Really appreciate you posting this. I tried a Logi keyboard/trackpad back when I first got my 2018 11” iPP. It just wasn’t versatile enough for me, but this seems like a new product (line), and it looks fantastic.
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Hands-On With the Magic Keyboard Folio for the New iPad
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As they were already designing a new case and internal arrangement to accommodate the landscape FaceTime camera, I’m sure they could have come up with something. I just did this in 5 minutes:
Sure, it would take extra resources to add the Pencil 2 connector and move the speakers and buttons, but there would be savings of resources in not needing to move the smart connector and not having to design a dongle and an entirely new keyboard folio.
Edit to add:
Pencil 2 is 6.53 in/166 mm in length
iPad 10 short edge is 7.07 in/179.5 mm in length
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I wonder how much bulk it adds to the iPad. When the magic keyboard came out for my iPad Pro, I got one on the day of the announcement. I sent it back 1 day after I received it. It made my light, easy-to-carry device into something that has heavier and bulkier than an Air. I tried the Logi version also, and it was even worse.
So you want the two speakers on the bottom facing the keyboard; the Smart Folio and Magic Folio (even assuming the MKF were a 1-piece keyboard using the iPP and iPA Smart Connector) both would block the sound. Side facing speakers have better stereo sound in landscape than top and bottom speakers.
There are other handling issues I can see in your design.
Thats why it takes longer than 5 minutes to design an iPad.
PS. The next Pro and Air will have a new Pencil 3 which will support landscape camera.
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Smart Folio doesn’t cover the side when the iPad is in use (cover open). MKF wouldn’t exist. Magic Keyboard for the Pro and Air elevates the iPad leaving the bottom edge completely exposed.
Can’t tell from the iPad 10 they released.
Doubtful, but if so—oh good, more new/incompatible accessories!
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Yeah, but then you lose compatibility with the a fairly significant number of folks with:
* iPad mini (5th generation)
* iPad (6th, 7th, 8th, and 9th generation)
* iPad Air (3rd generation)
* iPad Pro 10.5-inch
* iPad Pro 9.7-inch
who already have perfectly good Pencil 1’s, may be in the market for a new iPad, and don’t need or want to buy a Pencil 2.
How do you use the volume buttons when you’re in portrait mode? Also, by using it in portrait mode, the volume buttons would be pressed, when resting on the table. Let’s go for version 2 Because this one doesn’t work. Form over function.
You have speakers on the side that is against the Smart Keyboard Folio. Thats just bad design.
Then make the dongle and allow use of Pencil 1 with all USB-C iPads AND include Pencil 2 support on them as well.
As I said—I’m sure Apple could have come up with something. My quick sketch was one idea. Maybe a better idea would have been to have a Pencil 2 magnetic dongle that plugs into the USB-C port. The bottom line is that all things considered, limiting the iPad 10 to Pencil 1 and moving the Smart Connector to a new location are decisions made to convince more people to buy the iPad Air. These design choices break compatibility in some respects (Pro and Air Smart Connector accessories and Pencil 2) and keep compatibility with others (Pencil 1) for no useful reason.
I didn’t realize they still sold the SKF. But in any case, I’m sure Apple could make it so the magnets in the SKF alert the iPad to direct sound only through the top speakers when the bottom edge of the iPad is interfaced with the keyboard (in the same way those magnets in the SKF also tell the iPads Pro and Air that the physical keyboard is to be preferred over the virtual keyboard).
But also see my responses to 4U and Steve above, which also apply.
On the Magic Keyboard for my 12.9" iPiad, <CMD><.> gives me the Escape, give that a try (mine's not the Folio).What?! It has an escape key now? But my last two iPad Pro Magic keyboards didn't have it. I have to map the globe key to esc. No idea what the globe key even does. I guess the iPad Amateur keyboard needs it more than the Pro users.
Or... the speakers could be facing the sides that aren't blocked by the keyboard.
I'm just imaging all the "what was apple thinking" comments if they released an iPad that had speakers blocked by the keyboard.
But now that you know that the speakers can't go on the long side, what does your iPad design look like?
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I agree with you 100%. I love the idea of having a pencil on the side (or top depending how you orientate it). You did a great mock-up.
I mentioned in another post that I think this is almost purely a student/low cost device (relative to the others), thus those people won’t mind the sacrifices. It doesn’t make sense for those using it professionally or as a main tablet computer.
