Apple issues firmware update for iPad Pro Smart Keyboard

AppleInsiderAppleInsider
Posted:
in iPad edited February 2016
Owners of Apple's Smart Keyboard for iPad Pro were issued an over-the-air firmware update for the accessory this week, utilizing the two-way data transfer capabilities of the magnetic Smart Connector.




Users who attach a Smart Keyboard to their iPad Pro will automatically be prompted to install the update, or deal with it at a later time. Tapping "Update" begins the process with a percentage complete display.

In all, the update process takes only a few seconds before it's complete. There are no accompanying release notes to detail exactly what the update changes or improves.




The firmware update appears to apply to users running both iOS 9.2.1, the latest public release of iOS, as well as iOS 9.3, which is available for pre-release testing.

The first Smart Connector firmware update arrived last month for the only other compatible accessory currently available on the market: The Logitech Create keyboard.



The magnetic connector is capable of transmitting both power and data in both directions, which allows Apple's Smart Keyboard to be ultra-thin, and enables the Logitech Create to use power from the iPad Pro to illuminate its backlit keys.

For more on the Apple Smart Keyboard and Logitech Create, see AppleInsider's head-to-head review of both keyboard accessories.

Comments

  • Reply 1 of 6
    purringpigeonpurringpigeon Posts: 14member
    Users who attach a Smart Keyboard to their iPad Pro will automatically be prompted to install the update, or deal with it at a later time. Tapping "Update" begins the process with a percentage complete display.
    I am running iOS 9.2.1 but haven't seen this prompt as of yet. Other than connecting to the keyboard while on the Internet is there anything else to do?
  • Reply 2 of 6
    nhughesnhughes Posts: 770editor
    purringpigeon said:
    Users who attach a Smart Keyboard to their iPad Pro will automatically be prompted to install the update, or deal with it at a later time. Tapping "Update" begins the process with a percentage complete display.
    I am running iOS 9.2.1 but haven't seen this prompt as of yet. Other than connecting to the keyboard while on the Internet is there anything else to do?
    I received the update immediately after installing iOS 9.3 beta 4, but we've received reports of updates being issued on 9.2.1. There's no known way to check for/prompt an update, so my best guess would be to try restarting your iPad and see if that does the trick.
  • Reply 3 of 6
    purringpigeonpurringpigeon Posts: 14member
    I plugged in my  Pencil and was prompted for the update at that point - weird.  But it came through.  Thanks.
  • Reply 4 of 6
    jax44jax44 Posts: 79member
    At home, on WiFi, connected keyboard and up came the prompt.
  • Reply 5 of 6
    auxioauxio Posts: 2,727member
    I leave my keyboard attached most of the time and didn't see the prompt come up.  However, detaching and reattaching it caused the update to show up.
  • Reply 6 of 6
    xenaduxenadu Posts: 11member
    This isn't a new capability, despite what some seem to think. iOS has had the ability to update accessory firmware for a long time.

    Some accessories don't even have their firmware on-board, they rely on the iOS device to upload it during boot. (I think this was more typical in the past and these kinds of updates happened without any prompt.)

    In any case, when you plug in an accessory and iOS hasn't checked in a while it will go out and see if there are any firmware updates for any of your accessories and it downloads them if so. 
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