Apple could unveil a new iPad Pro 2 as soon as next Monday during its WWDC 2017 keynote. And if it does, we hope the company adds some new productivity features, like this Smart Keyboard with a trackpad.
In a new mockup that imagines what the new Smart Keyboard could look like, designer David Chapman shows why it would be a great idea.
Take another look:
Listening to @gruber and decided to work up what a trackpad could look like for #iPadPro2 at #WWDC17 pic.twitter.com/TbWD6GgFNE
— David Chapman (@DaveChap) May 29, 2017
The idea of Apple adding a keyboard to the iPad Pro was recently floated by John Gruber on a recent podcast episodes. Instead of using the trackpad to move a mouse cursor, Gruber postulated that maybe Apple would use it just to move the typing cursor similar to how you can 3D Touch on the iOS keyboard to move the insertion point.
Apple added an incomplete version of tvOS’s UIFocusEngine to iOS 9. That could come into play for an iPad Pro trackpad, allowing users to control the interface framework to select apps and other tasks without having a mouse cursor.
iOS 11 could contain a number of software productivity enhancements to help turn the iPad into a true “Pro” tablet on the go. Details on what new features will make it into iOS 11 have been slim, but you can read our iOS 11 wishlist for info on what features fans want.
Buster Hein is a freelance writer who lives in Phoenix, Arizona. Twitter: @bst3r.
5 responses to “iPad Pro 2 mockup brings trackpad to Smart Keyboard”
The iPad has needed this for years. But dont hold your breath. Apple seems very relectant to fully unleash its iPad for Pro Users. But im hopeful. WIll be Tuning in on Monday.
Awesome. this mockup looks stylish and amazing at the same time.
If it runs OSX I’m sold.
So is anyone else seeing the parallel to what Apple did in he ’90s. They are just following other products and adding those features to their current models. What has been the real innovation? Bye Steve, Bye Innovation.
Can you say which of Apple’s current best selling products were first to market? Not the iPhone (Other smartphones existed before), not the iPad (Lot’s of tablets before), Not the GUI of the Mac, not the iPod. In fact, the 90s had plenty of first to market Apple devices that just didn’t sell. Digital cameras, digital assistants, online services, and so on. None of which now exist for a variety of reason mostly having to do with those products limited to just users of Macs.
When the iPod first came out (Under Jobs), it was a Mac only product with FireWire. It took off after switching to USB and opening it up to the Windows market, same with iTunes. These were both things that Jobs had to be convinced of to do.