Force Touch

Looks matter. When it comes to product design, that’s just unavoidable. It’s the first thing a buyer notices when searching for a laptop. It’s why so much attention is paid to aesthetics, be it to draw in a gamer’s eye with fighter-jet venting or attract a businessperson with a sleek machine that’s attractive but won’t stand out in a conference room. Creators want a machine that looks modern but beefy, and productivity workers who hang out in Starbucks might want something with a little panache. Mark Coppock/Digital…

This Saturday marks Apple’s 47th birthday as a company, and it’s fair to say the company has dreamed up some incredible designs over the years. Sure, it’s had a few design howlers too, but when it comes to consistency, the designers at Apple have more wins under their belt than anyone. Looking back at the past 47 years, these are the physical pieces of tech design that captivated us most from some of its most beloved products and show just how deep Apple’s design pedigree goes. The iMac G3’s translucent…

Some of Apple’s most iconic designs are button-based—iPod click-wheel, anyone?—so it’s no surprise that the possibility of the company switching button mechanisms on the next iPhone is trending.Ming-Chi Kuo, who has successfully predicted Apple’s upcoming moves countless times in the past, tipped off on Twitter that the next generation of the iPhone will feature solid-state buttons on the sides instead of mechanical ones. A solid-state button is essentially a mini trackpad, akin to the Home button on the second- and…