iPad
How to Lock the Screen Rotation on an iPad
Matt Cone January 15, 2021
By default, your iPad will switch around the screen rotation to adjust to whatever orientation you’re holding the iPad. You can disable this feature to temporarily lock the screen rotation on your iPad. That way, the screen won’t rotate when you adjust the iPad. Here’s how to lock the screen rotation on an iPad: Adjust the iPad so the screen rotation is the way you want it. Placing your finger on the top-right corner of the screen, pull down, as shown below.
How to Find Your iPad's MAC Address
Matt Cone March 28, 2013
Your iPad’s Wi-Fi interface has a permanent, unique serial number called a media access control (MAC) address. Some universities and employers may request your iPad’s MAC address to monitor or limit your access to certain Wi-Fi networks. MAC addresses can also be used for less nefarious purposes. For example, if your iPad is stolen on a university’s campus, the IT department may be able to use its MAC address to trigger an alert when the criminal connects your iPad to a university network.
How to Take a Screenshot on Your iPad
Matt Cone February 23, 2013
Taking a screenshot of your iPad allows you to capture whatever is on your iPad’s screen. It’s a great way to share your high game scores, message conversations, or setting configurations. Screenshots are saved as photos on your iPad, and if you use Photo Stream, they’re automatically shared with all of your other Apple devices. An example screenshot is shown below. Here’s how to take a screenshot of your iPad:
Make Your iPad Ask to Join Wi-Fi Networks
Matt Cone February 19, 2013
By default, your iPad automatically connects to known wi-fi networks. (To stop an iPad from automatically connecting, you can tell your iPad to forget a wi-fi network.) But what happens if you take your iPad to a new location? You’ll need to manually connect your iPad to a wi-fi network. That’s a hassle. But if you have the foresight and inclination, you can save yourself time in the future by making your iPad ask to join wi-fi networks when no known networks are available.
How to Send a Message to Your iPad Remotely
Matt Cone June 25, 2012
Did you misplace your iPad? If you enabled Find My iPad, you can make the iPad play a sound and display a message, increasing the chances that it will be found and returned to you. Note that the iPad must be turned on and connected to a cellular or wireless network for this to work. Of course, this feature also has other potential applications. If you’ve left the iPad with a spouse, friend, or child, you could use this feature to send them an important message.
Turn Your iPad into a Digital Picture Frame
Matt Cone June 22, 2012
You know those digital photo frames that create a slideshow of all of the photos on a memory stick? Believe it or not, you can set up your iPad to do the same thing. Using your iPad as a picture frame is a great way to enjoy your photos wherever you go. Just prop up your iPad, tap a button on the lock screen, and sit back and enjoy the pictures.
Remove Rental Movies from an iPad or iPhone
Matt Cone May 29, 2012
If you’ve ever rented an iTunes movie on your iPad, iPhone, or iPod Touch, you know that the movie is automatically removed from your device 24 hours after you started watching it. But did you know that you can manually remove movie rentals after you finish watching them? Doing so allows you to free up disk space on your iPad, iPhone, or iPod Touch and store even more music and movies.
Where to Find Saved PDF Files on an iPad
Matt Cone May 19, 2012
In another tutorial, we discussed how to save PDF files on an iPad. But where do you find the PDF files that you’ve saved on your iPad? They’re stored in the iBooks app, but you might have to change collections to see them. Collections are essentially folders for the books and files stored in iBooks. By default, all PDF files are stored in the PDF collection. If you have a different collection open, you won’t see the files in the other collection.
How to Update Your iPad's Software
Matt Cone May 9, 2012
This week Apple released iOS 5.1.1, the newest version of the operating system for iPads, iPhones, and iPod Touch devices. You used to have to connect to a computer with iTunes to install updates, but not anymore. With the “over-the-air” update feature built into iOS, you can use your iPad to download and install the iOS updates while connected to a wireless network. This guide will show you how to update your iPad’s iOS software wirelessly using the over-the-air update feature.
Connecting a Bluetooth Keyboard to an iPad
Matt Cone May 8, 2012
As someone who writes for a living, I need to be able to type fast and accurately. That’s just not possible with the iPad’s Qwerty keyboard. I initially thought the built-in keyboard would work, and that it was just a matter of training myself to use it. But as time went on, I realized that the keyboard was only large enough to fool me into thinking I could type with two hands.