Newest iPad (iPad3), my review

Normally I am all about teaching and instructing but recently (yesterday) I received the newest iPad.   As with all the gadgets I am lucky enough to get my hands on, all other work went to the wayside.  I currently have all three generation of iPads.  I have enjoyed the new features and enhancements with each model/version/release of the iPad.  The top 3 things that thrill me with the latest iPad are...

1. The Retina Display - until you see it you can't believe the difference from the iPad2 to latest iPad.  Immediately the resolution on the 9.7 screen is sharper, more vibrant with more pixels (1536 x 2048) packed into the screen.   The clear crystal clean image as well as the color reproduction brings a reality to images.  Simple terms- great picture!
2. Quad-core graphic processor - faster graphics, faster downloads-- performance, speed, web browsing are great improvements to an already awesome device. 
3. 5MP iSight camera -the camera improvements allow you to record HD video in full 1080p.  It is also optimized for different lighting.  It gives you 8 mega pixels (better than 50% more pixels than the camera on the iPhone 4).  You see a dramatic difference in the resolution and details of your images.  The uses for the camera improvements extend farther than personal use.  Consider sports- coaching and training- have you seen that new app Coaches eye?  Education- field trips, special events, moments that can be shared with family.  Use photos and video to engage student learning and the writing process.  Health care- an iPad in the hands of every doctor/technician, and physical therapist.  Corporate American can also make use of this product, marketing your company brand.  I believe this allows all users the ability to capture a moment and share in some might say is "real time" enhancing their customers experience. I am all about good customer service.

Additionally, the iLife apps add another element to the tablet experience.  Mobile Hot Spot is also supported but only through Verizon.  If you purchase the new iPad Wi-Fi + 4G you can share your network with up to 5 Wi-Fi enabled devices and if you can believe this ---at no additional cost- per Verizon's website.   Voice dictation is another bonus I have yet to explore, but from what I have read it is spot on almost 95% of the time and it supports US English, British, Australian, French, German, and Japanese.

The newest iPad is a little heavier and maybe it gets a little warmer (so they say).  My opinion is that the improvements are significant and a good reason to support purchasing the latest and greatest iPad!  This company is amazing; the strides they continue to make in technology could have an impact on health care and assist in health care reform. Apple seems to be 1-2 steps ahead of the rest, such vision- Go Apple! 

Let me know your thoughts, what do you like or don't like about the newest iPad? What do you do with your iPad? We learn by sharing.  Keep smiling!

App Resources: 
Free Math Apps By Grade Level via Tutor House

iPad2 tricks and tips

Using iCloud

iCloud stores your music, photos, documents, and more.   Pushes them to all your devices and automatically keeping everything up to date. 

iCloud features:  http://www.apple.com/icloud/features/

•  iTunes in the Cloud- music purchased in iTunes appears automatically on all devices.
• Photo Stream- take a photo on one device, automatically appears on all devices.
• Documents in the Cloud- iCloud enabled apps on more than on device, iCloud will automatically keep your documents up to date across all devices. 
• Apps, Books, and Backup- make sure all devices have the same apps and books.  Also backs up your information.
• Calendar, Mail, and Contacts- stores calendar, mail, and contacts and automatically pushes them to all your devices. 
• Find My iPhone- sign into icloud.com or use the app from another device to find your missing device.

User guide- view on iPad

• 

  Bookmark icon

  From Safari- tap the Bookmarks icon , and tap the iPad User Guide from the list.



Arrow icon

•  Add icon for user guide to Home Screen- tap the arrow pointing to the right , and then tap Add to Home Screen.  

Or...

• From iBooks- open iBooks and tap Store.  Search for iPad User Guide, select IO S 5 (latest) and tap Get Book.  This will open the iPad User Guide within iBooks. 
  

Organizing w/folders

Folders can be used to organize icons on the Home screen.  You can put up to 20 icons in a folder. 

• Create a folder- press and hold an icon until the icons begin to jiggle, drag the icon onto another icon.  You can tap the name field to re-name the folder. 
• When finished organizing your Home screen, click the Home button to save the changes. 

Access all running apps

Double-click the Home button will display all the apps that are running on your iPad in the bar at the boom of the  screen.  To switch to a running app, tap on it from the bar.  

Lock screen
Lock the screen orientation or use music controls- double-click the Home button, flick along the bottom of the screen.  The screen orientation lock, brightness slider, and music controls will appear. 

iPad2 gestures

• Use four or five fingers, swipe up to reveal the multitasking bar, pinch to return to the Home screen.
• Swipe left or right to switch between apps.

Notifications

The Notification Center displays all your alerts in one place.  Swipe down from the top of the screen to show the Notification Center.

• Respond to an alert- tap the alert from the Notification Center or swipe the alert from left to right to respond to an alert on the lock screen.
• Remove an alert- Tap the and tap Clear.
• Set up options for notifications- Settings> Notifications.

Typing

• Quickly type a period– double tap the Space bar.



Shift key

• Turn caps lock on – Double-tap the Shift key.

• Find a definition or alternative words – tap a word to select it, tap Dictionary or Suggest.  

Dictionary or Suggest

•  Shake iPad, or tap undo on the keyboard.

Shake iPad to undo

• Cut, Copy, Paste- touch a word and hold it until the magnifying glass comes out.  Left go and the will with be highlighted including two pull bars on both ends.  Tap the "Copy" bubble or drag the handles to highlight more words.  Tap the location you want to past onto, touch and hold and the "Paste" icon comes out.  If using the keyboard bring up the "Select" and "Select All" command.  

Where is the Undo or Redo keys on the iPad keyboard?

1. Press ".?123" key, a another set of virtual keyboard buttons including the "undo " button.
2. Press "#+=" key, a another set of virtual keyboard buttons including the "redo" button.

Keyboard Layouts

• Split keyboard- touch and hold the Keyboard button , slide finger to Split and release.   

• Move keyboard-touch and hold the Keyboard button , slide finger to Undock to move the keyboard to the middle of the screen and release.   Return to full keyboard-touch and hold the Keyboard button , slide finger to Dock and Merge and release.

Split iPad keyboard image

How can I take a screen shot from my iPad?  Yes

It takes two button presses!  First, hold the power button on the upper right hand side of the iPad and then pre the "Home" button. (main button on the middle lower part of the iPad screen)

My iPad keeps freezing, what do I do?
In most cases, a "hard reset" fixes most issues.  It takes two button presses to do a hard reset.

Press and hold the Power/Sleep/Wake button on the upper right of your iPad along with the Home button on the middle lower part of the iPad screen.  After 10 seconds, you should see the Apple logo.  That is the sign that you've successfully completed a hard reset. 


Protecting you data is always a good idea!

A passcode is a security feature to help protect the information on the iPad from being accessed by others.

• Set a passcode- Settings> General> Passcode Lock> Turn Passcode On, enter a 4-digit passcode and verify.   More information on Auto-Lock page 123 of iPad User Guide.

Can I change the name of my iPad?  Yes

• From the Settings menu>General>About> Name

Additional App Resources:

Check out my review of the newest iPad (3) 
Free Math Apps By Grade Level, via Tutor House