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iPad's mystery key

@AACDuke writes in asking what that mystery key above the ‘6’ is on Apple’s iPad keyboard dock.  The iPad doesn’t use function keys like the Mac/PC so there isn’t a backup ‘function’ like on keyboards we’re used to.  The easiest/simplest/most likely idea is that it is just there for aesthetic reasons, like the dummy screw on earlier MacBooks.


Image lifted from..

But it seems a little silly, even for Apple, to build a key with absolutely no purpose.  From a technology perspective they’ve likely taken the same internals from their aluminum keyboards, meaning it is a live key.

Something interesting to consider: The idea of a dashboard/widgets on the iPad has been brought up on a few occasions.  Might Apple be masking the Widgets function on the iPad by blanking this key for early viewing?

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So what do you think that key will do?  Will it be unveiled sometime later?  Will it be mappable to an app of your choice?  Comments appreciated (the home button is on the top left btw).

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