When Apple discontinued the 13-inch MacBook Pro, it marked the end of the line for the Touch Bar. Apple may never make the Touch Bar again, but fortunately, the folks at Eniac have taken on the task of creating a replacement that it calls the Flexbar. The company is currently raising funds on Kickstarter to complete the project.
The Flexbar is a long, narrow OLED touchscreen control strip–you can place it anywhere, even at the top of your keyboard like a Touch Bar. It connects to the Mac through USB and appears to work like the Touch Bar did. But it can also be used in a vertical orientation if that suits your workflow, and it can also connect to iPads, iPhones, and Windows PCs.
Flexbar offers more customization than the Touch Bar ever did, and the company says it will offer API support for developers. There’s also a Flexbar Designer app that allows users to personalize the Flexbar’s controls and a Discord community where you can get help and tips with tweaking the Flexbar.
It appears that Eniac has already exceeded its fundraising goal, even with 29 days left, but you can still make a pledge. Plans start at $119/£94, which includes the Flexbar, an aluminum stand, and a 2-meter USB-C cable. The Kickstarter event ends on January 2, 2025.