Apple releases iOS 13.4 and iPadOS 13.4: mouse and trackpad support are among the new features

Apple officially released iOS 13.4 and iPadOS 13.4 for all users with compatible devices. The roll-out started after a long period of beta tests by developers and users, and the news is particularly interesting, especially for Apple tablets. The company also released iOS 12.4.6 for older iPhones and iPads.

Trackpad support for iPad

The main novelty of the new updates is certainly the mouse and trackpad support on iPads, specific on iPadOS 13.4 and not present on iOS 13.4. This is a fundamental basis for the new Magic Keyboard, which will be available in May, the function can be used starting today with any USB or Bluetooth device, including Magic Trackpad, Magic Mouse and Logitech MX Master, on all iPad compatible with iPadOS 13.4.

Apple has specified that trackpad and mouse support is not a port from the Mac, but is a complete redesign of the specific cursor concept for the iPad form factor. There is no lack of support for gestures, text editing with methods designed for tablets, and much more. Here is the official description from the company.

” With iPadOS 13.4, Apple offers trackpad support on the iPad, offering consumers a whole new way to interact with their iPad. Instead of copying the macOS experience, trackpad support has been completely reinvented on the iPad.

The new cursor on iPadOS is perfect for activities such as editing a spreadsheet, selecting the text, or simply doing any type of activity comfortably through the trackpad. And you can also navigate with the Multi-Touch gestures you already know, such as the swipe to go back to the Home or to move from one space to another “.

We had already explained the operation of the cursor on iPad, and we had reported the video in which it is Craig Federighi to explain in-depth (and visually) how it works. The use of trackpads and mice, we repeat, is not exclusive to iPad Pro (which can take advantage of the Magic Keyboard, starting from the 2018 versions onwards), but is present on all iPads that can install iPadOS 13.4 through accessories of third parties.

Other news on iOS 13.4

There are several other minor changes on iOS 13.4 and iPadOS 13.4. For example, the Mail app toolbar has been optimized with the Delete, Move, Reply, and Compose options. There are also 9 new types of Memoji, a new integration of Shazam between the Shortcuts and different ways of accessing the keyboards for developers. Below is the official changelog, in English, as reported by Apple.

iOS 13.4 release notes:

Mouse and Trackpad Support

• All-new cursor design highlights app icons on the Home Screen and Dock and buttons and controls in apps.
• Magic Keyboard for iPad support on iPad Pro 12.9-inch (3rd generation or later) and iPad Pro 11-inch (1st generation or later).
• Magic Mouse, Magic Mouse 2, Magic Trackpad, Magic Trackpad 2, and third-party Bluetooth and USB mouse support.
• Multi-Touch gestures on Magic Keyboard for iPad and Magic Trackpad 2 enable you to scroll, swipe between app spaces, go Home, access App.
• Switcher, zoom in or out, tap to click, secondary click (right-click), and swipe between pages.
• Multi-Touch gestures on Magic Mouse 2 enable you to scroll, secondary click (right-click), and swipe between pages.

Files

• iCloud Drive folder sharing from the Files app.
• Controls to limit access only to people you explicitly invite or grant access to anyone with the folder link.
• Permissions to choose who can make changes and upload files and who can only view and download files.

Memoji

• Nine new Memoji stickers, including Smiling Face with Hearts, Hands Pressed Together, and Party Face.

Mail

• Always-visible controls to delete, move, reply to, or compose a message in conversation view.
• Responses to encrypted emails are automatically encrypted when you have configured S/MIME.

App Store with Apple Arcade

• Universal Purchase support enables the use of a singular purchase of a participating app across iPhone, iPod touch, iPad, Mac, and Apple TV.
• Recently played Arcade games appear in the Arcade tab so you can continue playing on iPhone, iPod touch, iPad, Mac, and Apple TV.
• List view for See All Games.

Augmented Reality

• AR Quick Look supports audio playback in USDZ files.

Keyboard

• Live Conversion for Zhuyin automatically transforms Zhuyin into the correct characters without pressing the space bar to convert text or select candidates.
• Live Conversion for the Japanese automatically transforms Hiragana into the correct characters without pressing the space bar to convert text or select candidates.
• Predictive typing support for Arabic.
• Swiss German keyboard layout supported on iPad Pro 12.9-inch.
• The on-screen keyboard layout for iPad Pro 12.9-inch now matches Smart Keyboard.

This update also includes bug fixes and other improvements. This update:

• Fixes an issue in Camera where the viewfinder may appear as a black screen after launch.
• Addresses an issue where Photos may appear to use excess storage.
• Resolves an issue in Photos that may prevent sharing an image to Messages if iMessage is disabled.
• Fixes an issue in Mail where messages may appear out of order.
• Addresses an issue in Mail where the conversation list may display empty rows.
• Resolves an issue where Mail may crash when tapping the Share button in Quick Look.
• Fixes an issue in Settings where cellular data may incorrectly display as off.
• Addresses an issue in Safari where webpages may not be inverted when both Dark Mode and Smart Invert are active.
• Resolves an issue where text copied from web content in a third-party app may appear invisible when pasted if Dark Mode is active.
• Fixes an issue in Safari where a CAPTCHA tile may display incorrectly.
• Addresses an issue where Reminders may not issue new notifications for an overdue recurring reminder until it is marked as completed.
• Resolves an issue where Reminders may send notifications for completed reminders.
• Fixes an issue where iCloud Drive appears to be available in Pages, Numbers, and Keynote even when not signed in.
• Addresses an issue in Apple Music where music videos may not stream in high quality.
• Addresses an issue in the Home app where tapping an activity notification from a security camera may open a different recording.
• Resolves an issue where Shortcuts may not appear when tapping on the Share menu from a screenshot.
• Improves the Burmese keyboard, so punctuation symbols are now accessible from numbers and symbols.