Brydge today announced the upcoming launch of a new beta firmware update designed for the Pro+ keyboards, which launched last spring. The Pro+ keyboards feature integrated trackpads and came out ahead of when Apple added dedicated trackpad support to iPadOS.
The software available from Brydge adds native multi-touch capabilities and should much improve the trackpad experience of the Pro+ keyboard. We reviewed the keyboard back in March and found the trackpad to be inferior as it wasn't initially designed with Apple's integrations in mind.
According to Brydge, the firmware will bring a "natural" multi-touch experience, with the update available through the Brydge Connect app. Using the new beta firmware requires customers to have the iPadOS 14.5 update installed.
Brydge Pro+ keyboard users who want to try out the new firmware update can sign up on the Brydge website. The first 500 who sign up for the public beta will be able to access the firmware on February 24, while others will get access on March 3. For a limited time, Brydge is also offering up to 25% off on Pro+ keyboards.
Priced at $130, the 10.2 MAX+ has a built-in native multi-touch trackpad and an integrated backlit keyboard, plus it offers full device protection. Brydge says that it is designed to combine the functionality of a Brydge keyboard with the protection of OtterBox. The 10.2 MAX+ can be pre-ordered from the Brydge website.
Wednesday February 19, 2025 8:02 am PST by Joe Rossignol
Apple today introduced the iPhone 16e, its newest entry-level smartphone. The device succeeds the third-generation iPhone SE, which has now been discontinued.
The iPhone 16e features a larger 6.1-inch OLED display, up from a 4.7-inch LCD on the iPhone SE. The display has a notch for Face ID, and this means that Apple no longer sells any iPhones with a Touch ID fingerprint button, marking the ...
Tuesday February 18, 2025 12:02 pm PST by Joe Rossignol
Over the years, Apple has switched from an aluminum frame to a stainless steel frame to a titanium frame for its highest-end iPhones. And now, it has been rumored that Apple will go back to using aluminum for three out of four iPhone 17 models.
In an investor note with research firm GF Securities, obtained by MacRumors this week, Apple supply chain analyst Jeff Pu said the iPhone 17, iPhone...
Thursday February 20, 2025 5:06 am PST by Tim Hardwick
Now that Apple has announced its new more affordable iPhone 16e, our thoughts turn to what else we are expecting from the company this spring.
There are three product categories that we are definitely expecting to get upgraded before spring has ended. Keep reading to learn what they are. If we're lucky, Apple might make a surprise announcement about a completely new product category.
M4...
Wednesday February 19, 2025 11:38 am PST by Juli Clover
Following the launch of the iPhone 16e, Apple updated its iOS 18, iPadOS 18, and macOS Sequoia pages to give a narrower timeline on when the next updates are set to launch.
All three pages now state that new Apple Intelligence features and languages will launch in early April, an update from the more broader April timeframe that Apple provided before. The next major point updates will be iOS ...
Thursday February 13, 2025 8:07 am PST by Joe Rossignol
In a social media post today, Apple CEO Tim Cook teased an upcoming "launch" of some kind scheduled for Wednesday, February 19.
"Get ready to meet the newest member of the family," he said, with an #AppleLaunch hashtag.
The post includes a short video with an animated Apple logo inside a circle.
Cook did not provide an exact time for the launch, or share any other specific details, so...
Apple today announced its first custom cellular modem with the name "C1," debuting in the all-new iPhone 16e.
The new modem contributes to the iPhone 16e's power efficiency, giving it the longest battery life of any iPhone with a 6.1-inch display, such as the iPhone 15 and iPhone 16.
Expanding the benefits of Apple silicon, C1 is the first modem designed by Apple and the most...
Tuesday February 18, 2025 8:46 pm PST by Joe Rossignol
Apple is permanently closing its retail store at the Northbrook Court shopping mall in the Chicago area. The company confirmed the upcoming closure today in a statement, but it has yet to provide a closing date for the location.
Apple Northbrook opened in 2005, and the store moved to a larger space in the mall in 2017.
Apple confirmed that affected employees will continue to work for the...
