New Technology Reviews!.: Updated

Updated: 50 really useful iPad tips and tricks

<img src="http://cdn.mos.techradar.com//classifications/computing/mobile-computing/Tablets%20and%20touchscreens/ipad2/Hands%20on%20pics/iPad_2_05-200-200.jpg"> With great new features like two video cameras, a faster processor and a thinner design, the iPad 2 is the world's best tablet device. It's also fully capable of running the latest version of Apple's iOS operating system and great apps like iMovie and GarageBand. Here we present 50 really useful iPad 2 tips. We cover everything from customising your Home screen through to getting more from built-in apps like Mail and Safari. The vast majority of these tips will also work on the original iPad, so owners of the first generation device shouldn't feel neglected. 1. Create folders iOS now supports folders. To create a folder all you need to do is tap and hold on an app until they all start to jiggle, then drag the app over another icon and release. Your iPad will create a folder with both the apps in. The folder will be named according to the category of the apps it contains, but you can rename it as you like. <img alt="iPad 2 folders" src="http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/classifications/computing/mobile-computing/Tablets%20and%20touchscreens/ipad2/iPad_2_tips/1%20folders-420-90.jpg" width="420"></IMG> 2. Access all running apps Double-clicking the Home button shows you all the apps that are running on your iPad in a bar along the bottom of the screen. To switch to a running app just tap on it here in this bar. Just swipe the screen downwards to remove this bar. <img alt="iPad 2 running apps" src="http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/classifications/computing/mobile-computing/Tablets%20and%20touchscreens/ipad2/iPad_2_tips/2%20access-420-90.jpg" width="420"></IMG> 3. Orientation Lock or Mute? The internet got mightily upset when Orientation Lock was replaced with Mute on the iPad during the last iOS update. Apple listened, and now you can head to Settings > General to choose between Lock Rotation and Mute. <img alt="iPad 2 orientation" src="http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/classifications/computing/mobile-computing/Tablets%20and%20touchscreens/ipad2/iPad_2_tips/3%20OrientLock-420-90.jpg" width="420"></IMG> 4. Passcode Denied… DELETE ALL! If you're carrying around sensitive data, you can now enable a feature that'll erase all the data on the device if someone inputs the incorrect passcode 10 times. Navigate to Settings > General > Passcode Lock > Erase Data. <img alt="iPad 2 passcode" src="http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/classifications/computing/mobile-computing/Tablets%20and%20touchscreens/ipad2/iPad_2_tips/4%20Passcode-420-90.jpg" width="420"></IMG> 5. Home Sharing First, turn on Home Sharing in iTunes (Advanced menu) and on your iPad (Settings > iPod and enter your Apple ID). Next, launch the iPod app on your iPad. In the left column, find the little house with "Library" next to it. Tap on that and then on one of the Shared Libraries. It might take a few minutes to update, but then you can watch and listen to all of that Library's media on your iPad. <img alt="iPad 2 home sharing" src="http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/classifications/computing/mobile-computing/Tablets%20and%20touchscreens/ipad2/iPad_2_tips/5%20Home%20Share-420-90.jpg" width="420"></IMG> 6. Control iPad notifications Have you ever played Tap Tap Revenge on the iPhone? Good, then you know how annoying notifications can be. These messages pop up on the iPad as well. but you can control them. Go to Settings, Notifications, and configure which alerts (and accompanying sounds) will appear. <img alt="iPad 2 notifications" src="http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/classifications/computing/mobile-computing/Tablets%20and%20touchscreens/ipad2/iPad_2_tips/6%20notify-420-90.jpg" width="420"></IMG> 7. Go VPN The iPad supports a VPN connection. To configure it, go to Settings, then General > Network. Select the VPN and move the slider to On, then add a VPN configuration with your server and account details. <img alt="iPad 2 vpn" src="http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/classifications/computing/mobile-computing/Tablets%20and%20touchscreens/ipad2/iPad_2_tips/7%20vpn-420-90.jpg" width="420"></IMG> 8. Stop asking to join Wi-Fi networks If you're fed up of getting bugged by messages asking if you'd like to join this or that Wi- Fi network all the time then head to Settings, Wi-Fi and turn off Ask to Join Networks. You can still join any network that will have you from this same screen, it just won't bug you constantly when the opportunity arises. <img alt="iPad 2 wifi" src="http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/classifications/computing/mobile-computing/Tablets%20and%20touchscreens/ipad2/iPad_2_tips/8%20wifi-420-90.jpg" width="420"></IMG> 9. Turn battery percentage off Do you find the battery charge percentage distracting? The good news is you can turn it off very easily. Go to Settings, General, Usage and you can turn it off here. <img alt="iPad 2 battery percentage" src="http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/classifications/computing/mobile-computing/Tablets%20and%20touchscreens/ipad2/iPad_2_tips/9%20battery-420-90.jpg" width="420"></IMG> 10. Quick volume mute When the iPad first launched, there was no dedicated mute button anywhere on the device. However, with iOS 4.3 Apple has given you the choice of using the lock switch to mute the sound or lock the iPad's orientation. Either way, a good tip for quickly muting your iPad is to press and hold the Volume-down button. <img alt="iPad 2 volume mute" src="http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/classifications/computing/mobile-computing/Tablets%20and%20touchscreens/ipad2/iPad_2_tips/10%20tip1mute-420-90.jpg" width="420"></IMG> 11. Use an Apple keyboard Missing a real keyboard? Any Apple Wireless Keyboard will work with the iPad. In fact, your iPad will work with any Bluetooth keyboard. Some iPad cases have a keyboard built in, which can be handy. 