Mouse support for iPad pro

NO external Bluetooth mice work on Apple iDevices and iOS.

There is no on screen software pointer/cursor programmed into iOS for an external mouse or trackpad input device to navigate such a software pointer.

Your fingers are your mouse input device.

I don't if you are aware of this feature or not.

Since iOS 9,

iOS has an insertion point "I" beam cursor that can now controlled by invoking the iOS software keyboard and then do a two-finger single tap to turn the entire software keyboard area into a giant trackpad area.

You can place insertion "I" beam anywhere you want, then use the delete key to delete a letter and/or replace a letter in a word.

If you use two-finger double tap within the keyboard area, you can highlight words, lines of text or entire paragraphs for editing.

renedosr wrote:

And I don't understand why Apple does not support a mouse for the iPad Pro since it does support a mouse on the Mac. Btw, I really love the wireless mouse on the Mac.

Because an iPad Pro is an iOS device. From its very inception iOS was, is and always has been explicitly a touch interface operating system. From the initial iPhone OS beta's, Apple has made it clear they envisioned this operating system as a purely touch interface system.

While no one has a crystal ball and thus cannot say that may never change, I would not hold your breath over it. Touch only was a very deliberate and conscious design choice with iOS, and Apple has been steadfast to that original concept all along, for over 10 years now.

This is interesting. When using Safari and iCab set to webkit (ios) on my iPhone 4, I could not make the characters bigger with the spread jester. When I use iCab set to FireFox Windows ( desktop mod), I got the desktop site and I could use the spread jest to make the characters bigger.

Get chrome web browser. click on setting > request desktop site then you can use the spread jester to make the text bigger. way bigger then the ios setting.

Really bizarre that I have not yet been able to figure out how to make the ios webkit display bigger text.

MichelPM:

There is no on screen software pointer/cursor programmed into iOS for an external mouse or trackpad input device to navigate such a software pointer.

Woppie. All is it takes is a driver. There are free ones on the Internet the apple could use.

R

From what I understand, Apple has hate and love for the mouse. In fact, from the beginning, it had only one key, and users had to work hard to make it use the right key. Now they are confident that IOS is born to be used with fingers in the head, for at least another 10 years they will insist with this story! It's like telling who has a 911 Porsche to change the front round headlight, they prefer to die and not to change the front, that looks like a Volkswagen Beetle! A good day to all...

Your point about iOS being a touch oriented system is clear to everyone who has been using iOS for the past 10 years.

But since the release of the iPad Pro, Apple had been positioning the iOS based iPad Pro as a suitable replacement for a PC or Notebook in many settings. Those settings involve accessing a lot of web pages not designed for touch. This is a source of frustration that can easily be addressed by adding BT mouse drivers.

I cannot see anyone using a BT mouse to interact with their iPhone or even iPad Mini even if the capability is there. But I certainly see a lot of people using a mouse on an iPad Pro, especially if like me, they have the iPad external keyboard.

Thanks for the input. The "I" beam cursor is quite helpful. I didn't know about it.

The "I" beam cursor will definitely help with text editing since using the magnifier to position a cursor is rather clumsy. However, the cursor function is not a track pad and it does not really help with point and click functions on website designed for a mouse.

Since Apple has already added the "I" beam cursor, I remain hopeful they will add BT mouse support! Or at least add a "real" virtual pointer trackpad. Maybe the two finger tap can activate an Apple Mac style trackpad on the lower left or right corner of the screen?

I really do not understand why there is no support because there are still a lot of programmes who work only well with a mouse. The pencil does not work so Apple when you want to make the ipad a great success then a mouse is still necessary

If iPad Pro is designed for touch;

1. Why is there smart keyboard? (Clearly not a touch interface)

2. Why is there pencil? (Pointer type tool but susceptible to gorilla hands)

3. Why not a third tool? A trackpad or mouse with 3D touch included. (So they can finally bring 3D touch to iPad / iMacs and those Docked MacBooks) Which i feel is a better solution, you will not want to 3D touch with smart keyboard attached.. it will flex and fall.

Clearly there exist a need for the classic keyboard and mouse combo, which i do believe is a greater number then just Artist and CEOs (Pencil users).

But even if they bring back the mouse, its still a mess with the current keyboard options.

1. Accents Keys have messed with MacOS / iOS and key repeat features. (There must exist an option to disable / enable this on iOS. MacOS you can fix easily)

i have given my feedback to Apple. (Just in case those against me have nothing to say and tell me to send apple feedback) If you like my idea, feel free to copy and spam the feedback page also.

IMO, iPad Pro should not exist. Tons of contradicting design, started so many endless arguments. Basically i see it as iPad (Gen 5) if you follow the CPU upgrade trend of iPhones, but Apple decided to freeze the org iPad / iPad mini, And increase the price by tag it as "PRO". Thats why i still stick with iPad / iPad mini, and freeze my upgrade cycle also.

Qida wrote:

If iPad Pro is designed for touch;

1. Why is there smart keyboard? (Clearly not a touch interface)

2. Why is there pencil? (Pointer type tool but susceptible to gorilla hands)

3. Why not a third tool? A trackpad or mouse with 3D touch included. (So they can finally bring 3D touch to iPad / iMacs and those Docked MacBooks) Which i feel is a better solution, you will not want to 3D touch with smart keyboard attached.. it will flex and fall.

