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The Touchtype Pro is a new smart accessory created by Salman Sajid that aims to associate the iPad Pro with Apple's Magic Keyboard keyboard with the help of a flexible protective shell and a unique design. ; magnets. Sajid launched a campaign for the product earlier this month on Kickstarter, where you can get more details on the pricing and design process of the Touchtype Pro. I had the chance to get my hands on an old production unit before the Kickstarter was commissioned. I've been using the Touchtype Pro with my 2018 iPad 12.9 "2018 for a few weeks and after sharing some first impressions of Connected, I wanted to post some more thoughts here, with some pictures.
The Touchtype Pro consists of a rigid plastic case in which you place the iPad Pro; the case is itself attached to a soft shell that wraps the back of the iPad to create a stand (when it is placed on a desk) and which also covers the front of the iPad (when it is closed, like a holster). Until now, nothing spectacular – the case is better than other Logitech and Razer attempts I've seen in the past and there is the ubiquitous microfiber lining at the top. inside to keep the screen of the iPad clean and protected.
What makes the Touchtype Pro unique is the second case that acts as a holding shell for the Apple Keyboard Magic Keyboard (the second generation keyboard, not the old one). The magic keyboard case can be magnetically attached to the bottom edge of the iPad case; In this way, the keyboard itself maintains the angle of the iPad 's angle and allows you to type without interfering with the home' s l 'indicator. iPad Pro – a problem common to other Magic Keyboard accessories that I've already touched on.
But here's the best part: the Magic Keyboard keyboard case has magnets at the bottom that can slide on the main cover when it's unfolded on your desktop. This system "train tracks" allows the Magic Keyboard to act as a mechanism to adjust the viewing angle of the iPad: push it towards the back of the cover to create a more steep; drag it to you and you'll get a more comfortable viewing mode when typing in the office. These are a lot of words for what can be easily explained by this GIF:
The other detail that differentiates the Touchtype Pro from other cases for iPad and Magic Keyboard covers that I've tested before is the fact that its integrated design allows you to carry the keyboard and the iPad Pro together when everything is closed. When you have finished working, you can turn off the Magic Keyboard (the keyboard has an opening at the front to be able to access the power switch and charge it), tilt it behind the iPad so that the keys are facing outwards. Touchtype Pro) and fold the front of the cover to allow everything to hold between them. The end result is a unique package that is bulky and adds considerable weight to the iPad (below) and looks like this:
As you can see, the wraparound cover of Touchtype has another advantage: when it folds over the top of the iPad Pro, it also protects the pen and keeps it in place. Thus, the Touchtype Pro will never come off. a bag.
After working with the TouchType at the kitchen table and spending a few weeks in the car, I think it's the best option if you want to integrate the iPad Pro and the Magic Keyboard with a single accessory, provided you can accept. some of his warnings.
In the past, I have written several times on the Magic Keyboard keyboard on MacStories, but I want to clarify the context: I like the feel of the keyboard of Apple (and his biggest cousin Space Gray at my office with the Mac mini), but there are two do not like it: the Magic Keyboard keyboard is not backlit and is not accompanied with iOS-specific function keys.
The lack of backlight is a well-known limit of the range of magic keyboards and, well, if you want to knock in the dark and also look at the symbols on the keys, you are not lucky. This last problem is more specific to the coupling of a magic keyboard with an iPad: while other Bluetooth keyboards (such as those of Logitech and Brydge) come with keys to return to the screen Home, view search or browse multiple software keyboards, the Magic Keyboard is primarily a Mac keyboard that also Supports the iPad by Bluetooth. There are no keys reserved for iOS on the Magic Keyboard; In fact, it comes with mission control and dashboard keys that are useless on iOS.
All this to say: the Magic Keyboard is lightweight and portable and its battery lasts a long time and it's nice to tap on – but if you're looking for an optimized iPad experience with an external Bluetooth keyboard, there are better options out there. The Touchtype Pro, however, is designed for people who want to recycle their existing Magic Keyboards for an integrated iPad Pro setup. I assume that these users are already aware of the vulnerabilities and benefits of the keyboard compared to third-party offers.
My main complaint with the Touchtype Pro is twofold: for me, it seems to have been designed primarily as a desktop accessory; and adjust the viewing angle of the iPad by sliding the Magic Keyboard case on the magnetic cover can be a little tricky.