12. Connect to an HD TV You can connect the iPad 2 to your HD television using Apple's new Digital AV Adapter (which connects from your 30-pin Dock adaptor to a HDMI port) or a plain old Apple VGA Adaptor. Both are available from the Apple Store. The iPad 2 supports video mirroring, so your entire Home screen will appear on the TV, not just the videos you play. <img alt="Connect ipad 2 to hdtv" src="http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/classifications/computing/mobile-computing/Tablets%20and%20touchscreens/ipad2/iPad_2_tips/12%20connect%20TV-420-90.jpg" width="420"></IMG> 13. AirPlay: Stream movies, photos and music Whenever you see the AirPlay icon on your iPad it means you can stream whatever media you're viewing to your Apple TV, which is usually connected to your living room TV. All you need to do is tap the AirPlay icon (which looks like a rectangle with a triangle in it) and it starts playing automatically - it's so simple! <img alt="Stream ipad 2" src="http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/classifications/computing/mobile-computing/Tablets%20and%20touchscreens/ipad2/iPad_2_tips/13%20stream-420-90.jpg" width="420"></IMG> 14. Take an iPad screenshot You can take a screenshot on your iPad by pressing Home and then the Sleep/Wake button. The screen will flash and you'll hear a click, indicating that a photo has been taken. Your screen shots are saved automatically in your Photos gallery. Here, you can view or email them as you see fit. 15. Avoid underpowered USB docks The iPad does not charge when you connect it to some USB docks or even certain ports on some notebooks. Instead, plug in to a high power USB port (check you computer's specs, or use a powered USB dock). On some PCs, USB ports on the front of the computer are lower power, so you will need to plug into one on the back. 16. Use Multitasking Gestures Multitasking Gestures, which utilise four and five finger gestures, are available in Settings only to iPad owners who have installed Xcode on a Mac. You need to buy Xcode from the Mac App Store ($5/£2.99) and install it, then from the Xcode homescreen, select your iPad and click on the Use for Development button. You'll be asked for your developer account details, but if you click on Cancel at this stage it still works. <img alt="iPad 2 multitasking gestures" src="http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/classifications/computing/mobile-computing/Tablets%20and%20touchscreens/ipad2/iPad_2_tips/16%20gestures-420-90.jpg" width="420"></IMG> 17. Restrict your Spotlight searches Swipe left on the Home screen to reveal the Spotlight search. By default it searches everything including songs in your iPod, podcasts, apps and events. To restrict the areas it searches, since you may not want all these categories included, look in Settings > General > Spotlight Search. <img alt="iPAd 2 spotlight searches" src="http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/classifications/computing/mobile-computing/Tablets%20and%20touchscreens/ipad2/iPad_2_tips/17%20restrict%20spot-420-90.jpg" width="420"></IMG> 18. Add a Google Calendar Want to add your Google Calendar to the iPad's Calendar app? No problem. In Settings open Mail, Contacts, Calendars. Add an account and tap on Other. Tap on Add CalDAV Account and enter your Google Account credentials (the Server is www.google.com). Exit the Settings app and tap on the Calendar app and all your events should appear. By default all calendars are displayed, but you can tap on the Calendars button to choose which ones are shown. <img alt="iPad 2 google calendar" src="http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/classifications/computing/mobile-computing/Tablets%20and%20touchscreens/ipad2/iPad_2_tips/18%20Calendar%20Google-420-90.jpg" width="420"></IMG> 19. Find My iPhone (or iPad) is now free Apple's Find My iPad works for MobileMe subscribers, but you can set it up for free on your iPad. In Settings > Mail, Contacts, Calendars tap the Add Account button and select MobileMe. If you have an iTunes or MobileMe account then enter it here. Alternatively, tap on Create Free Apple ID. You may need to check your inbox and verify your account now. Return to the MobileMe screen and switch on Find My iPad. Now sign into me.com to see your iPad on a map, or install the Find My iPhone app from the App Store. <img alt="Find my iphone" src="http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/classifications/computing/mobile-computing/Tablets%20and%20touchscreens/ipad2/iPad_2_tips/19%20find-420-90.jpg" width="420"></IMG> 20. Use AirPrint Thanks to AirPrint you can print right from your iPad, provided you've got a compatible printer, of course. If you've got an AirPrint ready printer then you just choose Print from the Share menu for