Personally I feel the iPad Air is on its way out and will be replaced by the iPad. Next year you'll see the 11th gen iPad which will gain a laminated screen, more storage, faster chip as its replacement. This years 10th gen will then see a price drop and will sit as the 'budget' option available in limited colours and maybe with just one storage option.
The Pencil? This will need to be redesigned to work with the landscape camera which now sits where the current charging port and magnets are. The solution to this I suspect will be to split the ports/magnets to sit either side of the camera which of course necessitates a new Pencil design.
The kicker is I think Apple will make the magnetic Pencil a Pro exclusive feature, a Pencil Pro if you will, which also features new button maybe. There will then be a regular Pencil which uses the same design but with USB C charging. Or maybe there will just be a Pencil that has both magnetic and USB C charging in the one device which will be universal to all iPads but gain features when used on a Pro. And we're stuck with the bizarre charging solution of the existing Pencil until this arrives.
I'm not fully sure but I feel this years fudge is all about setting on a path to a more distinct iPad and iPad Pro line up similar to what they have with the iPhone.
Regular iPad - USB C Pencil, Magic Keyboard Folio, Ax chip
iPad Pro - Magnetic Pencil, Magic Keyboard, Mx chip
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I doubt it would be more than the “what was Apple thinking“ re: Pencil 1 dongle and moving the Smart Connector/developing an entirely new keyboard compatible only with iPad 10.
In any event, I have already mentioned other possibilities, including a way for the speakers to be on the long edge even for the ONE use case that might conflict (SKF use).
I think a great majority of the reactions to the Pencil 1 situation with iPad 10 view the compromise Apple chose as unacceptable because it smacks of feature rationing and upselling (Pencil 2 compatibility makes iPad 10 too similar to iPad Air, and the ridiculous dongle solution encourages people to just ante up the extra for the Air—especially if they have a Pro or Mini 6 already). The change in Smart Connector location is just more evidence to that conclusion (can’t let anyone re-use an existing keyboard folio or buy one used).
Taking as true that the current iPad 10/Pencil 1 combo is not “good design,” what’s yours look like?
Darth Tulhu
macrumors 68020
OK, I don't know who's complaining about the kickstand design, but I've waited for something like this since the iPad was introduced.
The Surface's implementation is FANTASTIC, and I really want to know:
A: Does it go as far down as the Surface one does?
B: Will Apple or some other manufacturer ever make one for the iPad Pros?
I don't need the keyboard/trackpad as much, although this trackpad is bigger than the Pro MK and the dedicated function/functionality keys are outstanding to have.
It'd be nice to have both options here to choose from.
The Surface's implementation is FANTASTIC, and I really want to know:
A: Does it go as far down as the Surface one does?
B: Will Apple or some other manufacturer ever make one for the iPad Pros?
I don't need the keyboard/trackpad as much, although this trackpad is bigger than the Pro MK and the dedicated function/functionality keys are outstanding to have.
It'd be nice to have both options here to choose from.
That’s the only pleasant surprise for me in this whole mess. The Apple Pencil 1 is a thing of material beauty that actually feels like it’s a hundred dollar product. Sure, like the manic mouse, it has one of Jony Ive’s convoluted charging configurations, but by contrast, the Pencil 2‘s magnetic wireless charging gets in the way of cases, while the construction feels like a hastily made, injection molded, unfinished chunk of cheap coarse plastic.
It‘s a more than reasonable assumption that they could.
Logitech‘s (Lightning) Crayon is supports older Lightning iPads (iPad 6th, iPad mini 5th, iPad Air 3rd) as well as recent USB-C iPad Pros and iPad Airs. So does my 25$ magnetically charging pen from China.
So why do Apple’s Pencil not support this level of cross-compatibility? The most likely explanation is that it’s an arbitrary limitation made in marketing - not engineering.
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Here it is. It's not a perfect clone of the MKB, but for the price, it's decent enough. There are more reviews on the 5th gen Air/11" iPP model of the same keyboard, if you want more than the one review on the 10th gen model. Scroll down on the page and you'll find it:
typecase Edge Slim Magnetic Backlit Keyboard Case for iPad 10th Generation (10.9-inch, 2022) - Wireless Cover with Keypad & Multi-Touch Trackpad Compatible with Apple iPad 10 Gen 10.9
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www.amazon.com
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Logi developed the Combo touch keyboard in collaboration with Apple hence the use of the smart connector. It's biggest advantage over other keyboards is the performance of the trackpad.
There's virtually no difference between the touchpad on the Combo Touch versus my M1 MacBook.