Two months ago I switched from a ‘droid to an iPhone. I’m about to buy an iPad2 for my business. Do you have guidance on how to best prepare to use the iPad?
— SW
Naples
Getting started
Congratulations on your decision. The iPad2, with iOS 4.3 software, is a significant improvement over the original iPad. A new operating system, iOS 5 with more improvements, is due to be released this fall; you can update to the newer iOS then. Prior iPhone experience means you know some of the operational elements of the iPad.
I will cover a few items that may be new to you. Two references are:
iPad 2 User Guide (for iOS 4.3). Download a free PDF file from support.apple.com/manuals.
“Tutor for iPad” Download a $4 video application — the common term now is app — from the iTunes app store. The app may be most useful.
Buttons and connector
The only connector is on the bottom of the iPad. The iPad comes with a cable and power-charging device. Connect the cable to the iPad and the other end to a USB port on your computer. Start iTunes. Your iPad will appear in the sidebar so you can synchronize to the music, videos, books, and Apps stored in your computer. Most USB ports are not powerful enough to charge the iPad; use the charging device. Apple stopped selling MobileMe accounts in June; you can only sync the iPad and iPhone to iTunes with the cable until iCloud is released this fall.
On the top, at the right side is the Sleep, Wake, and Power-on/ off button. Tap this button to control the sleep or wake status. Hold the button down to start the power-off sequence. Don’t power off unless you don’t expect to use the iPad for several days; you want instant gratification from your iPad.
The button at the bottom front is the Home button. This is the primary button to manage use of the iPad.
Screens
iPad’s Apps are displayed on screens that you move between by flicking. A screen can display up to 20 apps (or folders of apps). In addition, there is a dock just above the home button that can display up to six apps. Which screen is displaying is indicated by a lighted dot just above the dock. The leftmost screen is for searching, the next is the Home screen, and the others display apps or folders you have placed there.
I prefer managing app assignments to screens from within iTunes but pressing on an app until all the apps begin jiggling can move apps. Use your finger to slide the app across a screen edge to move to the adjacent screen. Press the Home button to stop the jiggling. It can be more efficient to have only five apps in the Dock. Drag the app you want to move into the sixth position, swipe to the destination screen and drag it onto the screen.
Folders
Many apps (e.g. newspapers) have similar functions. Drag one on top of another and the icon becomes a folder you can name; add more apps by dragging. Tap a folder and it expands to show the included apps; start the desired app by tapping.
Home button use
A single push on the Home button while an app is running brings up the screen that the app was launched from. A follow-up push moves to the Home screen.
A quick double push on the Home button from within an app changes the Dock to display all running apps (except the one that was active). Tap one of these to switch to that being the active app. This is multi-tasking in iOS 4.3.
A quick double push on the Home button when viewing a screen changes the Dock to display all running apps. Tap an app to make it active. You have two additional options at this point:
n Swipe the dock to the right to bring up five control features. The left one is Orientation Lock to disable the rotation sensors. Next is Display Brightness Control followed by controls for audio or video. The fourth control is Sound Volume and the far right control icon transfers to the iPod app.
n Press on an app showing in the dock and it will eventually start the jiggling with a minus symbol at top left. Tap a minus to stop the app from running. Some apps use more battery power; quit them regularly to extend use of the iPad between charging actions.
Battery life
Apple recommends that the battery for mobile devices (iDevices and laptops) be fully discharged monthly. This periodic depletion / recharging extends the life of the lithium battery.
Do you have a question about using your Mac? Send your question to Jerry: AskJWK@Gmail.COM. An index of prior Mac 411 articles is available (tinyurl.com/Mac411Index)
Jerry King is President of the Naples MacFriends User Group (NMUG), founded to help Macintosh users get the most out of their computers. NMUG is open to area residents and seasonal visitors. For membership information visit: www.naplesmug.com
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