virtually any open document. AirPrint works with the new range of printers from HP, and you can use a Mac app called Printopia (www.ecamm.com) to print to any printer connected to a Mac. <img alt="AirPrint" src="http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/classifications/computing/mobile-computing/Tablets%20and%20touchscreens/ipad2/iPad_2_tips/20%20airprint-420-90.jpg" width="420"></IMG> 21. Use a Smart Cover Apple's new iPad Smart Cover (from £35/$39) is a must have iPad accessory - it's not just a dumb cover. When you draw it over the iPad's screen it puts it to sleep for you, and wakes it up when you open it. Also, it latches onto special magnets built into the side of the iPad 2, so it's a perfect fit. <img alt="Smart cover" src="http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/classifications/computing/mobile-computing/Tablets%20and%20touchscreens/ipad2/iPad_2_tips/21%20smart-420-90.jpg" width="420"></IMG> 22. Share from Pages Transferring Pages documents from your iPad by syncing with iTunes on your Mac or PC is a real hassle. It's much quicker to use the Share menu to email the finished document to wherever you need it to be. Also, you can email it as a Word or PDF document if you like. <img alt="Share from pages" src="http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/classifications/computing/mobile-computing/Tablets%20and%20touchscreens/ipad2/iPad_2_tips/22%20pages%20share-420-90.jpg" width="420"></IMG> 23. Turn iPad caps lock on To type a capital letter on the onscreen keyboard you first tap the left or right shift key, then the letter. If you need to type a whole word in caps this can be painful. Save time typing in caps by turning the caps lock on. To do this double tap on either shift key. <img alt="iPad caps lock" src="http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/classifications/computing/mobile-computing/Tablets%20and%20touchscreens/ipad2/iPad_2_tips/23%20tip9CAPS-420-90.jpg" width="420"></IMG> 24. Copy and paste You can quickly copy and paste text by tapping and holding down, and then choosing Select to select the exact portion of text you'd like the copy. Next tap Copy, then go to a different app, and tap and hold down again, then tap Paste from the menu that appears. Top tip: To select an entire paragraph of text you need to tap four times. <img alt="iPad 2 copy paste" src="http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/classifications/computing/mobile-computing/Tablets%20and%20touchscreens/ipad2/iPad_2_tips/24%20copypaste-420-90.jpg" width="420"></IMG> 25. Replace a word When you hold down on a word to copy it, choose Select, then you will see a new option: Replace. Tap this and, you can see suggestions for alternative words that have similar spellings. It's a good way of quickly correcting typos. <img alt="iPad 2 replace word" src="http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/classifications/computing/mobile-computing/Tablets%20and%20touchscreens/ipad2/iPad_2_tips/25%20replace-420-90.jpg" width="420"></IMG> 26. Hidden apostrophe key on the keyboard This is a great tip for any app, such as Notes, Pages or Mail, that you type into using the iPad's virtual keyboard. Rather than having to go to the second screen of the keyboard every time you want to type an apostrophe (which is a real pain) just tap and hold on the ! key and a hidden apostrophe option will appear - then just slide your finger up to access it. <img alt="iPad apostrophe" src="http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/classifications/computing/mobile-computing/Tablets%20and%20touchscreens/ipad2/iPad_2_tips/26%20iPad%20hidden-420-90.jpg" width="420"></IMG> 27. Quick quotes You don't have to move the iPad's second keyboard screen to enter a quotation mark either. Simply tap and hold over the ? key and a quotation symbol appears, which you can select by moving your finger upwards. <img alt="iPad quote marks" src="http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/classifications/computing/mobile-computing/Tablets%20and%20touchscreens/ipad2/iPad_2_tips/27%20quick%20quotes-420-90.jpg" width="420"></IMG> 28. Add a full stop Another great keyboard tip for typing in apps such as Pages, Notes or Mail is to doubletap the space bar at the end of a sentence. This adds a full stop and a space for you, which can be enormously time-saving when you're writing long articles. <img alt="iPad full stop" src="http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/classifications/computing/mobile-computing/Tablets%20and%20touchscreens/ipad2/iPad_2_tips/28%20ipad%20double%20space-420-90.jpg" width="420"></IMG> 29. Dim your iBooks You can lower the brightness setting down to a low level using the Brightness option under Settings. But the iBooks app has its own brightness slider, which you can use to lower the level down more conveniently. <img alt="iBooks brightness" src="http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/classifications/computing/mobile-computing/Tablets%20and%20touchscreens/ipad2/iPad_2_tips/29%20ibooksbrightness-420-90.jpg" width="420"></IMG> 30. Change days There's no way to swipe to change between days in the Calendar app, but don't forget the navigation bar along the bottom of the screen - this can be used to switch to different days (or weeks/months, depending on the view you've chosen). The current day is always shown in blue, or you can just tap the Today button to return to the current day. <img alt="iPad