New 'TrackWeight' App Makes a MacBook Trackpad Weigh Stuff
A fresh app made by fans, named TrackWeight, smartly turns the Force Touch trackpad on new MacBook laptops into a working weight scale. The steps are easy: you open the app and put an item on the trackpad to find out how heavy it is.
How It Runs
The app taps into the trackpad's force stats using the Open Multi-Touch Support tech, which shows off hidden parts of the tool. The built-in Force Touch bits feel how hard an item pushes, and the app changes this force info into a weight in grams.
Tests and How Right It Is
The makers checked how right the app is by matching its numbers to a normal scale. They put a MacBook on the scale, set it to zero, and then put known heavy items on the trackpad. The numbers from the TrackWeight app matched the scale's, proving the trackpad can really act as a tiny scale.
Big Limits and Needs
While cool, the TrackWeight app has some key rules and limits:
- It works with macOS 13.0 or newer.
- The App Sandbox, a usual macOS safe thing, has to be off for the app to run.
- To get a weight, your finger has to stay on the trackpad, which might change how right it is.
- The app doesn't work for all things. Metal stuff, for one, can mess with the bits, and it's best to weigh them on some paper.
Where to Get It
The code for the TrackWeight work is out there for all on GitHub if you want to check how it was made.
