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MacBooks Running Windows Gain Improved Trackpad Support With Boot Camp Update

Apple this week released Boot Camp version 6.1.15 for users running Windows on a Mac, as noted in a Reddit post spotted by The Verge.

macbook trackpad
The update adds support for more precise trackpad gestures on MacBooks running Windows, including a single tap to click, tapping the lower-right corner to right-click, swiping down to scroll up, and various multi-touch gestures using three or four fingers.

Support for these precise trackpad gestures while running Windows is available on Macs with Apple's T2 chip, according to an Apple user guide.

Boot Camp allows Windows to boot natively on Intel-based Macs. The utility is not available on Macs with the M1 chip.

Top Rated Comments

Xenomorph Avatar
63 months ago

I love these types of posts. Just because you don't see a reason doesn't mean there isn't one technically. The T2 is a SoC and gives Apple more flexibility on how they can run the system.
There are multiple ('https://github.com/imbushuo/mac-precision-touchpad') fancy 3rd-party trackpad drivers ('http://trackpad.forbootcamp.org/') for older MacBook Pro models, and even my Chromebook running Windows has fancy precision touchpad drivers ('https://github.com/coolstar/crostouchpad4-elan') developed by the community.

Apple choosing to make their new drivers only for Macs with T2 is 100% planned obsolescence. They have direct access to the hardware and original source code, yet can't accomplish what some kid in their mom's basement is capable of?
Score: 10 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Kylo83 Avatar
63 months ago
This is why I don’t wanna give up my 16” MacBook Pro; I do light windows gaming in bootcamp and unless windows comes to arm I’m staying away from the m1
Score: 8 Votes (Like | Disagree)
63 months ago

Why is it a screenshot of Parallels when the article is about Boot Camp? 🤔
Well that disappeared quick!
Score: 8 Votes (Like | Disagree)
63 months ago
I guess they're throwing Intel Mac users a bone after announcing a ton of Apple Silicon-only features this week...
Score: 6 Votes (Like | Disagree)
63 months ago

I love these types of posts. Just because you don't see a reason doesn't mean there isn't one technically. The T2 is a SoC and gives Apple more flexibility on how they can run the system.
I do like to remind people there is already a project out there that create Windows Precision Touchpad drivers for wide range of MacBooks and Magic Trackpads including models that don’t have a T2 chips inside, and the entire project ('https://github.com/imbushuo/mac-precision-touchpad') is made by a single person.
Score: 5 Votes (Like | Disagree)
portland-dude Avatar
63 months ago

Lets try to think this one through. Let me see, hmmmm, the T2 chip handles disk encryption/decryption and boot camp is a known attach vector. Might the reason have something to do with this? That might lead to having to have different versions of bootcamp. Well there now seem to be different versions. Will the older version get the same update later? Time will tell.

Of course, I'm an\m just using logic on why this was necessary - seem very plausible
infosec analyst here - short version no. Longer version - they'd have to pump EVERY last bit of data flowing through windows into the T2 chip to help close off a known attack vector to act as sort of a hardware AV (which I believe you are suggesting it does) which it absolutely cannot handle. So...no. Plausible it's handling encryption on windows, but I highly doubt it. Also Apple isn't going to have their uber proprietary chip handle ANYTHING to do with Windows. Ain't gonna happen.
Score: 5 Votes (Like | Disagree)
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