Keyboard support in iOS apps

tomsem · 02-05-2016, 02:52 PM

One of the gaping holes in Apple's narrative about 'productivity' when it comes to the iPad Pro (and iOS generally) is the lack of app support for physical keyboards, and in particular the ability to navigate with one and use hotkeys. OS X, Windows, and even Android apps tend to have decent support for this. But in iOS even reading apps tend not to respond to keyboard Page Up/Down or Right/Left arrow to turn pages.

There are a number of apps that have keyboard support, and with the ones that don't, I've been sending feedback to the app developer.

Ideally, holding the Command ('cloverleaf') key brings up a menu of available hotkeys (defined as keys that do something when Command is pressed). On Home screen, there are only three: 'Go to Home Screen' (ironic, since by definition you are already there), Search, and Switch App. These do roughly the same thing as they do on OS X, only less (Search still forces you to tap the screen to select what you have found, Switch App shows only a handful of the apps in the Recent list). But, okay, it's a start.

Productivity apps like Evernote and Word also have hotkey support.

But reading apps? Sigh. Can't even turn pages for the most part (with some exceptions).

Yes. There are accessibility features that can be turned on to enable keyboard navigation, but I would not call it efficient (it basically allows you to visit UI elements linearly, but not in two dimensions, or using tab to jump to next group), and even there you are dependent on the app developer to implement that in a reasonable way.

jswinden · 02-12-2016, 10:27 AM

Well, ummmmm, it is a tablet and it was designed for use without keyboards. It is designed as a light weight, small, handheld device that needs no bulky peripherals. I personally would never use a tablet to read and have a keyboard attached to it. If I need the ability to have greater control in selection of text, I use a computer and mouse or trackpad. If I need to take notes, I use a computer with a keyboard. I use my iPad, or any tablet or smartphone, as a tablet. I realize there are some who want to extend their tablet into a clunky laptop by connecting a keyboard and mouse, but that is like putting a Ferrari insignia on a Prius. It isn't going to make the Prius drive and perform like a Ferrari. A Prius was never designed to be a high performance sports car. An iPad was never designed to be a laptop.

tomsem · 02-12-2016, 03:39 PM

I get what you are saying, and agree that the iPad is not a laptop replacement.

Apple seems uninterested in producing a 'hybrid' device, but I think that has less to do with what their customers might be interested in, and more about the fact that they still want to sell laptops and desktops, often to the same people.

But they are positioning iPad Pro against hybrid devices like Surface Book, which arguably is a laptop replacement. And the only way that story holds up at all is if you can at least sometimes type on a physical keyboard, and do a few more things with keyboard shortcuts.

More and more, I'm using my iPad with a keyboard. And at least for me, it lets me do more things with it, far more efficiently than when using touch alone, and even as well as I can do with a laptop in some cases. It is more of a 'laptop displacement' rather than a 'replacement'.

When I'm using it as a reading device, I prefer not to hold it with my hands for extended periods of time. I'll have it propped up on a table or desk. And when I've got a keyboard paired, it would be more natural and ergonomic to press an arrow key to turn pages. But I have not discovered a single reading app for iOS that support even this minimal keyboard navigation (many Android reading apps support it), to say nothing of what keyboard shortcuts could add (initiate search, change text size, switch to a different book, etc.).

Jessica Lares · 02-13-2016, 12:48 AM

This is an app problem though, not so much an iOS one. There's probably nothing stopping developers from putting a shortcut to go to the next page and back. Ulysses pretty much put shortcuts for everything in their app.

kyteflyer · 02-13-2016, 07:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tomsem

I get what you are saying, and agree that the iPad is not a laptop replacement....

More and more, I'm using my iPad with a keyboard. And at least for me, it lets me do more things with it, far more efficiently than when using touch alone, and even as well as I can do with a laptop in some cases. It is more of a 'laptop displacement' rather than a 'replacement'. ...

My Air2 is currently sitting (closed) just in front of my Macbook, which I'll close after I've posted. I'm using it for 95% of what I do (it doesn't involve work). I bought a logitech Type+ keyboard case to go with it, and since then haven't looked back. If ever I use it as a reading device (not often, admittedly) I really don't mind having to swipe at the screen to turn pages. God knows I have gotten so used to swiping, I try to do it on the Macbook, too!!

wijnaldumwilliam · 03-02-2016, 01:45 AM

new keyboard, go to Settings > General > Keyboard > Keyboards > Add a New Keyboard.

HarryT · 03-02-2016, 03:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wijnaldumwilliam

new keyboard, go to Settings > General > Keyboard > Keyboards > Add a New Keyboard.

Nobody's asking how to add a keyboard. That's not the topic of this thread.

Dylrob · 03-04-2016, 03:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wijnaldumwilliam

new keyboard, go to Settings > General > Keyboard > Keyboards > Add a New Keyboard.

Quote:

Originally Posted by HarryT

Nobody's asking how to add a keyboard. That's not the topic of this thread.

