Following on from the Apple Watch native apps hack, Steve Troughton Smith has also found that the keyboard view in iOS 9 has much better adaptability support on Apple’s latest operating system. As shown by the screenshots, at larger resolutions, the iPad keyboard rearranges itself to make use of the space. Tab and Caps Lock keys are notably added onto to the left side as well as an entirely new top row of symbols.
This new row reflects the symbols normally found on hardware keyboards above the number keys: @ # $ % ^ & * ( ) _ +. Next to the ‘p’ on the first row, the keyboard also gains curly braces and a pipe symbol.
The alternate second page of keys has also changed in this new layout. The toolbar row of symbols is replaced by the numbers. These symbols appear larger in the first full-size keycap row, again along with some new additions compared to current iPads. The larger layout means that Apple can eliminate the ‘third page’ of symbols (usually activated by pressing the #+= key) as all the keys can now fit on just two pages.
http://twitter.com/stroughtonsmith/status/610395503898034176
The reason behind this design effort seems obvious. A larger 12-inch iPad Pro has been rumored for a while and it seems that this will be how the keyboard is presented on this new (although currently unannounced) device. The large iPad is expected to be unveiled by Apple in the fall, targeted at education and business. The new iOS 9 Split-Screen features will also work especially well on a 12-inch screen canvas.
For comparison, this is how the keyboards currently look on the iPad Air running iOS 9.
Update: Code around the larger keyboard also suggests the bigger iPad will carry a 1366×1024 resolution screen. The new dimensions at 12.9″ amount to the iPad Air’s 263ppi:
https://twitter.com/stroughtonsmith/status/610521778901909504
FTC: We use income earning auto affiliate links. More.
This thing needs Bluetooth mouse support if it wants to compete with any sort of enterprise. We run VMWare and this could replace 25 aging laptops for me. Hopefully Apple will finally see the benefit or I’m going to be forced to look at Surface 3s.
Why not just normal laptops? What is so crucial about it having a touch screen for your business?
We have iPads 2s and laptops for them because of the functionality of the touch screen for presentations and some apps we use. But we want to get them to one device.
You should really look into using the Surface Pro 3 anyway, the iPad will likely never be an Enterprise class device.
Most of the traveling business people I see at the airport are carrying iPads though, and use normal laptops for everything else. It’s anecdotal, but I hardly see any Surface Pros in the wild. Airports are a great sample set I think.
More iPads in enterprise use than Surface. Do your research.
judging from all the new features in iOS 9, it seems Apple is keen on improving the old sandboxed formula.. like the 2 finger trackpad feature on iPad’S onscreen keyboard and shortcut keys for physical keyboards..
I know they might be a little late in the game but better late than never.. and for a while; since iOS 7, never seemed a possibility… not so much anymore.
Oh snap. Didn’t notice that undo key in the extra character keyboard! It’s odd their isn’t just an icon for it next to cut copy and paste.
kinda surprised there isn’t a ⌘ button on the iPad pro layout given how important keyboard shortcuts and ⌘` is.
None yet. Besides, hardware keyboards can’t change the way a software keyboard can so they are not equals.
i don’t really understand what you mean?
I think iPad and iPad Plus sound better.
Absolutely. ‘Pro’ is just lame. That’s essentially saying Pro users should buy this.
Agreed. iPad Plus fits much better with the lineup. Apple’s iOS devices are never “Pro” or not. That is only for the highest performance OS X devices. It would be assumed that the new bigger iPad will probably have essentially the same internals as the 9.7″ best iPad, just bigger. So Pro wouldn’t make any sense. It’s Plus size.
it will most likely be pro tho
unless they are working with Intel on new Cpu architecture for this device.. maybe even the intel processor that is powering the 12 inch Macbook…
Also, “Plus” works in the phone nomenclature but in the tablet space, “Pro” is more fitting as many professionals (artists, photographers, graphic designers and more) are doing much of their work on their tablets when off on a shoot or at client’s place…
Now, if Apple allows external hard drives and USB devices to plug and play on the iPad Pro (using the purported USB-C ports), it will be fitting of the PRO name.. If not, they should just call it the iPad and leave it at that.. they already have “mini” and “Air” to differentiate the other devices.
Apple was so much simpler under Steve. Their website now is full of confusing products and looks more like Dell’s back then.
Huh? Apple’s website is the best website in the world. It’s very simple, concise, and graphically amazing. That’s a weird complaint.
Yup, I can’t even count how many websites now look and feel like Apple’s did back when Apple’s website showed the world how to show off consumer tech.
I agree that the website design is clean and simple… but.. When you look at the iPad lineup (with all mini models still on sale? really?).. it does look ridiculous.. and more so when you go to music and see the iPod Touch from 3 years ago still seeping through.. same goes for the 2012 Macbook Pro with dvd drive for which they ask 1350$ for… 200$ more gets you a brand spanking new 13 inch retina with every spec better than that old Mac.. that device should have been removed from the lineup 2 years ago but it still lingers.. let’s not get into the Apple TV debate…
Go check out Samsung’s lineup and then report your findings.
I find it a bit odd that everyone refers to the rumoured 12.9″ iPad as the 12″ iPad. I’d expect it to be referred to as the rumoured 13″ iPad. But whatever.
I bet it’ll be called the iPad Plus, as a commented above suggested. The iPad Pro name was made up by tech bloggers and is likely not the real name. The actual size isn’t known either for sure so it doesn’t even matter what everyone is calling it at this point.
However, if it is the iPad Plus, get ready for lots of female sanitary jokes from the Fandroids…. “for those heavy days”. :)
Dual screen laptop with touch screen keyboard?
Note that Steve Troughton-Smith says that the resolution is 1366 *points* wide, not pixels. He goes on to talk about a 2X Retina resolution. So your updated note should say a 2732 x 2048 resolution screen (in pixels).
I was going to ask the same thing (why is Apple making the iPad “pro” at a lower resolution than the current iPad?). Steve gave us some useless encrypted information. I don’t care about points, I care about pixels!!!