What decision? It’s just a rumor at this point.
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Apple Rumored to Add USB Mouse Support to iPad Pro as Accessibility Feature
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IMO, one of the biggest things holding the iPad back when using a keyboard is lack of mouse support. Having to reach up and touch the screen for the many things that aren't supported with keyboard shortcuts is a lesson in bad ergonomics. Seems kind of strange to only offer it via USB though.
I agree, not enough to buy a surface but If I needed one I would get one.
Apple really does not get it some times..just give people what they want!
Exactly why I don’t use an external keyboard with my 12.9” pro. The minute I put my hands on one my thumbs go looking for a trackpad. Speaking of, if they’re going to allow mouse support I wonder if that would extend to physical keyboard trackpads too?
You can already do that on a Samsung phone, like the Galaxy S series. By the way, not just a wired mouse but a wired keyboard as well.
When will Apple incorporate an SD card housing on an iPad or iPhone like Samsung does is yet another question. I guess never because it is a counter profit measure.
When will Apple incorporate an SD card housing on an iPad or iPhone like Samsung does is yet another question. I guess never because it is a counter profit measure.
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Check Amazon. There are a ton of thumb drives with Lightning on one end and USB on the other. I have a Sandisk and it works fine. It uses an app but the files are accessible through the Files app.
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Most likely they want the people who use dongles/hubs to add even more dongles/hubs, Apple really loves this. Bluetooth would make way too much sense.
In all seriousness I'm just waiting for the "I don't want a PC!!" brigade to come trudging in screaming "You can converge a toaster and a refrigerator, but you know, those things are probably not going to be pleasing to the user." !!! Which really means "Buy our laptops AND our ipads because you need both of them." I believe the argument would be taking away the simplicity of iOS with a mouse. Yes the ipad is so easy a baby can use it, but I never understood how that is an advantage for a fully grown adult.
And I am sure on stage, they will refer to mouse support as a game changer.
This is a very typical Macrumors post. This has not been announced by Apple, we have no clue whether or not Bluetooth devices are also supported, and Tim Cook likely has absolutely nothing to do with this decision.
Don’t really see the point of this. iPad is intended to be a touch-centric device. The UI relies heavily on that and Apple Pencil (precision wise). Adding mouse support negates the purpose of the touch screen. They’re basically just appealing to the fans of the crappy Windows Hybrids devices.
Only if iOS changes and evolves, in its current form I don't think it attracts the type of consumer who purchases a surface device.
I love how every time apple is asked they say no they're not planning on making iPad more like Mac, or Mac more like iPad - then they do everything that points to that direction. The problem is I think they're doing it in a half assed way, which will keep people on their full functioning computers for a lot longer than would otherwise be the case.
Maybe that's the idea. Keep making mac like iOS, and keep slowly adding mac/computer features to iPad. I really don't understand why they can't add more tablet/power features to the iPad. I understand the sentiment behind wanting to keep it a consumption device/limiting it, for the sake of preventing confusion - but then when they slowly tickle in more power features I just don't think it really works. People make an immediate impression upon what they can do with a device within the first few days of use, it's not like trickling in a few features over the years will get people to stop using their laptop and switch to an iPad.
Maybe that's the idea. Keep making mac like iOS, and keep slowly adding mac/computer features to iPad. I really don't understand why they can't add more tablet/power features to the iPad. I understand the sentiment behind wanting to keep it a consumption device/limiting it, for the sake of preventing confusion - but then when they slowly tickle in more power features I just don't think it really works. People make an immediate impression upon what they can do with a device within the first few days of use, it's not like trickling in a few features over the years will get people to stop using their laptop and switch to an iPad.
Because there is a lot more profit to selling a consumer a macbook AND an ipad than selling them one converged device.
Why not BT? Seems like the only USB mouse you can buy nowadays is an RGB gaming mouse atrocity.
That being said, back in the day I jailbroke my iPad and used a BT mouse. It was not a great experience, but I was also able to install a Wiimote and play Mario so it was still worthwhile to install the BT stack, lol. Hopefully they are somehow able to refine this.
Makes me wonder if this is a step towards macOS Lite on the iPad Pro. It would be great to be able to boot up a sandboxed, stripped down version of macOS on the iPad when needed. The 12.9" is bigger than the 12" MacBook and almost as big as the MacBook Air, so why not? And they used to make an 11" MacBook Air which matches the smaller iPad Pro. Makes me wonder if they moved up to the 11" iPad Pro so they could certify it to work with macOS at some point as a minimum display size? The main problem is the low amount of RAM at only 4GB except on the 1TB models (but hardly anyone has those), but if it's a stripped down macOS, perhaps it would run more efficiently? Think more like an iOS base with a more advanced UI bolted on and more limited multitasking—at least for current hardware—that could connect to BT accessories or perhaps a specially designed case that has a keyboard and trackpad.
That being said, back in the day I jailbroke my iPad and used a BT mouse. It was not a great experience, but I was also able to install a Wiimote and play Mario so it was still worthwhile to install the BT stack, lol. Hopefully they are somehow able to refine this.
Makes me wonder if this is a step towards macOS Lite on the iPad Pro. It would be great to be able to boot up a sandboxed, stripped down version of macOS on the iPad when needed. The 12.9" is bigger than the 12" MacBook and almost as big as the MacBook Air, so why not? And they used to make an 11" MacBook Air which matches the smaller iPad Pro. Makes me wonder if they moved up to the 11" iPad Pro so they could certify it to work with macOS at some point as a minimum display size? The main problem is the low amount of RAM at only 4GB except on the 1TB models (but hardly anyone has those), but if it's a stripped down macOS, perhaps it would run more efficiently? Think more like an iOS base with a more advanced UI bolted on and more limited multitasking—at least for current hardware—that could connect to BT accessories or perhaps a specially designed case that has a keyboard and trackpad.
It would be great if Apple made it easier for iPad Pros to act as external displays... without using 3rd party dongles and software.
Ideally, you should just be able to plug a USBC cable into the Pro from any PC or Mac mini, and it could then function as any normal monitor would. Combined with some form of Bluetooth mouse support, that would be perfect.
Ideally, you should just be able to plug a USBC cable into the Pro from any PC or Mac mini, and it could then function as any normal monitor would. Combined with some form of Bluetooth mouse support, that would be perfect.
Wants to get rid of wires and unwanted ports (earphone)...
Enables only USB Mouse Support on their top-tier tablet...
???
Enables only USB Mouse Support on their top-tier tablet...
???