Although the replacement for this book - the
Macworld iPad 2 Superguide - nominally focuses on the iPad 2 instead of the original iPad, even those who own the original iPad will probably be happier with that book, given that everything else in it is also more up to date.
Discover how your iPad can help you communicate with the world, get your work done, and enjoy media in this 148-page guide from the experts at Macworld. You'll get started with directions for activating a new iPad and configuring the settings. Next up, you'll learn how to open your apps, handle multitasking and background tasks, handle the onscreen keyboard, and connect to the Internet.
With the basics out of the way, you'll find advice for sending email with Mail, browsing the Web with Safari, and navigating with the Maps app. There's also a long chapter about work-related apps including Calendar, Notes, and Contacts; the iWork apps (Pages, Numbers, and Keynote); and a brief discussion of working with Office documents and Google Docs. You’ll discover how to use AirPrint with many apps to print documents. The ebook also looks at Apple and third-party options for enjoying music, watching videos, reading, and playing games on the iPad.
Foreword
I used a laptop as my primary Mac for more than a decade, hauling it on my back between work and home every day. But within two months of getting an iPad, I stopped doing that. I bought a new iMac for work and stuck the MacBook in a drawer at home—all because the iPad had replaced my laptop for a huge number of my daily tasks.
I didn’t expect the iPad to be so immediately disruptive. But it was. And the success the iPad has had in the market suggests that lots of other people have had that experience too.
For ages now, when I’ve been at home, I’ve kept my laptop tucked under the couch. At the drop of a hat—usually when someone I vaguely recognize appears on TV, prompting a visit to IMDb.com—I could pull it out and quickly get online. My wife would occasionally vanish into our office to check her e-mail on our iMac. With the arrival of the iPad in our home, there’s no need to use either computer.
It turns out that there’s a whole set of tasks that require the Internet but no keyboard. Whether you’re checking in on a game of Words With Friends, browsing Twitter, or quickly answering e-mail, the iPad works better for general-purpose Internet work than either the laptop or the iPhone.
This is not to say that the iPad is perfect for every job. There are still many tasks it’s ill suited to perform. I don’t, for instance, use it to reply to e-mails at great length; if a message requires a long answer, or if I have to look up an archived message, I wait until I’m at a Mac. The same goes for any task requiring me to dig around for an old file.
And yet, even with its limitations, the iPad can still do wonders. On a recent overnight business jaunt, I brought my iPad and Apple’s Wireless Keyboard, and was able to do some real writing. For a trip on which I would once have lugged a laptop, all I needed was the iPad.
The iPad is not perfect, and it’s not a complete replacement for your computer—at least not yet. But it fits into your life in ways you might never before have considered possible. In this book, we’ve collected all our intelligence about the iPad. I hope that when you’re finished reading, you’ll have found plenty of new ways to make it an even bigger part of your life.
—Jason Snell, Editorial Director, Macworld
San Francisco, November 2010
Table of Contents
Get Started
- iPad at a Glance
- Familiarize yourself with your device’s hardware: every button, switch, port, and plug.
- Activate the iPad
- Register your iPad and get it set up and synced with your computer.
- Customize Settings
- Set your device’s wallpaper, alert sounds, third-party app preferences, and more.
- Work with Apps
- Learn how to manage your apps with ease, create folders, and multitask.
- Type on the iPad
- Master the iPad’s virtual keyboard with some valuable shortcuts and key tips.
Connect and Communicate
- Get Connected
- Learn about Wi-Fi and 3G, set up a data plan, and manage your usage.
- Browse the Web
- Get familiar with mobile Safari; navigate the Web; and share, sync, and add bookmarks.
- Check and Send E-mail
- Set up your e-mail accounts, navigate your inbox, organize messages, and share files.
- Navigate with Maps
- Put your iPad’s screen to use with Maps. Search, view traffic, get directions, and add bookmarks.
- Find More Apps
- Master the App Store. Browse offerings, sign up for an account, and buy and update apps.
Be Productive
- Get Organized
- Use the iPad’s built-in Calendar, Notes, and Contacts apps to file and arrange your digital life.
- Sync Files
- Share files with third-party apps. Add and delete documents, import files to and export them from iWork, and use services like Dropbox and MobileMe to harmonize your files.
- iWork
- Get the skinny on Apple’s productivity apps. Create documents in Pages, spreadsheets in Numbers, and presentations in Keynote.
- Microsoft Office
- There may not be native Office apps for your iPad, but you can still view (and in some cases edit) Office files.
- Google Docs
- Work with Google’s online doc-sharing service to unify your files in the cloud.
- Print Files
- Print wirelessly using the AirPrint functionality in Apple’s iOS 4.2, or use one of several third-party printing apps.
- Third-Party Productivity Apps
- Educate yourself about several of the apps available for productivity purposes.
Entertainment
- Sync and Load
- Learn the best ways to sync your media using iTunes, make content iPad-friendly, and stream from the cloud.
- Music
- Take your musical collection for a spin using the iPod app. Play music, make playlists, create tunes, and stream content.
- Video
- Watch your movies and TV shows using the Videos app. Stream video from YouTube or any number of third-party apps.
- Photos and Illustrations
- Browse pictures, display slideshows, and e-mail and share photos. Using third-party apps, edit or even create something of your own.
- Books and Reference
- Read a book on your iPad. Download iBooks and browse the iBookstore, or take advantage of the many third-party e-book apps in the App Store.
- Games
- The Game Center is Apple’s multiplayer gaming service. Connect with other players online or in your group of friends, battle for high scores, and buy more games.
Troubleshooting Tips
- Quick-Fix Tools
- Learn essential tricks for fixing a misbehaving iPad.
- Common Questions
- Browse this list of the most common iPad problems and questions, and find some handy solutions.
- Seek Outside Help
- When your own expertise isn’t enough, find the folks who can help.
- Security Tips
- Secure your device: utilize passcodes, VPNs, and services like MobileMe to protect your iPad from potential problems.
iPad Accessories
- Cases
- Keep your device safe from drops, scrapes, and other mishaps with these cases. Whether you want something stylish, practical, or rugged, there’s a case here for you.
- Headphones
- Get better sound quality, Bluetooth support, and other interesting features, such as noise-canceling technology, when you invest in a good pair of third-party headphones.
- Speakers
- Find the right iPad speakers for any setup with our recommendations for every size and budget.
- Other Accessories
- Check out an assortment of other important iPad accessories: stands, Bluetooth keyboards, and chargers.
