AARP iPad: Tech to Connect

By Barbara Boyd

The world is at your fingertips with iPad!

AARP iPad: Tech to Connect introduces you to the world?smost popular tablet device, the iPad, and all the amazing things ithas to offer. In clear, non-technical language, this book guidesyou through registering and setting up your iPad, gettingacquainted with the multitouch interface, navigating around thescreen, finding and downloading apps, reading books, listening tomusic, watching videos, surfing the web, and communicating withfriends and family.

• Developed in partnership with AARP and dedicated to helpingreaders stay connected with friends, family, and community byproviding timely and helpful advice and solutions for using tech toconnect
• Covers the need-to-know basics like powering up your iPad,getting it registered, and navigating the multitouch interface
• Walks you through setting up your e-mail account, typing withthe onscreen keyboard, browsing the Internet, shopping at theiTunes store, and finding your way from Point A to Point B withMaps
• Explores the iPad?s multimedia features like taking and sharingphotos and videos, reading e-books, downloading and listening toyour favorite music, watching and recording movies, playing games,and more
• Shows you how to expand your iPad?s functionality with apps,maintain your contacts and schedule with the calendar and contactsfeatures, and stay on top of the latest news with NotificationCenter
• Helps you stay in touch with family and friends throughFaceTime video calling, social media, texting with iMessage, andmore

No matter how you look at it, the iPad is one incredible device,and this book is your one-of-a kind guide to making the most ofit.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Wiley
• Release date: Jul 31, 2012
• ISBN: 9781118459935

Book preview

Introduction

Apple products are known for their simple, intuitive user-interface. Nonetheless, for someone who isn’t a full-fledged techie, using an electronic device can be (at best) intimidating or (at worst) downright frustrating. That’s where this book comes in. Whether you bought your iPad or received it as a well-intentioned gift, this book shows you how to use your iPad from the moment you take it out of the box. This book mainly applies to later iPad versions.

About This Book

This book includes everything you need to know to get started and get comfortable with your iPad. It does have lots of starting points and can lead to well-rounded use of your new device. My goal is to provide instructions for the most basic iPad functions along with some of the more interesting or advanced ones, too. After reading this book, I want you to be familiar with the iPad. I’d like you to reach a comfort level that encourages you to try things on your own. You’ll find that iPad basics apply to most iPad apps, even if the apps have a completely different purpose. For example, when you learn how to type and edit text in a Mail message, those same skills apply when you type a note in Notes or an address in Contacts. If you dictate in one app, you’ll probably find it useful in other apps as well.

Conventions

To help you understand how the book is laid out, I use a couple of style conventions. Each chapter is broken down into tasks. Each task provides step-by-step instructions that you follow to complete the task. Where a step might not be 100-percent clear with words alone, I’ve included a figure to show you what you should see on your iPad.

Sidebars are in-depth explanations of functions that are interesting but, again, not necessary. You may find the sidebar makes more sense after you do the task at hand a few times.

techtip.eps Sometimes you’ll see a Tech Tip icon, like the one you see here, next to a paragraph. That means I think this information might save you some time or effort somewhere along the way.

Who This Book Is For

The person most likely to benefit from this book is someone who needs a quick, step-by-step introduction to the iPad. Most of the instructions are for people who are using the iPad on its own, without connecting to a desktop computer. Whether you have a limited technical background or are already somewhat knowledgeable, you can get comfortable and discover something new to do with your device.

How This Book Is Organized

This book is divided into 14 chapters and each chapter is divided into tasks. If you’re unfamiliar with the iPad, I recommend reading the first three chapters, which lead you through taking your iPad out of the box, setting up an Apple ID and e-mail account, and mastering the gestures you use to control the touch screen.

