You use your iPad every day, but there are hidden
features buried within your trusty tablet that only a few people know
about and even fewer make good use of. These features turn novice users
into iPad Masters.
Now you can join that group of iPad Masters with
today's helpful Apple tip. You'll discover better ways to learn new
words, speed up your gadget and discover helpful settings you didn't
know existed. So go grab your iPad and let's get started on some of the
most helpful iPad secrets available to owners.
1. Your handy-dandy dictionary
If you didn't already know, your iPad can help you expand your vocabulary. It does this by easily letting you find the definition of unfamiliar words on your screen. It's a tool that not many people know about, let alone take advantage of.If you want to look up an unknown word, all you have to do is hold your finger on the word to highlight it. After a second or two of keeping your finger on the word, a horizontal menu will appear. Select "define" and watch as the exact dictionary entry is pulled to the forefront of your screen.
Not only can you look up the definition of a word, but you can also download your own dictionary depending on what language you use the most.
To add a different dictionary to your iPad, press and hold down on a given word and tap "define" when the option appears. While you're in the definition screen, click the "manage" option and choose from one of the 19 available dictionary versions by selecting the cloud icon to the right of the dictionary you wish to download.
If you're still unsure about the whole thing, follow the example below.
2. Give your iPad a zap
After hours and hours of use and daily wear and tear, any tablet is going to experience a little slowdown. But iPads are especially vulnerable to lagging and internal slowing after a few months of use. To combat this, there are a few culprits you need to keep your eye out for.The first issue that could be jamming up your iPad's internal system is if it's not running on the latest software. Apps and programs within your iPad are updated regularly to keep up with the newest operating system, so if your iPad is running on older iOS versions, you may be the victim of a slow gadget.
To check to see if you're running the latest version of iOS, Apple's mobile operating system, you need to open your Settings page. From there go to General>>Software Update. If your iPad is up to date with the iOS software, it will tell you so, if not you will see an option to download and install the newest version.
Another easy fix to a slow iPad is to clear your Safari data. The Web surfing app stores login information, browsing history and other data to help websites load faster. Even though the pages load more quickly, the data stored in Safari drags down iPad's speed.
To rid yourself of this data, go to your iPad's Settings page>>Safari>>Clear History and Website Data. When you tap "Clear History and Website Data," all of your browser history, cookies and any additional browsing data will be permanently erased.
Now your iPad should run much faster and you'll be able to switch apps, open new Safari pages and play games without any lagging.
3. Keep your iPad safe from sneaking children
It always happens. Your sweet little grandchild snags your iPad and before you even realize it's missing, they're clicking on everything on the screen. This can be a costly mistake since there are in-app purchases and bright ads placed all around their favorite free apps like Minecraft and Angry Birds.Fortunately, there's a way to make certain parts of the screen "off-limits" to those adorable (and often sticky) little fingers. It's called Guided Access, and it's not a new feature but very few people realize it's there, or one of the coolest things it can do.
Go to Settings>>General>>Accessibility and turn Guided Access. You'll need to set a passcode for this function before you get started so you can confirm the changes you've made to the Guided Access settings.
Now you can draw boxes around the areas you don't want the kids to access or tap. For example, you can box off the ad section, messaging section, or anything you think they might get into.
Once you've marked off everything you need to, tap "Start" and the Guided Access tools will disappear. Your child can use the app, but nothing else or those areas you blocked off.
You can also use this function to set time limits on iPad use. Once a time limit is reached, the iPad will turn off and it can only be turned back on with the Guided Access passcode you created earlier. This will prevent keep children from spending all day using the iPad, or it can be used as a nice reminder for you to take a break from electronics.
Whatever the reason you use it, Guided Access is a hidden gem in the depths of your iPad's settings.
