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Since the functionality is already out there, there really ought to be a compelling reason to remove it now. I don't see that here. It seems, when writing in GoodNotes for example, and already holding the pencil, it is just easier to use the pencil to navigate the rest of the interface.

Also, since the Pro is physically larger, the length of the pencil reduces the travel time to select a button to do a quick erase for example. Maybe a minor point but this would be a noticeable step back in usability.
 
Scroogled... oh wait...

Joking aside, this is basically the vibe I've been getting for too long now with Apple.
It distracts from the emotions that overwhelmed me when I got my first Mac.
"No you can't" can be had for cheaper, don't need to spend premium prices on that.
I hope whoever makes these sorts of decisions gets replaced soon.
Doubt it's a CEO-level decision, but even if it was, save for some very shining moments of Tim I'm not too stoked about him anymore.
I had been very optimistic in 2011 and hell even around iOS 7's launch...
The hype faded. I'm ready for change at Apple HQ, don't see how it can get much worse.

Glassed Silver:ios
It can get a lot worse. For the most part I've been satisfied with Apple under Tim Cook. The MacBook is a great product. The iPhone trajectory has been pretty much how I expected. iPad has struggled lately, but I'm not sure what Steve Jobs would have done differently. He made the decision to make it an iOS device, and as long as that it is the case, it will never be the hybrid that a lot of users think they want.

That said, this move with the Pencil is perplexing. How it works in iOS 9.2 is fine.
 
Curious, what is Apple trying to do? This seems to be one of many examples where a feature is removed instead of making it an option and allowing the user decide whether or not they can use it.

This is just my guess, but I figured they want people to use their finger as the primary input device and not give into any notion that the Pencil is required (for use like a stylus to navigate the OS).
 
This is just my guess, but I figured they want people to use their finger as the primary input device and not give into any notion that the Pencil is required (for use like a stylus to navigate the OS).

That's not really a choice they should or need to make for those that own a Pencil
 
Since the functionality is already out there, there really ought to be a compelling reason to remove it now. I don't see that here. It seems, when writing in GoodNotes for example, and already holding the pencil, it is just easier to use the pencil to navigate the rest of the interface.

Also, since the Pro is physically larger, the length of the pencil reduces the travel time to select a button to do a quick erase for example. Maybe a minor point but this would be a noticeable step back in usability.

This says most of it for me - I will be peeved if this doesn't come back - this is like connected text boxes being taken out of Pages many moons ago (when was the last time THAT software had any TLC?).

At least give us folks the option to switch the feature off or on... don't tell me what to do - Jobs was on the money with stylus vs finger when the first iPhone came out - but we're talking a BIG iPad, and some 9 years down the road...
 
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The iPad Pro has become a device that is no longer for work but a way for me to stay connected.
Everyone should do this: Go to http://www.Apple.com/feedback and leave feed back and tweet Tim Cook (@Tim_Cook) on twitter.


Thanks for the link chrono1081 .

The iPad Pro has become a device that is no longer for work but a way for me to stay connected. Starting Chemotherapy again has caused my hands to swell and the skin to crack at times. It can be painful and the cream/ lotion makes a mess on the screen. Using the pencil, wrapped in tissue, enables me to scroll and select as the lotion causes the screen not to recognize my finger.
I imagine users with hand disabilities can use the Pencil as I do when my hands swell. Following this news over the past few weeks is disheartening. Last time with Chemo I lost a bit vision and using the iPad Air was frustrating. Now Apple will take away some of my connectivity which allows me to forget what I am going through and pass time. Scrolling, typing, selecting is so much easier.
Hoping  will do the right thing and allow users to find ways to use products to their advantage.
 
"We've made the user experience thinner. Instead of offering a plethora of ways the Pencil can be used - we've narrowed it down to only the interactions that are required." - Jony Ive

I don't know if this was something that Ive said or just someone poking fun, but it actually illustrates what I perceive to be the problem at Apple that is only getting worse. Apple has become so enraptured with the Jony Ives design paradigm that customer desires no longer carry much weight. They've become user interface purists that cannot see the forest for the trees.

Even their ID is becoming stale thanks to Jony Ive. As evidence, take a look at the Apple watch. There was a million ways they could have gone in the ID for that, but instead they chose to make what is essentially a wrist-sized ipad. They did their best to innovate on the UI, but the hardware itself is as boring as it can be. There are so many design cues from the ipad and iphone present in the apple watch. Take off the strap holders and the crown, and what do you have left? A tiny ipad. Boring...

In my opinion, the best thing Apple could do is to thank Jony Ive for his service, send him on his way, and get some new blood in their design dept.
 
That's not really a choice they should or need to make for those that own a Pencil
Well everyone is guessing at this point. Hopefully Apple will either explain why they did it or put the functionality back.
 
I don't know if this was something that Ive said or just someone poking fun, but it actually illustrates what I perceive to be the problem at Apple that is only getting worse. Apple has become so enraptured with the Jony Ives design paradigm that customer desires no longer carry much weight. They've become user interface purists that cannot see the forest for the trees.

Even their ID is becoming stale thanks to Jony Ive. As evidence, take a look at the Apple watch. There was a million ways they could have gone in the ID for that, but instead they chose to make what is essentially a wrist-sized ipad. They did their best to innovate on the UI, but the hardware itself is as boring as it can be. There are so many design cues from the ipad and iphone present in the apple watch. Take off the strap holders and the crown, and what do you have left? A tiny ipad. Boring...

In my opinion, the best thing Apple could do is to thank Jony Ive for his service, send him on his way, and get some new blood in their design dept.
To answer your question, I made it up. Based on Ive's obsession with thinness
 
Maybe they're trying to implement some additional form of markup for safari, like what MS did with Edge. I could see that kind of thing causing them to re-wire a lot of stuff, but I would hope they'd let us switch back (just spent the weekend loving the use of the pencil for non-art functions)
 
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In my opinion, the best thing Apple could do is to thank Jony Ive for his service, send him on his way, and get some new blood in their design dept.

Good luck with that considering he was promoted last year. With the Watch I suppose Apple could have followed Android OEM and made it look just like a traditional watch. Or made a Fitbit clone. But people still would have complained. These days no matter what Apple does someone doesn't like it.
 
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I bet this "Myke Hurley" guy is totally bu-sh-itting. It's nothing but to attract internet traffic to its site. Don't be fool!
 
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