Apple's Magic Keyboard for iPad Pro: Everything You Need to Know

[Marc_Alx]

To me the biggest limitation on using a mouse on the iPad is iPadOS and its interface.

I'm hoping Apple innovates on the GUI design of iPadOS14... bringing true mouse support, rather than the limited accessibility 'feature' that exists today. Also, if Apple would implement better multitasking (i.e., easier to enter/exit multitasking mode, and forcing all apps to enter windowed mode if the user so wants, similar to macOS), the iPad would be an even more killer product.

I'm gonna wait and see what they do with iPadOS14... then I think I'll upgrade. The 2018 model is so powerful that I might even buy that at the reduced price that will inevitably happen after the new model hits the street.

Can't agree more, to me the only existing thing with this rumor is that it suggests Apple must be working on a better integration of Trackpad/Mouse that goes further than accessibility.
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The Information suggests that Apple has designed prototype keyboards that feature capacitive keys, but it's not known if this feature is included in the final product.

It would be a great way to keep the keyboard as flat as it is.

Using the keyboard keys as a trackpad just by touching keys instead of "typing" (like on iOS when you move the cursor/caret) could be really innovative.

 

[T-R-S]

A trackpad for a touchscreen - WTF. How about a touchscreen for a MBP?

 

[subjonas]

Can't agree more, to me the only existing thing with this rumor is that it suggests Apple must be working on a better integration of Trackpad/Mouse that goes further than accessibility.
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It would be a great way to keep the keyboard as flat as it is.

Using the keyboard keys as a trackpad just by touching keys instead of "typing" (like on iOS when you move the cursor/caret) could be really innovative.

If I were to bet, I would bet that the “trackpad” will take the form of capacitive keys, mainly for text cursor and gestures, though it will probably work with the mouse accessibility feature as well. I‘m still pretty doubtful Apple will make the mouse a mainstream feature.

 

[Marc_Alx]

If I were to bet, I would bet that the “trackpad” will take the form of capacitive keys, mainly for text cursor and gestures, though it will probably work with the mouse accessibility feature as well. I‘m still pretty doubtful Apple will make the mouse a mainstream feature.

Scrolling a web page,navigating between page/tab in apps, moving caret are small actions that IMO match 80% of the cases where you have to raise your arm to reach the screen.

I think like you that Apple will (at first) not make the mouse mainstreem, but will meet the few usage I mention above in order to not bury macbooks too fast.

 

[RevTEG]

Those wrinkles add character. Mine is full of them. And missing key lettering.

i like “character“… 😄 But when I go from the field to the office to meet with organizational partners I like a little less character on my case. Lol... I haven’t had and lettering come off of any of mine yet.
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unless The new ASK is a total redesign, I can’t see how there‘s room for a trackpad. Either it will have to attach different or the keys will have to be super small.

 

[cmaier]

i like “character“… 😄 But when I go from the field to the office to meet with organizational partners I like a little less character on my case. Lol... I haven’t had and lettering come off of any of mine yet.
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unless The new ASK is a total redesign, I can’t see how there‘s room for a trackpad. Either it will have to attach different or the keys will have to be super small.

LOOK AT ALL THIS CHARACTER!

 

[RevTEG]

LOOK AT ALL THIS CHARACTER!

That‘s some amazing “patina“ you have going... lol. Thats how mine looks minus the missing letters. It’s strange that none of my letters have come off.

 

[sideshowuniqueuser]

You do realize that both iOS and iPadOS are from the same *nix you speak of that MBP/MBA/ and other Macs use right? Can’t believe you’d make such a stance without realizing or recalling that. It hey simple mistake or oversight.

should the applications and the interface match the smaller display, external keyboard and utilize the multi-touch screen of an iPad or iPad Pro bolstered eith the longer battery life, and backlight keyboard and mouse use, allowing a Dev to have more mobility and to code anywhere more readily than the laptop options ... I’d say many developers would welcome a potential alternative - especially the ability to trial sad software directly on one of the platforms they’re coding for completely natively and NOt through a simulator.

when XCode allowed lading an app to a tethered iPhone for direct testing I’m sure then it seemed useless until it debuted. Many devs where fine using Dreamweaver some 20yrs ago. Many Devs took some time with XCode etc.

laptops where originally thought of as extensions to having a desktop. Many laptops where thought of as not graphically powerful enough to replace desktops (mobile workstations). Look what modern technology has brought to us all. Heck 40yrs ago a desktop computer was foreign idea to a dumb terminal ... now with ChromeOS and cloud services we are coming very close to a world where dumb-terminals May come back in yet a much better view or implementation of it.

try to see beyond the current implementation of a platform before writing it off.