calendar" src="http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/classifications/computing/mobile-computing/Tablets%20and%20touchscreens/ipad2/iPad_2_tips/30%20Calendar%20change%20days-420-90.jpg" width="420"></IMG> 31. Street View in Maps The Maps app running Google's Street View is one of the coolest features of the iPad, yet accessing it is so confusing few people even know it's there. To access Street View you need to have dropped a red pin on the map (which happens when you do a search). You then tap the red and white icon of a person to enter Street View. <img alt="iPad street view" src="http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/classifications/computing/mobile-computing/Tablets%20and%20touchscreens/ipad2/iPad_2_tips/31%20Maps%20street%20view-420-90.jpg" width="420"></IMG> 32. Directions in Maps There's no free sat nav for the iPad, but directions in Maps are a substitute if you're walking, driving or taking the bus. Just tap Directions on the top left of Maps and the iPad even works out where you are right now, then takes you step-by-step through each stage of your journey. <img alt="iPad maps" src="http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/classifications/computing/mobile-computing/Tablets%20and%20touchscreens/ipad2/iPad_2_tips/32%20Maps%20step%20by%20step-420-90.jpg" width="420"></IMG> 33. Display PDFs There are two ways to display PDFs on your iPad: you can either email them to your iPad, in which case you get an Open in iBooks button appear, or you can sync PDFs from your Mac or PC via the Books tab in iTunes. To do this just drag and drop the PDF into iTunes, then when you sync your iPad click on the Books tab and select the PDFs you'd like to sync. In iBooks you click on PDFs in your library to see the PDFs you have ready to display. <img alt="iBooks pdf" src="http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/classifications/computing/mobile-computing/Tablets%20and%20touchscreens/ipad2/iPad_2_tips/33%20iBooks%20PDF-420-90.jpg" width="420"></IMG> 34. Camera focus and meter In the Camera app, tap on your subject to both focus on and meter the light properly. In this shot, notice how the chair is dark and the boy outside is properly metered. You can reverse that by simply tapping on the chair. <img alt="iPad camera focus" src="http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/classifications/computing/mobile-computing/Tablets%20and%20touchscreens/ipad2/iPad_2_tips/34%20Focus-420-90.jpg" width="420"></IMG> 35. Get a grip You'll probably hold the iPad by its sides, but it'll rotate to put the shutter button at the bottom, making you wobble when you reach for it. So use the orientation lock to put the shutter where you can easily thumb it, then just rotate your images or videos afterward in an image editor. <img alt="iPad rotate" src="http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/classifications/computing/mobile-computing/Tablets%20and%20touchscreens/ipad2/iPad_2_tips/35%20LockForGrip-420-90.jpg" width="420"></IMG> 36. Take charge in FaceTime Once you've started a video call, you can move the picture-in-picture window that shows you by simply dragging it around with your finger. <img alt="iPad 2 facetime" src="http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/classifications/computing/mobile-computing/Tablets%20and%20touchscreens/ipad2/iPad_2_tips/36%20FaceTime-420-90.jpg" width="420"></IMG> 37. Photo Booth fun Sure, you're great, but Photo Booth is even more fun if you point it at friends or family. Simply tap the 'twirly camera' icon in the bottom right. to use the camera on the back You can also snap stills by hitting the shutter button, but Photo Booth doesn't do video. <img alt="Photo booth" src="http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/classifications/computing/mobile-computing/Tablets%20and%20touchscreens/ipad2/iPad_2_tips/37%20PhotoBooth-420-90.jpg" width="420"></IMG> 38. Download photos straight from your camera to your iPad You can't plug an SD card from a digital camera straight into your iPad to view the photos, but you can purchase the iPad Camera Connection kit from Apple. With this device attached you can transfer photos straight from your camera's memory card. Get it from the Apple Store online. 39. Quicker websites Save time typing web addresses in Safari by using the iPad's ".com" key when typing in a URL. A little-known timesaver is that if you hold down the .com key you get access to a menu that offers a .co.uk and other options too. <img alt="iPad com key" src="http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/classifications/computing/mobile-computing/Tablets%20and%20touchscreens/ipad2/iPad_2_tips/39%20tip8quick-420-90.jpg" width="420"></IMG> 40. Quick Safari scroll You can jump up to the top of any web site - indeed any list - by tapping on the top of the title window. It's much faster than scrolling by hand. <img alt="iPad quick scroll" src="http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/classifications/computing/mobile-computing/Tablets%20and%20touchscreens/ipad2/iPad_2_tips/40%20quick%20scroll-420-90.jpg" width="420"></IMG> 41. Zoom in on websites You can zoom in on any website by pinching out with two fingers on the screen. This also makes it easier to select words and tap links. To zoom out again, just pinch in with two fingers. Double-tap on any text or image to auto-zoom so it fills the screen. <img alt="iPad zoom in