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Apple: "Oh you bought this expensive thing and found a new use for it that we didn't think of? Oh no you don't! You'll buy the new Apple Pencil 2 specifically designed for UI navigation when we say so."

I much prefer the other attitude that goes like: "Hey we made this tool, do whatever you want with it."
 
I much prefer the other attitude that goes like: "Hey we made this tool, do whatever you want with it."
That is unfortunately not the Apple way though.

Remember: Choice is bad. More than one way to do things is bad. Our way is the only way.
 
If this plays out, I'm going to be ditching my iPad Pro on EBay and be done with Apple. I'm
really hoping this is just some beta BS, but not sure.

I like my iPad pro and find using the pencil for navigation is quite handy.

Could be the straw that pushes me to Android.

I know you're disappointed in this news (if it's turns out to be true), but have you read the Pixel C reviews? Talk about moving from a minor roadblock to a leap from a cliff.
 
Obviously you're still on it if you're posting here.

Well, I still have the RSS bookmark, a 3rd gen AppleTV and a 2011 mini. But I replaced the iphones with Lumias and the iPads with Surfaces at this household, and dropped the iPods altogether.
 
I know you're disappointed in this news (if it's turns out to be true), but have you read the Pixel C reviews? Talk about moving from a minor roadblock to a leap from a cliff.
Yes, they are not something I would look at moving to at this time. I'd sell my iPad Pro and utilize my MacBook. I'd probably seriously consider at Android phone and look at my options going forward. In all seriousness, I would be able to get my with a pixel c, but have no desire.

It's the fact that I spent a lot of money on the iPad Pro and the pencil and functionality could be removed. I'll wait and see what happens here, but I really don't like the removal of features that were there. Unless, something better replaces it. I just don't see what though...
 
This is what happens when u give a pencil the ability to do things unintentional, or could be anything, then deliberately remove it, weather by accident or what not.

Users will complain, because they thought it was be a great "feature" of the pencil. Not sure if that part of scrolling with the pencil was even documented, or users just found out on their own, but if it stuff wasn't documented, than probably why it was removed.

Then again, it will probably be back, I mean Home sharing was removed, then came back.... Whats the difference here ?

Alternatively, it could be just Apple doing the "apple shuffle" as they always do. to limit users.
 
Apple: "Oh you bought this expensive thing and found a new use for it that we didn't think of? Oh no you don't! You'll buy the new Apple Pencil 2 specifically designed for UI navigation when we say so."

I much prefer the other attitude that goes like: "Hey we made this tool, do whatever you want with it."
sadly this must be what goes through their heads.
 
Keep in mind that a beta is not just technical issues but also responses from user about features. I'm sure they are weighing in the reaction to the market whether restricting pencil interaction is desired.

Also, if Apple does keep this restriction, just a matter of time before an third party overlay is published allowing raw pencil events for extended use in different apps.
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I agree, and I never implied it's what they should do.
If anything, it should be an end user selectable switch option in Settings as was settled on with the function of the hardware switch on the side of the iPad.
 
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Isn't this Apple purpose.. To be everyone so exited about something, only to shatter their dreams by removing what u can accomplish with it ?

They probably thought, a finger can do all that. pencil is more about being precise. The only half way point would be "selecting" text.... some fingers are too fat though, so a pencil would be perfect for that.. Obviously not on Apple's raider.
 



Over the course of the iOS 9.3 beta testing period, iPad Pro users running the update have noticed a disturbing feature removal that limits the functionality of the Apple Pencil. In the current version of iOS, iOS 9.2, the Apple Pencil can be used for navigational purposes, just like a finger. It's possible to tap on buttons, select text, scroll, swipe between apps, access menus, and access general editing controls in non-drawing apps.

With iOS 9.3, much of that functionality has been removed. The Apple Pencil is no longer able to be used for selecting and manipulating text or doing things like scrolling -- it's only available for selecting buttons and drawing, sketching, and writing within apps.

applepencil2-800x400.jpg

Early on, Apple Pencil users thought the feature removal was perhaps a bug, but full Apple Pencil functionality has not been restored in later betas and the release notes that accompany betas have never mentioned the Apple Pencil's inability to be used for navigational purposes as a known issue. In a recent podcast, Relay.fm co-founder Myke Hurley said he's heard that the decision isn't a bug, but an intentional design decision.Earlier today, iMore's Serenity Caldwell wrote an opinion piece outlining the issue and calling on Apple not to remove the Apple Pencil's existing capabilities. In her post, she points out the Apple Pencil can no longer be used for tasks like editing videos in iMovie for iOS.Many iPad Pro users have come to rely on the Apple Pencil as a finger replacement in some situations, and it is not entirely clear why Apple has opted to eliminate that functionality. iOS 9.3 is expected to be released in the spring, perhaps at Apple's March 15 event, which means the end of the beta testing period is fast approaching. As Caldwell points out, Apple still has time to re-add the Apple Pencil features back into the operating system ahead of that date.

Article Link: Inability to Use Apple Pencil for Navigation in iOS 9.3 Appears to be Intentional
Very unsurprising. Historically in line with all those weird and frustrating options Apple has chosen now and then like no right click long time back. Today it's no print to pdf on IOS as well as no mouse no external HDD etc etc.
 
Apple giveth and Apple taketh away
That is sometimes how their behavior feels to me :(

Edit: and it wouldn't be so bad if they would make a bug-report-list-thing and say: navigating with pencil is not working properly, but we are working on it. (Or just plainly say that they didn't want navigating with the pencil in the first place and that it was a bug).
I know it's a beta, bugs are to be expected, but a tiny bit more communication would be helpful, every now and then :)
 
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I swear apple inc can be a douche bag at times. This is one of those times. I buy a $100 pencil from you and you deliberately turn off a feature that was suppose to be useful. So I'm using my pencil and when I need to do some multi tasking from app to app or go back to find something on my springboard I have to put the pencil down or hold it in a handicapped way in order to navigate the UI?

I swear they will re-allow this feature in the iPad pro 2nd generation or better yet release pencil 2.0 forcing you to buy that feature.

SMH, sometimes I want who ever is in charge of these decisions to go F themself.
 
This will be put back in version 2 of the Apple Pencil. Apple will then be able to claim it's a new innovative feature.
 
I'm liking Apple less and less. They no longer do it for me. They're products look flashy and sleek as all hell and have so much potential but it's been falling real short. I've been scratching my head at some of the choices made. Same app layout for an iPad pro? This stylus debacle. iPad mini 3. Ugh
 
Quite frankly this seems more like a reduction in functionality to root out some long standing input functionality bugs that might be getting masked by the pencil. So disabling this functionality will allow a better pattern of abstraction and rolled up into a framework that later gets released and expands beyond the current known functionality, pre-betas.
 
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