Wouldn’t it be cool if you could find out some new tricks to use with your iPad that would make your life easier and help you do some awesome things with your tablet? Even if you’ve been using your iPad for years you probably haven’t come across every tip and trick for using the device. Take a look at our list of the 10 cool things you didn’t know your iPad could do so you can make use of all its features.
Drag Your Hand To Switch Between Apps
Dragging four or five fingers of your hand left or right will enable you to toggle apps and switch between them easily. You can also close apps easily by pinching all the fingers of your hand together against the screen. This setting can be enabled by going to Settings > Multitasking Gestures.
Easily Create Task Shortcuts
Launch Center Pro $4.99 lets you create single tap shortcuts for tasks that you perform regularly and want to do quickly on your iPad. This includes things such as emailing a friend, searching Yelp or taking a photo and messaging it to a group. You can use this great app for work or play.
Use Your iPad As A Media Remote
By downloading Apple’s free Remote app you can connect to iTunes, Apple TV and Airplay compatible devices to control your music and video through your iPad. This means that you can take advantage of all the devices on your wi-fi network with just one tablet.
Access Your Computer Wherever You Are
You can access your computer with your iPad when you’re out and about in order to control downloads, look at your files and photos or access your programs and applications. Download the iTeleport Remote Desktop app $24.99 in order to do this.
Split The Keyboard
One of the coolest things you probably didn’t know your iPad could do is the ability to split the keyboard. Splitting the keyboard literally splits it in half so that one group of letters is on the right side and the other group is on the left. This is helpful if you tend to use your thumbs when typing, particularly in portrait orientation. To turn this on, tap and hold the keyboard icon on the bottom right then select Split.
Virtual Home and Sleep Buttons
If any of the physical buttons on your iPad’s exterior are broken then you can still use your iPad in the same way as before by enabling virtual buttons. Assistive Touch creates on-screen icons for the home, sleep, volume and lock buttons. Enable this by going to Settings > General > Accessibility > Assistive Touch.
Watch Movies and Videos Saved on your Computer
By Downloading Air Video HD $2.99 you can watch all the great movies and videos saved on your home computer without having to worry about filling up the storage space on your iPad. Any format or length of video can be streamed easily to your tablet without you having to worry about codecs or bitrates.
Reading in The Dark
One of the cool things you didn’t know your iPad could do is make it easier for you to read while you’re in bed or in the dark. Going to Settings > General > Accessibility > Invert Colours will turn any black on white text into a black background with white text, meaning you won’t strain your eyes in the dark and you’ll find it easier to read.
Use Your iPad As A Second Monitor
If you want to increase your screen space while working or performing an activity, then having a second monitor will allow you to extend your screen. Download Air Display 3 $14.99 and use a wireless or USB connection to get yourself a cool second screen for a fraction of the normal price.
Faster Charging
Switching your iPad to Airplane Mode will mean that you can charge it twice as fast as it turns off the wi-fi, network connections and other options that use battery power even when you’re not using your iPad. This is helpful if you need a quick charge before leaving home or you’re caught out away from home with no battery power and need to charge up fast, and it’s definitely one of the most helpful and coolest things your iPad can do.
