It’s not surprising that along with OS X Lion‘s release that Apple would also update its keyboards that highlight the software’s new features. iSpazio posted a couple of images showing the new F3 and F4 buttons that toggle Mission Control and Launchpad respectively along with tweaked icons. These keys were originally earmarked for Exposé and Dashboard. If you have an older Apple keyboard, the F3 button automatically switches to Mission Control once Lion is installed. The F4 key retains the Dashboard toggle.
But, if you want your older keyboard’s F4 key to access Launchpad without completely reverting all the F keys back to normal function keys — the default in System Preferences — it’s doable with a free workaround. Download FunctionFlip, which allows you to turn individual F keys into normal function keys. Then use Quicksilver or another remapping software to remap the F4 key to activate Launchpad. Although the latest releases for both programs are for 10.6 (and show the older Exposé and Dashboard settings respectively), they work just fine in Lion.
Make your pre-Lion keyboard work with Launchpad originally appeared on TUAW – The Unofficial Apple Weblog on Fri, 22 Jul 2011 11:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.