Apple's New iPadOS Software Includes Mouse Support as an Accessibility Option

[MacRumors]

As rumored, iPadOS introduces mouse support for the first time, allowing a USB mouse to be connected to an iPad for the first time.

Mouse support is not a standard feature, but is instead available as an AssistiveTouch option within the Accessibility settings on your iOS device. According to developer Steve Troughton-Smith, who discovered the feature, it also works with the Apple Magic Trackpad.

As with other AssistiveTouch features, the mouse cursor on the display looks similar to the touch target normally in iOS, simulating a finger touch with a mouse instead.

Hello mouse support on iOS 13! It's an AssistiveTouch feature, and works with USB mice. @viticci nailed this pic.twitter.com/nj6xGAKSg0 - Steve Troughton-Smith (@stroughtonsmith) June 3, 2019

Though this is an Accessibility option at the current time and may not have the best user experience compared to touch, Apple could further implement mouse support in future updates, making it a more mainstream option.

iPadOS, the operating system that runs on the iPad, also has many other new features like updates to multitasking, improved gestures, and more, and going forward, it will be independent of iOS, though it still includes all of the iOS 13 features.

Article Link: Apple's New iPadOS Software Includes Mouse Support as an Accessibility Option

 

[stiligFox]

Oh heck yeah! This is a very very long time coming! It looks a little clumsy with that cursor, but this would make an iPad almost sure computer replacement for me now.

 

[smartbot]

Now if they will just allow you to change the cursor...

 

[lars666]

Bluetooth mice also supported or really only USB mouse? As the Magic Trackpad is supported, the Magic Mouse works too, I guess ...? Or Magic Trackpad only via USB connection (normally only for charging) and the misplaced charging port on the Magic Mouse becomes a REAL problem here?

 

[Abazigal]

So Bluetooth mice won’t work, and you have to plug in a mouse via a usb cable?

Ah well, tough luck with the Apple mouse and its underbelly charging port...

 

[asdfjkl;]

About time. This could almost make an iPad a computer replacement. Need customizable cursors though.

 

[lavem]

Peter Paul Chato will be so happy to hear this!

 

[TMRJIJ]

Never seen the point in adding a mouse to a Touch-based device. At least the Surface fanboys will stop complaining, I guess...

 

[lars666]

Never seen the point in adding a mouse to a Touch-based device. At least the Surface fanboys will stop complaining, I guess...

Comes very handy when you're doing some serious writing / Excel work with the iPad.

 

[ikir]

Pretty nice, I have a USB-C dock with USB keyboard and Mouse ready for it when docked

 

[Joniz]

Okay, what? It works with the Apple Really Magical Trackpad but it’s USB? Mine is BT.

 

[Heineken]

Awesome wwdc.

 

[Joniz]

Comes very handy when you're doing some serious writing / Excel work with the iPad.

Unless the mouse cursor is a fat finger.

Or a mouse butt.

 

[Veraxus]

Almost there... now just let me know when I can run XCode on it and I can start using my iPad as a first-class computer.

 

[boombox15]

Will this work on the 10.5 inch iPad Air?

 

[eatrains]

Almost there... now just let me know when I can run XCode on it and I can start using my iPad as a first-class computer.

Or just use a Mac? Don't get why everyone wants the iPad to replace the Mac. They're different things with different uses.

 

[Tuckrat]

I gotta ask - why couldn't they do Bluetooth connectivity? I mean really, who uses a corded mouse these days? I guess they want cords hanging out of iPads like we have USB-C dongles hanging out of our MacBook Pros. If Swiftpoint can implement a Bluetooth mouse that works with certain iPad apps that have the driver built in (like Jump remote desktop), why can't Apple do it at the iOS level? SMH...

 

[341328]

This will look so great... all those iPads with a corded mouse. So clean. So Apple. Hahahaha.

UPDATE: It does seem to work with wireless and bluetooth mouse? Can anyone confirm?

 

[jjrtiger]

VDI is a big use case for mouse support. Let’s hope they make it wireless!

 

[Michvuee]

Really hope for a bluetooth mouse support

 

[Act3]

So will I need an adapter for my 10.5 pro ?

 

[va1984]

I'm overjoyed with this. I hope to be able to plug in the iPP into a USB-C monitor and have keyboard and trackpad support from there. Then I can literally sell my iMac. I wish what is now screen-mirroring worked with the cover closed, but I highly doubt it...

 

[iras]

Mouse support on iPhone too. Settings/accessibility/Touch/Assistive Touch/Pointing Devices

 

[PastaPrimav]

Oh heck yeah! This is a very very long time coming! It looks a little clumsy with that cursor, but this would make an iPad almost sure computer replacement for me now.

Then you don’t understand why it’s here, or what an iPad is. This is not meant to complete anyone’s puzzle at all.

 

[AlexJoda]

I'm overjoyed with this. I hope to be able to plug in the iPP into a USB-C monitor and have keyboard and trackpad support from there. Then I can literally sell my iMac. I wish what is now screen-mirroring worked with the cover closed, but I highly doubt it...

If they support the mouse they need to support extended display mode for external displays too! Than this step makes really sense. Maybe the long journey will final come to an end...