Apple Pencil acts as a mouse/trackpad

[jamesrick80]

Now, I know why some of you guys that have other iPads besides the iPad pro would like to have the pencil; especially pencil support for the Air 3. For Microsoft office iOS apps, mouse support is something that's truly needed but the Apple pencil can do anything that a mouse can do for the most part. This was one of my complaints when I had an iPad Air 2 and when I would be using Microsoft office apps. With the Apple pencil on my iPad pro, my issues have been solved. If you want something close to true mouse support, get the Apple pencil and have an iPad pro. The Apple pencil is perfectly accurate at pointing to different text and highlighting items etc.

 

[AttilaTheHun]

Yes iPad air 3 with pencil that my wish for 2016

 

[craftEcowgirl]

I want pencil to work with my mini, so I can use on both devices

 

[Davefevs]

Now, I know why some of you guys that have other iPads besides the iPad pro would like to have the pencil; especially pencil support for the Air 3. For Microsoft office iOS apps, mouse support is something that's truly needed but the Apple pencil can do anything that a mouse can do for the most part. This was one of my complaints when I had an iPad Air 2 and when I would be using Microsoft office apps. With the Apple pencil on my iPad pro, my issues have been solved. If you want something close to true mouse support, get the Apple pencil and have an iPad pro. The Apple pencil is perfectly accurate at pointing to different text and highlighting items etc.

The benefits of using pencil with MS Office apps like Excel, might be the thing that tips me into buying the pencil. Quite happy using software keyboard and fingers at the mo'. I don't to heavy spreadsheets....I use my desktop for that, but the odd tweak here and there on the IPP might benefit from the pencil....if they ever come into stock!

 

[bluermlou]

On a similar aside, I have been using my pencil as a mouse when working remotely from home via Citrix Reciever on the iPad Pro and it works GREAT! Much better than having to use your fingers with this program. (Granted you could switch to the mouse setting on Citrix, but I now like the pointer setting in conjunction with the Pencil much better.)

 

[Ledgem]

On a similar aside, I have been using my pencil as a mouse when working remotely from home via Citrix Reciever on the iPad Pro and it works GREAT! Much better than having to use your fingers with this program. (Granted you could switch to the mouse setting on Citrix, but I now like the pointer setting in conjunction with the Pencil much better.)

Off-topic, but it's too cool and has to be shared: another option for Citrix Receiver is to use your phone as a trackpad. On your iPhone (or another iPad, and probably any other non-iOS phone or tablet that can run Citrix), load Citrix, go to the settings, Advanced, and then "wireless trackpad" (near the bottom). Next, start a session on your iPad Pro. From that top drop-down menu where you can choose to bring up the keyboard or mouse cursor, select "pair." Voila, you now have a wireless trackpad to control the mouse with. This can be done with seemingly any combination of devices running Citrix Receiver.

 

[ferjilo]

Ledgem,

On receiver I don't have those advanced options on iOS (tried on iPhone or ipad), it only allows me to choose Citrix X1 mouse, maybe they have removed that option?

 

[rowspaxe]

I find the pencil as pointer a poor work flow. A mouse moves on a horizontal surface and there is no hand blockage. Also, no right click or scroll on the pencil

 

[username:]

Isn't this what Apple always feared? They emphasised how inefficient a stylus is as it disables the other five styli on your hand.

 

[jamesrick80]

I find the pencil as pointer a poor work flow. A mouse moves on a horizontal surface and there is no hand blockage. Also, no right click or scroll on the pencil

Scrolling can be done with the arrows on the smart keyboard.....you can even use the pencil to scroll as well....there is no such thing as right click in iOS.

 

[Ledgem]

Ledgem,

On receiver I don't have those advanced options on iOS (tried on iPhone or ipad), it only allows me to choose Citrix X1 mouse, maybe they have removed that option?

Are you sure you didn't miss it? Settings has a few options, listed from top to bottom they are: Display Options, Keyboard Options, Audio (toggle on/off), Advanced, Win Media Redirect (toggle on/off), and Citrix X1 Mouse (toggle on/off). (There's also Security Token, but it's greyed out for me.) If you tap on Advanced, it brings up another screen that lists a few toggle options, and then near the bottom there's Wireless Trackpad (above Caffeine).

