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.