website" src="http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/classifications/computing/mobile-computing/Tablets%20and%20touchscreens/ipad2/iPad_2_tips/41%20zoominweb-420-90.jpg" width="420"></IMG> 42. Turn on Bookmarks bar in Safari We all know you can tap the bookmarks icon in the Safari toolbar to access your bookmarks, but you can significantly cut down the number of taps it takes to get to them by turning on your Safari Bookmarks Bar permanently. In the Settings app, tap Safari, then turn Always Show Bookmarks Bar to ON. <img alt="iPad safari bookmarks" src="http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/classifications/computing/mobile-computing/Tablets%20and%20touchscreens/ipad2/iPad_2_tips/42%20Safari%20bookmark-420-90.jpg" width="420"></IMG> 43. Clear browsing history in Safari Need to cover your tracks online? You can delete your Safari browser history in a flash. Just open the Settings app, then tap Safari and tap on Clear History. Note you can also wipe your Cookies and clear your Cache here too. <img alt="iPad clear browsing history" src="http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/classifications/computing/mobile-computing/Tablets%20and%20touchscreens/ipad2/iPad_2_tips/43%20Safari%20clear-420-90.jpg" width="420"></IMG> 44. Open Safari links in a new page You can open links in a new Safari window, rather than always opening them in the current one. Just tap and hold on the link and a pop-over menu appears giving you the option to open the link in a new page. <img alt="iPad open links in new page" src="http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/classifications/computing/mobile-computing/Tablets%20and%20touchscreens/ipad2/iPad_2_tips/44%20Safari%20open-420-90.jpg" width="420"></IMG> 45. Find text on a page You can search for a particular word on an open page in Safari. Type your word into the Google search box. You'll see a list of suggestions appear, and near the bottom you'll see "On This Page", showing how many times that word appears on the page. Tap the Find option to go to the first instance of the word. <img alt="Find text on a page" src="http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/classifications/computing/mobile-computing/Tablets%20and%20touchscreens/ipad2/iPad_2_tips/45%20find-420-90.jpg" width="420"></IMG> 46. Turn off iPad email alert chimes You can turn off the chime for new emails. Go to Settings, then General, then Sounds and turn off the New Mail sound. You can also adjust sound levels here. <img alt="iPad email alert" src="http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/classifications/computing/mobile-computing/Tablets%20and%20touchscreens/ipad2/iPad_2_tips/46%20turn%20off%20email-420-90.jpg" width="420"></IMG> 47. Preview more of your emails The iPad's Mail app defaults to previewing two lines of each email before you tap on it. Sometimes however it would be handier to be able to see more of an email before loading the whole thing in, especially if you are on a slow connection. To do this open the Settings app, then tap on Mail, Contacts, Calendars and change the Preview options to add more lines. <img alt="iPad mail preview" src="http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/classifications/computing/mobile-computing/Tablets%20and%20touchscreens/ipad2/iPad_2_tips/47%20Mail%20preview-420-90.jpg" width="420"></IMG> 48. Turn off iPad push mail Most mail accounts default to Push as a delivery mechanism, if available. This automatically 'pushes' any new emails your way as soon as they are available. If you find this annoying or distracting you can set your Mail accounts to check for new messages at intervals, or manually so they only check for new messages when you tap the Refresh button. To turn off Push, select the Settings app and Mail, Contacts, Calendars and choose Fetch New Data, then turn Push on or off. <img alt="Turn off push mail" src="http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/classifications/computing/mobile-computing/Tablets%20and%20touchscreens/ipad2/iPad_2_tips/48%20Mail%20push-420-90.jpg" width="420"></IMG> 49. Make an iPad backup If you want to make sure your iPad's data is properly backed up then you can force iTunes to back it up. When you're conencted to your Mac or PC, open up iTunes and right-click on your iPad in the Devices list and select Back up. <img alt="iPad backup" src="http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/classifications/computing/mobile-computing/Tablets%20and%20touchscreens/ipad2/iPad_2_tips/49%20backup-420-90.jpg" width="420"></IMG> 50. iPad is flat and won't charge If your iPad battery is completely flat then it can take a while for the red battery symbol to appear when you plug it in to charge, indicating that it is charging. Don't panic, just leave it plugged in and wait - the charging symbol will appear eventually. <img alt="iPad won't charge" src="http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/classifications/computing/mobile-computing/Tablets%20and%20touchscreens/ipad2/iPad_2_tips/50%20charge-420-90.jpg" width="420"></IMG><img border="0" height="1" src="http://rss.feedsportal.com/c/669/f/9809/s/13c4a152/mf.gif" width="1"> <DIV class=mf-related><a href="http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/techradar/allnews/~3/kj4kEZxeGIo/story01.htm" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Article</A></DIV>

Updated: 50 really useful iPad tips and tricks

With great new features like two video cameras, a faster processor and a thinner design, the iPad 2 is the world's best tablet device. ...

