree again and again.

    As I’ve considered replacing my aging MBP, I expected to avoid a model with the Touch Bar. Now with your introduction of TB use, I’m rethinking that decision.

  4. Smith Timothy (Personal)

    Add me as another extremely happy 2016 (fall) MacBook Pro and Apple tree user !!!’

  5. Steve H

    That’s great news!

    Would it be possible to put icons to the different commentaries and study helps so when I’m reading the Word I can immediately jump to the different books to bring more understanding to the text?

    • David Trotz Post Author

      Steve,
      Yes, icons is something I want to get added in but I have no timeline for that at this time.
      —
      David

      • Steve H

        No problem, thanks for working on it!! I love Olive Tree software!

  6. Douglas Wagner

    …add a “customize toolbar” to the VIEW menu so users can add what they like. I like the suggestion above of being able to add a particular commentary or maybe a bible version icon. While I’m at it – is there a way to change how to get to a particular passage…I find it very slow and tedious to navigate using the “go to” option from the drop down menu at the top of the version display. Thanks…..BTW keep up the great work on a great product!

  7. Marcus Augusto Hein

    I have a Mac, but my touch bar is not enabled for an olive tree bible. My version is in Portuguese. What to do?