traditional keys? It would be heavier, but the success of
the Brydge Keyboard suggests that some users would
prefer a more laptop-like feel on their iPad keyboard.
Though Apple has tentatively introduced support for
Bluetooth mice in iOS 13 as an accessibility setting, that
feature seems a little too limited to be supported by a
Smart Keyboard that includes a trackpad. But if iPadOS
14 ships this autumn with improved cursor support,
maybe it could be an option?
And here’s a wacky idea: what if the iPad Pro gained
an SD card slot? I know, I know, Apple adding slots to
anything seems unlikely – but on a device like the iPad
Pro, it might almost make sense. Now that the Files app
can read external storage devices, Apple could add a
card slot to its top-end iPad and please photographers
and anyone else who ends up with large media files on
little tiny cards.iOS and iPadOS 14: The refresh that pauses?
You could argue that Apple’s most surprising move of
2019 was it rebranding iOS on the iPad as iPadOS. The
implication there is that iPadOS 14 will actually contain
iPad focused features, and not essentially ignore the
iPad as iOS 8, 10, and 12 did. I don’t think Apple can
take a year off from the iPad now that iPadOS exists, but
the past track record is not good. Apple’s choices this
time will reveal whether the creation of iPadOS was a
real commitment to the iPad as a platform, or if it’s just
a hollow marketing phrase. (I think Apple will prioritize
at least one banner iPad feature in order to justify
the name, but it won’t be as iPad-focused a release as
iPadOS 13 was.)traditionalkeys?Itwouldbeheavier,butthesuccessof
theBrydgeKeyboardsuggeststhatsomeuserswould
preferamorelaptop-likefeelontheiriPadkeyboard.
ThoughApplehastentativelyintroducedsupportfor
BluetoothmiceiniOS 13 asanaccessibilitysetting,that
featureseemsalittletoolimitedtobesupportedbya
SmartKeyboardthatincludesatrackpad.ButifiPadOS
14 shipsthisautumnwithimprovedcursorsupport,
maybeitcouldbeanoption?
Andhere’sawackyidea:whatiftheiPadProgained
anSDcardslot?Iknow,Iknow,Appleaddingslotsto
anythingseemsunlikely–butonadeviceliketheiPad
Pro,itmightalmostmakesense.NowthattheFilesapp
canreadexternalstoragedevices,Applecouldadda
cardslottoitstop-endiPadandpleasephotographers
andanyoneelsewhoendsupwithlargemediafileson
littletinycards.
iOSandiPadOS14:Therefreshthatpauses?
YoucouldarguethatApple’smostsurprisingmoveof
2019 wasitrebrandingiOSontheiPadasiPadOS.The
implicationthereisthatiPadOS 14 willactuallycontain
iPadfocusedfeatures,andnotessentiallyignorethe
iPadasiOS8,10,and 12 did.Idon’tthinkApplecan
takeayearofffromtheiPadnowthatiPadOSexists,but
thepasttrackrecordisnotgood.Apple’schoicesthis
timewillrevealwhetherthecreationofiPadOSwasa
realcommitmenttotheiPadasaplatform,orifit’sjust
ahollowmarketingphrase.(IthinkApplewillprioritize
atleastonebanneriPadfeatureinordertojustify
thename,butitwon’tbeasiPad-focusedareleaseas
iPadOS 13 was.)