iPAD PRO AND MAGIC KEYBOARD
THERE’S some irony in Apple’s marketing campaign for the new iPad Pro – “Your next computer,” it says. “Is not a computer.” But when you team the new iPad Pro with the latest accessory – the Magic Keyboard – the Pro becomes more like most people’s idea of “computer” than any previous iPad.
The trick, though, is, it only happens if you want it to. You can use the iPad Pro as you would any other iPad. The new features this device and the latest accessories and software bring, only appear if you want them, otherwise, it’s as though they don’t exist.
It’s another remarkable feat of design and engineering, and although you certainly pay a premium price for it, a device this versatile is worth every penny.
THE POWER:
The new iPad Pro brings more power to the table. The A12Z
Bionic chip delivers speeds unseen in any iPad before, to rival PC laptops.
That power brings sensational graphics performance, meaning the iPad Pro is a great gaming machine as well as a pro workstation.
THE CAMERAS:
When the iPad gained a camera on its back, a lot of people predicted it would be more or less unused.
Turns out the doubters were wrong. There’s a lot to be said for using a device with a screen this big to capture and edit images and video. The new iPad Pro adds an ultra-wide angle lens to the wide it already had.
It’s a useful addition, giving indoor photographers and videographers, bringing more flexibility.
THE LiDOR SCANNER:
Apple’s gone in big on augmented reality, where scenes viewed on screen via the in-built camera can be overlayed with objects and information created in the device. Ikea’s app shows furniture as it would look in your home for example.
The new LiDOR scanner, built into the camera module of the new iPad Pro, will take AR to the next level – it can scan your environment with much more detail and precision. It’s so advanced that apps that will really take advantage of it are still in the works – but when they do arrive, they may be the game-changers that take AR mainstream.
THE MAGIC KEYBOARD:
The Magic Keyboard for iPad Pro is expensive – £299 for the 11in version, and £349 for the 12.9in version. What it does though, is remarkable. Firstly it adds a proper keyboard to the device – it’s even backlit, and ideal if you use your iPad to write a lot.
The Magic Keyboard, inset below, features a novel design that lifts the screen above the keyboard when open, to allow space for a trackpad. This takes advantage of new features in iPadOS...
THE OS:
The latest version of the OS for iPad brings a stellar new feature – you can now add a trackpad or mouse). This is implemented in a very clever way – the ‘pointer’ is a small circle that only appears when input is detected… so when your finger is on the trackpad or your mouse is moving.
This circle morphs into any button you hover over, which is then subtly highlighted. In other words, the support for trackpad and mouse is feature complete, but you would not even know it was there unless you wanted to use it.
■ Find out more about the iPhone SE and iPad Pro at apple.com/uk