Confusion and frustration
I’m not saying I want the iPad to run macOS. Nor do I
want Apple to change much about iPadOS, at least not
fundamentally. But if Apple is going to launch a Smart
Keyboard with a trackpad, one of three things will
happen, neither of which offer an ideal solution:- Apple will add a cursor to the iPad that appears when
you attach the keyboard. - Apple will make the trackpad fully reliant on gestures
with no actual tracking. - Apple will limit trackpad use to apps that support it
and offer rudimentary navigation like on the Apple
TV remote.
The first option is the easiest, but it’s also the
least likely. Simply adding a cursor to the iPad would
basically go against everything Apple has ever said
about the iPad. A cursor makes it a computer with a
cursor, and Apple has gone to great lengths to sell
the iPad as a post-PC device. It would be relatively
easy for people to grasp but it would take away the
iPad’s charm.
The second option is intriguing but ultimately too
confusing. If Apple were to make the Smart Keyboard
trackpad a gesture-only area – meaning you could
swipe up to get to the app switcher and pinch to return
the home screen but not launch an app – it would be
tricky for most users to grasp.
The third option seems the most Apple-like. Much
like Split Screen, developers would need to opt-in to
support the Smart Keyboard trackpad, and functionalityConfusionand frustration
I’mnotsayingIwanttheiPadtorunmacOS.NordoI
wantAppletochangemuchaboutiPadOS,atleastnot
fundamentally.ButifAppleisgoingtolaunchaSmart
Keyboardwithatrackpad,oneofthreethingswill
happen,neitherofwhichofferanidealsolution:
1.ApplewilladdacursortotheiPadthatappearswhen
youattachthekeyboard.
2.Applewillmakethetrackpadfullyreliantongestures
withnoactualtracking.
3.Applewilllimittrackpadusetoappsthatsupportit
andofferrudimentarynavigationlikeontheApple
TV remote.
Thefirstoptionistheeasiest,butit’salsothe
leastlikely.SimplyaddingacursortotheiPadwould
basicallygoagainsteverythingApplehaseversaid
abouttheiPad.Acursormakesitacomputerwitha
cursor,andApplehasgonetogreatlengthstosell
the iPadasapost-PCdevice.Itwouldberelatively
easy forpeopletograspbutitwouldtakeawaythe
iPad’scharm.
Thesecondoptionisintriguingbutultimatelytoo
confusing.IfAppleweretomaketheSmartKeyboard
trackpadagesture-onlyarea–meaningyoucould
swipeuptogettotheappswitcherandpinchtoreturn
thehomescreenbutnotlaunchanapp–itwouldbe
trickyformostuserstograsp.
ThethirdoptionseemsthemostApple-like.Much
likeSplitScreen,developerswouldneedtoopt-into
supporttheSmartKeyboardtrackpad,andfunctionality