New Key on USB-C Magic Keyboard

[awshucks]

I noticed in the new Magic Keyboard with Touch ID and Numeric Keypad that the fn key below F13 has been relocated to the left corner. But it has been replaced by this key. Anyone know what this is?

 

[xraydoc]

Interesting. Good question.

 

[tonywalker23]

anyone? wondering also

 

[southerndoc]

Wonder if that triggers AI.

 

[MakaniKai]

To me it looks like a context menu (right click) button. Windows has had that key for a long time (though they replaced it with the "Copilot" button lately), so it's not out of the ordinary.

 

[arw]

Previously asked here:

https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/apple-updates-magic-mouse-magic-keyboard-and-magic-trackpad-with-usb-c-ports.2441130/post-33522260

and answered here:

Got my keyboard yesterday. It shows the secondary menu. Kinda an odd key imho.

https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/apple-updates-magic-mouse-magic-keyboard-and-magic-trackpad-with-usb-c-ports.2441130/post-33534957

 

[tonywalker23]

do you have to have text selected for the key to do something? if text isn't selected, does it play an alert beep error sound or does it act like you right clicked (secondary clicked) wherever the mouse pointer happens to be

 

[uniblab]

I used Karabiner Elements to replace that key with the (🌐)fn key.
It's a "Complex Modification" that looks like this:

{
    "description": "Change key 'application' to (Globe)fn",
    "manipulators": [
        {
            "from": {
                "key_code": "application",
                "modifiers": {
                    "mandatory": ["any"],
                    "optional": ["any"]
                }
            },
            "to": [
                {
                    "apple_vendor_top_case_key_code": "keyboard_fn",
                    "modifiers": []
                }
            ],
            "type": "basic"
        }
    ]
}

I also did a Simple Modification to replace the (🌐)fn key with left ctrl. I now have two left control keys, but that's fine.