I knew that there were some problems with the iPad hardware, but I didn’t think something this serious could ever happen – and happen to me, most of all.
I was working in the kitchen, and I had my MacBook Pro (15″, 2008) open on Mint to check MacStories’ stats. I was writing a post in Evernote, then the iPhone rang and I had to take the call. As you can guess, I put the iPad on the Macbook, next to the trackpad. As I put the iPad down the screen turned off, Airport disconnected (I heard the iChat’s sound, I was online), flashed for one second and then the screen went on again. I was talking at the phone, so I just stared at what was happening, without realizing anything about it.
So I ended the call and tried to replicate the issue. I asked my girlfriend to record a video with the iPhone. This is the result:
As you can see, when I put the iPad (16 GB Wifi, comes from a regular Apple Store) on the Macbook the screen, keyboard and wifi go out. As for the screen, it’s not the backlight: the screen turns off, as if it’s simulating a sleep for some weird reason.
Also, I’m now (with some practice) able to replicate this issue every single time. I just have to hold the iPad in landscape mode, home button on the right, and put it in the middle of the trackpad. Boom, everything goes out. And last, this happens when the iPad is on, locked and even shut down.
At this point, I guess there should be a magnet somewhere causing this, otherwise I really have no explanation. If this is happening to you as well guys, please let us know in the comments. Hopefully Apple will update the knowledge base or notify us about the issue.
Update: It happens even if I hold the device an inch away from the trackpad.
#1
That's what rfore said 4 months ago:
That. is. so. Weird. (o_O)
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#2
That's what Metal_Link said 4 months ago:
The iPad may have some magnetic thing in it that sets off the the MacBook. The computer probably thinks you’re closing the lid.
Magnets are used in the pre-unibody MacBook Pros to bring the hooks into the latches. Maybe the same tech, sans hooks and latches, is going on here with your unibody MacBook.
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Alexander Burke Reply:
April 30th, 2010
@Metal_Link is correct. The magnets in the iPad (probably in the internal speakers) are tripping the Hall Effect sleep sensor in the MacBook just like you had closed the lid (which contains a magnet which deliberately lines up with that sensor). The unit is doing its job.
http://support.apple.com/kb/TS2917
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#3
That's what Mike Rundle said 4 months ago:
This is crazy!
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#4
That's what thefrechmacker said 4 months ago:
ask iPapy about that !
but very weird problem ! I have always seen some issue with my router and the wifi when my macbook pro and my iphone are on the same network (but it just last 1minute) so not a big problem.
maybe that the ransom for the early adopters !
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#5
That's what Justin said 4 months ago:
I have a 13" MacBook Pro and couldn’t replicate it, though I have my iPad in the Apple case and I didn’t try every angle. I’ll definitely post back if/when I’m able to replicate the issue.
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#6
That's what Hunt Henning said 4 months ago:
I have a 15" Macbook Pro and a 64GB wifi iPad and I can’t get it to do that. You may want to get your iPad checked.
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#7
That's what Chris said 4 months ago:
Magnets. Or something related to the magnetic latch near the trackpad. If it senses a magnetic field I believe it puts the MBP to sleep.
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#8
That's what Frisby said 4 months ago:
Will your iphone do it too?
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#9
That's what Wire said 4 months ago:
Well, Israel wasn’t so wrong with banning it from there cause of WiFi-issues…
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#10
That's what Ronald Poi said 4 months ago:
I’m pretty sure its one of these:
1. A magnetic problem, in wich the iPad (for its metallic structure) makes the MacBook Pro believes that the lid has been closed. The magnetism when the lid is closed is what forces the system to sleep… so I would bet it is related.
2. The MacBook Pro is connected to a power source. In this case, the electric charge this produces may create a short circuit when the metallic surface of the iPad makes contact with the laptop. Since you said it also happens one-inch-away, this theory may make no sense.
3. There is no number 3 but my previous both reasons could work together, by the way.
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#11
That's what Matt Braun said 4 months ago:
The iPad has a magnetometer (digital compass) that could be affecting the magnetic latch mechanism, as others have stated.
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#12
That's what Kristen said 4 months ago:
Can’t replicate with either a MB or 15" MBP. I regularly put my iPad on the keyboard and just tried it, moving it all over the place…nothing.
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#13
That's what Adam Christianson said 4 months ago:
It’s the magnetic latch that activates to put the Macbook Pro to sleep when the lid is closed. If you take a paper clip and place it about 1/3 of the way down the right edge of the Macbook Pro screen it will stick to it. There are also a bunch along the top edge of the screen, but those are there to hold the Macbook Pro lid shut.
The latch it pulls shut is also magnetic and about the same distance down along the right edge of the Macbook Pro top case behind the right speaker grill. It seems to be in a little further more toward the keyboard so I assume it gets pulled out to the edge when you close the lid activating the sleep switch. Now the key to triggering it with the iPad is to place the back of the iPad just under the iPad speaker holes over that area of the Macbook Pro. Viola! The Macbook Pro should sleep. It’s the magnets in the iPad speakers that act like the magnets in the Macbook Pro lid and cause the Macbook Pro o think you shut the lid and put it to sleep. No mystery, no magical forces, just science.
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#14
That's what bostonmerlin said 4 months ago:
you sure your not covering up the macbook’s light sensor?
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#15
That's what Justin said 4 months ago:
Don’t put your iPad on your keyboard. Issue solved! (Sorry to sound snarky, but this doesn’t seem like a huge deal, especially in light of what others have said about the magnets in the lid.)
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#17
That's what Adam Christianson said 4 months ago:
I don’t think anyone is saying it’s a big deal, but it is a cool party trick.
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#21
That's what perKyPot said 4 months ago:
"iPad: a MAGICAL… product" – Apple’s words, not mine!!
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