Updated: HTC Tablet rumours: what you need to know

<img src="http://cdn.mos.techradar.com//classifications/gadgets/phones/mobile-phones/HTC/HTC-Desire2-200-200.jpg"> Once upon a time, Apple made a phone. Rivals tried to copy it, but the iPhone was too good and their efforts too bad. And then HTC appeared. "Look!" it said. "A smartphone!" And the HTC phones were good, and lots of people bought them. Now, though, Apple has seen similar success with its iPad – so does HTC have a tablet of its own to take on the iPad? If anyone can make a real iPad rival it's HTC, and while the HTC Tablet and specs haven't been acknowledged by HTC, the rumour mill says it's real. Here's what we know and what we'd like to see in the HTC Tablet. UPDATE: On 17 December we reported on an <a href="">interview with HTC CEO Peter Chou</A>, which some news outlets took to be confirmation of an incoming HTC Tablet. HTC Tablet: Chrome OS no more? We <a href="">expected the first Chrome-powered tablet to come from HTC last month</A>, but it didn't turn up. That's apparently because HTC has shifted its efforts to Android; the change of tack has put the HTC Tablet release date back, too. HTC Tablet: Android 3.0 <a href="http://www.pocket-lint.com/news/35626/htc-android-3-tablet-2011">Pocket Lint says</A> Taiwanese component manufacturers are gossiping like fishwives, claiming that the HTC Tablet OS will be Android 3.0. The HTC Tablet features look pretty nifty If <a href="http://www.digitimes.com/news/a20100920PD218.html">DigiTimes' sources</A> are correct, the HTC Tablet and specs are in the capable hands of Taiwanese notebook maker Pegatron, whose name sounds fantastic if you shout it in your best Movie Trailer Man voice. Pegatron - PEGATRON! - has declined to comment, but DigiTimes says the tablet it's building runs a Tegra 2 processor, has a 1280 x 720 multi-touch panel, a 32GB solid state drive, 2GB of RAM and the usual Wi-Fi, Bluetooth and GPS. The HTC Tablet features include "multimedia performance… stronger than that of iPad", Chrome Web Apps and the Android Market. Imagine an HTC Desire HD scaled up a bit and you get <a href="http://technology.inquirer.net/infotech/infotech/view/20101128-305881/HTC-unveils-heavyweight-Androids">the idea</A>. Sounds good to us. The HTC Tablet release date could be in early 2011 Taiwanese gossips predict a Q1 2011 release, says Pocket Lint. The HTC Tablet release date might be in Q2, not Q1 <a href="http://www.digitimes.com/news/a20101019PB201.html">According to DigiTimes</A>, Apple Daily says that a JP Morgan analyst says that Google is messing around with its Android support. Motorola is Google's priority for 3.0, LG will be priority for 3.5 and HTC follows on, which means the HTC Tablet won't ship before the second quarter of 2011. UPDATE: ON 2 December 2010, <a href="http://www.digitimes.com/news/a20101202PD204.html">DigiTimes reported</A> vice president for HTC Asia Jack Tong as saying that HTC was currently evaluating the tablet market and had yet to make a decision as to whether it would launch a tablet. We're not sure we're convinced by that statement... HTC Tablet features include something "really compelling", like a free horse or a time machine <a href="http://www.pocket-lint.com/news/35626/htc-android-3-tablet-2011">Speaking to Pocket Lint</A>, HTC's global PR boss Eric Lin said the firm wasn't interested in me-too devices. "If we just release an Android tablet we're one of 81… whereas if we have a compelling feature, a really compelling use, anything like that, then it'll help us to stand out. It's going to take a lot of work searching for that." What could it be? A free horse? A time machine? We'll be gutted if it's just a slightly tweaked Sense UI. The HTC Tablet may be called the HTC Evo Shift 4G <a href="">Engadget spotted</A> some trademark filings where HTC was attempting to trademark the term HTC Evo Shift 4G. Another smartphone, or something even bigger? <a href="http://www.slashgear.com/htc-evo-shift-4g-trademark-filing-tips-upcoming-android-tablet-15114076">Slashgear hopes</A> it's "a 7-inch HTC tablet with integrated 4G to take on Samsung's Galaxy Tab". Any evidence for that? Of course not. This is the internet!UPDATE: The HTC Tablet may be called the HTC Scribe On 4 January 2011, we reported that HTC filed a patent on 26 December 2010 for a "handheld wireless device, namely a tablet computer". The name that has been patented is the <a href="">HTC Scribe</A>. The HTC Tablet price may be $790 The DigiTimes report we mentioned earlier took a stab at the HTC Tablet price, and it predicts that without subsidy it'll be $789.75. The HTC Tablet price might be zero <a href="http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2010/08/18/google-verizon-chrome-os-tablet-on-sale-november-26-2010">Download Squad says</A> the HTC Tablet will launch on Verizon in the US with a price tag of zero depending on the tariff you choose. Similar deals are likely here: we've already seen Three, T-Mobile and Orange offer <a href="">subsidised iPads</A>.

