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New iPad Pro with LiDAR Scanner and trackpad support

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331–340 of 668 posts

Re: New iPad Pro with LiDAR Scanner and trackpad support

#331
post #161

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I value an Escape key (being emacs/evil user) and use iPad Pro as my primary computer for the past 2 years. The trick is you just use a real keyboard with it (HHKB-BT in my case) :-)

How do you know if someone uses a mechanical keyboard? Don't worry, they'll tell you. (I hailstormed this message on Cherry MX Blues.)

Hey, HHKB uses Topre so technically it’s not quite mechanical either! ;-)

Re: New iPad Pro with LiDAR Scanner and trackpad support

#332

There is exactly one attribute which will convince me the iPad Pro is a 'real' computer: when I can develop apps for the iPad on the iPad. Until then... nice, but ...

This is what blows my mind about their decisions regarding software priorities. Being able to build Macintosh apps on a Macintosh was fundamental to the survival of the platform. Hell, there isn't even a coherent story about developing client-side web applications on an iPad, something much simpler—the interpreter's already there!

Re: New iPad Pro with LiDAR Scanner and trackpad support

#333

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I agree. The software needs support for this too. I earnestly tried to use the iPad for a few weeks, and the placement of the camera was annoying (off center, angled up, no one looks good at this angle). But the software was the deal breaker. iOS and iPadOS disallow background camera use and there is no API to allow it except for FaceTime which does PiP in the corner when it’s backgrounded. Even side-by-side in the n…

This ^ I wish there was a way to take notes on my iPad and join the call from my iPad. This it the main thing that keeps me from making the leap 100%.

I've not tried it but wouldn't split-screen (or whatever Apple calls it) do the trick?

Re: New iPad Pro with LiDAR Scanner and trackpad support

#334

Apple, please make the ipadOS eco system developer friendly. I'd buy it instantly. If Visual Studio Code was available there, that'd be amazing. There is some projects[1] going on but using some non-viable workaround [1] https://github.com/microsoft/vscode/issues/70764

I'm in the same boat. I'd love to have a real terminal where I could run emacs.

There is one: https://ish.app

Open beta, but sadly not released to the App Store yet. Works quite well.

Re: New iPad Pro with LiDAR Scanner and trackpad support

#335
post #262

Earlier quoted context omitted.

They only need it to be optimized for close range in most use cases. I wouldn’t say is neglected

Exactly. I've had iPads now since the 2nd model, and have used front camera about 2% of the time, and the rear about 98% of the time (great for snapping whiteboards). But, truly, I don't use the cameras much at all, and would prefer to not have fancy cameras on an iPad. The phone is where the fancy cameras should be. And, I also carry a 'pocket' camera with far better close-ups, better video, and more storage and eff…

The phone already is where the fancy camera is. The iPad back camera is far worse than the iPhone's cameras.

Re: New iPad Pro with LiDAR Scanner and trackpad support

#336

The front facing camera is seriously neglected. They keep on adding more powerful/fancy cameras to the rear that people likely under-use in the common case, while the front camera that is commonly used for work, video conferencing, selfies, etc remains on the wrong edge and is under-powered. It is almost farcical with the new keyboard setting the top to the non-camera edge. The front facing camera should be the premi…

I don't, but I see plenty of people who shoot pictures with their iPads. If the best camera was on the front, what would they use for a viewfinder? Also, I used to be 100% remote, and I WFH plenty, so I'm on videoconferences all the time. I do not perceive the need for insanely good cameras for this. Selfies, maybe, perhaps Instagram influencers need super-high-res selfie photos and movies. All that being said, maybe…

I have never seen a person take a picture with an iPad using the rear camera.

What I want from the front camera is mostly good light sensitivity and color rendition. I don't need more than 1080p video on it though. It feels like it should be possible without making it very expensive. If it isn't possible, then for an iPad I'd sacrifice ALL the rear camera functionality for just a slightly better front cam, in a heartbeat.

Re: New iPad Pro with LiDAR Scanner and trackpad support

#338
post #193

Those kinds of laptops/tablets are great for one reason: no heating components under keyboard. I hate "heated keyboards". I hope Apple will at some point allow to install macOS on iPads. Seems like it's possible, until that moment it'll be only consumption/sensors input device which is a shame. Unfortunately not a programmer machine.

Reading your comment I realised I actually love "heated keyboards"... I often lay my hands on my laptop to warm up cold fingers :)

Re: New iPad Pro with LiDAR Scanner and trackpad support

#339

There is exactly one attribute which will convince me the iPad Pro is a 'real' computer: when I can develop apps for the iPad on the iPad. Until then... nice, but ...

Same here. My iPad mini is nice to read and annotate PDF (love the pencil) thanks to its retina display but that's it. And any task involving inputing more than two words is super painful anyway (pairing an external keyboard with bluetooth is painful too).

Re: New iPad Pro with LiDAR Scanner and trackpad support

#340
post #222

Earlier quoted context omitted.

How exactly would debugging sacrifice the security model?

Debugging allows arbitrary code execution. Essentially you allow developers to debug running applications on their iPad, you allow them to run any code they want on it (maybe with extra steps, but that is the unavoidable inevitable result). I'm not against it, but I am saying that's quite different from the iPad's current security model. You're giving developers root, maybe with extra steps, but root none the less.

I understand why Apple does this, but having owned an iPad without ever successfully being productive on it I just wish I could get root if I really want to. I wish it were hackable.

Revoke my warranty, do whatever, just let me use the device I bought!

It's gotta be the most beautiful hardware of a machine I've seen. It's a shame the software is so anti-user.

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