Among the many iPads26s, one odd addition stands out among the features Apple is set to unveil at WWDC next week. Bloomberg. But what does that actually mean?
Last year, Apple introduced the Apple Pencil Pro, bringing tactile feedback for the first time in its lineup of Squeeze gestures, barrel roll detection and stylus. Now, with the iPados 26, you’ll combine these hardware upgrades with new software features that resonate with Arabic users and calligraphy enthusiasts.
A few weeks ago, Mark Garman reported on him. Turn on the power Newsletter that Apple is “expanding its retail footprint” in the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia and India, and that Apple was on track to announce two features that please users in those regions:
“One is a very advanced two-way keyboard for traveling between Arabic and English. The other is a virtual lead calligraphy pen for Apple Pencil users.”
The first one is pretty self-evident, but the second one caught many Western users, especially those who had never tried calligraphy.
Arabic lead pen, or pena traditional writing tool used in Islamic calligraphy, known for its ability to create elegant, flowing strokes of various thicknesses.
And while Apple Pencil has had pressure sensitivity support from the start, it has never provided native virtual brushes that truly mimic the traditional column writing flow until now.
If Apple gets the simulation correctly, this new brush will replicate the distinctive thick, thin strokes of Arabic calligraphy, expanding the Apple Pencil’s range to accommodate a much wider cultural and artistic spectrum.
This angled cutting style is also widely used by calligraphy enthusiasts, allowing for bold and expressive letter formats that give many scripts a clear visual rhythm.
It is still unclear whether the new virtual brush will be limited to the Apple Pencil Pro or if it will be available on other models. But you can see it right away as WWDC is around the corner.
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