Updated: HTC Tablet rumours: what you need to know

Once upon a time, Apple made a phone. Rivals tried to copy it, but the iPhone was too good and their efforts too bad. And then HTC appeared....

Updated: Google Nexus S: 16 tips and tricks

<img src="http://cdn.mos.techradar.com/Review%20images/TechRadar/Mobile%20phones/Google/Google%20Nexus%20S%20review/PR%20shots/Google-Nexus-S-200-200.jpg"> So you've read TechRadar's in-depth <a href="http://www.techradar.com/reviews/phones/mobile-phones/google-nexus-s-913562/review">Google Nexus S review</A>, you've reconciled the (now much lower) price and you've ordered the latest smartphone - now it's time to turn into a power user. Here's a round up of the secrets and tips you'll need to know to get the most out of your latest gadget, so read on to go from Android amateur to Nexus know-it-all. 1. Reclaim the comma One of the first irritations you'll encounter with the Google Nexus S is the lack of a comma - the keyboard has a voice search icon where the oft-used symbol should be. <img alt="Nexus s settings" src="http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/classifications/Mobile%20Phones/Google/Nexus%20S%20tips/1.%20Voice%20on%20keyboard-210-100.jpg" width="210"></IMG> But there's a way to reclaim it - head into Settings, and choose Language and Keyboard. Tap Android Keyboard and in there you'll see a dropdown menu labelled Voice input. From here you can select whether the voice search icon is on the front screen, the symbol menu or delete it altogether - and more importantly, the comma is back where it belongs. 2. Inbuilt battery graph A massive problem for smartphones is the battery maintenance - so many devices have offered such poor battery life that some have been rendered virtually unusable. The Nexus S isn't that bad in terms of holding its charge, but if you want to see what's happening with your battery, the phone comes with a battery graph built in. <img alt="Nexus s battery graph" src="http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/classifications/Mobile%20Phones/Google/Nexus%20S%20tips/2.%20battery-210-100.jpg" width="210"></IMG> Simply go into Settings, then tap About Phone. Open Battery Use and hit the smaller battery graph at the top - this then opens up into a fully-fledged graph complete with information on how fast your power depleted and what the phone was doing at the time. 3. Get rid of unwanted apps quickly You probably know already how to uninstall applications on the phone in the menu system. But this can take a while, and ultimately frustrate you into leaving some apps that you didn't reach. But if you open up the Android Market, you'll see a Downloads tab that shows you everything you've nabbed from Google's portal. <img alt="Nexus s uninstall apps" src="http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/classifications/Mobile%20Phones/Google/Nexus%20S%20tips/3.%20uninstalling-210-100.jpg" width="210"></IMG> Choose any of these and the option to Uninstall is present in the bottom right-hand corner - the list is easier to access and quicker to use, and you can give feedback to the developer on why you uninstalled it too. 4. Boost your media experience The media experience on the Android 2.3 platform is unfortunately not that good natively - incompatibility with many file types and basic operation mar the experience. For music, we recommend MixZing - it has all the features of the Android experience but also has Genius-like abilities to mix a playlist based on a single song choice, as well as a decent inbuilt EQ make it a real step up. <img alt="Nexus s media" src="http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/classifications/Mobile%20Phones/Google/Nexus%20S%20tips/4.%20Media-210-100.jpg" width="210"></IMG> For movies, mVideo Player is the one we reach for instantly whenever we pick up an Android phone. The powerful player has a high level of file compatibility, multiple bookmark options and even a slider for brightness management. You can even see the clock when viewing a video if you so wish - an oft-overlooked feature. 5. Unlock the power of voice We mentioned we didn't like the voice input icon on the keyboard, but that doesn't mean we aren't fans of voice search. From calling and navigation to text entry and Google searching, your voice can be activated by simply holding down the search key. <img alt="Nexus s voice search" src="http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/classifications/Mobile%20Phones/Google/Nexus%20S%20tips/5.%20Voice%20search-210-100.jpg" width="210"></IMG> If you're already in an application (say text message editor) you can hit the icon to simply say your text - although you'd have to ask whether a phone call makes more sense at this point. 6. Stop the constant sipping We've mentioned battery management earlier - and there's a way you can stop it plummeting downhill instantly. If you head into the Settings menu and choose Accounts and Sync, there's a large checkbox for background data. <img alt="Nexus s battery life" src="http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/classifications/Mobile%20Phones/Google/Nexus%20S%20tips/6.%20Background%20data-210-100.jpg" width="210"></IMG> If you only periodically check things like social networks or email, then this is a great way to save some power, as you can get the same functionality by just manually updating when you open the app. It does mean things like push notifications won't work, but if you're after a decent battery saving and don't care about instant updates, give this a go. 7. Go 3D with Google Maps Google Maps 3D is here - well, for Cardiff and Birmingham in the UK. The new Google Maps 5.0 for Android is by far the most powerful offering so far, with the 3D vector view allowing you to zoom in and twist around certain cities from your mobile. <img alt="Nexus s google maps" src="http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/classifications/Mobile%20Phones/Google/Nexus%20S%20tips/7.