Clearly there exist a need for the classic keyboard and mouse combo, which i do believe is a greater number then just Artist and CEOs (Pencil users).

1. iPads (and iPhones) have always supported external BT keyboards. I was using a full size Logitech BT keyboard years ago with my iPad. The smart connector and keyboard is just a way to have a light weight external keyboard that never needs charging or battery swaps like a BT keyboard

2. The Pencil is just an extension of touch. Nothing like a mouse or trackpad. It is merely intended to provide a finer detail and controllable touch response than any finger can do. The Pencil does not replace the touch interface, it merely extends its capability.

3. Because it’s Apple device and design, and they do not and never have supported a third tool (at least not to date). Until or unless they ever do, the point is moot.

I think the iPad Pro is brilliant. Ever since the very first iPad I have thought a larger screen device would be better and I bought mine the week the first iPad Pro was announced. I have never once felt any desire nor need for a mouse with it though. I do use a Logitech create Smart Keyboard case with it (and yes, I do use 3D touch with the Pencil while using the keyboard - works fine).

I remotely connect to my home Mac and work PC all the time from my iPad. Even from my iPhone. Granted it's a better experience on the iPad than iPhone. But I hardly want a mouse. If you are that adamant about a pointing device besides your finger, get a Pencil. But the software has to support the Pencil beyond simple tap gestures. There is nothing I can't do using simple finger gestures and multi-touch on my work PC when I am logged in remotely from my iPad. Either your software is seriously lacking, or you didn't bother to read the instructions.

Using a mouse on an iPad would be a horrible user experience, regardless of how much you think you want it.

If you want a traditional mouse and keyboard with your mobile device, buy a laptop or some version of a MacBook.

I want my tablet life to be as light and portable as possible.

I don't use any external keyboards with my iDevices and I certainly do not need any external mouse or trackpad with my iDevices/iPads.

Where would I put a trackpad or mouse to use with an iPad? Laying on the top of my leg when I have a keyboard laying in my lap?

Not for me.

I think that many iPad users are just looking to turn these devices into completely cheaper laptop replacements.

I don't see the nedd to have my portable tablet life tethered and weighed down to external peripheral input devices like a laptop.

This is one of the reasons I chose the iPad. To mostly escape to plug in external device nature of laptops and desktop computers.

Apple DID implement a pseudo trackpad function IF you use the iPad's bulit-in software keyboard.

This works very well for many of my text input/editing needs.

I have duly noted and rejected your opinion. For me the iPad Pro is a wonderful device. I love to be able to read digital comics and magazines in portrait mode on a large screen while flying all over the US and to other countries, something that cannot be done on a laptop. In my job, I am constantly taking notes in environments where I must stand and there is no way to use a keyboard. The iPad Pro and Apple Pencil constitute the best note taking to a combination that I have used ever since learning to write in 1964. Using GoodNotes 4, I am able to quickly hand write notes, select a portion of text, convert it to typed text, and email it to colleagues in a matter of seconds. Fantastic!

I love my iPad pro.... I wish it had a small travel mouse. (Especially for travel and work.)

And I do not understand why that would diminish the design or experience in any way.

I see two fairly separate use cases

1) Classic iPad reading and browsing (no mouse)

2) More work-like use (email, Word, Excel...) (with mouse)

Not sure what E-Mail, spreadsheet and word processor has to do with "Work-like use". I use it for E-Mail, word processing, spreadsheet, Photo touchups, video editing, slide sow creation, blog postings, etc. I have never once wished for a mouse. The pencil helps dramatically, and was huge welcome for certain tasks. But using e-mail or word-processing or a spreadsheet is hardly improved by using a mouse. Using a mouse besides just for pointing and clicking on a PC or Mac for any of those applications is rarely needed. If you require it for work for these applications, you were trained on the software incorrectly.

The iPad Pro is far superior to the MS Surface for many of us and we work in the medical visualization profession. Why? For visual applications and creatives, the iPad Pro and Apple Pencil outperforms the Surface on so many levels that it is not even close. The iPad Pro glass and Pencil tip were designed for each other and for professional use- there is no tablet anywhere near as refined and as close to what Apple has created. We also prefer to lecture with the iPad Pro using Keynote- it handles large media files better and presentations are updated across all devices instantly via iCloud.

We tried the MIcrosoft Surface and while it is a fine tablet for Office apps, basic mark-ups with the Stylus, and we liked the USB port connectivity, the Surface is not as good for visual creation and media integration and battery life. The Surface also has the same issues as Windows OS and some may see that as an advantage, but it along with Windows comes all of the flaws. A huge flaw Microsoft continues to have is trying to sync all devices- very buggy and sometimes simply does not work. The lack of real tech support from MS makes problem solving almost impossible.

After trying both iPad Pro and MS Surface, we returned the Surface for a refund. It simply was outperformed. I have to add that our son likes his MS Surface (he is in sales and uses a lot of spreadsheets), and I can see why it is a good solution for that market.

Whatever works best, but many professionals prefer the iPad.