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Apple's New Microsoft Surface Killer Would Use a Trackpad Too

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Though it won’t be used for moving a mouse cursor around
Apple is expected to launch its new-generation iPad Pro next week at WWDC, and one of the new features coming to the device could make it more productive and position it as a stronger rival to Microsoft’s own Surface Pro lineup.
Although it’s still an idea for the time being, Apple could bring a trackpad on the keyboard of the new iPad Pro, but with a completely different purpose than what you’d expect.
While on Windows and macOS the trackpad is being used to move the mouse cursor, on the new iPad Pro this new feature could be used to move the cursor when typing, similar to what you can do right now with 3D Touch on iOS. This is an idea brought forward by John Gruber recently and imagined by David Chapman in a series of renders envisioning the original Smart Keyboard with a trackpad (via CultOfMac) .
Could this make the new iPad Pro a more powerful rival to the Surface Pro? Certainly yes, especially because both the iPad and the Surface are focused on productivity on the go, and with a trackpad, customers can perform a series of tasks faster without the need for touching the screen.
While on the iPad the trackpad would have a different purpose, it would definitely make moving the typing cursor faster, especially because when used with the Smart Keyboard, it’s not very convenient to activate 3D Touch to move the typing cursor. This is a setback that does not exist on Microsoft’s Surface, so it could help Apple get closer to its rival by offering a very familiar feature.
At this point, there is no indication that Apple wants to offer a trackpad as well on the new iPad Pro, but at first glance, such a feature truly makes sense. It’ll be interesting to see how Apple revamps the iPad Pro next week at WWDC, when more news are expected, also regarding the MacBook lineup and iOS.
iPad Pro with trackpad on the Smart Keyboard

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