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A few simple things will keep your iPad running wellJan 22, 2013 (Clay Center Dispatch - McClatchy-Tribune Information Services via COMTEX) -- People owning their own iPads learned a few shortcuts and how to use some advanced tools on the devices in an "iPad family" session at Garfield Elementary. Parents of kids using iPads wanted to know some advanced features like parental controls and features to share apps. Retirees and older couples wanted to know how to talk to their grandkids on the iPads. New owners asked questions about basic features. Garfield principal and technology instructor Jaclyn Pfizenmaier told those at Monday's session that the kind of iPad you have makes a big difference. The older 16-gigabyte iPads are limited in what they can do and how much they can store; but the newer 32-gigabyte iPads and iPad2's can do quite a bit more. A iPad mini is simply a smaller version of the iPad that has a smaller screen which on some apps you can't view the full-screen. Many apps originate from or can cross-over to iPhones and iPods, Pfizenmaier said. Whereas on the older iPads you had to download apps for basic tools like a timer, these tools come already set up on iPad2s. The iPad2 has a button for a timer, an owner of the newer device said. A few tips that Pfizenmaier provided: -- Don't 'jailbreak' your iPad. This way for breaking of Apple's factory settings was done with the older iPads because the devices didn't connect to projectors or other such devices very well without 'jailbreaking.' The problem is that 'jailbreaking' will ruin your settings permanently and make it nearly impossible to put new apps onto your iPad. -- The devices are fairly immune to computer viruses and resistant to hackers. However, that will change as iPads become more mainstream and hackers have to time to figure them out, so Pfizenmaier recommends keeping virus software up to date. -- To close an app and go to the home screen, tap on the home key or close your fingers and thumb inward from a circle and then pull your hand off the screen -- Certain features are carry-overs from iPhones. For example, the "do not disturb" feature, indicated by a crescent moon, will prompt certain apps or the iPad to not alert you when you have a message. -- To take a screen shot, press the on/off button and home key at the same time. A screen shot will take a photo of whatever's on the screen, and is particularly when online. Pfizenmaier said she's taken screen shots of online bills, payments for things charged to her credit card, and Mapquest directions. Taking a photo of a map and directions from online is a good idea because you won't have connectivity to the Internet 100 percent of the time when traveling, but you'll still have that screen shot. -- Placing four fingers in a line and pushing up or two taps on the home key takes you to a screen that shows you what apps are running on your computer, which can reach to 60 or more, depending on how extensively you use your iPad. Having a lot of apps open in the background will deplete your battery faster. To close an app from this setting, touch the red minus sign in the corner of the app (which is visible when the apps are wiggling). Touching the black X in the other corner will delete the app off your iPad. -- Another way to extend battery power is to minimize the number of apps installed on your iPad and reduce what you have stored on your computer. -- Even deleted apps will remain on your Apple account. You can reinstall deleted apps by going through the same process as you would in buying an app -- but instead of offering to sell you the app, Apple will ask if you would like to reinstall it. -- Video and video files will drain your power faster than anything else, and will take up the most storage. Pfizenmaier reccommends limiting video storage and usage on your iPad. -- Allow your iPad battery to occassionally drain completely or to 5 percent. If you keep it charged all of the time, the iPad will not know the battery's true life and after time will tell you the battery is low when it actually is not. -- As long as your iPad is on and connected to WiFi, it will stay connected to the Internet unless you manually disconnect or turn off the iPad. Putting the iPad to sleep is not the same as turning it off, it will contine to be online if it's asleep, which could be a problem if you have an Internet plan that limits how many hours you can be online. -- Turning your iPad completely off when not in use is also a good idea for security reasons and to save battery power. -- More tips on iPads can be viewed by going to www.usd379.org, clicking and the Parent/Student tab across the top of the page, and then on "Technology Resources for the Community" at the bottom of the pull-down menu. There you can find shortcuts and daily functions of the iPad, recommended sites for virtual storage, tips on Facetime and Skype for family and business, links to app suggestions and iPad use, and business applications for iPads. Another iPad class tonight will focus on business usage of iPads. That class is full, but community members who need more assistance with their iPads are also invited to an iPad class every Friday morning from 8:30 to 10:30 a.m. This class is largely a self-driven class when Garfield Elementary students have time to mess around and play on the iPads, but they also enjoy helping people become familiar with the iPads, Pfizenmaier said. ___ (c)2013 the Clay Center Dispatch (Clay Center, Kan.) Visit the Clay Center Dispatch (Clay Center, Kan.) at www.zwire.com/site/news.cfm brd=1160 Distributed by MCT Information Services |