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Can you not use a bluetooth mouse/touchpad with an iPad? This honestly surprises me.

by teach 9y ago

dalacv 9y ago
Sometimes I think that they haven't added this because it would mean less macbook sales.
- chipotle_coyote 9y ago
  I think it's less that than it is a philosophy; they're still very wedded to the idea that mice = (general purpose) computers, touch = tablets. I wouldn't be surprised if this eventually changes--maybe sooner than we think. Apple also at least claims to be wedded to the idea that the iPad can be an actual laptop replacement; if they mean it, they can't stop where they're at now when it comes to knocking down reasons to prefer a MacBook to an iPad. This is one of the big ones. (And, yes, ultimately I think this will require them allowing users to sideload apps: either the manufacturer gets to dictate how you can use the platform, or it's general purpose, but it can't truly be both simultaneously.) Also, from a purely revenue standpoint, if they added trackpad/mouse support to iOS, I think they'd just sell more expensive mice and trackpads. :)
pjmlp 9y ago
You can on Android and W10 tablets, though.
- iagooar 9y ago
  Nobody wants to use Android or W10.
  - pjmlp 9y ago
    Not everyone wants to use an iPad.
- wor3q 9y ago
  Such articles would make no sense on in that case. "Install everything you need and it just works" makes little to brag about on your blog...
saagarjha 9y ago
No, since iOS doesn’t have cursor support like iOS does.
pavlov 9y ago
iOS doesn't have mouse support. It could be bolted on by simulating touches, but a lot of the interactions just don't make sense on a mouse. The iOS simulator that comes with Xcode demonstrates this clearly. It just feels unnatural to swipe between homescreen pages on a mouse, for example. You have to hold down the mouse button and drag, which traditionally means drag'n'drop of objects rather than switching pages.
- peterhaider 9y ago
  Makes no sense from my point of view. The mouse could be an addition to touch, not a replacement. I certainly understand the concern, but I believe the benefits of supporting a mouse clearly outweigh the drawbacks, especially for business users.
_ph_ 9y ago
While there doesn't seem mouse support built into iOS, Citrix offers a special mouse for their iPad client - I guess they implemented some custom support for their app.

Can you not use a bluetooth mouse/touchpad with an iPad? This honestly surprises me.

by teach 9y ago

Can you not use a bluetooth mouse/touchpad with an iPad? This honestly surprises me.

dalacv 9y ago

Sometimes I think that they haven't added this because it would mean less macbook sales.

chipotle_coyote 9y ago
I think it's less that than it is a philosophy; they're still very wedded to the idea that mice = (general purpose) computers, touch = tablets. I wouldn't be surprised if this eventually changes--maybe sooner than we think. Apple also at least claims to be wedded to the idea that the iPad can be an actual laptop replacement; if they mean it, they can't stop where they're at now when it comes to knocking down reasons to prefer a MacBook to an iPad. This is one of the big ones. (And, yes, ultimately I think this will require them allowing users to sideload apps: either the manufacturer gets to dictate how you can use the platform, or it's general purpose, but it can't truly be both simultaneously.) Also, from a purely revenue standpoint, if they added trackpad/mouse support to iOS, I think they'd just sell more expensive mice and trackpads. :)

pjmlp 9y ago

You can on Android and W10 tablets, though.

iagooar 9y ago
Nobody wants to use Android or W10.
- pjmlp 9y ago
  Not everyone wants to use an iPad.
wor3q 9y ago
Such articles would make no sense on in that case. "Install everything you need and it just works" makes little to brag about on your blog...

saagarjha 9y ago

No, since iOS doesn’t have cursor support like iOS does.

pavlov 9y ago

iOS doesn't have mouse support. It could be bolted on by simulating touches, but a lot of the interactions just don't make sense on a mouse. The iOS simulator that comes with Xcode demonstrates this clearly. It just feels unnatural to swipe between homescreen pages on a mouse, for example. You have to hold down the mouse button and drag, which traditionally means drag'n'drop of objects rather than switching pages.

peterhaider 9y ago
Makes no sense from my point of view. The mouse could be an addition to touch, not a replacement. I certainly understand the concern, but I believe the benefits of supporting a mouse clearly outweigh the drawbacks, especially for business users.

_ph_ 9y ago

While there doesn't seem mouse support built into iOS, Citrix offers a special mouse for their iPad client - I guess they implemented some custom support for their app.