For most common users, Apple’s iPad provides a means for consuming content, and for that matter anything – music, video and text. As a business user, you may want to put the iPad to better use. Apple’s documentation, though elaborate, throws little light on how an iPad can be used to enhance your performance in a business environment. Business users hit upon some features accidentally and use those features, or simply miss them entirely. Smart business users however, take time off to discover features and abilities in the iPad to make it work harder for them.
The iPad has features that make it ideal for sharing data with personal computers and services that use the web. Some users discover features for themselves but it usually comes too late. Most tips and techniques that apply to an iPad also work for an iPhone because both use Apple’s iOS. However, don’t expect them to work the same way. There are couple differences here and there.
In an iPad You Can Integrate Applications Like Email, Contacts and Calendars With iCloud
In an iPad you can integrate email, contacts and calendar. This feature is something that will be of special interest to business users because they help coordinate appointments, tasks, rescheduling, and answering queries. Business users nowadays use Exchange ActiveSync to synchronize their different mail accounts with their iCloud accounts as well. This will allow not only you but also others to access your email, contacts and calendars to work on your behalf.
You Can Directly Access Apps in the iPad
Popup notifications are important for business users. There is always some email or social media notification coming in every now and then. The normal way to read the notification is to open the appropriate app and then read the message. If your phone is in sleep mode to conserve energy, then you will have to wake up your phone, open the app and then read the messages. You can avoid these troubles by swiping your phone left to right and read messages directly. But to do this you should disable the four-digit security code in your iPad. If you don’t do it you will be prompted to do it when swiping on the iPad.
Making Minimal Use of the Keyboard
Keyboards are essential it cannot be denied, but it has its own downsides to it. However, you can effectively work by using them less often. You can do just that by mastering keyboard shortcuts. They are just as effective and are also quicker and saves you time and effort. By tapping and holding the Compose New Message button in mail client you can gain access to saved drafts in the drafts folder. You can send them straightaway or make some changes and then send them. To access the keyboard hold the 123 key and drag it. When you do this the keyboard will appear.
Likewise by holding down the period key you can view stored email ids. You can add emoticons as well to your keyboard. To add emoticons to the keyboard go to “Settings”, then “General->Keyboard”. After that choose international keyboard and add a new keyboard.
If you want to enter a URL in your browser, hold the .com and choose the right URL. However, you cannot enter an entirely new URL this way.
Another feature you will like in the iPad is the ability to split the keyboard. This will greatly help to use the thumb for keying in characters.
You Can Hop From App to App in Easy Steps
In an iPad there are always many apps running in the background. This, iPad does to keep you updated with the latest at all times. You can never tell which one you will want to access. If you are in the habit of hopping between the apps, you can do it with ease in an iPad. The normal way to access apps is a little circuitous, but you can come around this problem by double tapping on the Home Button that you will see below the screen. This will open up a tray full of apps. You can scroll through the collection by swiping left to right or, to return, right to left, and then select the one you want and start using it.
Taking Screenshots is Easy in an iPad (and iPhone Too)
Screenshots are important for business use. They help users when they want to prove something to their associates or for evidencing in courts of law. Hard copies can, of course, be made with the cameras and stored, but to take screenshots you must follow a different procedure.
To make screenshots and save them on your iPad, press the home button and the power button at the top right edge of the iPad. That will instantly save a copy of the screen onto your iPad. You can always view the image by opening the image file that has been created on the iPad. When the screenshot is made you will hear a sound similar to the one that you hear when you use the camera.