Each chapter tells you about one app or several related apps. I put the apps that I think you will find most important toward the front of the book — apps that help you stay in touch with people through e-mail, messages, and video chats. Chapter 6 gets you on the web so you can discover new things or research something specific. Subsequent chapters cover the Maps and Camera apps. The Calendar and Clock apps have surprisingly helpful uses, as does the Notes app. The chapters toward the end of the book focus on using your iPad as an entertainment source for reading e-books, listening to music, or watching videos. The last chapter offers tips on troubleshooting. Should you have a problem with your iPad, you can follow the steps to attempt to fix a problem before returning to the Apple store or contacting Apple technical support. Online at http://www. wiley.com/go/ipadtecttoconnect, you will find a bonus chapter titled Securing Your Data andiPad.

If you have comments or questions about this book, I’m happy to hear from you. Anything you say helps me write a better book the next time. Send a note to me at [e-mail].

Please note that some special symbols used in this eBook may not display properly on all eReader devices. If you have trouble determining any symbol, please call Wiley Product Technical Support at 800-762-2974. Outside of the United States, please call 317-572-3993. You can also contact Wiley Product Technical Support at www.wiley.com/techsupport.

Chapter 1

Getting Started with Your iPad

If you ordered your iPad online, if someone gave you an iPad (aren’t you lucky!), or if you just prefer to do it yourself, follow the steps in the sections you need to set up. For the most part it’s a matter of tapping — but when you have to make a choice, I try to help you make the decision that’s right for you (sparing you an overwhelmingly detailed explanation). As soon as your iPad is set up, I show you how to go to the AARP website and explain some basic touchscreen gestures.

techtip.eps Most of your decisions will come when you are setting up your Internet connection and your Apple ID. You don’t have to connect to the Internet to use your iPad, but an Internet connection does let you use iPad functions to the fullest. So, bear with me. Follow the steps one at a time, and you’ll be using your iPad in fewer than 20 minutes (assuming all goes well).

tech to connect activities

arrow Inspecting Your iPad

arrow Setting Up a Wi-Fi Internet Connection

arrow Setting Up a Cellular Internet Connection

arrow Creating an Apple ID

arrow Visiting the AARP Website

arrow Swiping, Pinching, and Zooming

arrow Turning It On and Off

techtip.eps To complete the setup, you have to tap virtual buttons and scroll a couple times. Tapping means touching the button and then lifting your finger. If you touch and hold the button, nothing happens until you lift your finger. To scroll, place one fingertip on the list and then move your finger forward or backward without lifting it. The list moves up and down. You then lift your finger and tap the item on the list you want to select.

Inspecting Your iPad

If you haven’t yet, open the box, lift your iPad out, and unwrap the cellophane protection. Although I recommend using a protective sleeve or cover, the iPad isn’t as delicate as it might seem.

Your iPad has a few buttons and holes (called ports). You can see their positions in Figure 1-1. Depending on the iPad model you have, the technicalities are slightly different, but they do have the same functions:

• Home button takes you to the Home screen. I explain the screen and all its powers in Chapter 2.

• Front camera sees you when you are using FaceTime for video chat or Photo Booth, which are explained, respectively, in Chapters 4 and 8.

• Volume is changed when you press on the top or bottom of the button. The iPad has to be actively on, known as awake, for this button to work.

• Side switch can have one of two functions: It can work as a mute button, quieting sounds, or it can be a screen lock button, locking the screen in the portrait (vertical) or landscape (horizontal) view. I tell you about these settings in Chapter 2.

• On/Off Sleep/Wake is the button you press and hold to turn your iPad on or off. It’s also the button you press quickly once to put your iPad to sleep, which means the iPad is on but not active. Pressing the Wake button or the Home button wakes your iPad. You find more information about this button at the end of this chapter in the section Turning It On and Off.

• Back camera is a camera and video recorder.

• Microphone is the tiny hole that picks up your voice or sounds when you are using the dictation feature, recording video, or having a video chat.

• Headphone jack is where you plug headphones or speakers.

• SIM tray and the SIM ejection hole just above it are on iPads with 3G or 4G capabilities. The SIM ejection tool is in the folded white package with documentation and Apple stickers. I talk about SIM cards a little later in this chapter in Setting Up Your iPad.

