| Cult of Mac

Brydge iTrack offers wireless trackpad just for iPad

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Brydge iTrack is available now.
Brydge iTrack might complete your iPad-centric desktop setup.
Photo: Brydge

Brydge iTrack may be the first trackpad designed specifically for iPad. That allows the desktop accessory to take full advantage of the support for trackpads Apple added to iPadOS.

And while it uses Bluetooth, Brydge promises minimal connection hassles.

Microsoft Office embraces trackpad for iPad users

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Microsoft Powerpoint for iPad has a new home screen.
The iPad versions of Microsoft Word, Excel and Powerpoint are getting facelifts.
Photo: Microsoft

Updates to Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint for iPad bring greater support for trackpads and mice. The new versions, which began rolling on Monday, also includes updated start screen and a new ribbon of feature menus.

Mokibo merges iPad trackpad into keyboard for maximum portability

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With Mokibo, the keyboard is the trackpad.
Mokibo iPad Pro keyboard case integrates a large trackpad into its keyboard.
Photo: Innopresso

Mokibo is an unusual twist on the iPad Pro keyboard case. Some of its keys also function as a trackpad, rather than keeping these two separate. It therefore offers a much larger trackpad to work with.

The accessory weighs in at under a pound, and includes a built-in multi-angle stand.

Apple explores crazy ways to add touch to MacBooks

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A touch sensitive area could make a MacBook trackpad movable.
A future MacBook might let you put the trackpad anywhere you want.
Photo: Apple/Cult of Mac

Far from resting on its laurels, Apple continues to look for innovative features to build into MacBooks. A patent awarded Tuesday shows the company is considering making the trackpad virtual, so it can be positioned wherever the user likes.

And a second patent goes even further, making the keyboard and the area around it touch-sensitive.

6 iPad trackpad gestures you need to know

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iPad trackpad gestures
Trackpad gestures transform the iPad into something entirely new.
Photo: Charlie Sorrel/Cult of Mac

The trackpad and mouse support Apple added in iOS 13.4 is just amazing. It’s like getting a whole new computer, just by updating your iPad. I’ve been using it for a week for so now, and I want to share my favorite trackpad gestures.

If you use a trackpad with your iPad, these gestures will change the way you use your tablet.

How to customize the new mouse Pointer Control settings on your iPad

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pointer control trackpad mouse, Apple Pencil
So many ways to control an iPad.
Photo: Charlie Sorrel/Cult of Mac

The new mouse and trackpad support coming in iPadOS 13.4 is just fantastic. And, in typical Apple fashion, it just works as soon as you connect a trackpad or mouse via Bluetooth or USB. But there are also plenty of options to customize how the mouse behaves, and even how the pointer looks.

You may already have checked the obvious options in the Settings app under General > Trackpad & Mouse. But several hidden iPad Pointer Control options offer even deeper customizations.

Hands on: Everything you want to know about iPad Pro’s new trackpad features

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Magic Mouse, Magic Trackpad, iPad
Pretty much any mouse will work with the iPad in iPadOS 13.4.
Photo: Charlie Sorrel/Cult of Mac

Apple’s new Magic Keyboard case for the iPad Pro looks amazing. But its most impressive feature (aside from that incredibly solid-looking hinge) will become available to any iPad owner with a mouse or trackpad laying around. The new trackpad support coming next week in iOS 13.4 works with pretty much any Bluetooth or USB mouse. You just connect the peripheral, and a cursor appears on the iPad screen.

This is a much, much better system than the cobbled-together mouse support that already exists in iOS 13’s Accessibility settings. Instead of simply imitating a finger on-screen, Apple completely rethought how a cursor should work on a touch-based device. This thing is deep, as we’re about to see.

Here’s a hands-on look at the new iPad mouse and trackpad features.

Craig Federighi shows off awesome power of iPad trackpad

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Craig-Federighi-iPad-Pro
Craig Federighi and new iPad features? What more could you want?
Photo: Apple

Apple is bringing true trackpad support (and improved mouse support) to the iPad. Get ready to enjoy it by learning all the new gestures from Craig Federighi, Apple’s senior vice president of Software Engineering.

In a new video released by Apple Wednesday, Federighi demonstrates the improvements and shows how simple swipes can help you access Control Center, switch between apps in Slide Over, return to the Home screen, and more.

Apple drops awesome ads for amazing new iPad Pro

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iPad-Pro-Magic-Keyboard
The new Magic Keyboard looks incredible.
Photo: Apple

The surprise iPad Pro refresh, unveiled on Wednesday morning, has us all reaching for a credit cards. If you’re still on the fence, Apple’s awesome new ads will convince you this is a worthwhile upgrade.

Both highlight iPad Pro’s increasing ability to replace a traditional computer thanks to its blazing-fast A12Z Bionic processor, brand-new Magic Keyboard, and true trackpad support.