I'm sorry mate, but just no. Until the walls of the walled garden are smashed down in their entirety, an iPad remains a no go for my work. And as I pointed out, it's not just the OS (and yes, the OS is part of it), it's the entire form factor, I need a solid base to sit it on my lap so I can work on the couch, in bed, or wherever; I need a bigger screen than 13"; I need ports; I need a large sized SSD; I need a ton of RAM; I need to be able to download tools, data, and applications from anywhere and everywhere and install them at will, without having to wait and hope for the creator to port it to the App store (and a large number of cutting edge tools I use simply aren't, and probably never will be); I need full access to the file system; and what I don't need is having to bash my head against a wall trying to work out if and how to get around an impediment that Apple has put in front of me for my safety or for their profit margin. A MBP has all of these, and none of the impediments. An iPad simply isn't there.

What I really don't understand is why iPad fans would even care what I choose to work on. The multiple form factors of iPad, MB, iMac, and Mac, are all perfect for different situations. For people like me, the MB rules and always will. If iPad works for you, then tops, go for it, I don't care. But don't try and shove your chosen form factor down my throat. That goes for you, Timmy, or anyone else. End of story.

 

[badawat]

Just curious...why would one want a trackpad? The trackpad would be like having a mouse for my iPad...which I'm not sure why I would need. I use my iPad as my laptop replacement, but haven't really seen the need for a trackpad/mouse. What would they be adding that would need a trackpad? Now backlit keys would be nice to have.

I'd love one because I find it very frustrating having to keep touching the screen when typing on a keybaord. The trackpad allows for fast delicate cursor placement when typing and there's less hand travel so it save a lot time. I'd love one on my current iPad keyboard... in fact I constantly move my hand down to use it... then sigh and grab the iPad, grab it with my other hand and fumble around on the screen to place the cursor where I would like it. The new OS makes it easier but can't change the distance for hand movement... that's my two penneth anyway.

 

[cmaier]

That‘s some amazing “patina“ you have going... lol. Thats how mine looks minus the missing letters. It’s strange that none of my letters have come off.

I find it strange that the three and a half that have come off are all clustered together (w, e, a and s). Maybe my left hand oozes acid.
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What I really don't understand is why iPad fans would even care what I choose to work on.

We don’t?

 

[DeepIn2U]

I'm sorry mate, but just no. Until the walls of the walled garden are smashed down in their entirety, an iPad remains a no go for my work. And as I pointed out, it's not just the OS (and yes, the OS is part of it), it's the entire form factor, I need a solid base to sit it on my lap so I can work on the couch, in bed, or wherever; I need a bigger screen than 13"; I need ports; I need a large sized SSD; I need a ton of RAM; I need to be able to download tools, data, and applications from anywhere and everywhere and install them at will, without having to wait and hope for the creator to port it to the App store (and a large number of cutting edge tools I use simply aren't, and probably never will be); I need full access to the file system; and what I don't need is having to bash my head against a wall trying to work out if and how to get around an impediment that Apple has put in front of me for my safety or for their profit margin. A MBP has all of these, and none of the impediments. An iPad simply isn't there.

What I really don't understand is why iPad fans would even care what I choose to work on. The multiple form factors of iPad, MB, iMac, and Mac, are all perfect for different situations. For people like me, the MB rules and always will. If iPad works for you, then tops, go for it, I don't care. But don't try and shove your chosen form factor down my throat. That goes for you, Timmy, or anyone else. End of story.

I’m NOT trying to shove a chosen form factor down to throat; the iPad is not mine and I do not own one - never have more than 4mths.

man you got a LOT of anger talking this and that ... all over a discussion online about a form factor.If you’re that busy looking for data, apps, and tools and need to get so much done, you find a lot of time online with this topic.

tools: is anything we need to get the job done, period! Apps, a computer, cooking tools, analytical data etc. Even a sit/stand desk which is popping up in offices all over the globe as it helps rejuvenate energy and the kinds focus.

some people get their best thoughts while sitting down or standing or walking or a sudden change of atmosphere - even if the tools are the same.

Not sure if you've always used a Mac or not and I’m not sure the same tools and software you use today have been since you started your career or not ... but I’m curious which software has survived on the Mac more than 20-30yrs.

