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Shifts

macrumors regular
Original poster
Oct 3, 2019
191
172
Since the first screenshots of the Magic Keyboard, I have seen people going silly and facepalming themselves over the lack of escape key. It continues into the first reviews which started coming this week.

I must live in ignorance, but to my knowledge an escape key is never needed on an iPad? It is no part of the software keyboard and there are plenty of ways of escaping without that specific hardware key.

The only such valid use case I can think of, is if you might connect to another computer remotely, but even then it is not really needed.

Help me out: Why is this even mentioned as an important missing feature? To me it now looks like something someone with influence once said and the flock repeats it without knowing why. Or the likely possibility that I have missed why it is such an important part of iPadOS.
 

cmaier

Suspended
Jul 25, 2007
25,405
33,474
California
Since the first screenshots of the Magic Keyboard, I have seen people going silly and facepalming themselves over the lack of escape key. It continues into the first reviews which started coming this week.

I must live in ignorance, but to my knowledge an escape key is never needed on an iPad? It is no part of the software keyboard and there are plenty of ways of escaping without that specific hardware key.

The only such valid use case I can think of, is if you might connect to another computer remotely, but even then it is not really needed.

Help me out: Why is this even mentioned as an important missing feature? To me it now looks like something someone with influence once said and the flock repeats it without knowing why. Or the likely possibility that I have missed why it is such an important part of iPadOS.

It’s a quick way to choose the “cancel” option on modal dialogs, dismiss popovers, etc. And, as you mention, it is very handy when using certain software (like vnc clients, etc.).

Of course, Command-period sends the escape key code, so that’s fine for most uses.
 

estabya

macrumors 6502a
Jun 28, 2014
691
730
Keep in mind that this requires app support, so it may not work intuitively. I mapped the caps lock key to escape and tried it for a while, but it doesn’t work nearly as often as you’d hope. Even within iOS itself it seems to be hit or miss enough that I‘m not sure I’d use it anyway.
 

cupcakes2000

macrumors 601
Apr 13, 2010
4,031
5,424
It’s mostly people stuck in their ways if you ask me - always the same ones who grumble about the iPad being a toy and not good enough for ‘real’ work, whatever that is.
I have pretty much never even thought about needing an escape key using iOS or any of the apps I use for my photography business (lightroom, Photoshop, concepts, affinity photo, LumaFusion etc- all pretty ‘pro’ apps)
I have a Logitech keyboard i use with my iPad Pro and I remapped the esc key to lock the screen. I could also remap any other key to be an escape key if it lacked one and I wanted one.

It’s a huge non issue if you ask me. Someone will be bound to bring up a macos or other computer os’ traditional use for it, without considering that that is becoming the legacy way of doing things and may not be a relevant point for many many people in the not so distant future.

Computing is changing and the iPad is at the forefront of it in the Apple world. People just don’t want things to change, especially a vocal few on macrumours.
 

ascender

macrumors 603
Dec 8, 2005
5,021
2,897
There’s definitely times where its useful for quitting dialogue boxes for example where it would be good to not have to move your hands from the keyboard. I agree its not a major thing, but I guess there might be workflows where people do use it a lot more than most people do.
 

Shifts

macrumors regular
Original poster
Oct 3, 2019
191
172
Thanks guys. Rarely attach my BT Magic Keyboard to my iPad, but I do on occasion and couldn’t honestly think of one time when I have reached for the escape key. But it seems there actually being a few existing use cases.

Still funny how some say the lack of this is why they won’t purchase the new keyboard. This I won’t be able to comprehend and feel like cupcakes2000 on this one.
 
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metalsiren

macrumors 6502a
Oct 28, 2017
908
1,627
dont forget you can remap the globe key to escape if you want. I did it since I work in tech and sometimes I need the escape for sure.
 

KittyKatta

macrumors 65816
Feb 24, 2011
1,058
1,212
SoCal
Help me out: Why is this even mentioned as an important missing feature? To me it now looks like something someone with influence once said and the flock repeats it without knowing why. Or the likely possibility that I have missed why it is such an important part of iPadOS.
On a consumer level and for many iPad users then Esc and Fn may be brushed off as unnecessary “Legacy Keys” and that’s true for current apps. But the problem is what this means for the future of the iPad as a “Pro” platform.

With the addition of the Magic Keyboard then almost every checkbox is marked in unlocking the potential of the iPad. Screen, Mouse, Processor, Keyboard Etc. The only thing missing is Pro Software... and that’s where these missing keys slaps the future in the face. There are many people in various creative, programming and office fields who would gladly dump their old computer for a Pro iPad but that can’t be done if a full version of a program cant run properly without a full keyboard.
 

ILowry82

macrumors 6502
Sep 26, 2014
341
117
In keyboard settings you can remap another key to act as the escape key. Like the globe or CTRL for example
 

cupcakes2000

macrumors 601
Apr 13, 2010
4,031
5,424
On a consumer level and for many iPad users then Esc and Fn may be brushed off as unnecessary “Legacy Keys” and that’s true for current apps. But the problem is what this means for the future of the iPad as a “Pro” platform.