%20Maps-210-100.jpg" width="210"></IMG> Other additional functions include compass orientation, for easier foot navigation, and offline caching, where the phone cleverly works out the places you frequent the most and downloads the date when you're on Wi-Fi and plugged in (ie on the nightly charge). 8. Unlock your file system Although some phones (like the Samsung Galaxy S) include an inbuilt file management system, the Google Nexus S has no such functionality. This means when you've copied media across to the phone but can't see it in the gallery you're pretty much stuffed - unless you download a file manager. <img alt="Nexus s file manager" src="http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/classifications/Mobile%20Phones/Google/Nexus%20S%20tips/8.%20Astro%20file%20manager-210-100.jpg" width="210"></IMG> We're fans of Astro - not only is it ridiculously easy to fly through the folder branches, it can also unzip folders and search for file names - and it's free too. 9. Take a picture of yourself One of the new features of Android 2.3 is a support for video calling, and to that end the Google Nexus S has a front-facing camera to facilitate it. The problem is there's no mainstream application to let you call using the front VGA camera - but you can still use it to take pictures. <img alt="Nexus s front camera" src="http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/classifications/Mobile%20Phones/Google/Nexus%20S%20tips/9.%20Front%20camera-320-100.jpg" width="320"></IMG> Simply fire up the camera and hit the camera switch icon in the bottom right-hand corner - you can take slightly gawpy pictures of your mug as quick as a flash. 10. Easier copy and paste Android 2.3 comes with enhanced copy and paste, making it easy to just hold down a word and see it copied to the keyboard. In text editing, you can cut or copy the word, and on the internet you simply need to long press on a phrase and drag the tabs to choose the selection you're after, with a quick tap auto-copying the text. <img alt="Nexus s copy and paste" src="http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/classifications/Mobile%20Phones/Google/Nexus%20S%20tips/10.%20copy%20and%20paste-210-100.jpg" width="210"></IMG> The tabs are now much larger and easier to manipulate as well, making it a much more simple experience when trying to move text from one place to another. 11. Check out the downloads This might sound like a simple update, but there's now a dedicated application for items you've downloaded from the internet. <img alt="Nexus s downloads" src="http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/classifications/Mobile%20Phones/Google/Nexus%20S%20tips/11.%20downloads-210-100.jpg" width="210"></IMG> It saves you having to delve into the internet browser to get pictures or applications you've snaffled from the web, and delete them easily too.12. Bars to stop you scrolling When you're running through a list and get to the bottom, sometimes you're not sure whether you've reached the end or if the phone is still loading more options. Google has added in some orange flashes when you hit the top or bottom of a list as a visual cue - it's not the most piviotal upgrade, but it's certainly adds to the sheen of your phone.13.Magic tricks with photos OK, not technically magic, but it certainly feels as cool as a card trick. When in the gallery view, you already will know that the stacks of pictures mean there's more than one item in that category - but here comes the awesome part. Put two fingers on the top of the stack, pull them apart and watch as the pics fly between your two digits - not only is it visually a veritable thrill, but you can easily see what's in there too.14. Access the special characters with ease If you're after a bracket or @ sign, you don't need to faff about with the symbols section - simply holding down the full stop key will bring up a grid of them. Simply slide up your finger to access new characters, including dashes, colons and the ever-popular + symbol. If you do the same with the comma key (assuming you've moved it to the front screen) then this will also offer up and easy way to see the settings for the keyboard too. <img alt="Google nexus s review" src="http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/Review%20images/TechRadar/Mobile%20phones/Google/Google%20Nexus%20S%20review/Screenshots/Google_Nexus_S_review08-420-90.jpg" width="420"></IMG>15. Auto-correct supercharging Google ushas ed the Android 2.3 upgrade to make auto-corrected typing a little easier: simply start writing a word, and when the autocorrect has an option, the space bar lights up to indicate you can confirm and use it. If you've done this, but it's the wrong word, simply tap the offending selection of letters and the autocorrect options will spring back up too.16. Quick access to numbers and capitals Using the multi-touch hardware doesn't just make it easier to type faster, it adds quick flick options for speed keystokers. For instance: hold the shift key and press a letter and it will capitalise it without needing to enter the shift mode separately. Or you can hold the symbol key down and use your other finger to hit the numbers - let go and the ABC keyboard springs magically back in.

Updated: Google Nexus S: 16 tips and tricks

So you've read TechRadar's in-depth Google Nexus S review , you've reconciled the (now much lower) price and you've ordered ...