I logged in just to add my two cents. I believe Apple is testing functionality of the Pencil in this fashion for the iPad Air 3. I don't think you'll be able to use the Pencil on the iPad Air 3 to navigate like you could with the Pro before the beta. They're limping functionality to help set apart the devices.
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Inability to Use Apple Pencil for Navigation in iOS 9.3 Appears to be Intentional
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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.
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
I wonder if it has anything to do with battery life. I remember apple saying something about the screen refresh rate being higher when the pencil is in use. Perhaps they are trying to prevent users from burning through their battery by eliminating the feature.
I have used a pencil with my iPad Pro since launch day, scroll with it, select text, pretty much everything extra that Apple has blocked with iOS 9.3. Battery life on the Pro is fine with it, no worse than any other iPad I have had, maximum brightness on the other hand really depletes the battery.
Additionally the 12w charger is probably on the low side as charging appears to take considerably longer than any other iOS device I've ever had. I also use the device whilst charging and in a few circumstances the battery still goes down.
I was reaaaally close to buying an iPad Pro a couple months ago, but the more I see of it the more I feel like I'm just going to roll with the iPad Air 3 and wait until they refine the design of the Pro (hardware and software) before buying in. Same reason I'm waiting for Apple Watch 2 or 3. It's interesting but still seems half-baked to me.
Well, if true, a refund equivalent to loss of functionality is in order.
It takes about 10 minutes to go from 65%-100% in my experience. I charge it toward the end of the day or whenever I think of it.
This rather dumb decision is almost as bad as requiring Apple TV games to work with the remote. O__o
Lovely. Just got the Pro a few weeks ago as my first iPad, and a couple of weeks later scored the Pencil and the Smart Keyboard. I've been using them more and more since I got them. I've just begun to explore what the Pencil brings and was pleasantly surprised that I could navigate the UI using it generally instead of putting it down to use a fingertip.
This "decision" looks like a reason to not load 9.3 on the Pro unless they relent. It does make one wonder what's going on where design decisions were made even if this isn't as nasty (to me) as the POP email mess that was 9.0 through the last 9.1 release.
On battery life - I have been more than satisfied with the battery life of the Pro, though using the Pencil alot does make a noticeable difference. But still.....
This "decision" looks like a reason to not load 9.3 on the Pro unless they relent. It does make one wonder what's going on where design decisions were made even if this isn't as nasty (to me) as the POP email mess that was 9.0 through the last 9.1 release.
On battery life - I have been more than satisfied with the battery life of the Pro, though using the Pencil alot does make a noticeable difference. But still.....
I'm betting they did more testing around the durabity of the iPad Pro screen and Pencil. Probably came to the conclusion that for the type of pencil to screen interaction with navigation, warranty claims would increase (screen failures, pencil failures, etc...) impacting the bottom line.
Here's what I think will happen:
1. Apple releases iOS 9.3.
2. Users complain of lost functionality with Apple Pencil.
3. Apple releases iOS 9.3.1 with the functionality restored or restores it in iOS 9.4, which comes out late this spring.
1. Apple releases iOS 9.3.
2. Users complain of lost functionality with Apple Pencil.
3. Apple releases iOS 9.3.1 with the functionality restored or restores it in iOS 9.4, which comes out late this spring.
Ugh...this would be a truly stupid move by Apple. Looks like I won't be upgrading to iOS 9.3.
APPLE: READ THIS! Get it together. The pen is mightier than the finger!!! Kids use fingers and then they learn to draw and write with a pen and pencil. Don't force me to be a kid again.
PLEASE *optimize* the use of the pencil across all Apple devices and NOT TRY TO LIMIT ITS USE!
I want the OPTION of using a pencil on ALL my iPads AND iPhones (plus you make an extra $100 per device) and get this:
I WANT TO USE "INK" Apples Built-in Handwriting Recognition Feature!!! Remember that?!
Please don't limit this technology - expand it!
PLEASE *optimize* the use of the pencil across all Apple devices and NOT TRY TO LIMIT ITS USE!
I want the OPTION of using a pencil on ALL my iPads AND iPhones (plus you make an extra $100 per device) and get this:
I WANT TO USE "INK" Apples Built-in Handwriting Recognition Feature!!! Remember that?!
Please don't limit this technology - expand it!
Serenity Caldwell said:
Cough, cough, AppleTV 4, cough, cough...
I guess we won't be buying any
Pencil-based iPads any time soon.That's not Apple's call to make AFTER they've introduced functionality. That would have been/should have been something from the get-go. I don't think this is the reason.
Sometimes I am really baffled by Apple.
I was going to buy an iPad Pro in the next year or two alone with a Pencil. I'm not an artist, but I was going to use it for taking notes. I've used styli with my iPad before, but never liked them too much. But, I distinctly remember using the stylus for navigation.
Yeah, I won't buy one unless they fix this. I'm sick of simple functions like this being removed or never added.
I was going to buy an iPad Pro in the next year or two alone with a Pencil. I'm not an artist, but I was going to use it for taking notes. I've used styli with my iPad before, but never liked them too much. But, I distinctly remember using the stylus for navigation.
Yeah, I won't buy one unless they fix this. I'm sick of simple functions like this being removed or never added.
If this is true, I probably won't update my iPad Pro to 9.3. Being able to navigate with the Pencil is more efficient than switching between using the Pencil and finger taps.
Speaking more broadly, I was surprised they allowed navigation with the Pencil in the first place, considering Apple has always gone to pains to avoid using the term 'stylus'. I can understand if there are technical problems with determining when to draw and when to interact with UI elements, but it seems a bit late to put that genie back in the bottle.
Speaking more broadly, I was surprised they allowed navigation with the Pencil in the first place, considering Apple has always gone to pains to avoid using the term 'stylus'. I can understand if there are technical problems with determining when to draw and when to interact with UI elements, but it seems a bit late to put that genie back in the bottle.
Was that functionality advertised or mentioned as being part of the package originally?
You don't need the Pencil to do those tasks, that's what your finger is for. Plus it saves the Pencil's battery life. What do you do with a pencil? You write with it. It doesn't have any other function. The Apple Pencil is not a stylus.
I think it's important to re-iterate that Apple's stance on stylus was for differentiation - not functionality. They brought to market a fully touch enabled phone - so of course it made sense to poo-poo keyboards and a stylus.
However, smartly so - they realized if they wanted to up the game in the iPad market and appeal to artists,etc (and reclaim millions of dollars people were spending on 3rd party stylus) they needed to create one of their own.