Since its introduction, Apple’s iPad has been a great business tool thanks to its size and battery life, and the iOS platform has also provided a growing ecosystem of native business apps. However most enterprises also rely on Windows-based apps, including Citrix Virtual Apps and Desktops. The Citrix Workspace app provided access to these apps, but we heard from users who wanted a real mouse or trackpad to provide full Windows functionality that was not available with iOS.
In response to this need, we created the Citrix X1 Mouse. This mouse helped mobilize workforces by enabling a complete Windows app and desktop experience on iPads. We’ve delivered a great virtual and app and desktop experience to an iPad, combining HDX technology with mouse capabilities that enabled features like scrolling, right-clicking and hovering. We developed a loyal fan base with this combined experience, but there was also considerable demand for a smaller mouse or a trackpad-only experience.
Apple recently began shipping the Magic Keyboard for iPad. It includes a trackpad, which provides a great native app experience that blurs the line between the iPad and laptop. But upon release, it was missing the key element of leveraging the trackpad with the same features of the X1 mouse.
Citrix is pleased to announce that with our latest release of Citrix Workspace app, we’ve continued to drive innovation with the Citrix Virtual App and Desktop experience on the iPad. With this release, users can experience native Windows capabilities like scroll, right-click, and hover. These capabilities will be supported for the new Magic Keyboard trackpad as well as standard Bluetooth mice.
Existing X1 mice will continue to function with this Citrix Workspace app release, ensuring customers who have purchased the mice in the past can continue to leverage their investment. Additionally, there are some scenarios with the external display where the experience with the X1 mouse provides a more favorable experience.
I’ve had the opportunity to play around with the Magic Keyboard. With this Citrix Workspace app release, it delivers a great experience both for native apps and Citrix Virtual Apps. The added mobility of not needing the external peripheral is really nice. Innovation onward!
