Arrow Keys

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Level 1

0 points

Arrow Keys

I'm sure this topic has already been beaten senseless, but I'm going to flog it a bit more and start by saying that I'm somewhat of an iP*** freak and have an ancient 1g iPod that still works flawlessly even with sound with the lego thingy, a new 4g iPod, an iPhone 4 and and an iPad that I use the most by far. I type plenty of emails with the iPad as well as, at times, lengthy rants on FaceBook. The vast majority of keyboards, at least the ones I'm familiar with that accompany desktop and laptop computers, have arrow keys that facilitate moving the cursor all over the document, N, S, E & W without deleting any characters in the process. As I'm sure you're all familiar, the only arrow key on "I" devices is the one with the "x" that deletes characters to the West of the cursor. If you notice a typo near the beginning of a word you haven't finished typing, your only alternative is to delete every character back to the typo. If you notice a typo a number of words back, you have to position the cursor with your finger ahead of the typo, so the "x" can be used to backup to the typo. To those of you who use "I" devices in your sleep and think nothing of having to reposition the cursor with your finger, then this post is probably a complete waste of time by some "I" using idiot. Nevertheless, my typing is glacially slow and any keyboard shortcut would be welcome. I can only assume this is some kind programming limitation on "I" devices (the lack of arrow keys), so my question is this: Does the apple wireless keyboard have fully functioning arrow keys (it's not clear from the description) or is there some combination of "other brand" wireless keyboard and/or mouse via the USB dongle that would provide this functionality? Thanks so much for at least reading this and thanks even more for suggesting a workable solution.

IPad 3G, iPod Touch 4, iPad, iPhone, iOS 4, Arrow Keys

Posted on Oct 26, 2010 7:30 PM

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Answer 1

Philly_Phan

Level 7

20,707 points

Oct 26, 2010 7:32 PM in response to Travinzo

As the topic has been "beaten senseless" already, why beat it further?

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Answer 2

Asatoran

Level 4

2,532 points

Oct 26, 2010 8:03 PM in response to Travinzo

...Does the apple wireless keyboard have fully functioning arrow keys (it's not clear from the description)...

Yes, the Apple wireless keyboard's arrow keys will work on the iPad, when you're in a "typing mode". IOW, whenever the onscreen keyboard would normally pop up and you see the cursor, at that time, the arrow keys can be used to move the cursor.

Apple also has a the non-wireless [Keyboard Dock for the iPad|http://store.apple.com/us/product/MC533LL/B?fnode=MTc0MjU4NjE&mco=MTczNzY0 MzA]. Note that some cases are not compatible with the dock so you might have to remove the iPad from the case before the iPad can be placed in the Dock. (Just an FYI if you decide to go for this keyboard.)

...or is there some combination of "other brand" wireless keyboard and/or mouse via the USB dongle that would provide this functionality?

Most any Bluetooth keyboard will work with the iPad. With the Camera Connection Kit (CCK), most USB keyboards work as well. I have paired my Microsoft 8000 keyboard to my iPad, and using the CCK, I have had success with an older Apple USB keyboard (pre-aluminum) from an iMac, a Dell USB keyboard, and a generic USB keyboard. With the CCK, you sometimes get a "Device not supported" message, which is usually about other "devices" that the USB keyboard has. (i.e.: built-in track pad or USB hub.) But the keyboard function works just fine, including the all important arrow keys. 🙂

Just for awareness, Apple does not officially support USB keyboards at this time. So it is not known if this feature will still be available with future iPad updates. So you'll want to consider that before purchasing the CCK or a USB keyboard.

You may also want to consider one of the cases-with-built-in-keyboard for the iPad. Me personally, I'm waiting for the Clamcase. (Hopefully it reviews well when it arrives.) But for now, I use the CCK and a "mini" USB keyboard which is about the size of the iPad in overall dimensions so is convenient enough for me.

Hopefully the above info is sufficiently complete enough to prevent this topic from being flogged any further. 😉

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Answer 3

Travinzo Author

Level 1

0 points

Oct 27, 2010 2:20 PM in response to Philly_Phan

Based on Asatoran's helpful and informative response, the subject has not quite yet been declared dead. I don't know about you, but the lack of arrow keys, and one specific key to delete the character in front of the cursor (called the delete key) is a major shortcoming that I can only attribute to programming limitations. So you don't mind poking at a screen at a particular point in a paragraph to position the cursor just to fix some friggin text? Or have you just given up trying insist that this be fixed (if you ever did). In the words of Donald Rumsfeld, your response to my question was very "unhelpful".