I've been known to misread threads like this. The curse of dyslexia.

cvkemp · 03-04-2016, 05:59 PM

I have an Ipad air 2 with Belkin Qode Ultimate Pro Keyboard Case and I love it it works great. Now yes you still have to use the touch screen at time. I do some writing on it use MS word.

02-05-2016, 02:52 PM	#1
tomsem Grand Sorcerer Posts: 6,939 Karma: 27060151 Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: USA Device: iPhone 15PM, Kindle Scribe, iPad mini 6, PocketBook InkPad Color 3	Keyboard support in iOS apps One of the gaping holes in Apple's narrative about 'productivity' when it comes to the iPad Pro (and iOS generally) is the lack of app support for physical keyboards, and in particular the ability to navigate with one and use hotkeys. OS X, Windows, and even Android apps tend to have decent support for this. But in iOS even reading apps tend not to respond to keyboard Page Up/Down or Right/Left arrow to turn pages. There are a number of apps that have keyboard support, and with the ones that don't, I've been sending feedback to the app developer. Ideally, holding the Command ('cloverleaf') key brings up a menu of available hotkeys (defined as keys that do something when Command is pressed). On Home screen, there are only three: 'Go to Home Screen' (ironic, since by definition you are already there), Search, and Switch App. These do roughly the same thing as they do on OS X, only less (Search still forces you to tap the screen to select what you have found, Switch App shows only a handful of the apps in the Recent list). But, okay, it's a start. Productivity apps like Evernote and Word also have hotkey support. But reading apps? Sigh. Can't even turn pages for the most part (with some exceptions). Yes. There are accessibility features that can be turned on to enable keyboard navigation, but I would not call it efficient (it basically allows you to visit UI elements linearly, but not in two dimensions, or using tab to jump to next group), and even there you are dependent on the app developer to implement that in a reasonable way.

02-12-2016, 03:39 PM	#3
tomsem Grand Sorcerer Posts: 6,939 Karma: 27060151 Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: USA Device: iPhone 15PM, Kindle Scribe, iPad mini 6, PocketBook InkPad Color 3	I get what you are saying, and agree that the iPad is not a laptop replacement. Apple seems uninterested in producing a 'hybrid' device, but I think that has less to do with what their customers might be interested in, and more about the fact that they still want to sell laptops and desktops, often to the same people. But they are positioning iPad Pro against hybrid devices like Surface Book, which arguably is a laptop replacement. And the only way that story holds up at all is if you can at least sometimes type on a physical keyboard, and do a few more things with keyboard shortcuts. More and more, I'm using my iPad with a keyboard. And at least for me, it lets me do more things with it, far more efficiently than when using touch alone, and even as well as I can do with a laptop in some cases. It is more of a 'laptop displacement' rather than a 'replacement'. When I'm using it as a reading device, I prefer not to hold it with my hands for extended periods of time. I'll have it propped up on a table or desk. And when I've got a keyboard paired, it would be more natural and ergonomic to press an arrow key to turn pages. But I have not discovered a single reading app for iOS that support even this minimal keyboard navigation (many Android reading apps support it), to say nothing of what keyboard shortcuts could add (initiate search, change text size, switch to a different book, etc.). Last edited by tomsem; 02-12-2016 at 03:46 PM.

03-02-2016, 01:45 AM	#6
wijnaldumwilliam Junior Member Posts: 1 Karma: 10 Join Date: Mar 2016 Device: mobilereader	Keyboard support in iOS apps new keyboard, go to Settings > General > Keyboard > Keyboards > Add a New Keyboard.

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02-12-2016, 10:27 AM	#2
jswinden Nameless Being	Well, ummmmm, it is a tablet and it was designed for use without keyboards. It is designed as a light weight, small, handheld device that needs no bulky peripherals. I personally would never use a tablet to read and have a keyboard attached to it. If I need the ability to have greater control in selection of text, I use a computer and mouse or trackpad. If I need to take notes, I use a computer with a keyboard. I use my iPad, or any tablet or smartphone, as a tablet. I realize there are some who want to extend their tablet into a clunky laptop by connecting a keyboard and mouse, but that is like putting a Ferrari insignia on a Prius. It isn't going to make the Prius drive and perform like a Ferrari. A Prius was never designed to be a high performance sports car. An iPad was never designed to be a laptop.

02-13-2016, 12:48 AM	#4
Jessica Lares Wizard Posts: 2,240 Karma: 5759170 Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: Near Dallas, Texas, USA Device: iPad Mini, iPod Touch (5th gen)	This is an app problem though, not so much an iOS one. There's probably nothing stopping developers from putting a shortcut to go to the next page and back. Ulysses pretty much put shortcuts for everything in their app.

03-04-2016, 05:59 PM	#9
cvkemp Loving life Posts: 1,430 Karma: 7991496 Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Hot Springs Village, Arkansas Device: PaperWhite 6 SE, Fire HD8	I have an Ipad air 2 with Belkin Qode Ultimate Pro Keyboard Case and I love it it works great. Now yes you still have to use the touch screen at time. I do some writing on it use MS word.

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