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WSJ: Apple considering adding USB 3.0 ports & mouse input support to larger iPad model

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Following up on today’s report that the 12.9-inch iPad has been pushed back to September, the Wall Street Journal claims tonight that the hardware features for the device are still in flux. According to this latest rumor, Apple is considering adding USB 3.0 ports to the tablet to allow users to connect external devices.

We’ve already heard that the company may be planning to build its first external input device for the “iPad Pro,” but this is the first time we’ve heard that there may be plans in the works to support the connection of additional peripherals.

As unbelievable as it seems, the report even suggests that Apple will allow the connection of mice and keyboards.

To quote directly from the Journal (emphasis added):

“Apple has continued to rework some of the features of the larger iPad. It is now considering the faster technology for data synchronization between the larger iPad and other computing devices,” said the person.

“Apple is also working on technology to speed up the iPad charging time, but it remains uncertain if the final design will have these new features.”

The company has also been considering adding ports to connect to a keyboard and mouse, the people said.

iPads have long been able to take advantage of Bluetooth-connected keyboards, but the potential to connect a mouse to the device would suggest a reworking of the touch-driven iOS interface to support a completely new (or rather, old) type of input.

USB 3 would be a great addition for purposes of data transfer when syncing with iTunes, but the idea that an iPad will support USB mice seems a bit absurd.

The Wall Street Journal says that because these design choices haven’t been locked down, it’s possible they may not ship on the final model.

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Comments

  1. zubeirg87 - 9 years ago

    I think mouse support on an ipad will make it the only device someone needs. Surely it would mean a lot of cannibalization of the MBA.
    If it indeed happens, I would say that the cursor will not be a pointed arrow but probably a circle to mimick a finger’s touch.
    I have always thought that mouse support is all an ipad needs to be the ultimate device for work.

    • Roger Flattin - 9 years ago

      I totally agree with you. The serious work, accessing distant machines, typing a lot of text, a user need to be able to take advantage of a mice et keyboard and use it’s device like a notebook… with the actual Bluetooth Apple mice and with a little more memory, it could be conceivable to launch an iPad app that give access to a subset of a Mac (a Finder/Dock with local and cloud storage and the ability to install Mac apps through the Mac App Store (compiled for ARM) and a clear separation from the touch experience but without the complexity of a PC). It would be limited in features and won’t compete directly with the versatility of a MacBook but it could offer way more than what it offers today. Windows tablet tends to offer this but sacrify portability due to their INTEL processor (and Windows RT have no real ecosystem today). Windows choose the reverses solution: using a desktop operating system with all its complexity as a foundation for its tablet Platform. To fully master a Windows tablet you must be fluent in the old Windows environment. By choosing the exact opposite (a subset of a Mac in an iOS/touch friendly environment) Apple could provide the same level of service without the hassle for the user.

  2. charilaosmulder - 9 years ago

    THE BETTER QUESTION:

    What problems (with the MBA) would this iPad with usb and mouse input solve?

    • Roger Flattin - 9 years ago

      The need to transport two machines where only one would be necessary. The iPad is really convenient to present document, to read and to take some really lite notes (typing really fast is not always easy). But it could be a real competitive advantage for the iPad to have this possibility of running some computer/Mac programs. It could also be a big plus for Remote Desktop operations. Android has the possibity of taking advantage of a mouse but has no productivity or computer oriented applications. Apple has the AppKit Framework and all the apps published in the Mac App Store.

    • Gazoo Bee - 9 years ago

      None. It would solve no problems at all.

      Oh wait, it would solve that … “iPads are really cool but I can’t use them, so please make a special one for me that works just like something I already know how to use because I’m an idiot.” … problem.

      It also solves that … “Must be forced to use my mobile device as if it was just a portable instead.” … problem

  3. cdm283813 - 9 years ago

    On Android all you need is a OTG cable and a usb hub. No problems connecting wired keyboards, mice, joysticks and hard drives. You can even send video out through the usb port.
    Why not just build the support into the lightning port? And what’s wrong with Bluetooth mice? Just add the support.

    • Gazoo Bee - 9 years ago

      You know you can connect a keyboard to the iPad right now don’t you? And that this has been possible for years?

  4. RP - 9 years ago

    I would love for Apple tv to be a full blown app available to all iOS device. This would make a great personal tv for the cord cutting age.
    We all watch Netflix and Hulu on them already, why not make Apple tv blow up as big as possible harness the full power of the entire ecosystem.

    • iSRS - 9 years ago

      What is on the Apple TV that doesn’t alre have an app for the iPad!

  5. Stephan (@Reiserechner) - 9 years ago

    A mouse? Never gonna happen.

  6. Oflife - 9 years ago

    So, according to rumors, the new MacBook Air 12″ will have the new reversible USB, the iOS devices lightning, other Macs and iPad 13″, USB 3.0, HDMI and Thunderbolt, not to mention Firewire.

    So the so called less stressful easy to use future is not happening, because the world has still not adopted a one single universal power and data transfer standard. All to sell more cables and adapters where the profit margins are huge.

    • transverseprocess - 9 years ago

      If the iPad were to get USB, you’d think it would be USB C in light of the rumors on the 12″ MBA

      • Oflife - 9 years ago

        indeed. but I hate to say it on the most pro Apple blog out there, Tim C is all about supply chain and profits. I hope he proves me wrong. Not a single innovation in iPhone 6, not even wireless charging etc.

      • Roger Flattin - 9 years ago

        I would agree that an USB Type C connector would be in line with rumors on the 12” MBA and also more in line with the physical thinnest of the iPad.

