Enhanced mouse support
Let’s start with the basics. Mouse support is supposed to be an assistive touch feature for those with motor function difficulties. The truth is, everyone loves using a mouse or trackpad, and it’s a significant part of our daily computing experience.
Apple has dragged its feet on this feature because they place such an emphasis on the fact that the iPad is meant to be a touch-first device. The fear is that if they enhance mouse support, we may face a future where developers do not create touch-friendly interfaces as a mouse pointer needs a smaller active target area than a standard 44x44px touch target.
As much as I admire their dedication and laserlike focus on keeping the iPad true to Steve Jobs’ original vision, I can’t help but worry that users have come to expect more from the iPad. A new class of iPad power users has emerged and Apple should not ignore these valuable customers. It’s time to skate to where the puck already is.
Desktop mode
If Apple is concerned about developers creating apps that are not touch optimised they could choose to lean into the complexity of using a real computer by creating…
