iPad tips and tricks
How to close running Apps
Like many operating systems, sometimes iOS will freeze or get slow. This can be remedied by either forcing a reboot or by closing your applications.
Since multi-tasking is enabled on iOS 4, all you need to do to close an application is to open the task switcher by clicking the home button twice. You will then get a bar at the bottom of the screen showing all of the Apps that you have open. Scroll along to the App that you want to close and then hold down the App button until it starts jiggling. A red "-" symbol should appear on the corner of the App icon. Tap this to close the App. If your device is running slow, then it is a good idea to close down all Apps. Just tap the red symbol on each App until you have closed them all.
How to force a reboot
To ease your mind - forcing your iPad to restart will not cause any loss of data - with the possible exception of any work you were doing at the time the iPad and/or App froze, forcing you to reboot it.
How to switch between Apps
With recent iOS updates you can now run more than one App at a time on the iPhone and iPad. Below is the instructions on how to switch between open Apps without closing them.
How to make folders
If over time you have gathered quite a collection of Apps and they are spilling on to many screens, you may like to set up folders so that you can organise similar types of Apps into groups. This new functionality will allow you to hold over 2000 Apps on your device, whereas previously it was limited to 180 Apps.
How to take a screenshot
Sometimes, it can be handy to take a screenshot of your iPhone or iPad if you want to show someone what's on your screen, or perhaps you just need proof of that high score you got in Angry Birds!
A quick reminder that double tapping the space bar will insert a full stop and then a space afterwards. Also, holding down certain buttons brings up different options for the key. See below how holding down the dollar sign reveals symbols for Cents, Euros, Pounds etc. Try the other keys!
Save your favourite pictures
You can use your photo library to save photos from emails or websites. If you see a picture within an email or on a website that you want to save, simply tap on the image, and you'll get a pop-up menu that gives you the option to Save Image or Copy. If you choose Save Image it will save in your camera roll in your photos. If you choose Copy you can start an email and tap within the body of the message to Paste it.
Add a shortcut to any webpage
Many websites now have dedicated iPad apps, but not all do. Do you have a favourite webpage you want quick access to? Go one step better than a Safari bookmark, and create an icon you can put right on to your Home screen. Open Safari and navigate to your favourite page. To the immediate left of the address bar, you'll see an 'arrow' icon. Tap it, and you'll get a dropdown menu with the option to "Add to Home Screen". You can even rename the icon to something that you prefer, and you'll have one-click access to that page right from your Home screen.
Customise the switch on the side of the iPad
The switch on the side of the iPad above the volume controls can be customised to either mute or lock the rotation of the screen. To do this go to Settings > General and under "Use Side Switch to:" select either Lock Rotation or Mute.
See how your website looks on an iPad
If you don't have an iPad but want to see what your website will look like on an iPad (e.g. will it fit, how much will show on the page, etc) then go to www.ipadpeek.com. Please note that this still displays flash even though the iPad and iPhone do not support flash.
27 APRIL 11
Since getting an iPad we've gradually learned a few tricks that help make things easier and get the most out of this device. We've compiled the best of these tips and tricks into a helpful guide below. And, just in case you don't have an iPad, in most cases these will apply to the iPhone as well.
How to close running Apps
Like many operating systems, sometimes iOS will freeze or get slow. This can be remedied by either forcing a reboot or by closing your applications.
Since multi-tasking is enabled on iOS 4, all you need to do to close an application is to open the task switcher by clicking the home button twice. You will then get a bar at the bottom of the screen showing all of the Apps that you have open. Scroll along to the App that you want to close and then hold down the App button until it starts jiggling. A red "-" symbol should appear on the corner of the App icon. Tap this to close the App. If your device is running slow, then it is a good idea to close down all Apps. Just tap the red symbol on each App until you have closed them all.
How to force a reboot
To ease your mind - forcing your iPad to restart will not cause any loss of data - with the possible exception of any work you were doing at the time the iPad and/or App froze, forcing you to reboot it.
