Issue with Logos 10 and iPad Pro and its Magic Keyboard touch pad

Michael Sheppard · March 2023

There is an issue with selecting a verse(s), then in the dialog box, highlighting or deleting a highlight using the iPad Magic Keyboard touch pad. Logos will not highlight, or most of the time does not highlight, or allow deleting.

The software works as expected if a direct touch is made to the iPad screen, but not when using the touchpad. The touch pad issue seems to mostly/always occur in the dialog box that pops up upon selecting a verse.

For reference, I am using an iPad Pro 11” (2nd gen), Apple Magic keyboard for iPad, and iPadOS 16.3.1. Logos mobile version 23.0.1

JT (alabama24) · March 2023

Welcome Michael. [:)]

I meant to reply earlier but wanted to experiment first, but now just wanted to make sure to respond. I don’t have your setup, but I do have an iPad with keyboard and mouse. I don’t have them with me at present.

I don’t think there is official support for any other input other than the built in touchscreen… which is the similar but opposite problem windows surface users have with the desktop app. I’ll try and remember to experiment once I have my device handy.

Courtney · March 2023

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/1251213#Comment_1251213

Example: if you select a verse with the MK mouse you then can’t select anything in the pop up menu with the mouse.

Lukas · March 2023

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/1251235#Comment_1251235

I have the same problem and support told me that the app does not support third party hardware, so its normal for us to experience what we are at the moment. I did saw on the forum that they mentioned that there is case for this but it will not receive high priority. They forum also said we can vote on the feature improvement but I was not able to find it. The mouse and keyboard make things just easier And faster for me. But then we will have people say but use a laptop or desktop, an ipad is made for touch, and I do understand but the ipad just work easier if you need to be mobile, its smaller to carry where you go instead of a laptop. So if tablets are going the way towards what laptops can do and starting to be just as power-full as laptops with the M1 in ipad why not use it as a laptop

JT (alabama24) · March 2023

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/1251241#Comment_1251241

Lukas said:
So if tablets are going the way towards what laptops can do and starting to be just as power-full as laptops with the M1 in ipad why not use it as a laptop

"Going the way" ≠ "is the same thing"

There are some situations where having a keyboard and mouse for my iPad make sense to me so I have recently purchased them. The expereience so far has been good... but my ipad hasn't suddenly replaced my MacBook Air... and won't anytime soon.

Lukas said:
But then we will have people say but use a laptop or desktop

My first experience with computers was with Apple, but there came a time where I had the mistaken notion that if 90% of the software was written for PC, I should have a PC. I came to realize that if my software needs were met with the 10%, I could have and love my Macs (and I have ever since).

There are still times where things pop up that I wish I could do on my Mac that I can't... but I am content.

Those who are leaving desktop/laptops for iPads will have to live with the same kind of tension.

Apple has said that they would "never" have a touch screen Mac... but there are rumors with some weight to them that Apple is doing just that... but they are likely a couple years away. It does not appear that these would be iPads running macOS, but laptops with macOS using Apple Silicon. With the ability to run iPadOS apps on macOS running on Apple Silicon, it may simply be iPad functionality added to a convertable MacBook. Time will tell.

On the FL side of things, developing software is expensive and they have to recoup money somehow. Spending time supporting new platforms has to have a economic advantage to them from a business standpoint. If they start to support "touch" on windows, it would cost a lot of money. If they start to support keyboard and mouse on tablets, it will cost a lot of money. Where would that come from? Bible software isn't the most lucrative business on the planet. If they raise prices on resoruces, people will stop buying. If they start charging for the software, people will stop updating, which will mean that they stop making new resources purchases. Either scenerio is not good for Logos users.

I would not expect support for touch on windows or external input on iPadOS until it becomes a financially benificial or necessary thing for FL.

Lukas said:
They forum also said we can vote on the feature improvement but I was not able to find it.

I am not a huge fan of feed bear... but for clarification: Users create the items in feed bear. If you want something and don't see it, create it. It is in your benefit, however, to search well first. Having 10 similar items being voted on is not as likely to gain attention as one broader thing that 10 groups of people vote on.

Michael Sheppard · March 2023

Just a follow-up.

The Apple Magic Keyboard is not a 3rd party accessory of course. It is the main keyboard offering for the iPad by Apple.

Keyboards/touchpads for iPads are here to stay. Myself and my church’s pastoral staff all use iPad Pros with attached Apple Magic Keyboard as our standard computer. It is thin, light, and does everything a heavier laptop does and more (I had a MacBook Pro before my iPad/keyboard) . You can easily and quickly switch from keyboard input like a laptop to note taking with the Apple Pencil for meetings and sermon notes. You can easily draw and store flow charts and diagrams, read books on it, watch videos and listen to music, give presentations or speeches from podiums, etc. Also, no manual backups have to be done as Apple and Google (Docs, Sheets) both back up realtime to their clouds. It is a do-all device.

Though my pastors are using iPad Pros with Magic Keyboards, they are not using Logos very much. It may be partly because of the inconsistency of touchpad input. The frustrating part is that some of Logos can be used well via the keyboard and touchpad. But not inside a dialog box.

Logos should address this inconsistent functionality quickly on so popular a platform as the iPad. What I’m doing in the meantime is using my Apple Smart Keyboard Folio cover which doesn’t have a touchpad. I have to touch the screen directly. That works for now.

David Pierce · March 2023

Can confirm this behavior with the Logitech Combo Touch trackpad also. it will also randomly highlight strings of text and not let me tap the highlight to remove it. I end up touching the highlight on the screen and then I can delete the random highlight.

Courtney · March 2023

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/1251308#Comment_1251308

Just to emphasize what Michael is saying, there is clear inconsistency. surely it is a glitch, and wasn’t designed this way.

I can appreciate the thoughts around iPads vs windows vs macOS, but the core issue here is inconsistency within the app. The keyboard/trackpad is obviously supported, it’s just not supported in the pop up windows when making an initial selection with a trackpad. So, you can navigate normally around the app but when you select something that creates a pop up out of the text the mouse no longer allows a selection. See my previous note:

“Example: if you select a verse with the MK mouse you then can’t select anything in the pop up menu with the mouse.”