The "lots more to cover" tag line on Apple's October 22 event invitations have lead many to speculate about updated Smart Covers in general, and Logitech/Microsoft Surface style keyboard covers in specific. Apple has tossed out patent applications for such things in the past, of course, and it's one of the more popular third-party and competitive features. So, prototyping an Apple version that would enjoy better and deeper integration is no surprise. Jamie Ryan:
I’ve been speaking to a couple of people at Apple for the last few days and they have told me that a case for the full size iPad that mimics Microsofts touch cover has been prototyped. It’s not clear whether the process is far enough along to make this Tuesdays event but they did say a few different styles had been in testing for a while. [...] It’s not just keyboards either. I’m told other cover like accessories are also being looked at.
There are always last minute rumors before an Apple event, some cool, some flat out crazy. Apple did produce a keyboard stand for the original iPad, which was simply their existing Mac keyboard with a 30-pin Dock connector and base and some customized keys. All iPads are still compatible with the existing Mac Bluetooth keyboard, although it has no customized keys and requires something like the third-party Origami case to provide any physical integration.
Unless Apple cancels the Smart Covers, they'll have to update them for the new iPad 5 form factor anyway. I use the Logitech keyboard cover and like it a bunch, so do many other people I know. An Apple branded, Apple integrated version would be great. It's one of the few things I like about Microsoft's Surface. So, I'd be all over this if it turns out to be real.
If the information above is accurate, the only questions are, has Apple taken it/them out of prototype and put it/them into production, and did they do it in time for the October 22 event?
Source: Jamie Ryan via Gizmodo
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Apple's full-sized iPad gets slimmed down. Features include:
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November, 2013
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Fall, 2014
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Reader comments
Apple rumored to have prototyped Surface-style keyboard covers for iPad
The apple magic. Others make it good, Apple makes it great.
It sure fits the slogan of the event. It's more exact if we were surprised by a 12" enterprise targeted iPad with keyboard cover. That'd be a heck of a lot more to cover.
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I know there are rumors of a bigger "pro" iPad, but I don't see that until they virtualize iOS in OS X or merge the two. Because a bigger iPad, with 128 GB would be over the $999 MacBook Air in price.
I had a snarky, sarcastic comment about Apple's "originality", but I'll wait till tomorrow to see if this rumor turns out to be true to make it.
Apple has always taken existing ideas and made them more human usable. Their originality is in focus.
Apple copies people, Apple-fans make everybody believe Apple invented things. Apple follows the Japanese theory of let everybody else to the hard work, we'll just improve it a bit and bribe a patent inspector to let it slip through. (pinch to zoom? Really? Original Surface had it in 2002)
Were you hugged enough as a child??
OMG...I literally busted out in laughter!!! LOL
I would rather have a real keyboard.
I was just wondering the other day if they'd copy this cover too.
Unreliable. Apple is losing identity without jobs. Come on copying Mcrosoft again.
You mean copying Logitech?
Yes, :) but if they are doing touch cover a la Microsoft not.
I really wanted that original apple keyboard dock but hated that the orientation was locked in portrait mode. It was the only reason I didn't buy it. I've been using the standard Mac Bluetooth keyboard but it would be nice to have something with iPad specific shortcuts.
I'd have to see a case with a real keyboard but they're usually too bulky for me to want to carry around on a regular basis. I find the virtual keyboard is fine for day to day use and only pull out the Bluetooth keyboard when something abnormally long is needing typed.
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last August the United States Patent & Trademark Office (USPTO) published an Apple patent application titled ‘Cover Attachment With Flexible Display’
http://appft.uspto.gov/netacgi/nph-Parser?Sect1=PTO2&Sect2=HITOFF&u=/net...
I have my iPad in a great leather case. When I need to work on documents, I use a Zagg keyboard. I do not want to give up the case, and remember the Apple case, that was a smart cover, and covered the back? Terrible fit. It was loose along the sides. If Apple does a keyboard cover, it will have to be a seamless part of the iPad, and fit like a glove. In other words, a beautiful keyboard case that is great when you need it, but not in the way when you don't.
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I have used an endless amount of keyboards and the one I found to be the best is The Brydge. Keys are great, battery life is tremendous and it folds up and puts the iPad to sleep when I am done working on it.
I am not a solicitor, but you should check it out....thebrydge.com
HELP! Just got an iPad (yay). Need to log onto my wi-fi network. But the password has 15* in it and I can't figure out how to do the numbers or the asterisk *
hit the numbers key in the lower left. One of my few gripes with the iOS keyboard layout. The numbers should be present all the time. Especially on such a big screen.
I thought there would be new smart covers to fit the newly designed iPad, but this rumoured case would be fantastic!
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