Microsoft appears to be working on a Touch Cover smart keyboard for at least one iPad model, according to battery information for products containing lithium-ion batteries shared on its website earlier this year.
The documents were published in April, but they were only discovered now by German blog WinFuture, which tipped its information to The Verge. The product is clearly listed: iPad Touch Cover (Model 1719).
Microsoft previously sold Touch Covers for its Surface tablets that doubled as pressure-sensitive keyboards and protective covers.
Those covers magnetically click into place and provide protection for the Surface's touchscreen. They have a standard keyboard layout, shortcut keys, and a two-button touchpad that supports gestures.
It's unknown if the iPad version would be similar. All that's known is that it presumably has a lithium-ion battery, suggesting it could connect over Bluetooth. It could also work with an iPad Pro's Smart Connector, but that seems less likely.
Of course, Microsoft could have scrapped plans to release an iPad keyboard between April and now, or perhaps even earlier. For now, the single document is all we have to go on. We'll provide an update if that changes.
Top Rated Comments
It'll be interesting to see what MS does with the TouchCover for iPad. First, because there is no support for pointing devices (does Microsoft know something that we don't? ;)) and Secondly, because there is no integrated kickstand on the iPad, the TouchCover will need a redesign to support the iPad.
I think that the TouchCover concept is nice in that it provides a similar experience as typing on the screen itself without taking up screen real estate. A TouchCover would be no thicker than a regular smart cover but offer the ability to have off-screen typing.
Before owning the 12.9 iPad Pro w/ASK, Microsoft's TypeCover was my favorite keyboard for any device. It was that good. (again, the touchpad is a different story)
But the Apple Smart Keyboard has replaced the TypeCover as my all-time favorite keyboard. It's terrific. It would be better if it didn't need additional material to form a kickstand and if it had a touchpad, but those are physical limitations of the iPad itself and iOS.