why no mouse support for iPad?

[EthanNixon]

I could see some pretty cool cases/accessories if Apple decided to implement input functionality.

Imagine, a keyboard dock with a touchpad in it. It may seem redundant, but some people will find it easier to use. I personally like the Clam Case design, and if that had a trackpad it would be pretty cool.

I would never use any other input device other than my finger or a stylus, but everyone has different needs.

A lot of people are quick to depress other people's opinions and thoughts, and that is just outrageous. Not everyone will agree with some people, but that is no reason to troll or make fun of someone.

There will never be mouse support on the iPad. A mouse can't perform anything other than one finger gestures, and even doing that is worse than using your finger, as anyone who has used the iPhone Simulator can tell you. (Yes, I realize that the simulator supports some 2 finger gestures via the mouse and option key, but it is absolutely horrible to use). Having a keyboard option is different because the hardware keyboard gives you exactly the same functionality as the soft keyboard, plus the added benefit that some people are more comfortable using it and you get to see more of the iPad's screen.


You can bookmark this post to tell me I'm wrong when mouse support appears, just don't hold your breath.

Mighty Mouse, you're wrong. Not to mention the bajillions of multi-touch track pads that could easily be implemented into a mouse or input device given the functionality in the operating system.

 

[BergerFan]

I know this is a wired solution, but I couldn't resist.

 

[Sevchenko]

Mouse support will come. Why? Android devices have it built-in. They are also touch devices from the ground up, but android developers were smart enough to realize that when using a keyboard with it (also supported) a mouse would be something everyone already knows how to use and it would keep your hand closer to the keyboard and off the screen for the duration. There are already a flock of android based tablets popping up, so Apple won't let that (mouse) deficiency keep you from buying an iPad in the future.

No they weren't. My uncle is the head designer of their Internet browser and on the board of directors. That was actually an inclusion because they were scared that the transition to completely touch would be scary to a lot of users and inclusion has actually been detrimental to their process

 

[Tulipone]

Not sure why - I guess I'll try again later - but my Apple wired keyboard does not work through the Camera USB port. Neither did the wired mouse, but I was expecting the keyboard to work.

 

[eawmp1]

Mighty Mouse, you're wrong. Not to mention the bajillions of multi-touch track pads that could easily be implemented into a mouse or input device given the functionality in the operating system.

And that is the issue...there is no, nor will there ever be, in the iPhone/iPad OS support for a mouse.

 

[xraydoc]

Not sure why - I guess I'll try again later - but my Apple wired keyboard does not work through the Camera USB port. Neither did the wired mouse, but I was expecting the keyboard to work.

The Apple keyboard draws too much current from the USB port; its got a hub built-in to it. USB keyboards without hubs will reportedly work, however.

 

[Tulipone]

The Apple keyboard draws too much current from the USB port; its got a hub built-in to it. USB keyboards without hubs will reportedly work, however.

I guess I should have thought of that, thanks for the nudge. Not sure I'll need a USB keyboard anyway.

Chris

 

[richpjr]

The iPad is a touch screen devices. It was not made for a mouse if you want to use a mouse get a laptop. The only reason it has a keyboard is because if you want to type for a long time when using pages. It would make no sense for them to add mouse support on a touch screen device. Keyboard yes but mouse no. If you want change you don't stick with the old ways. Guys please think.

I fully agree that the device works fine as a touch screen device when you are walking around and having it sit on your lap. I bought it, fully knowing it had no mouse support. I don't have a keyboard for it and may never. I also already own a laptop. But I still don't understand your logic - what is so different about an external keyboard and an external mouse? Neither use the built in UI or the touchscreen. They are both external devices that provide alternative ways of doing something built in to the device. Why does my Macbook support both an external keyboard and mouse when it has a keyboard and trackpad built in? I have worked for years on equipment with touch screens and mouse support is a pretty universal thing on all of it, unless it was a dedicated, sealed box like an ATM - something the iPad is not.

Of course, all of this is irrelevant. Whatever Steve decides should be on it is what we'll see. Whether he doesn't believe in that approach, or it isn't good enough yet (like cut and paste, SMS, etc.) - I guess time will tell.

 

[richpjr]

And that is the issue...there is no, nor will there ever be, in the iPhone/iPad OS support for a mouse.

That's a pretty definitive statement. Sounds kind of like saying nobody needs multi-tasking on an iPhone...