As I mentioned above, to adjust the viewing angle when the magic keyboard is attached to the front of the iPad case.you have to slide the magic keyboard towards you. From my experience, the strong connection between the magnets placed at the bottom of the Magic Keyboard case and inside the cover of the Touchtype Pro means that I have to apply a good enough pressure to slide the keyboard. The feature works as advertised, and I think it's an ingenious system that relies on the magic keypad to create an angle, but it requires more attention than I would normally give to this type of process. And because I can be clumsy with these things, I accidentally detached the keyboard from the iPad (and so I dropped the iPad flat on my desk) more of times I would not admit it. I should also note that due to the design of the Magic Keyboard keyboard, it is almost impossible to reach its switch when the keyboard is attached to the front of the iPad.
Secondly, the Touchtype Pro feels, at least for me, as an accessory optimized for use at a desk. Specifically, an office with a good amount of space available. When it is fully deployed, the cover (where you place the keyboard) can cover up to 13.78 "(35 cm) in length, which is not really compact.You can fold back on itself and create a thicker base for the Magic Keyboard keyboard, This folded mode is also what Sajid recommends if you want to use the Touchtype Pro on your lap, which is possible, but for me it does not seem like as stable as using the Smart Keyboard Folio or the new Logitech Slim Folio Pro (which I will also be reviewing soon).
The moving parts involved with the Touchtype Pro, as opposed to the Smart Keyboard Folio or the Slim Folio Pro (the separate case for the keyboard, plus the hood folded back on itself), give the feeling that this accessory is optimized for a rigid surface rather than for your computer. tower. It's possible to use an iPad with the Touchtype Pro on your lap, but I do not like it as much as I like these two aforementioned keyboards (and, I guess, the new Brydge keyboard soon enough ). The magnetic flap that secures the magic keyboard to the iPad case nevertheless resists my tests better than the old Razer keyboard.
In addition to size and ergonomics, weight is a concern of the Touchtype Pro, which is why I consider it an office companion. An iPad Pro 12.9 "with Smart Keyboard Folio and Pencil weighs 1.07 kg (2.37 lbs), the same iPad with the Brydge keyboard weighs about 1.34 kg (2.96 lbs), paired with the Slim Folio Pro, it can reach 3 lbs (1.35 kg) with the Touchtype Pro, the whole package weighs 1.55 kg.This does not seem to be a huge difference, but especially if you are used to Smart Keyboard Folio, extra book when switching to the Touchtype Pro (not to mention the total thickness when everything is closed, as shown in the pictures in this story).
Finally, unlike the Smart Keyboard Folio, the Touchtype Pro offers a multimedia mode for tactile interactions: just place the keyboard behind the iPad, fold the protection on itself so that its outer edge holds the iPad of through and watch a movie. or listen to music, as shown below:
Unfortunately, since I'm using my iPad Pro for work, I do not need a multimedia mode as much as a support. to touch mode for the times when I want to type using the software keyboard. The multimedia mode supported by the Touchtype Pro has an angle too steep for typing and, as it rests on the front cover to serve as a crutch, I do not find it as reliable as the touch mode supported by Smart Folio. Again, Smart of Apple Keyboard Folio does not offer any multimedia or touch mode, so at least the Touchtype Pro is trying something new in this regard.
I recognize that I am a bit particular about iPad Pro keyboards and tablets and that the type of product I am looking for (a Smart Keyboard portfolio with backlit keys, multimedia features, and a touch mode) will probably never exist. Do not be fooled by my opinion of the Touchtype Pro: if you like the magic keyboard, want to use it with your iPad Pro and do not want to buy. another keyboard, I think the Touchtype Pro is the best all-in-one solution that I've tested to date. The product has its own flaws, but with respect to the idea of combining the iPad Pro with a holster that also contains the magic keyboard, I think Sajid's design is a solid approach.
In my opinion, the Touchtype Pro is designed for a specific type of client: the iPad Pro user who wants to work with a Keyboard Magic Keyboard mainly in the office. Adjustable viewing angle, pencil protection, support for portrait orientation and multimedia mode are additional and welcome benefits. Keeping in mind the nature of Kickstarter campaigns, if you're looking for a product that can hold the iPad Pro and the Magic Keyboard for an ideal typing experience, the Touchtype Pro is well worth the $ 49 price tag for a Kickstarter unit.
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