• Dock connector is where you plug the Dock Connector to USB Cable to charge the battery. You can see the Dock Connector to USB Cable that came with your iPad in Figure 1-2.

• Speaker emits sounds from music, videos, podcasts, alerts, or chats. Adjust the sound with the Volume button on the right side or press the side switch to mute sound completely. Press the side switch again to turn on sound. I show you another way to adjust the volume in Chapter 2.

9781118387962-fg0101.eps

Figure 1-1

Along with your iPad, you get these goodies:

• The Dock connector to USB cable.

• The USB power adapter, which is used to charge the battery on your iPad.

• A little white cardboard envelope, which has legal documents, the SIM Ejector tool (if you have a 3G or 4G iPad), and Apple stickers that can decorate whatever you see fit.

9781118387962-fg0102.eps

Figure 1-2

Setting Up a Wi-Fi Internet Connection

techtip.eps All iPads have Wi-Fi, but you must be in a Wi-Fi zone to connect to the Internet. If you have Internet service as part of your television service, you probably have a Wi-Fi zone at home. Wi-Fi uses radio waves to connect to the modem and router that is connected to your Internet service provider (ISP). You need to know your username and password (if you use one) to connect to the Internet on your iPad via Wi-Fi. Many public places such as bars, coffee shops, and airports have free Wi-Fi, and you can access it with your iPad. If those places require a password, you can get it from the person working behind the counter.

These steps show you how to set up your iPad using Wi-Fi you have set up at home.

1. Press and hold the On/Off Sleep/Wake button for two seconds and then let go. The Apple logo, and then the iPad logo appear.

2. Place one finger on the arrow next to the words Slide to Set Up and then slide your finger to the right.

3. Tap the blue-and-white arrow shown in Figure 1-3.

4. Tap your country or region.

5. Tap Next to bring up the Location Services screen.

6. Tap Enable, and then tap the Next button.

7. Tap the network that is yours.

8. Tap the Wi-Fi network password. To access numbers, tap the .?123 key. If you need capital letters, tap the shift key.

9. Tap the Join key (on the keyboard or on the Enter Password window). To change the Wi-Fi network, see the bonus chapter at http://www.wiley.com/go/ipadtecttoconnect.

10. Tap the Next button.

11. Go to the Creating an Apple ID section in this chapter and continue from there.

9781118387962-fg0103.eps

Figure 1-3

Setting Up a Cellular Internet Connection

When you buy a third-generation iPad with 3G or 4G cellular network access, the SIM card is installed and doesn’t require a PIN code. You can activate your iPad right out of the box with the preinstalled SIM card. You must, however, have a cellular data account with a cellular provider (such as AT&T, T-Mobile, or Verizon) to use a cellular connection to connect to the Internet or send e-mail.

You can’t access the 3G or 4G network until you open a cellular account. When you open the account at a cellular provider store, which may be where you bought your iPad, you get a four-digit PIN (personal identification number) that unlocks the SIM card. You need this PIN to activate the cellular connection.

techtip.eps Make sure you understand the terms of your cellular contract. Using the Internet connection in some areas can lead to unexpectedly high bills, otherwise.

1. Press and hold the On/Off Sleep/Wake button for two seconds and then let go.

2. Place one finger on the arrow next to the words Slide to Set Up and then slide your finger to the right.

3. Tap the blue and white arrow. Refer back to Figure 1-3.

4. Tap your country or region.

5. Tap Next to bring up the Location Services screen.

6. Tap Enable, and then tap the Next button.

7. Tap Use Cellular Connection.

8. Tap in the four-digit PIN code, if requested.

9. Tap OK. You’ll see a screen that says Set Up as New iPad.

10. Tap the Next button.

11. If you don’t have an Apple ID, continue to the next section. If you do have an Apple ID, tap Sign In. Type your Apple ID and password.

Creating an Apple ID

techtip.eps An Apple ID lets you set up and access iCloud and the App and the iTunes Stores. (You can read more about those topics in