Jamie Ryan, a former Apple employee who worked in Developer relations, reveals that Apple is working on a new keyboard case for the 9.7-inch iPad like Microsoft’s Touch Cover case for the Surface tablets.
He claims that “according to couple of people” he spoke to, Apple has already developed a Microsoft touch cover like-case for its full-sized iPad. He is however not sure if Apple will unveil the new iPad keyboard case at tomorrow’s media event.
He writes:
I’ve been speaking to a couple of people at Apple for the last few days and they have told me that a case for the full size iPad that mimics Microsofts touch cover has been prototyped. It’s not clear whether the process is far enough along to make this Tuesdays event but they did say a few different styles had been in testing for a while.
Apple currently offers two types of cases to protect the full-sized iPad: iPad Smart Cover and iPad Smart Case. Customers who want to use a keyboard with the iPad have to either opt for Apple’s Wireless keyboard or opt for keyboard cases made by third-party accessory makers. Though Apple’s Wireless Keyboard works quite well, it is not an integrated solution as Microsoft’s Touch Cover case.
Ryan notes that Apple finds the third-party keyboard cases for the iPad “fairly inelegant,” which is the primary motivation for making its own keyboard case. He also warns that it is quite possible that like many prototypes, the iPad Keyboard case might never see the light of day.
Apple regularly mocks up all sorts of accessories and products and ditches them. 1000 no’s for every yes etc.
I must admit, the Touch Cover cases is one of the few things that I like about Surface tablets, so I would love to see Apple make something similar or even better for the iPad.
We’ve haven’t heard any rumors to suggest a new iPad keyboard case will be unveiled at tomorrow’s event.
Do you think Apple should launch a Touch Cover like case for the iPad?
[Jamie Ryan's blog via 9to5Mac]
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