I ordered the Citrix X1, thanks for the tip. I hope it will arrive next week to test it.
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iPad Mouse Support - The Missing Elephant
- Thread starter neteng101
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I think you'll find the experience to be quite enjoyable. I used the X1 with my 12.9 iPad Pro (and now on 2018 iPad) and remoting into my iMac feels so natural on the iPad with the ASK and X1.
Just be prepared that if you enjoy using the X1 that your frustration will grow with the rest of the non-mouse use on the iPad for productivity.
So sad that one has to go to a third party for this. Shame Shame Shame on Apple!I think you'll find the experience to be quite enjoyable. I used the X1 with my 12.9 iPad Pro (and now on 2018 iPad) and remoting into my iMac feels so natural on the iPad with the ASK and X1.
Just be prepared that if you enjoy using the X1 that your frustration will grow with the rest of the non-mouse use on the iPad for productivity.
I recieved it yesterday, the manual attached to it was poor but with help from internet the pairing went quite easy and it works amazingly well on Citrix. Thanks for the tips!I think you'll find the experience to be quite enjoyable. I used the X1 with my 12.9 iPad Pro (and now on 2018 iPad) and remoting into my iMac feels so natural on the iPad with the ASK and X1.
Just be prepared that if you enjoy using the X1 that your frustration will grow with the rest of the non-mouse use on the iPad for productivity.
That is definitely true! Because of that you can only use specific third party mouses for specific apps. The Citrix X1 works for Citrix receiver and Jump Desktop and the more expensive Swiftpoint GT works for Jump Desktop, Teamviewer, Parallels RAS, Horizon View (maybe some more that I did not use). I like the X1 more but it supports only a few apps.
I am a supporter for mouse support on the iPad. However, I have been using my apple pencil as my primary input device for months now. And I find this to be totally acceptable and a wonderful mouse replacement. And I barely have any fingerprints on my display for lack of touching. I would love Mouse support, but I find the pencil just as good, if not better.
Glad to hear that it works for you but the use of the Pencil is in no way a viable alternative to a mouse. It's an alternative to using a finger, but not a mouse... not even close.
I use the pencil too but in a citrix environment one definitely needs the two mouse buttons
The pencil is great, but not a mouse replacement IMO. There is still the ergonomics of using the iPad on a desk docked in the keyboard stand. Having to hold/pickup the pencil is just not as nice as using a mouse. I have the Citrix mouse and use it for work and it’s wonderful.
Exactly. That’s my whole thing - desktop use when I have it connected to my Bluetooth keyboard. It’s just not very comfortable to have to reach up vertically for long periods. A mouse or trackpad would feel so much better to use. I think it could even be considered an accessibility option for those of us with back problems.
Well that is why I was speaking for myself. Quite frankly we will have to agree to disagree because I find the pencil to be a complete viable alternative to a mouse for use on my iPad.
In all honesty, I would prefer a track pad than a mouse.
So you mean for example while typing a text on the keyboard you take up the pencil and point to or mark the word that you want to correct, lay it down again and go on typing? That sounds even worse than using the fingers which is bad enough....
While I am using my pencil, I don't find it it any different than typing, and then having to move the mouse to the word I need corrected. I can type with my pencil in hand and quickly use the pencil to select and highlight a word or sentence, or precisely click in an spreadsheet cell. The pencil's length helps in how far I need to reach to interact with my display. Not everyone will find using the pencil as productive, but again, that's why this is my opinion.
Definitely think they should fork off an ‘iOS Pro’ for the iPad pros and re-work the interface to include support for mice and other peripherals (and perhaps support for floating window apps if the mouse is connected?). The regular iPad and mini can stay on classic iOS for general iPad consumption use, but would benefit from any popular innovations that could be ported across. The hardware is now too good not to properly take advantage of it!
Can't remember if I've chimed in before, but by jingo would I jump for joy if proper mouse support was added... used it quite a bit on the old Pixel C, but given we know Android tablet world mostly sucks, I couldn't ignore the iPad Pro.
Using RealVNC and Horizon extensively, having real mouse support (preferably letting me use my spare MX Master) would be just peachy.
The iPad Pro's now pretty much the only "PC" I use unless gaming or needing multi-monitor for _some_ work scenarios, so come on Apple, do the decent thing.
Using RealVNC and Horizon extensively, having real mouse support (preferably letting me use my spare MX Master) would be just peachy.
The iPad Pro's now pretty much the only "PC" I use unless gaming or needing multi-monitor for _some_ work scenarios, so come on Apple, do the decent thing.
If you have an external keyboard, you can use shift+arrow keys to select text just like it works in macOS. Hold down the command key to display a list of context-sensitive keyboard shortcuts. Many apps, like GarageBand and Apple’s productivity apps have app-specific keyboard shortcuts that can be displayed by holding the command key down. The keyboard commands you know and love are all there, including alt+tab to switch between active programs.
for me I'll love to use my iPhone as a trackpad for the iPad
Using touch on iPad is perfect in nearly every situation imaginable: Flat on your table, rested on your arms, on the couch, in bed, etc. However the same cannot be said when the iPad is propped up with the Keyboard Folio on a desk or on your lap. It’s simply unintuitive and inefficient.
If you’re using the Keyboard Folio, your hands are resting near the keyboard. So interacting and navigating through the iPad is so unintuitive when you have to constantly reach out to your display. Your arm movements go to greater lengths than a mouse/trackpad, especially on the 12.9” models. To drag-and drop with touch on the Keyboard Folio is just awkward, the gesture is too long, using a mouse/cursors requires little movement of the hand or arm, and it’s near the keyboard. It’s fine to use touch here or there when on the Keyboard Folio, but it’s obvious that using a cursor is the most efficient way to use iPad with a keyboard.