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Answer 4

Travinzo Author

Level 1

0 points

Oct 27, 2010 2:48 PM in response to Asatoran

Thanks much for the informative reply. As you mentioned, it is my understanding that the wireless keyboard sold by apple for the ipad does provide arrow keys in some instances, but not all, and it would be helpful if apple spelled this out. Is that too much to expect? Regarding the CCK, that is the dongle I referred to and I have gotten if to work on a couple of older Logitech keyboards, but they are cumbersome and I can't find the friggin receiver for one. And you're right about the CCK not fitting ipads with bulky cases...I have a very bulky incase and it's just not happening unless I butcher the case or remove the ipad from the case completely. Anyway, I'm sure I wasn't the only to be incredulous at the absence of arrow keys on the ipad. Has Apple ever provided as explalanation regarding this matter? I'll take a closer look st the wireless ipad keyboard and other usb wired or wireless solutions. Thanks again Asatoran.

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Answer 5

Asatoran

Level 4

2,532 points

Oct 27, 2010 3:24 PM in response to Travinzo

...it would be helpful if apple spelled this out. Is that too much to expect?...

Sometimes telling "too much" at the beginning is a turn off for the less technically inclined. Me ex-GF had to constantly remind me to make my explanations "simpler". Often I was reduced to Yes/No answers to start. Then when the client was ready, I would explain more.

In this instance, doing a "hands on" with the iPad is a much better explanation than "you have arrow keys in notepad, but not in Safari until you tap in the address bar or a logon, unless that login uses Flash..." As my ex-GF would say "SIMPLER!"

...Regarding the CCK, that is the dongle I referred to and I have gotten if to work on a couple of older Logitech keyboards, but they are cumbersome and I can't find the friggin receiver for one.

What receiver? That means you're using a non-Bluetooth wireless keyboard. Losing the receiver for one of those keyboard is like having the wire cut on a wired USB keyboard. That's not the iPad's fault. 😉 My "mini" USB keyboard is a normal wired keyboard (no receiver to lose) and it's length and width are only slightly bigger than the iPad. So not really that cumbersome, at least for my bag and the way I travel. (Similar to [this keyboard|http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?E dpNo=5058067&CatId=2679].)

...And you're right about the CCK not fitting ipads with bulky cases...I have a very bulky incase and it's just not happening unless I butcher the case or remove the ipad from the case completely.

So a Bluetooth keyboard is the better solution for you.

...Anyway, I'm sure I wasn't the only to be incredulous at the absence of arrow keys on the ipad. Has Apple ever provided as explalanation regarding this matter?

IDK. As I told someone in another thread, I've been using touchscreen Windows Mobile PDAs for many years, going back to a HP Journada 560, HP iPaq 2210, HP iPaq 210, as well as several Windows Mobile smartphones with touchscreen. When touchscreen is the primary input, arguably arrow keys aren't that useful. So when the iPad came out, I "got it", that it was a large screen PDA. My experience is that people that try to use the iPad as a "replacement computer" tend to have issues with "needing" the arrow keys and such. Yes, arrow keys are useful and desired in text editing. But for selecting apps from the home screen? Not that useful except perhaps in certain handicap accessible situations.

To put it another way: 8 million iPad sold. Millions of iPad owners "get it". And if you include all of the iPhone and iPod Touch devices, which also don't have arrow keys, that implies to me that arrow keys really aren't absolutely necessary for the way Apple has implemented iOS on the iPad. It would be nice for text editing, yes. But not necessary for iOS. So while statistically, you might not be the only one incredulous, the numbers also indicate that most iPad owners weren't incredulous or it didn't matter.

Not to say that you're concerns aren't valid. Just that the "need" for arrow keys indicates that perhaps the iPad isn't the best "computer" for you. As I've replied elsewhere, the iPad is NOT replacing my Macbook Pro, as I use things like Photoshop extensively. The iPad is a companion to my computers, not a replacement. 🙂

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Answer 6

Dec 1, 2010 4:31 AM in response to Asatoran

Asatoran wrote:
To put it another way: 8 million iPad sold. Millions of iPad owners "get it". And if you include all of the iPhone and iPod Touch devices, which also don't have arrow keys, that implies to me that arrow keys really aren't absolutely necessary for the way Apple has implemented iOS on the iPad. It would be nice for text editing, yes. But not necessary for iOS. So while statistically, you might not be the only one incredulous, the numbers also indicate that most iPad owners weren't incredulous or it didn't matter.

To put it another way, imagine how much time is wasted by all the users put together.

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