- Click and hold down the Sleep/Wake button (located on the upper-right corner of your iPad). While you're holding down the Sleep/Wake button, hold down the Home button as well (located on the front of your iPad at the bottom).
- Hold down both buttons until your iPad powers off. It will reboot and start agian with a small silver Apple image on the screen. It takes about 30 seconds for the iPad to completely start up.
How to switch between Apps
With recent iOS updates you can now run more than one App at a time on the iPhone and iPad. Below is the instructions on how to switch between open Apps without closing them.
- Firstly, double-click the Home button (the large circular "button" at the bottom of the device).
- Your Home screen will 'dim' and a list of your currently running / open Apps will be displayed in a bar across the bottom of the screen.
- Tap the App you wish to switch to, and it will be displayed.
- If you're running too many Apps to be displayed on the bottom bar at once, just 'swipe' your finger across the bar and the rest of your currently open Apps will be displayed.
How to make folders
If over time you have gathered quite a collection of Apps and they are spilling on to many screens, you may like to set up folders so that you can organise similar types of Apps into groups. This new functionality will allow you to hold over 2000 Apps on your device, whereas previously it was limited to 180 Apps.
- First you must ensure that your iPad or iPhone is updated to iOS 4.0 or later.
- Press your finger on an App and hold until the icons start to jiggle. This is the same process (up to this point) that you would do in order to rearrange your Apps.
- Next, drage one App on top of another to create a new folder containing both those Apps. A new folder icon will automically be created when you do this.
- Continue to drag and drop more App icons into that folder if you wish to add them to that particular folder.
- Folders will automatically be named based on the App Store category the included Apps came from. You will however, be given the option to rename them, if you wish.
How to take a screenshot
Sometimes, it can be handy to take a screenshot of your iPhone or iPad if you want to show someone what's on your screen, or perhaps you just need proof of that high score you got in Angry Birds!
- Simply click the Sleep/Wake button and the Home button at the same time.
- You'll see the screen 'flash' white and hear a camera 'clicking' sound.
- Now open the Photos App. You'll see the screenshot you just took as a thumbnail. Tap that photo to view the screenshot.
- The easiest way to transfer a screenshot to your PC or Mac is to email it to yourself. To do so, tap the 'arrow' button on the upper-right corner of the screen while you're viewing the screenshot. Select Email Photo. Mail will automatically open with the image attached to a message. Just fill out the address you want ot sent it, give the email a subject and enter any info you want into the body of the message. Then click Send.
A quick reminder that double tapping the space bar will insert a full stop and then a space afterwards. Also, holding down certain buttons brings up different options for the key. See below how holding down the dollar sign reveals symbols for Cents, Euros, Pounds etc. Try the other keys!
Save your favourite pictures
You can use your photo library to save photos from emails or websites. If you see a picture within an email or on a website that you want to save, simply tap on the image, and you'll get a pop-up menu that gives you the option to Save Image or Copy. If you choose Save Image it will save in your camera roll in your photos. If you choose Copy you can start an email and tap within the body of the message to Paste it.
Add a shortcut to any webpage
Many websites now have dedicated iPad apps, but not all do. Do you have a favourite webpage you want quick access to? Go one step better than a Safari bookmark, and create an icon you can put right on to your Home screen. Open Safari and navigate to your favourite page. To the immediate left of the address bar, you'll see an 'arrow' icon. Tap it, and you'll get a dropdown menu with the option to "Add to Home Screen". You can even rename the icon to something that you prefer, and you'll have one-click access to that page right from your Home screen.
Customise the switch on the side of the iPad
The switch on the side of the iPad above the volume controls can be customised to either mute or lock the rotation of the screen. To do this go to Settings > General and under "Use Side Switch to:" select either Lock Rotation or Mute.
See how your website looks on an iPad
If you don't have an iPad but want to see what your website will look like on an iPad (e.g. will it fit, how much will show on the page, etc) then go to www.ipadpeek.com. Please note that this still displays flash even though the iPad and iPhone do not support flash.