Your hands are almost always resting or holding on to something, that’s what makes touch so great on iPad - when it’s flat on desk surface or on your bed, or on the couch; your hands can rest on the touch screen. With a MacBook, it’s so easy to move between the keyboard and trackpad, since they are right beside each other, and resting flat just like your hands, just as you would with both hands on a iPad’s touch screen. So having to raise your arms to interact with a display that’s vertical is so inefficient. Viewing Reddit or Twitter is so tedious when using a folio on my desk/lap.
Also when the iPad is on the Keyboard Folio, trying to tap below the bottom-half of the display is awkward. Your nail can get in the way or the surface on your fingertip isn’t registering the touch, this is an issue that can vary wildly depending on the angle of you and the device. Using the iPad on the nearly 90-degree angle on the folio is just difficult to select the bottom tabs of apps.
The only way to complement the Keyboard Folio (that Apple advertises greatly) is to add cursor support for a mouse or trackpad. It will make using a second monitor make sense too. This will just improve ‘the quality of life’ on iPad.
Do not get the wrong idea, using a mouse input isn’t supposed to replace touch, it’s just another input method to work well with the Keyboard Folio. Just another input like the Apple Pencil (this isn’t a mouse alternative). This is an input method that’s completely OPTIONAL like the Keyboard Folio and Apple Pencil. Nothing about the UI really needs to be changed, leave it as is, just give the Magic Mouse gesture shortcuts like the Mac on iPad. A tap is a left click, a long press is the right click.
Mac has the ability to have the cursor disappear, the iPad should be able to do the same. macOS already supports using iPad apps and functions well with a cursor, iOS should be reworked to support this too with cursor support.
If you’re using the Keyboard Folio, your hands are resting near the keyboard. So interacting and navigating through the iPad is so unintuitive when you have to constantly reach out to your display. Your arm movements go to greater lengths than a mouse/trackpad, especially on the 12.9” models. To drag-and drop with touch on the Keyboard Folio is just awkward, the gesture is too long, using a mouse/cursors requires little movement of the hand or arm, and it’s near the keyboard. It’s fine to use touch here or there when on the Keyboard Folio, but it’s obvious that using a cursor is the most efficient way to use iPad with a keyboard.
Your hands are almost always resting or holding on to something, that’s what makes touch so great on iPad - when it’s flat on desk surface or on your bed, or on the couch; your hands can rest on the touch screen. With a MacBook, it’s so easy to move between the keyboard and trackpad, since they are right beside each other, and resting flat just like your hands, just as you would with both hands on a iPad’s touch screen. So having to raise your arms to interact with a display that’s vertical is so inefficient. Viewing Reddit or Twitter is so tedious when using a folio on my desk/lap.
Also when the iPad is on the Keyboard Folio, trying to tap below the bottom-half of the display is awkward. Your nail can get in the way or the surface on your fingertip isn’t registering the touch, this is an issue that can vary wildly depending on the angle of you and the device. Using the iPad on the nearly 90-degree angle on the folio is just difficult to select the bottom tabs of apps.
The only way to complement the Keyboard Folio (that Apple advertises greatly) is to add cursor support for a mouse or trackpad. It will make using a second monitor make sense too. This will just improve ‘the quality of life’ on iPad.
Do not get the wrong idea, using a mouse input isn’t supposed to replace touch, it’s just another input method to work well with the Keyboard Folio. Just another input like the Apple Pencil (this isn’t a mouse alternative). This is an input method that’s completely OPTIONAL like the Keyboard Folio and Apple Pencil. Nothing about the UI really needs to be changed, leave it as is, just give the Magic Mouse gesture shortcuts like the Mac on iPad. A tap is a left click, a long press is the right click.
Mac has the ability to have the cursor disappear, the iPad should be able to do the same. macOS already supports using iPad apps and functions well with a cursor, iOS should be reworked to support this too with cursor support.
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There’s a lot of things that I thought weren’t ever going to happen, like dark mode, the Files app, split view multitasking, drag-and-drop, iPad apps on macOS, etc.
Yet they happened eventually. I can’t see why Apple won’t ever implement it. Such a feat isn’t strictly reserved for Mac.
I'm not sure why you thought Apple would never release the Files app when Documents by Readdle has been available for years and does the same thing.
Apple is slow-walking features that make the iPad more viable as a laptop replacement. drag-n-drop, split-view multitasking, and Files app has been progressively released over years.
Apple is holding back mouse support on the iPad for a time when they need to give consumers reasons to buy iPads. Sales (as best as we can tell) are holding steady by offering new models with "gimmicky" features. Should sales start to lag (due to customers shifting to the competition) THEN we'll see Apple release mouse support.
By having a universally accessible file system, support for mice/trackpads, near-full support for USB peripherals, a $100 tablet (Amazon Fire HD 10 on sale) can perform some office productivity tasks BETTER than an iPad Pro. Should consumers look to alternatives to the iPad Pro (not the Fire 10, but perhaps Chrome OS tablets) Apple will release mouse support for the iPad.
I have a very expensive Apple Keyboard in my cupboard, simply because it is too awkward to use without a mouse.
I have learned to use keyboard shortcuts when using my iPad at my desk, but I would certainly welcome mouse support. I think it will happen at some point, but only within productivity apps, not system wide.