 

[mashinhead]

to be honest if you're asking this the iPad is not for you.

 

[firewood]

My question is why there is no mouse support? adding that option will make the iPad a better substitute as a small portable laptop.

Cocoa Touch UIKit doesn't include any native support for displaying a mouse pointer, so (almost) no apps (which have to use Cocoa Touch UIKit) have any mouse support.

That forced developers to optimize their new apps for multi-touch touch screen devices instead of porting unsuitable UI paradigms to Apple's new devices. Seems to have worked. Tiny laptops seem to have plateaued in market share... nothing in it for Apple.

The only apps where the inclusion of some sort of mouse support would be the proper UI paradigm might be VNC and RDP remote desktop viewing apps, but several vendors have already created their own on-screen touchable mouse pointers for just that type of application (see Wyse PocketCloud for one example).

 

[AJsAWiz]

to be honest if you're asking this the iPad is not for you.

LOL

 

[driphone]

A lot of people are quick to depress other people's opinions and thoughts, and that is just outrageous. Not everyone will agree with some people, but that is no reason to troll or make fun of someone.

+1. Asking a question while examining a new device's potential is healthy. I never criticized nor did I questioned iPad being a touch device.

And that is the issue...there is no, nor will there ever be, in the iPhone/iPad OS support for a mouse.

Are you an Apple executive?

That's a pretty definitive statement. Sounds kind of like saying nobody needs multi-tasking on an iPhone...

+1.

to be honest if you're asking this the iPad is not for you.

Thank you judge...I am sure you feel more important now.

Cocoa Touch UIKit doesn't include any native support for displaying a mouse pointer, so (almost) no apps (which have to use Cocoa Touch UIKit) have any mouse support.

That forced developers to optimize their new apps for multi-touch touch screen devices instead of porting unsuitable UI paradigms to Apple's new devices. Seems to have worked. Tiny laptops seem to have plateaued in market share... nothing in it for Apple.

The only apps where the inclusion of some sort of mouse support would be the proper UI paradigm might be VNC and RDP remote desktop viewing apps, but several vendors have already created their own on-screen touchable mouse pointers for just that type of application (see Wyse PocketCloud for one example).

This is the first decent technical & logical answer. If it's true then there are some difficulties integrating a mouse into iPad.
Thank you for your time.


What is wrong with this pic?

 

[Dammit Cubs]

Hi,
First let me say I love my iPad and use it everyday now. I did use the Apple wireless keyboard with the iPad and it works great. My question is why there is no mouse support? adding that option will make the iPad a better substitute as a small portable laptop. Is this a technical limitation or exclusion by choice?
TIA.
Sam

Serious?

 

[driphone]

Serious?

Yes...seriously

 

[mcdj]

what is so different about an external keyboard and an external mouse? Neither use the built in UI or the touchscreen.

Huh? A mouse doesn't use the built in UI? What do you call a cursor? A contextual menu? A scroll bar?

They are both external devices that provide alternative ways of doing something built in to the device. Why does my Macbook support both an external keyboard and mouse when it has a keyboard and trackpad built in?

The iPad supports an external keyboard. It also has one built in. The iPad does not support an external mouse. It does not have a mouse built in.

Your hair is a bird.

Those clamoring for a mouse, may I ask how you plan to use it on say, the home screen? How will you navigate from one page of apps to the next? How will you close the app you're in and choose another app?

In Mail, how will you swipe to delete an email?

In Photos, how will you zoom a picture?

To do these and other touch/home button based things, without a compete rewrite of the OS to include contextual menus and mouse event handlers, you will have to occasionally, if not more often, reach out and touch the iPad. If it's perched on a stand, you may need both hands to stabilize it when you touch it. Thus, you are looking at increasing the modes of interaction from one to 3...an ergonomic mess.

 

[Bytor65]

Yeah it was designed as a touch device, but it has a keyboard dock available. Some real clowns on here.

The paradigm of the onscreen keyboard and real keyboard are the same, so no actual UI changes are required.

The paradigm of touch and mouse are different. Which means you need to plan for mouse early on in design, if you are going to use one. You need to take that into account when you build your applications.

Tacking on mouse after the fact, would be like tacking touch onto windows after the fact.

 

[PCClone]

Hi,
First let me say I love my iPad and use it everyday now. I did use the Apple wireless keyboard with the iPad and it works great. My question is why there is no mouse support? adding that option will make the iPad a better substitute as a small portable laptop. Is this a technical limitation or exclusion by choice?
TIA.
Sam

Please tell us you were joking.

