Apple Pencil 2

This tweak ports the Apple Pencil 2 charging interface to other devices when charging

Ever since getting my 2018 iPad Pro, and an Apple Pencil 2 to go along with it, I’ve become mainly accustomed to seeing the Apple Pencil 2’s charging status when it magnetically snaps to the side of my tablet. On the other hand, this beautiful charging interface often left me wondering: why hasn’t Apple implemented a similar charging interface for other devices?

Enter PencilChargingIndicator, a free jailbreak tweak created by iOS developer shiftcmdk that brings the Apple Pencil 2-esque charging interface to other devices. Once installed, it makes the interface appear whenever the host device gets connected to a power source, as shown above.

More of my favorite accessories for the 2018 iPad Pro

The 2018 iPad Pro was (and still is) a game-changer for me, as it quickly became a mobile companion to my home computer when I first started using it. While the iPad Pro isn’t a complete laptop replacement by any stretch, it certainly makes it possible for me to leave home without my laptop at times; but like most things, the iPad Pro works best in tandem with great accessories.

Earlier this year, I compiled a roundup of my favorite accessories for the 2018 iPad Pro. But as you might come to expect, I’ve accumulated several more since that time that can seriously augment the iPad Pro user experience. With that in mind, I’m excited to share some more of my must-haves with you in this part-two roundup.

Charging your Apple Pencil 2 could prevent you from unlocking your car

Tesla Model S key fob

Wireless charging in the second-generation Apple Pencil may interfere with your car's key fob and cause intermittent issues when attempting to unlock the vehicle, Apple has acknowledged.

As first noted by French blog iGeneration.fr (Google Translate), a recent update to Apple's support document covering using Apple Pencil with iPad or iPad Pro explains that the wireless charging feature of Apple Pencil 2, when being used, tends to clash with key fobs.

Should that happen to you, store the stylus separately so it doesn't charge wirelessly when attempting to unlock the car or simply move the tablet away from the key fob.

If you're charging your Apple Pencil (2nd generation) with your iPad Pro and your car's keyless entry device (key fob) is nearby, signal interference might prevent you from unlocking your car with your key fob.

If this happens, you can simply move your iPad Pro away from the key fob or remove your Apple Pencil from your iPad Pro and store it separately. When Apple Pencil is finished charging, any resulting signal interference will cease.

I own both the latest iPad Pro and Apple Pencil, but have yet to experience this issue (for context, I drive my car every day and my iPad goes with me everywhere I go). Aside from Apple's advice, I'd also recommend trying holding your fob closer to the antenna, usually located near the radio antenna, that communicates with the door locks.

In one example, a DJ’s light-control panel was designed to send out intermittent signals but somehow transmitted a continuous stream of data on the same frequency used by some vehicle remote controls, as explained in a recent WardsAuto article:

Since the beginning of the year motorists in a section of Yonkers, 15 miles (24 km) north of Times Square, were unable to unlock their cars with remote-control fobs. Some drivers of cars without keys simply were unable to enter their vehicles because of unexplained electronic interference.

Due to poor shielding or wiring, some key fobs can generate harmonic interference and even unintentional interference. The same goes for a whole host of other wireless devices, including your iPad Pro's Wi-Fi and the tiny wireless charging coils in the new Apple Pencil.

Key fobs generally trigger signals on two bandwidths: 315 mHz and 434 mHz.

Photo: A Tesla key fob has an option to pull the car forward and backward remotely

My favorite accessories to use with the 2018 iPad Pro

It wasn’t long after Apple announced the new 11-inch and 12.9-inch iPad Pros that I went to my local Apple Store to pick one up. The idea of a USB-C-powered Apple tablet fascinated me, and it wasn’t long before I started gathering accessories to augment the iPad Pro experience.

In this piece, I’ll discuss my favorite accessories for my 11-inch iPad Pro. They’re in no specific order, but you will find a mix of first-party and third-party accessories below.

Using the new 2018 iPad Pro for school

iPad Pro for college

Our young video guy Harris Craycraft is a college student who doesn't shy away from using his Apple tablet for education. Quite the contrary, Harris is big on the new iPad Pro + Apple Pencil combo and has been vocal about the creativity and productivity afforded by the note-taking and sketching features of the Apple tablet. That's why we've asked him to put together a little video walkthrough to share how precisely he uses the latest iPad Pro at college.

How to check your Apple Pencil battery level

Apple Pencil 2 charging on iPad

How do you know when your Apple Pencil is charged? Or even yet, how do you know what the battery level of your Apple Pencil is?

Even though the Apple Pencil 1st generation and 2nd generation lack a battery status indicator to tell you how much charge you have left, there are ways to learn how much battery life is still there in the device.

This quick tutorial shows you how to check your Apple Pencil's battery status. We will detail methods for both Apple Pencil 1 and Apple Pencil 2.