Got a tip for us?
Let us know
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.
iPad Keyboard Dock's Secret Button
- Thread starter macduke
- Start date
- Sort by reaction score
How many times must this be said? This is not the same thing as the F-keys on normal Apple keyboards. The F5 and F6 keys are not blank, they are F5 and F6! They exist for a reason!
The blank key on the ipad keyboard is truly blank. It has no apparent function whatsoever. Considering Apple is a company of discriminating detail, it's pretty safe to say that they did this for a reason. Most likely, the shipping version of the keyboard will have "something" printed on that key. This thread is about what that function might be.
So, can we stop talking about the desktop keyboards now and stay on topic!
...sorry
On the far left, it is a HOME button. To get user back to the Home Screen at any application that you are using. You can also use the directional buttons to move from icon to icon on the Home Screen. To run the app, simply press the "return" button.
The empty button could be for the widget...
The empty button could be for the widget...
Maybe they're just planning ahead?
They likely have a feature in OS 4.0 due to use that button, and instead of doing a whole change to the keyboard manufacturing process in a few months, they will be able to just print the icon on instead. This way they're also allowing the feature to be used by those 1st gen keyboard-dock buyers.
They likely have a feature in OS 4.0 due to use that button, and instead of doing a whole change to the keyboard manufacturing process in a few months, they will be able to just print the icon on instead. This way they're also allowing the feature to be used by those 1st gen keyboard-dock buyers.
How many times must this be said? This is not the same thing as the F-keys on normal Apple keyboards. The F5 and F6 keys are not blank, they are F5 and F6! They exist for a reason!
The blank key on the ipad keyboard is truly blank. It has no apparent function whatsoever. Considering Apple is a company of discriminating detail, it's pretty safe to say that they did this for a reason. Most likely, the shipping version of the keyboard will have "something" printed on that key. This thread is about what that function might be.
So, can we stop talking about the desktop keyboards now and stay on topic!
...sorry
THANK YOU! I don't understand why people can't see this.
Then why not put a star on it? Why would having app favorites be so secretive? Seems like a special key for something big enough to have it's own announcement, like OS 4.0. But I guess we'll find out about that within a few weeks.
I bet it's a sleep/dim screen button for when someone walks in the room while you are looking at some super secret pr0nz!
that. would. be. frigging. AWESOME!!!!!
friend/relative walks into the room* your expression is
but you hurriedly press the blank button and your arse is saved This seems like the best guess to me too. Except why didn't they mark it with the same logo?
Except there's already a photo key, it's fifth from the left (where F4 usually is).
that. would. be. frigging. AWESOME!!!!!
friend/relative walks into the room* your expression is
+1. that would be amazing!!!
i would dig that!
maybe its for ichat or camera hehe... a lil off topic if but does anyone know if you can take the keyboard and dock apart? Therefore have a stand alone dock?
You can then use the iPad as a photo frame when its not being used, Or will you have to buy the dock by its self
Because that costs $100 vs $70. It also doesn't power the keyboard. Using the iPad as a photo frame while attached to the keyboard is pretty lame. I guess some people might already own the bluetooth keyboard, but many don't, and spending an extra $100 for the luxury seems a bit much.
I wish I could just plug my Apple wired aluminum keyboard into the thing, but I doubt I'll use a physical keyboard that much, as its not likely I'll carry it with me anywhere, and when I'm at home I always have my mac. Meh.
Well that is not exactly true, because on your Apple KB and Wireless BT KB those keys are function keys, and there is an "fn" button in the bottom left that activates them. The iPad keyboard does not have this "fn" button or Function keys.
You are incorrect my friend. The iPad keyboard is indeed a different piece of aluminum than the wireless bluetooth keyboard.
See how the Apple BT KB has four keys to the left of the spacebar?
However, the iPad keyboard has only three.
So clearly they are not using the same aluminum cutout. So in that case, why not just not put a key at all? I still think Apple would rather put a key there with a symbol and use that have a blank space or useless key. The fact that they are hiding that use from us so far is very interesting.
You are incorrect my friend. The iPad keyboard is indeed a different piece of aluminum than the wireless bluetooth keyboard.
See how the Apple BT KB has four keys to the left of the spacebar?
However, the iPad keyboard has only three.
