Did you know your iPad had this keyboard?

[pallentx]

I wish you could make this the default. This is not a jail broken iPad.

 

[King Hal]

So, how do you get it?

 

[pallentx]

I'll try to track down instructions on exactly how I did it. You only get it on the login screen when you enable more robust passwords with a configuration file. A guy I work with was messing around with configuration files and sent me one to enable complex alphanumeric passwords. I might be able to post the file, but I need to make sure it doesn't have any custom stuff specific to our company in it.

 

[iVan]

It looks a little like the white on black screen in accessibility, settings.

 

[Mikeb41g]

That's the keyboard you get when you tap the ?123 key

How have you been typing numbers if you did not know that existed?

 

[Prasius]

I think he means the colours of the keyboard

 

[pallentx]

Yes, the shiny black look is what I'm talking about

 

[pallentx]

Here's the portrait version. Once I log in, I don't see it anymore - all text entry is the OS goes back to the regular gray keyboard.

 

[ivanmarkchang]

i would love to have that config file

 

[Bluesjam]

I like the black.

 

[SweetPoison]

I want it! I love that.

 

[pallentx]

Ok, here is the config file that does it. BTW the iPhone config utility is pretty cool. You can get it here and make your own config files to do various things. I have yet to really explore what all you can do with it.
Apple - Support - iPhone - Enterprise

WARNING: This has only been tested on my iPad and no others. It worked for me, but I'm not responsible or qualified to help you fix things if it screws something up for you. If you want to be really careful, backup your iPad first.

REMEMBER: This does not enable the black keyboard for your iPad everywhere - it ONLY enables it for the login screen. The main thing this file does is enable a complex password. I believe it will require an 8 character alpha-numeric password.

I installed the file, made an 8 character password, then went into Settings and disabled the config file. After disabling the config file, I was able to set a shorter alpha numeric password, and the black keyboard remained.

We had trouble getting this file to apply by opening it from a link. You can try that, but I eventually got it to work by emailing the file to myself, then opening the attachment from an email.

http://pmallen.allmail.net/Complex Passcode.mobileconfig

 

[ivanmarkchang]

neat! I'll give this a try when I get home. thanks!

 

[Bluesjam]

I'm too much a sissy to try.

 

[pallentx]

The worst thing I could think of that could happen is that you could screw up making your password and not be able to get back in. You could still hard reset and reinstall all your apps and resync to itunes. This is no jailbreak hack or anything - its official capabilities from Apple.

I like having a password more complex than the standard 4-digit numeric code. The cool keyboard is just a bonus.