      • Ry L - 9 years ago

        Type C is also USB 3. The number is the tech, the letter is the size. (Type A is the usual, Type B is the square shape, usually on printers)

  7. patstar5 - 9 years ago

    Windows tablets have been able to do this since 2012. Why buy an iPad pro if you could get a surface pro 3? That runs the desktop apps you want. I don’t see this running os x apps or being laptop replacement.

    • rogifan - 9 years ago

      Because you don’t want to run Windows?

    • Roger Flattin - 9 years ago

      Windows have been able to do this but with big drawbacks: the complexity of Windows is imported on the tablet form factor. One thing that differentiate iPad and Android tablets from previous computer interations is the fact that they are way simpler to operate. That’s not really the case with Windows tablets. The desktop UI and configuration hassle is mandatory for some operations. A iPad Pro tablet with the ability to run Mac applications would on top of iOS would have a distinct advantage in this regard.
      Another difference with the Surface Pro 3: no INTEL processor and so a much more energy efficient (ARM) processor. More autonomy with less battery, less weight (which is a very important factor for a tablet), and a thinner design.
      The Surface Pro is remarkable for a PC in term of thinness and weight but it is near 2 times heavier than an iPad.

      • patstar5 - 9 years ago

        But surface pro 3 is a full laptop replacement so should be compared with MacBook Air and not an iPad.
        Os x doesn’t run on ARM so you won’t be able to run os x apps on an iPad pro unless apple uses emulator or makes an arm Mac.
        If the iPad pro will be able to run apps side by side, they would be copying window (unless they implement it differently) . I wonder how Microsoft would respond to it.

  8. Dan Rabinovitz - 9 years ago

    This doesn’t make sense to me. Why would a forward thinking company like Apple use an antiquated technology like USB 3.0 on a new product? If they are going to include any kind of connector, why wouldn’t they use a Type-C USB connector like what’s rumored for the new 12 inch MBA? Sure, at first there won’t be many Type-C compliant accessories, but over a long product life cycle, this makes more sense, at least to me.

    • Ry L - 9 years ago

      Type C is also USB 3. The number is the tech, the letter is the size. (Type A is the usual, Type B is the square shape, usually on printers)

    • patstar5 - 9 years ago

      It better be type c, samsung used micro usb 3.0 for galaxy s5 but went down to 2.0 for galaxy s6. Micro usb 3.0 is ugly and bulky, better to use type c

  9. golfersal - 9 years ago

    This is a really big decision for Apple.
    We all would love to have a USB 3 port and be able to use a mouse. This along with a big screen would make this machine close enough in which you wouldn’t need a regular computer. Right now I would say that at least 80% of those that have a tablet also has a computer. But with added blue tooth keyboards, a bigger screen and capabilities of putting stuff on another disk through USB 3 port would probably allow a lot of folks not to have to buy a regular computer.
    Yes a big decision, I hope it happens because I have always struggled at the things the Ipad can’t do, like having an easy storage for my movies.

  10. taoprophet420 - 9 years ago

    Wouldn’t be that surprised if within a year all iOS devices I’ve to the type c USB connection. Would dramatically increase sipped of syncing and restoring devices. Imagine the new MacBook Airs will not have thunderbolt and on,y use a type c connector.

  11. gerrycurry - 9 years ago

    If I’m going to buy a device with a 13″ screen and usb ports then I’d much prefer it to run a mainstream operating system like MacOS. iOS and it’s apps are OK for handheld devices but if you’ve got the real estate then why limit yourself?

  12. incredibilistic - 9 years ago

    Either the WSJ is smoking crack or their Apple source wants to see how far WSJ to publish a story about Apple that’s completely ludicrous.

    Didn’t the WSJ reporter question why Apple would consider mouse support for iOS? Is the person that stupid or that desperate for clicks on the WSJ page? Either way this has to be the dumbest scoop I’ve ever heard.

  13. jsbrock - 9 years ago

    Keyboard and Mouse connection via USB. Barely worthy of a Bullshit alert.
    What may be possible is a USB 3.1 port or two.

  14. USB port? Really? I seriously doubt Apple would add a USB port. If they wanted to support USB devices they could simply offer an adapter, like say this,

    http://store.apple.com/us/product/MD821ZM/A/lightning-to-usb-camera-adapter

    Even though it says “Camera Adapter” it does support USB keyboards. It is just a generic USB port. What’s missing is the necessary extensions in the OS for other types of input, such trackpads or mice – for obvious reasons.

    If Apple includes USB ports on anything, it’ll be a docking station sold as an accessory for the iPad “Pro”. More than likely it would also include an ethernet port to connect to corporate networks.

  15. gshenaut - 9 years ago

    This would be a giant step toward the eventual integration of iOS & MacOS.

  16. The more I read about this the more I think…why can’t the new 12″ MacBook Air and the 12″ iPad Pro be the same device? Lets think about this…the newest rumors are that the iPad Pro will have USB 3.0 ports (most likely type-c) and be able to have mouse input…hmm well isn’t the new MacBook Air also rumored to have a type-c port? The market for the 2-in-1’s is growing…why couldn’t this be the hybrid of Apple’s design? When “docked” to the keyboard we run OS X and when separated…a more capable version of iOS…all documents are synced through iCloud as well as pictures movies etc…I am no expert by any means just a dedicated Apple follower/user. I would love somebody with more knowledge than I to comment on this…just a thought.

    • halibutwhisperer - 9 years ago

      I think you are the Hammer of Today!The other comments seem to be nails of yesterday. I have been thinking about this joint type venture for a while but why limit it to iPad? why not iPhone too? Wireless is the future.

  17. Leif Paul Ashley - 9 years ago

    Shoot me… sigh