I'm using the latest version of Citrix Receiver in the App Store (6.1.3). The devices I'm using it with are my iPad Pro, an iPhone 5S, and also an iPad Mini (second generation). I see the wireless trackpad option with them.

 

[sjleworthy]

I too find the lack of mouse disturbing.

But yes, the Pencil makes an excellent stand in. For me this is a game changer. Working in Excel and Numbers is dreamy. Also every day web browsing and navigation is awesome.

 

[Pakaku]

Isn't this what Apple always feared? They emphasised how inefficient a stylus is as it disables the other five styli on your hand.

No.....

Stylus-based input relies on a stylus to work. It's mandatory. Lose the stylus, and your experience is hampered at best, and at worst you lose complete input with the device. The stylus for my Intuos 4 recently broke, which means I'm unable to draw with it unless I buy a new stylus.

The iPad Pro and the Pencil are a completely different scenario because the Pro's screen is still based on the same inductive-touch tech as the original iPhones and iPads. Fingers are still the intended primary input. The Pencil is completely optional for input, so even if you lose it, you're not locked out of your $1000 tablet.

That's why Steve's comment on stylus-based phones/PDAs back in 2007 doesn't apply to the Pencil as a stylus.

 

[sjleworthy]

Technology and ideas are evolving. 10 year old ideas and comments must stay there, or evolve too. Im sure mr.jobs would also embrace what our times hold. How Apple's product line would now look if he was still around? We couldn't say of course.

 

[mrex]

with a pencil you are still bound to use the tablet (physically). with a pointing device, like a mouse, you are free to work with airplay and you dont need to interact with the screen.

 

[maflynn]

I'm guessing that the newer iterations of the iPad (non pro) will offer pencil compatibility. It has too, I just can't see apple not doing this, but then I've been wrong before

 

[mrex]

if they add Apen to all ipads, what makes people to buy ipad pro then? only being larger than air?

i dont think they will add APen support for other ipads otherwise ipad pros only difference is being just a bigger ipad and people who are considering buying pros because of the pen might take air for being large enough, easier to carry in your bag and more inexpensive compared to pro.

 

[username:]

No.....

Stylus-based input relies on a stylus to work. It's mandatory. Lose the stylus, and your experience is hampered at best, and at worst you lose complete input with the device. The stylus for my Intuos 4 recently broke, which means I'm unable to draw with it unless I buy a new stylus.

The iPad Pro and the Pencil are a completely different scenario because the Pro's screen is still based on the same inductive-touch tech as the original iPhones and iPads. Fingers are still the intended primary input. The Pencil is completely optional for input, so even if you lose it, you're not locked out of your $1000 tablet.

That's why Steve's comment on stylus-based phones/PDAs back in 2007 doesn't apply to the Pencil as a stylus.

But that is what the OP was stating. He is saying he needs the stylus to work efficiently with office apps. Without it, the OP states working with office apps is sub par. hence my question: isn't that what apple didn't want?

 

[Pakaku]

But that is what the OP was stating. He is saying he needs the stylus to work efficiently with office apps. Without it, the OP states working with office apps is sub par. hence my question: isn't that what apple didn't want?

That's on Microsoft if they designed an app which works better with the pencil somehow.

Third-party apps don't change the fact that the iPad is still primarily a fingers-first device.

 

[darkgremio]

I don't see Apple adding functionality to other iPad models for the Apple Pencil. I think they have to create product diffrientation. They established a heavy bias of the iPad Pro and the dedication of the Apple Pencil to enforce that Pro effect. I really don't see Apple doing this, they like to create simple product differentiation and this is one way to do it.

Personally I wish they would just for the sake of writing notres on a smaller iPad. It's very bulky and you get some weird looks when you have an oversized iPad in a meeting taking notes.

 

[Eric5273]

I still suspect we will see mouse support added to iOS at some point. There is no reason for them to not add it. It will just make the iPad more diverse.