The iPad's Magic Keyboard is much better than the older model but Apple wants to refine this feature even further, as a recent patent application reveals a design somewhat similar to Microsoft's Surface Laptop Studio. When using an iPad as a laptop replacement, the physical keyboard becomes one of the most important components, second only to the screen. Apple's patent document explores improvements for both.
An iPad theoretically has the ability to do everything a computer does while making the bulk of traditional laptop hardware disappear. This seemed incredible in the beginning but it quickly became apparent that there were some inherent limitations. A finger is enormous compared to the size of text on a screen and blocks the view when trying to select a few words. Typing on a screen can be a bit difficult since there is less tactile feedback to guide the fingers to the correct keys. Also, since most iPad models have screens smaller than a laptop, the on-screen keyboard cramps viewing space. Apple's Magic Keyboard solves all of these problems, providing physical keys, allowing full-screen use, and including a trackpad for accurate cursor movement.
As nice as Apple's Magic Keyboard is, it locks the iPad into a somewhat limited range of viewing angles. The U.S Patent & Trademark Office just published an Apple patent application that might expand that range enough to make an iPad a better laptop replacement, literally increasing its lapability, a fun term that means how easy it is to use the device while it rests upon the lap. An iPad with a Magic keyboard is just okay as it is stable but is still unable to lean back far enough to see the screen squarely in some instances. The new design explored in patent documentation shows several examples of a new type of keyboard cover with a keyboard that slides forward to tilt the screen back as far as 135 degrees, while the current model only tips back 130. This sounds like a small difference but 5 degrees is quite significant for viewing angle. The keyboard has a channel near the back that the edge of the iPad rests and magnets are used to secure the various components in place while allowing easy attachment and movement. This is reminiscent of Microsoft's new Surface Laptop Studio, although it tilts the bottom of the screen forward to cover the keyboard rather than moving the keyboard. With Apple's design, the keyboard remains accessible.
iPad With Second Display & Sliding Trackpad?
An improved Magic Keyboard for the iPad sounds like a very practical and realistic solution, so it wouldn't be surprising to see this product released in the near future. The patent also covered a few other possibilities that seem more unlikely. One of these is the potential of using a second display as the keyboard. While this has actually been done before, it isn't a good typing experience. Another unusual sliding keyboard addition described was a slide-out trackpad, which is a more useful idea but doesn't seem necessary since there is room on the current Magic Keyboard for keys and a trackpad.
These concepts, or some variation, might appear in a future iPad keyboard accessory. Patent applications often describe a variety of approaches to the same problem and even delve into ideas that will never be made. The idea is to plan ahead for unknown future developments that might change what is seen as relevant now. Future-proofing can lead to some outlandish ideas but the key innovation here is the sliding keyboard. That portion of the patent application allows an iPad display to tilt, a bit like Microsoft's Surface Laptop Studio, while keeping the keyboard accessible, improving the iPad's use as a laptop.
Source: USPTO