With the addition of the Magic Keyboard then almost every checkbox is marked in unlocking the potential of the iPad. Screen, Mouse, Processor, Keyboard Etc. The only thing missing is Pro Software... and that’s where these missing keys slaps the future in the face. There are many people in various creative, programming and office fields who would gladly dump their old computer for a Pro iPad but that can’t be done if a full version of a program cant run properly without a full keyboard.
There is plenty of ’pro’ Software for the iPad. Unless you’re more pro’er than me somehow?
 
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tops2

macrumors 6502
Dec 30, 2014
373
190
For me during this work from home, I‘ve briefly tried using my iPad for work. When logging remotely to work to Linux workstations, it’s very hard, especially when using old text editors like vi with no escape key. Some really old servers don’t have graphical text editors I’ve learned to use (and appreciate) vi. In my previous work, I’ve had to remotely log into really old machines and had to quickly learn to use vi...

Most of the work software we use also makes a lot of use of the escape key to exit different modes.

If it wasn’t for needing to remote login to my servers, I don’t usually use the escape key. But is enough for me to give up using my iPad for my type of work.
 
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KittyKatta

macrumors 65816
Feb 24, 2011
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There is plenty of ’pro’ Software for the iPad. Unless you’re more pro’er than me somehow?
Final Cut. Xcode. Logic. Programming. Apple Office. MS Office. remote access etc.

Its not an attack. Its just an obstacle for the growing number of people who desire to see the iPadOS platform elevate beyond where it is now and become a no-compromise alternative to standard computers.
 
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cupcakes2000

macrumors 601
Apr 13, 2010
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Final Cut. Xcode. Logic. Programming. Apple Office. MS Office. remote access etc.

Its not an attack. Its just an obstacle for the growing number of people who desire to see the iPadOS platform elevate beyond where it is now and become a no-compromise alternative to standard computers.
LumaFusion, lightroom, photoshop, affinity photo, affinity designer, concepts, procreate, pixelmator photo. The list can go on and on. Plenty of very capable pro software is already available.

The rest will surely follow. I’m sure the lack of an escape key will largely be a non issue.

This is not an attack either, it’s just it’s tiring to hear people suggest directly or in directly that the iPad is a toy.
If lightroom mobile could mimic lightroom classic and allow libraries to be hosted on external drives I wouldn’t even need a Mac. I would still have one because i want one mind.
Right here is a pro doing pro work using pro apps on an iPad.
 

profets

macrumors 603
Mar 18, 2009
5,162
6,313
It’s been like this for several years with all the iPad keyboards. I think if they could have fit an additional row (with media keys and such) then they would have included an Escape key. Given its iOS, they probably don’t feel that its an absolute necessity.

Does suck as I find myself looking for it relatively often, but I’ve remapped it to the globe key instead.
 

yufasa

macrumors newbie
Nov 6, 2010
11
4
It like my MacBook Pro with Touch Bar (prior to 16") despite all the pundits (uhm Pro's) that focused so hard on the "soft" Esc key. I use the Touch Bar and never miss the Esc key.
I see some "Pro's" are now getting to their senses and actually realize the value of the Touch Bar but Apple relented and brought the Esc key back in the 16".
If it will make news people will make a facepalm meme and stick it on their story or YouTube video. It is business for them...
 
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Abazigal

Contributor
Jul 18, 2011
20,382
23,857
Singapore
I must live in ignorance, but to my knowledge an escape key is never needed on an iPad? It is no part of the software keyboard and there are plenty of ways of escaping without that specific hardware key.
In all my years of working with an iPad, I can't say I have missed not having the ESC key.
 

Mr Retina

macrumors regular
Jun 5, 2013
249
189
Ive been using the keyboard for the last couple of hours, and I dont know what the esc key used for specifically In iPados? I mapped it to the globe icon just to see if I ever use it, and I dont.
 

Digitalee

macrumors member
Jun 16, 2010
51
10
Ive been using the keyboard for the last couple of hours, and I dont know what the esc key used for specifically In iPados? I mapped it to the globe icon just to see if I ever use it, and I dont.

I did the same exact thing. When I need an escape key, it will be there on the bottom left of the keyboard instead of the top left.
 

jcshas

macrumors 65816
Oct 8, 2003
1,053
1,339
I don’t know what all the fuss is about. I’ve used Logitech keyboards in the past and they didnt have and esc key either. 🤷🏻‍♂️
 

Mike Boreham

macrumors 68040
Aug 10, 2006
3,904
1,894
UK
dont forget you can remap the globe key to escape if you want. I did it since I work in tech and sometimes I need the escape for sure.

The globe key also gives forward delete which you lose if remapping. (depending on keyboards installed it may show emoji but forward delete still happens)
 

cupcakes2000

macrumors 601
Apr 13, 2010
4,031
5,424
The globe key also gives forward delete which you lose if remapping. (depending on keyboards installed it may show emoji but forward delete still happens)
If you use accessibility you can map anything to anything, pretty much

*edit* scrap that. I’m talking ****. You can’t!

it’s highly customisable but not complete key to key remapping.
 
Last edited:

cupcakes2000

macrumors 601
Apr 13, 2010
4,031
5,424
I remapped my escape key, but to a iPad function not to an alternative keyboard key. I mapped it to lock the screen. You need to use Accessibility settings though. @The Game 161

*edit* it’s not so much remapping as turning it into a shortcut, but achieves the same end essentially.
 
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