 

[Night Spring]

Those clamoring for a mouse, may I ask how you plan to use it on say, the home screen? How will you navigate from one page of apps to the next? How will you close the app you're in and choose another app?

In Mail, how will you swipe to delete an email?

In Photos, how will you zoom a picture?

To do these and other touch/home button based things, without a compete rewrite of the OS to include contextual menus and mouse event handlers, you will have to occasionally, if not more often, reach out and touch the iPad. If it's perched on a stand, you may need both hands to stabilize it when you touch it. Thus, you are looking at increasing the modes of interaction from one to 3...an ergonomic mess.

Yes, exactly! And this reminds me that that was exactly what was wrong with the HP touchscreen computer we bought last year. Yes, it had a tocuscreen interface, but there were too many things that had to be done with a mouse, or was easier to do with the mouse than using the touchscreen, so eventually juggling three input methods -- touch, mouse and keyboard -- became such a hassle we stopped using the touchscreen altogether. So I think Apple is right in not including mouse support for the iPad. I can see why some people would think certain tasks, like selecting text, would be easier with a mouse, but overall the slight convinience for performing some tasks would be overshadowed by the awkwardness of having an extra input method/device.

 

[Godzirra!]

.

Those clamoring for a mouse, may I ask how you plan to use it on say, the home screen? How will you navigate from one page of apps to the next? How will you close the app you're in and choose another app?

In Mail, how will you swipe to delete an email?

In Photos, how will you zoom a picture?
.

The cursor will click on the apps, click on the little dots to change pages, or swipe with magic mouse. Closing apps can have a shortcut on the keyboard. U don't have to swipe to delete an email, you click on delete. And u don't have to zoon while yu raw using. Mouse, it's mostly for making text input, copy and paste, etc.. easier. But if you just had to be doing that, there's a magic mouse for that. All really non complicated ways tonget around your "limitations".

 

[calsci]

its designed for touch not a mouse.

 

[admanimal]

Mighty Mouse, you're wrong. Not to mention the bajillions of multi-touch track pads that could easily be implemented into a mouse or input device given the functionality in the operating system.

OK, so how exactly would you do a multi finger gesture over a specific part of the screen using a Magic Mouse or the trackpad? What about apps that use multi finger gestures on completely different parts of the screen simultaneously? You either have to map the tiny track pad onto the big iPad screen, which completely kills the accuracy of touches, or you have the entire track pad map to just one small part of the screen, and have some other method of moving that active area around. Both are terrible solutions.

Again, you can quote me/bookmark me/whatever. There will be no mouse support for the iPad, ever.

 

[mrinternet]

There is no mouse support .. do not ask why

Yeah it was designed as a touch device, but it has a keyboard dock available. Some real clowns on here.

Perfect, why would you need a mouse stupid it is a touch device...what about the keyboard...pass.. .... love it

I wondered the same... for content usage you do not need a mouse or a keyboard.... for content generation you do...

Pages drives me nuts without a mouse... keyboard...keyboard... touch screen.. keyboard...

Perhaps touch pad on a wireless keyboard ... (no mice need apply)...
http://bit.ly/cfCt09

Mice...keyboard..touch.. why can't we all just get along.. Steve 'Rodney' Jobs

 

[awmazz]

The paradigm of the onscreen keyboard and real keyboard are the same, so no actual UI changes are required.

That's the simplest explanation. There's no software mouse, so no hardware mouse to replicate it like the hardware keyboard replicates the soft keyboard.

Perhaps touch pad on a wireless keyboard ... (no mice need apply)...

This could work except that there's no on-screen cursor to indicate exactly where your finger is. It would work for general zoom and swipes and even text cursor positioning, but how would you know which app or button you're tapping? You'd still be moving between the keyboard and screen for a lot of things anyway.

 

[Godzirra!]

I really don't get how this is such a big debate. There is like 2 reasons you would use a mouse, so why does it matter what multitouch gestures are needed. A mouse would improve pages so much, and other notes app. Even keynote or numbers. Maybe sometimes on the Internet. All those would be so easy to implement, and it will probably happetrhough cydia. So everyone saying ere will never be mouse support, thats only officially. You can hate it, but once it happens I will be loving it. You need pinpoint accuracy to get top a certain point between letters, and it's annoying having to do the magnifying glass thing every time. To each their own i guess.