TechAdvisory.org

Technology Advice for Small Businesses

iPad Air tricks you should know

iPad_Jan27_BApple has a wide variety of products that cater to an equally wide array of users. Many business users have taken to the iPad like a duck to water. This highly portable device allows users to connect with the office and do work while on the go. One of the newest iPads, the iPad Air, is also proving to be extremely popular, yet there are a number of tips and tricks you may not yet know about.

About the iPad Air

The iPad Air is a thinner, lighter and more powerful iPad which comes with a 64-bit A7 chip, the latest processor Apple offers. But with the overhaul of its hardware and design, what new tricks does Apple have in store for its users?

Here are seven of the most incredible iPad Air features:

There is more to triple-click

With every iPad Air, you can still use a single click that will lead you back to the homescreen, and a double-click that will let you view the apps running on your device. Unlike its predecessors though, the new iPad Air comes with a triple-click feature.

But, what does this new triple-clicking feature offer?

When you triple-click the device’s home button, you get to choose any of these six functional options:

  1. Off
  2. Toggle Voiceover
  3. Toggle White on Black
  4. Toggle Zoom
  5. Toggle Assistive Touch
  6. Ask

Self-destruct your iPad Air

This doesn’t mean blowing up your expensive Apple device. What we’re trying to say is that if your iPad gets lost, you can protect all the files and data stored on its system.

To enjoy this new feature, you will need to sign up with iCloud. As soon as you have done so, all of your data will be far more secure. If your iPad somehow gets lost you can remotely wipe-out all the data stored on your iPad Air using your iCloud account. This can be done by going to the iCloud website and logging in. You can then manage your device from there, and remotely wipe it if needs be.

Two keyboards are better than one

While most iPad users are already familiar with this feature, we still think it is worth mentioning. The iPad Air is basically a 9-inch tablet display. As such, typing on this device using your two thumbs with a single keyboard can become rather difficult for even the most dexterous.

When you split the keyboards you get a slightly different keyboard style that allows you to type on your iPad device in a more comfortable fashion. You can split your keyboard by opening any app that brings up the keyboard e.g., an email message, and pressing the keyboard button at the bottom of the keyboard. Selecting Split will break apart your keyboard.

Furthermore, you have the option to shrink down or move the keyboard slightly upwards. With iPad Air, typing using both thumbs has been made much more possible.

Isn’t that great?

Yes, but it does not end there. Some iOS tweakers have discovered that when you split the keyboards you can actually type the letter that comes to either the left or right of where it is split. For example, the keyboard is split with the letters T, G, V being on the left and Y, H, B on the right. When you tap the empty space beside T, for instance, the letter Y will appear automatically.

Instant dictionary

Have you ever found yourself opening the Dictionary app because you don’t know the meaning of some words? We’ve all done this at least once and it definitely is time-consuming.

So, the next time you need to look up a word, take advantage of iPad Air’s Define option. In order to do this, tap and hold a word to select it, and then tap on Define Options. A speech balloon will appear containing the definition of the highlighted word.

In-app purchase solution

If you are sharing an iPad Air with the office, you probably don’t want people to be able to purchase something while using an app. You can avoid this problem by following these simple steps:

  1. Open the Settings icon.
  2. Click General.
  3. Disable the option for automatic downloads and updates.

Ending a sentence with a bang

The new iPad Air allows users to be more efficient than ever. To those who frequently type using the iPad, you can easily end sentences by double tapping the spacebar. A double tap will add a period to finish a sentence, before you carry on typing the next sentence.

Keyboard coding

The term is actually keyboard shortcuts. It is now possible to use keyboard shortcuts for phrases that you always use. This trick can definitely save you a great deal of time, and here’s how:

  1. Open the Settings icon.
  2. Go to General.
  3. Click Keyboard.
  4. Select Add New Shortcut and start defining your own shortcuts.

If you’re hoping to know more about iPad Air do give us a call. We’d love to help you with it.