That keyboard appears to add a lot of bulk to the iPad. If one doesn't really need to be portable, that may not be an issue. I like my Magic Keyboard profile better, even though it is a lot more expensive.
That's great for existing customers, but surely the Magic Keyboard has killed the product? I'm surprised its taken this long to get the update to be honest as I remember us chatting about this when the Magic Keyboard was first announced.
Price. Also extremely useful function keys. It’s a great alternative.
Ive got the previous version (without the trackpad) and had a previous model for my iPad air 2. Brydge make excellent keyboards. Its a shame its taken so long for them to fix the multi touch. Ive read elsewhere that they might have needed to wait for iPad OS to give them access to the features they needed to allow their trackpad to provide true multi-touch. Don't know how true that is, but if the trackpad is as good as the logitech touch keyboard (ie not as good as the magic keyboard but a hell of a lot cheaper) then its probably worth it.
I think it's too little too late. It took a full year for them to add this support, and even though it's a good price point, it's not nearly as nice of an option as the Magic Keyboard. Plus, if the rumored 2021 iPad Pro is a little thicker, it won't fit in the slots the iPad slides in to, which I've never been a fan of design wise. The Magic Keyboard, for its faults, is still a much more elegant option.
I bought the iPad magic keyboard during the recent $200 sale, and I've had it for almost a month now. Not sure why the Magic Keyboard is getting so much love. I could understand the preference when the Brydge keyboard didn't have as good of a touchpad. But if that's been fixed, the Brydge keyboard is definitely a more compelling option.
To be fair to the magic keyboard, the build quality is nice, and the touchpad is very good. But it's had some annoying drawbacks. For one, I keep on wishing that the keyboard allowed for more tilt. I instinctively keep on trying to tilt it further back, only to realize I'm not a laptop. It's not a problem when using it on a desk, but when I have it on my lap, it always seems like I'm looking down on the iPad at an angle; the screen is not perpendicular to my face. Also, though I knew going in that the Magic keyboard didn't have a row of function keys, I didn't realize how much I'll miss them (I had the Brydge keyboard for my iPad Pro 9.7", and it was always convenient having those keys there). It wouldn't have been a major problem if the OS had a bit more of universal keyboard shortcuts. For example, there is no shortcut for Siri, and it's annoying to always speak out 'Hey Siri'. You never know whether it'll pick it up, or your phone will. On the Brydge keyboard there is a dedicated Siri button (which was always useful on my previous Brydge keyboard). For basic functionality like volume control, you either have to extend your hand, or go to the control center, which obfuscates any video you are seeing. It's not the same has having dedicated keys on the keyboard.
The only reason I bought the magic keyboard is because I had read that it had the best trackpad experience, and that the brydge version wasn't as good. That seemed like a deal-breaker, so I didn't opt for the Brydge this time. Also, I had known that swiping from the bottom is not convenient on the Brydge (a problem, I had found irksome even with my previous Brydge keyboard). But after using the magic keyboard, I realized that this will never be a problem when you have a trackpad. On the magic keyboard, not once did I use to use the bottom-up swipe gesture cause you can just move the cursor down beyond the screen for it to mimic the swipe-up gesture. It's just more natural to use the touchpad than to extend your hand.
So, if in fact the touchpad on the Brydge keyboard has been improved to match the Magic Keyboard, I'm going to be returning the Magic Keyboard and will be buying the Brydge instead. [S]Another potential benefit might be that (not sure yet), that I might be able to use it with a TPU cover that I have on my iPad Pro. Currently I have to take it out to use it with the magic keyboard.[/S]
To summarize the advantages of the Brydge keyboard - 1. Can tilt more than the magic keyboard 2. Has function keys 3. $40 cheaper at current sale price [S]4. Might be compatible with protective cover in place[/S]
Advantage of the Magic keyboard - 1. Back-side protection 2. Don't have to ever charge it 3. Attaching it magnetically is better than swiping the iPad into rubber holders
The magic keyboard advantages seem meager at best. The Brydge is not perfect either, but I'm willing to bet it's day to day use might be better than the magic keyboard.
Edit - from reviews it seems Brydge can't be used with an external cover.
