Apple just announced iPad OS 13.4 which is getting
released tomorrow, Tuesday the 24th. And with it, you are
going to be able to go ahead and get advanced trackpad
support and cursor support with your iPad. Doesn't matter
whether you have an iPad Pro or not. But now, additionally,
Apple announced a new keyboard coming out later this spring
for the iPad Pro third and fourth generation and inside
the keyboard, there is a track pad built into it much like the
bridge Pro Plus. Well, the problem with these keyboards is
that they are you know two hundred and ninety-nine ($299),
three hundred and forty-nine dollars ($349) which is a lot
of money and unless you have an iPad Pro you really can't take
advantage of it. And
No one wants to spend it you know drop a brand on a brand
new I've had to get this. So what we're going to talk about
in today's videos is how to go ahead and get the trackpad
functionality for your existing iPad, iPad Air,
iPad Mini, even the iPad Pro and what's going to be the
difference in the feature set in the Magic Mouse and
Magic trackpad. I am Mike and this is tech 24/7 TV. Let's get
started. So like many of you, I am quarantined in the House
press pressuring practicing social distancing from those
around me.
And as you can see, I am not in the normal place where I
record videos, not in the studio. And so things are going
to look different, they might sound a little bit different.
So I'm try and dial that in the next few videos really
appreciate your patience. Now two quick items before we get
started. One, everything I talk about can be linked in the
description below and two, I don't have timestamps pinned in
the first comment so that's rather simple now. First thing
we're gonna talk about is the magic trackpad here from Apple.
Now I found this on Amazon and surprisingly Amazon was able to
deliver this in two days with all the things that are going
on the world. This was one hundred twenty ($120.00) bucks.
I think it's maybe 130 or hundred thirty nine that it
retails for at Apple.
But this is the magic trackpad too and this gives you the best
functionality from the user experience. If you can not have
the magic keyboard from Apple so you're able to do
everything. So this is easy pairing apps these just powered
on it's going to appear in the bluetooth devices screen on
your iPad. Once you have a pair it works really well so you're
able to swipe up to get the app exposed, you're able to go
ahead and pull down and get the search button you're able to
swipe left swipe right within an app and you're actually even
able to go ahead and pinch to zoom within Excel I thought
that was really cool like they demoed that Craig Federighi
video.
Also you are able to get really I think around like three
months of battery life. Now I have this trackpad at home. I
don't have this version of the white one but I have a gray one
and it gives me about three months of battery life. So I
would presume that you're going to get similar, if not exactly
the same battery life on your iPad. Now the problem with this
is that it doesn't allow for multiple device pairings why
can't pair to my iPad and it doesn't appear automatically on
my Mac. You know very have one I have to unpack from my Mac
and then repair it to my iPad which is kind of a pain in the
butt unlike some of the that I see that made more advanced but
the pointing devices of the mouse's that have multi device
pairing.
And then if you bring back. So you have to unpack it and then
you know repair it to your Mac if you really want one of
these. And if you already have a Mac with this jury you have
to purchase another one which is kind of a pain in the
butt but, $130 bucks this is going to give you really great
functionality in my opinion because it's going to be the
same feature that same functionality that is in a
magic keyboard that Apple has coming out in May as kind two
alternatives to this you could either a buy the Brydge Pro+
the Brydge Pro+ is shipping at the end of April.
That's two hundred and twenty nine dollars in for ten or
twenty dollars you're getting a keyboard and you are also
getting the trackpad that's built into it. So people don't
solely favor the bridge go plus because the hinge system that's
on it which is understandable. But if you are interested in
watching that unboxing and review. Make sure you're
subscribed down below because it's going to get it in next
few weeks here. Bridge is selling a or they would have
announced at least a magic trackpad US functionality which
isn't shipping yet the night time available preorder but at
CES did demo it and they did say that was going to go into
ship this year.
I imagine they're probably just kind of dialing in
functionality on that trackpad based on Apple's most recent
13.4 release. Now as an alternative this is the magic
mouse to make mouse 2 is 80 bucks and this is the debut all
of the same functionality for the magic trackpad. I think it
maps less the cost. The only thing that you're not getting
with this is that you are unable to swipe through
gestures or white swipe through the slideover menu. You
actually have to click and drag but other than that this is
going to get you and
90 percent of functionality for two-thirds of the price. So I
think this is a pretty good deal but what sucks about this
is that the ergonomics on it is pretty horrible. You know I use
this problem to begin with and it's almost flat. It does have
a nice design aesthetic to it. What I don't like is the way
that it fits in my hand and I think after you use this for a
while you go to maybe a more ergonomic mouse you like wow
this really sucks. But in between the two of these you
know the magic trackpad and the Magic Mouse if you're looking
for portability obviously this is going to be a this is much
easier slip in your bag if you're looking for
functionality.
It's going to be this unfortunately both of these
have a single device pairing. They both have good battery
life but was really going to draw them between the two of
them is going to be one cost and two that functionality.
Now this is how I would say what I'm going to go ahead and
purchase if I have an existing. You know iPad, iPad Air,
iPad mini and
I'm looking for trackpad functionality, I am
forced to get a trackpad separately or you know trackpad
or Magic Mouse because no one makes an integrated keyboard
slash trackpad like Apple or Brydge. So those are the only
two choices now between those two. If I have my iPad and I
know I would dedicate space at home or at work and I don't
really travel that much probably my first choice is
going to be the Magic Trackpad and that's because one you
couldn't see in functionality which is going to come in the
Magic Keyboard and to it is my opinion I think I'd rather use
the trackpad over the mouse.
Now if I am someone who's you know maybe commuting back and
forth and I don't really have a dedicate space I would choose
the magic mouse over the magic trackpad only because it's the
magic mouse is going to be a little bit easier to carry you
know in your bag and your backpack replicates is over the
magic trackpad. I don't think I've even seen it like a case
or a holder. You know to put in your bag with the Magic
Trackpad inside of it. Now if you know something of that let
me know. Now if I have an iPad Pro either third generation or
fourth generation and I don't already own a keyboard I. You
could certainly buy the Brydge Pro Plus.
That's going to be at 220 90 insignificant significant less
expensive it's got you all the same functionality. It does have
the Brydge experience you know with the hinges and the
keyboard. Now that may or may not appeal to you and that's
something that you'll have to decide for yourself. Otherwise
I would say that if I have an iPad Pro third generation
fourth generation and I don't want to spend that to ninety-
nine for the Magic keyboard I would buy the smart keyboard
folio at one severnty-nine ($ 179) or one ninety-nine ($199)
and then go and buy the trackpad for an additional
hundred twenty bucks you're still coming in cheaper there
than that.
Now if I get if I need to traveling with my iPad Pro more
often by the Magic Mouse for that eighty ($80.00) dollars
you're still saving yourself money again that's if that's
going to be the primary concern. Otherwise, if you want
the best experience you're gonna buy the magic keyboard.
Now I am going to order the magic keyboard when it comes
out. Let me know in the comments below what you think
about the setup having the magic keyboard magic mouse or
the magic trackpad with an existing keyboard. What you're
set up is going to be when this comes out. And most important
of all, stay safe stay healthy.
And I will talk the next one
let's try this for the third time because they're just a
semi-truck outside unloading bricks