Microsoft Office, StuffIt Expander, Automator (I think it was called something else), and a few others. Lots of big players are no longer in business (WordPerfect, Lotus 1-2-3 whom ever created those).

you have a right to believe in what you choose, in no way have I tried to steer you otherwise all I was saying is there are options and Apple has had this vision for years!

 

[lkrupp]

This is not 2010 and not everyone chooses to live in the past. When SJ unveiled his original vision for the iPad, he said for it to exist it had to be better than the smartphone and laptop at seven key tasks. Well, today those tasks can and are being handled in large by large-screen smartphones. What consumers want out of an 11"+ tablet today has evolved greatly compared to 2010. If Apple dogmatically stuck to the original 2010 vision of the iPad, it would have gone extinct.

The modern tablet needs to evolve beyond just multi-touch and be able to adapt to different inputs: touch, KB, trackpad, Pencil, voice, etc.. Tim Cook once said: "iPad Pro is the clearest expression of our vision of the future of personal computing". If he truly believes then he has no choice but to keep going down the current path otherwise there is no reason for the iPad to exist.

Then just call it what it is... an ARM based Macintosh.

 

[smulji]

Then just call it what it is... an ARM based Macintosh.

Honestly, that might actually be the end goal.

 

[Brandhouse]

And with starting prices for the 11" at 499 AUD, that's just way, way, way too pricey. Just ridiculous!

 

[derekamoss]

This is not 2010 and not everyone chooses to live in the past. When SJ unveiled his original vision for the iPad, he said for it to exist it had to be better than the smartphone and laptop at seven key tasks. Well, today those tasks can and are being handled in large part by large-screen smartphones. What consumers want out of an 11"+ tablet today has evolved greatly compared to 2010. If Apple dogmatically stuck to the original 2010 vision of the iPad, it would have gone extinct.

The modern tablet needs to evolve beyond just multi-touch and be able to adapt to different inputs: touch, KB, trackpad, Pencil, voice, etc.. Tim Cook once said: "iPad Pro is the clearest expression of our vision of the future of personal computing". If he truly believes that then he has no choice but to keep going down the current path otherwise there is no reason for the iPad to exist.

The problem I have is that it took them THIS LONG to figure out what people wanted to use tablets for when quite literally EVERY other PC manufacture figured it out 5 years ago. Through all this time and all the innovation from touch screens to tablets that can be a laptop, they gave everyone the touch bar..... 👏👏👏

 

[Abazigal]

The problem I have is that it took them THIS LONG to figure out what people wanted to use tablets for when quite literally EVERY other PC manufacture figured it out 5 years ago. Through all this time and all the innovation from touch screens to tablets that can be a laptop, they gave everyone the touch bar.....

Except that I still don’t see any other PC manufacturer making the tablet I want to use, for the simple reason that everything else runs a desktop OS, while the iPad runs iOS, which I prefer.

 

[Alikaank]

Hello, I bought Magic Keyboard for 12’9 inc iPad Pro it came today 3 week later I order it I opened it and I disappointed because Keyboard has scratches and paint issues I contacted with Apple they agreed to replace it but I have to wait another 3 week this is so messed up

 

[Otso42]

”The USB-C port provides power to the ‌iPad Pro‌ inductively”. I don’t own the keyboard, but I’m pretty sure it‘s not inductive. It likely charges galvanically via the three pads on the back of the pad. This can also be seen on the X-ray picture where there are wires going to that location on keyboard.

 

[Otso42]

”The USB-C port provides power to the ‌iPad Pro‌ inductively”. I don’t own the keyboard, but I’m pretty sure it‘s not inductive. It likely charges galvanically via the three pads on the back of the pad. This can also be seen on the X-ray picture where there are wires going to that location on keyboard.

I now own the keyboard, and it’s definitely powering the iPad through the pads on the back through a galvanic connection. There’s no reason to believe it charges slower when powered through the keyboard. The article should be corrected.

 

[BugeyeSTI]

I now own the keyboard, and it’s definitely powering the iPad through the pads on the back through a galvanic connection. There’s no reason to believe it charges slower when powered through the keyboard. The article should be corrected.

The article is three years old... I doubt it's worth the effort or would make a difference now..

 

[Otso42]

The article is three years old... I doubt it's worth the effort or would make a difference now..

Why not? The keyboard is still on sale, and people like me read these articles before making a purchase decision. The article is as relevant today as it was three years ago, and will be at least until the keyboard is discontinued.