1. Put an extra app on the dock
The easiest shortcut isn't always the most obvious, and that is true for the iPad. Did you know you can squeeze up to six apps on the dock at the bottom of the screen? This makes for a great shortcut, allowing you to quickly launch the app no matter where you are at on your iPad. You can even put a folder on the dock, which can really come in handy if you have a lot of apps you use on a regular basis.
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2. Using Spotlight SearchSpeaking of launching apps, did you know you can quickly find an app without hunting through pages and pages of icon? The Spotlight Search, which can be accessed by hitting the home button when you are on the initial home screen, will help you find and launch an app no matter where it is located on your iPad.
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3. Add your own keyboard shortcutSometimes, the auto-correct feature can get in your way when you are typing on the iPad. But did you know you can put it to work for you? In the iPad settings under General and Keyboard is a button that allows you to add your own shortcut. This feature will let you type in a shortcut, such as your initials, and have that shortcut replaced with a phrase, such as your full name.
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4. Shake to Undo/RedoSpeaking of typing, did you know there's an easy way to undo a mistake you've made? Just like PCs have an edit-undo feature, the iPad also allows you to undo the last bit of typing. Simply shake your iPad, and it will prompt you to confirm whether or not you want to undo the typing.
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5. Split the Keyboard in TwoIf you are better typing with your thumbs than your fingers, you might find the iPad's onscreen keyboard to be a little too big. Luckily, there's an option in the settings to split the iPad's keyboard in two, allowing easier access for your thumbs. But you don't need to hunt through your iPad settings to find this particular feature. You can activate it by pinching out with your fingers when you have the keyboard displayed, which splits the keyboard into two halves on your screen.
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6. Open Safari Links in a new TabI am a habitual tab-opener. When I am searching Google or reading an article, I always like to open interesting links in a new tab so I can continue with my reading or my search. The easy way to do this is to simply hold your finger down on the link until the context menu pops up and then choose to open the link in a new tab.
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7. Tap a word to get its definitionSpeaking of reading articles on the web, did you know you can quickly look up a word's definition on your iPad? Simply tap and hold until the magnifying glass pops up, and then lift your finger. A menu will pop up asking if you want to copy the text to the clipboard or define the text. Choosing define will give you the full definition of the word. This feature also works in other apps like iBooks.
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8. Install previously purchased appsHave you ever deleted an app and then decided you really wanted it? Not only will the iPad let you download previously purchased apps for free, but the app store actually makes the process quite easy. Rather than search for the individual app within the app store, you can choose the 'Purchased' tab at the bottom of the app store to browse through all of the apps you have bought. There's even a "Not On This iPad" tab at the top of the screen that will narrow it down to apps you have deleted.
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9. Mute button to lock orientationThis is more of a premeditated shortcut, but if you are like me, you can sometimes become annoyed at the orientation of the iPad shifting while you are holding it at an angle, such as reading while laying on your side. It's possible to lock the orientation through the hidden controls on the iPad, but if you find yourself wanting to lock it on a regular basis, it is easier to simply change the functionality of the mute button to lock the orientation.
You can change the functionality of the mute button by going into settings, choosing general and then scrolling down to the section on the Side Switch. |