The iPad is undoubtedly one of the most popular tablets on the market. Apple designs its products to be user-friendly and intuitive, but many beginners struggle to understand the interface. If that sounds like you, don’t worry; you aren’t alone. This is a brief guide to get you started using the iPad as effectively and effortlessly as that hipster in your local coffee shop.
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Navigating the Screens
iPads don’t have physical keyboards; everything is done on-screen. To move between the various home screens, just swipe to the left or right. Note: this is how you navigate many different apps. For instance, e-reader applications on the iPad use this same method to move between pages. You can swipe up and down, as well. If you enable notifications on your iPad, they will appear on a menu that swipes down from the top.
Use the Home Button
The Home button (the circular button on the bottom of your iPad) has a host of different uses. One of the most important is to return you from your current application to the home screen. It can also be used to wake an iPad from sleep mode. If you need to close an application, double clicking the home button in quick succession opens a menu where you can swipe left and right through apps currently in-use. Swiping up on one of these will close it.
The Home button also activates Siri, the now-famous personal voice assistant to the iPad. When you activate Siri, you can ask questions or give vocal commands. The system is useful, but limited in scope; questions need to be phrased a certain way in order to get the proper response.
Organization
Maybe you want to organize your apps. Don’t like the fact that Facebook is right next to a work app, constantly distracting you from the task you need to be doing? Just tap and hold on of the application icons. In a few seconds, the apps will begin to shake and a small “X” will appear in the corner. Pressing this “X” will allow you to delete the app. Pressing the center and dragging it allows you to move it around. Pulling one app on top of another will group them into folders. It can often be useful to use folders to prevent the iPad screen from becoming too cluttered.
Using Siri Effectively
Siri is so much more than just asking questions. You can give her specific commands like “Launch” and “Open” to activate specific apps without the need to search them out. Siri is also a fantastic tool for menial tasks like setting alarms. One of my most used commands is, “Siri, set an alarm for 8 AM.” (Okay, actually 2PM for my afternoon nap.)
Another great use for Siri is checking the temperature. Just ask, “Hey Siri, how’s the weather?” and she will give you the current status and whether you need a jacket or not. To use Siri, just preface your question or command with, “Hey Siri.”
The App Store
The app on your home screen that looks like a cross ruler, pencil, and paint brush opens the App Store. From here, you can find every official app approved for use on the iPad. The apps can be sorted by free or paid apps, average rating, top sellers, and more.
To install an app, just click “Get” (for free apps) or “Buy” (for paid) and enter your password to download it. It will appear on one of your home screens. This is where you’ll go to download Pinterest, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and the other apps you’re likely to use.
Browsing the Web
All Apple products come equipped with Safari, a built-in web browser. This is an effective tool and the default web browser for most apps. If you click on a link, it will launch in Safari unless you choose another web browser as your default. Firefox and Chrome are both available in the App Store.
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Though using an iPad may be daunting at first, it is a great tool. Kids love them, too; there are a number of entertaining games and apps installed on the iPad that will keep your children happy for hours on end. Take the time to familiarize yourself with the basic functions of the iPad and work your way up to more advanced uses, and you may find that you go to your desktop computer less and less.
Do you have any other tips for newbie iPad owners? Did this post help you? Let us know your views in the comments below!
The post How to Use an iPad for Dummies — A Beginner’s Guide appeared first on TabTimes.