Next-gen Apple iPad to have keyboard with touch display, reveals patent

Apple has a knack of coming up with new features and improvements for its devices. Luckily, we do get to see a glimpse into the future and some of these new inventions when the US Patent and Trademark Office decides to publish a patent application of the iPhone-maker. And just last week, they published a new patent filing which reveals the iPad’s smart keyboard with a secondary touch display.

The new patent appears to be a modification of sorts of the iPad’s smart keyboard which adds a flexible secondary display. The patent has multiple claims which showcases a display with a set of virtual keys that opens an application’s toolbar; while the display is equipped with receiving multi-touch gestures which is configured to move the application from its toolbar to the primary display unit, which in this case is the iPad’s screen.

The new patent filing is rather similar to a news that surfaced earlier this year, wherein the iPhone-maker will possibly swap the function keys housed on the top of the keyboard of the MacBook Pro and replace it with a touch bar. This would give users more ways to interact with the iPad.

While developers can come up with new functionalities for the touch bar such as control options for media application, additional editing options for images and word documents, along with quick launch keys for a few apps which can be customized by the user based on his/her preference.

In other related Apple news, pre-orders for the next-gen iPhone 7 are expected to begin starting September 9, according to a recent tweet by credible leakster Evan Blass aka @evleaks. He further claimed that the retail launch of the iPhone 7 series would be happening on September 16.

In addition, we can expect Apple’s other offerings which include the MacBook range and the 12.9-inch iPad Pro to also get an upgrade. While next-gen versions of both product categories are expected to be launched in the coming fall season, reports of the rumored iPad Mini 5 have been coming thick and fast.

The upcoming iPad Mini 5 is expected to be thinner than its predecessor the  iPad Mini 4. Several reports suggest that it’ll be just 5mm in thickness as opposed to last year’s iPad Mini 4 which was 6.1mm in thickness. We can expect the device to be launched in September alongside the iPhone 7, just like last year when iPhone 6S was unveiled alongside the iPad Mini 4.

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Abhinav Mishra

Abhinav is technology enthusiast who loves gaming and collecting old-school gadgets. He is awestruck by the amazing impact technology has on our daily lives. At PCT, he is the go-to man for anything gaming or related to smartphones. You can usually find him on PSN blabbering about his MKX skills.