chrislaarman

I relied on Apple Maps (and haptic feedback on my Apple Watch) twice while touring on my bicycle.

The first time, in the Netherlands, it kept switching back from Walking to Driving directions, and it led me to a motorway bridge (bicycles not allowed). I had to make quite a detour to find a ferry.

The second time, in Germany, I was keen to stick to Walking directions. It sent me up an unrideable hill-track into an abandoned firing range. Had to backtrack for quite some time (not too much of a distance) and manually find a way around. (Roaming charges applied at that time.)

I've read that Apple is updating Maps, adding Cycling as a means of transportation. Until Apple haa become aware that in (at least) this part of the world Cycling has its own network of both forbidden and dedicated roads, we cyclists can't rely on Maps. (In the UK and Germany, many closed railway lines have been converted to cycling ways.)

Moreover, Apple seems to use map data from Tom Tom. For a Dutch company, Tom Tom is unbelievably unaware of cyclists, seemed to treat us as drivers of impeded cars.

So it's Google Maps for me. Using Bluetooth earbuds for directions. Besides, I have noticed that iPhones outlive Android smartphones when using GPS.

(Matter of opinion)

A tablet has as its unique selling point the combination of easy changing the orientation (portrait, landscape) and having its controls virtualized on the touchscreen: present if needed, absent if not. So why turn an excellent tablet into a mediocre notebook by adding a keyboard cover?

I have had the first 12.9" iPad, a Surface Pro 3 and a Pixel C gather dust while they were new - until I released the iPad from its Logitech clam-shell and the Pixel C from its magnetic keyboard. (The Surface seems doomed anyway, though you may find comments in which I considered it the best concept of merging tablet and notebook.)

I'm typing this on a 12.9" iPad in portrait orientation using its screen keyboard. I could pair it with a full-size Bluetooth keyboard (Logitech K760), a folding keyboard, or several others. I also have a MacBook and a MateBook (Huawei's equivalent) within reach.

My comments tend to stand out as lengthy. Yet they get typed in on screen keyboards in portrait orientation, some on standard-size iPads.

Yes, I'm silly. I may even buy this Brydge thing and never use it.

(Matter of strong opinion) Don't use a cover that turns a good tablet into a mediocre notebook. In other words: don't apply a cover with a keyboard that fixes a tablet in a landscape orientation, but rather use a cover that can act as (or allow for) a stand in both portrait and landscape orientations, and use a separate keyboard (full size, foldable, or whatever), if any at all. This especially applies to the 12.9" iPad, with its screen size roughly amounting to Letter/A4. Me? I have different covers or cases for most of my tablets (that include two large iPads), and several stands (like a swan's neck that clamps onto a table, and a tripod). And different keyboards.

I don't feel comfortable with the "Backdoors Inside" my Macs and PCs. Don't know who designed the Cortex cores in the Kirin SoCs in my Huawei devices. (I'm in the EU.)

Matter of opinion:

To me, the two (in combination) unique selling points of any tablet are: ease of changing orientations and the presence (or absence) of controls as desired. Therefore, a (more or less) fixed hardware keyboard turns any good tablet into a mediocre notebook. This made me have these devices getting dust together: iPad Pro (first 12.9"), Pixel C and Surface Pro. Released from this confinement, they are great.
So I'm typing this on a full-size Bluetooth keyboard (Logitech K760) and an iPad Pro (third 12.9"), but I tend to use virtual keyboards. If I should take one of my tablets on the road _and_ expect a lot of typing, then I would also take a foldable Bluetooth keyboard with me.

Mind you, these Bluetooth keyboards are device-independent. I could as well pair them with some smartphone (and maybe mirror its screen on some large monitor).
But don't get me wrong: there will be a market for the Apple and Logitech keyboards reviewed here. So I'm glad you did.  :-)