So clearly they are not using the same aluminum cutout. So in that case, why not just not put a key at all? I still think Apple would rather put a key there with a symbol and use that have a blank space or useless key. The fact that they are hiding that use from us so far is very interesting.
The Wired one with the number pad has 3 buttons left of the space bar no FN key on the space bar line its under F13.
The iPad one is a cut down wired Keyboard, ie all the buttons from f13 across in the right direction are missing no number pad. So im guessing there is a little man out back with a hacksaw cutting them down.
Knowing that Apple like to use parts repeatably in products, I would wonder if all the keyboards share a similar circuit board inside. And hidden away in the keyboard dock are the pin connections for USB Ports that on a jailbreak could be put to use. Its a longshot but useful hack to be investigated when the dock comes out. Waiting with screwdriver in hand.
If it helps I have put away AU$1,200 for the 64GB WiFi+3G + any accessories I might wish to buy. I doubt it will be that much but I figure if I over budget then I'm not likely to surprised and have to scramble to get the rest together.
This was based on the analysis of other Apple products where the difference between tax-less US and AU prices generally seems to be around 18% so adding GST to that puts the 64GB WiFi+3G around AU$1080.00. I figured $1,200 provided a decent safety margin.
i thought it was the button on the corner aswell lol they should put a ring around the blank button
interesting. any ideas of estimates for the 16gb wifi modeL? i was thinking ~$600...
In my humble opinion,
Apple simply included a version of one of their already produced keyboards, the "chassis" if you will, with a different shell and one blank key as to not confuse folks by making it a dashboard key.
Why spend the development money AND change things on the assembly line to remove one key? If one line makes the "chassis" of all of the keyboards the same, then ones like these could simply be finished up to include a blank key instead.
This sort of thing happens all the time with car manufacturers, ESPECIALLY General Motors. Look at a Chevy Cobalt and a Pontiac G6 side by side. Some people say it's the same car, while that's not necessarily true, most of the parts come from the same source. They are built on the same frame, with the same body pieces, just the logos placed on at the end are different. Almost all GM vehicles now use the same radio, and they all include buttons for a CD changer even though you might not have a CD changer installed. It's not an indication that next years model will have a CD changer, it's just an indicator that there is no need to remove functionality, even if it doesn't do anything on that model.
My Saturn has wiring harnesses in it all over for things that aren't installed, because the money they waste on extra wiring (and even mounting brackets), is less than the money wasted by making more variations on the assembly line.
And let's face it, Apple would rather produce an "iPad 2" version of the dock to include a dock button, because it would generate a handful of sales to people who already own the dock, but would be willing to buy another one to add that functionality (and would justify it by saying they would have a dock for each iPad, their old one and their new one.) They didn't do this on purpose to prepare for future functionality. If they had done that, they would have just kept it as a dashboard key. Not discounting it could happen, at all, it very well may, but that is not the motivation (in my opinion) behind the "blank" key.
$0.02
-John
Apple simply included a version of one of their already produced keyboards, the "chassis" if you will, with a different shell and one blank key as to not confuse folks by making it a dashboard key.
Why spend the development money AND change things on the assembly line to remove one key? If one line makes the "chassis" of all of the keyboards the same, then ones like these could simply be finished up to include a blank key instead.
This sort of thing happens all the time with car manufacturers, ESPECIALLY General Motors. Look at a Chevy Cobalt and a Pontiac G6 side by side. Some people say it's the same car, while that's not necessarily true, most of the parts come from the same source. They are built on the same frame, with the same body pieces, just the logos placed on at the end are different. Almost all GM vehicles now use the same radio, and they all include buttons for a CD changer even though you might not have a CD changer installed. It's not an indication that next years model will have a CD changer, it's just an indicator that there is no need to remove functionality, even if it doesn't do anything on that model.
My Saturn has wiring harnesses in it all over for things that aren't installed, because the money they waste on extra wiring (and even mounting brackets), is less than the money wasted by making more variations on the assembly line.
And let's face it, Apple would rather produce an "iPad 2" version of the dock to include a dock button, because it would generate a handful of sales to people who already own the dock, but would be willing to buy another one to add that functionality (and would justify it by saying they would have a dock for each iPad, their old one and their new one.) They didn't do this on purpose to prepare for future functionality. If they had done that, they would have just kept it as a dashboard key. Not discounting it could happen, at all, it very well may, but that is not the motivation (in my opinion) behind the "blank" key.
$0.02
-John