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Is there a new Apple wireless keyboard with backlighting in the works?

…and was said keyboard originally meant to work with those new iMacs?


screenshot from new ’11 iMacs

Here’s something interesting we’ve found in the new ’11 iMacs: The Keyboard System Pref contains the same option to illuminate the keyboard that MacBook Pros have.  Previous iMacs as well as all other Macs without lit keyboards don’t have this option.

Many Macs without lit keyboards have ambient light sensors to know how bright the screen should be lit but those machines don’t offer keyboard brightness settings.

Could Apple be preparing or have delayed a wireless keyboard with backlighting?  I can say with 100% certainty that Apple would have a winner if they released something like this, at least in my home.  Bonus points if it has a built in trackpad.

As MacGeneration notes, there is a new light sensor located to the left of the camera on the iMac (above) and corresponding control panel for brightness (below).

On the other hand, Apple could have just made a rare mistake, perhaps copying one too many of kext settings from the Sandy Bridge MacBook Pros perhaps?

Thanks mime454 and EdnKM!

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Avatar for Seth Weintraub Seth Weintraub

Publisher and Editorial Director of the 9to5/Electrek sites.


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