iPad 2 and Apple wireless keyboard (function keys not working)...

"My keyboard is new, I bought it six weeks ago, so it is not a matter of how DARE Apple. There may be something wrong with yours, or with the iPad, but this is not a universal issue and you guys are being a bit childish in your behavior."

Fanboy since 1984.

This is not an issue of whether your keyboard is "new". You could have purchased it new and it could still be an "A" model, like I did. Did you even READ the above posts.

So yes, it IS an issue of how dare Apple. And it IS a universal issue with the new "B" models and it is NOT a faulty keyboard or iPad. Something tells me that if I told you the sky was blue you would say it is red.

Fanboy since 1985

I agree, it's very irritating for people to say that their keyboards work OK, when there is very clearly an issue here and lots of people are finding exactly the same problem. I phoned Apple today and requested a replacement, and was told that if I take it into an Apple Store they will replace it for me. Alternatively, I can wait for approx 3 weeks when the next OS release happens, and see if it's fixed then. If not, they will still replace my A series with a B series. They are acknowledging the problem, although as others have stated, it's not a hardware problem with the keyboard itself, but a software support problem. Either way, it needs fixing.

Well, there we have it. Apple has acknowledged the oversight. Three weeks until next software update and IF they fix the flaw, all is well for owners of new keyboards. If they CAN'T fix it, then Apple must take them back and provide replacements. Now to wait.

Lear Pilot - Brad Cheng is just responding to Dah*veed, quoting an older post he made where he goes on the defense of Apple and calls us childish. Brad then mentions a section in Dah*veed's signature where it says "Fanboy since 1984". You probably worked that out after you posted that response to Brad.

Let's hope that Dah*veed does not work for Apple as this issue would never get resolved based on his assumption that we have broken keyboards. The rest of us have done our homework and established that it is in fact the B series that are not yet compatible with the iPad. I'm just going to hold off in the hope that the next iOS (hopefully V5) will correct this. For now it's not a bad little external KB for my laptop running Win7 and a free util call UAWKS which gives you some extra mappings.

Apple is now fully aware of the issue so it will be very dissappointing if it does not get resolved in the next iOS update.

Yeah...figured that out too late. My apologies to Brad.

Guess thats what happens when I post a response first thing in the morning with no thought......

Thanks for setting me straight....

I have read this thread with great interest and many of you know much more about iOS and Apple gear than I do.

I have both keyboards in front of me right now (both the /A and /B versions) and can confirm that only the /A version allows brightness and volume/playback controls on iPad 2 running iOS 4.3.5.

However, my critical question is this: if Apple fixes this with their next iOS update and I decide to keep my /A older version and return the new /B version, is their a chance that the older keyboard will lose function key compatibility?

Or would Apple's history suggest that older peripherals are always "backward" compatible?

Anyone have thoughts on this....I would hate to get rid of the newest keyboard only to have the previous model become less useful.

Having watched this thread for a while now, as I am experiencing the self same problem.

I seem to have a completely different serial on my BT keyboard! I am MC184B/B! This was purchased from my local store and sold as the 'latest model', which unquestionably it is, having the much discussed Lion function button.

I realise that this may just add fuel to the fire, but has anyone else got this model and if so are they having the same non functioning issues. The store, I might add, informed me that all they could do at the moment is exchange it or offer a refund. No explanation or alternative advice! Having a home that is full of Apple products this has to be the most frustrating experience for some time! Get it sorted Apple! Give us what we paid for!

Hi,

I also had the keyboard part number: MC184LL/B and I bought this at the local Apple store. I had made a call to the Apple technical support; however, they were not very helpful. The only suggestion is that it is not compatible with the version I am running on my iPad 2 (4.3.5).

I then tried the keyboard on my iTouch 4th generation running on version 4.1; none of the function keys worked there. The keyboard itself is typing well and the eject key brings up the touch keyboard, but, none of the function keys work. When I went into the store to ask for help, they only had B models. No A models left. The B models are supposedly "NEW" models so they have gotten rid of A models. Unfortunately the newer models are not compatible with the iPad 2. (You would think the B model being the newer keyboards would keep up with their own technologies...).

So, I returned mine and asked for a refund. I'd rather purchase a fully functional keyboard than one that does half. I'd rather go in to buy it when the new release comes out and it's confirmed it's compatible!

Thanks all for the information. This saved me a lot of work looking for a fix that apparently doesn't exist quite yet. I will sit tight and wait for the update.

I am slowly making the change over from Windows to Mac. One of the things that I had always heard, and up to this time, appreciated, was the fact that Apple made much of their equipment compatible cross-platforms. I hope that this is still the case, even if there is a slight delay.

Will continue to follow this thread until the keyboard is fully functional or if I have to find another keyboard.

Regards.

TZ

I would like to put a request for the Apple community here for a little help, it would be greatly appreciated. It would require someone with access to iOS 5 Beta running on iPad 2 and a 'B'/Lion model Apple keyboard. Do the function keys such as brightness work using iOS 5 Beta?

I realize it's possible that even if it does not, this could be fixed before finaal release. However, I would breath easier purchasing one if someone could confirm that the software supports the keyboard. On the one hand, I of course do not want to pay for a version of a keyboard that will not have full functionality; on the other hand, I don't want to pay full price for a model that is outdated.

Once again, if someone here with access to both the software and hardware to test this issue could post their findings (either way) you would have my genuine appreciation.

Thanks for clearing that up. I have an iPad2, running 4.3.3 (8J2). I have a MC184CH/B (purchased at an Apple store in China) and none of the function keys work.

If I have time, I'll take it back to the store and see if I can trade it for an A model. If I can't find an A model, hopefully it will be addressed in an iOS update.

I bought a Brookstone folding rubber keyboard, all functions keys worked fine????? I returned though as I didn't really like the smaller key feel. So here I wait with everyone else for the Apple IOS fix.😢

Hey guys i have a ipad 2 4.3.3 and could not get keyboard to work(was b model wireless bluetooth keyboard

even paid for bt stack keyboard and no luck.

i tried 2 brand-new ones and nothing

so looked on craigslist and found A model and right away screen brightness and volume and play and pause worked

fine even unlock !! from keyboard

a model has different button layout then b model and i think theres no b model

drivers for ipad yet so possibly os 5 if they remember to add it

-i could not wait so i returned b model for a model

and im happy!

hope this solves the question if apple wireless bluetooth keyboard is compatible with ipad 2

P.S I also tried hip street mini bluetooth keyboard as well and brightness and volume worked too

and this is about using hot keys on ipad- regular typing always worked fine

peace!

Just to add another number to this issue, I have a "B" new lion version and the function keys do not work (IOS 4.3.3 and 4.3.5).

It works fine with any "A" model. This has been confirmed at my local Apple store.