23 Mobile Things - Thing 2

I've had my iPad for about a year and a half, but there were things I didn't know in this Thing.

Things I didn't know:
- How to close a running app. I didn't realize that apps remained running after I closed them. And when I used this method, it looks like apps I haven't used in months were still technically "running"!

- how to pause an installing app so that another one "behind" it in the update list could be installed, perhaps more quickly or because you need it sooner.

- how to add multiple spaces by tapping the space bar with multiple fingers

- how to type special characters (or what I'd call adding diacritics) by holding down a key and swiping the new character

- how to quickly move between the alphabet and number keyboards if you only need one of the other characters

- to add emoji characters

- adding keyboard shortcuts for frequently used phrases

- how to undo/redo actions by shaking

- splitting and merging the keyboard

- how to take a screenshot

- some of the bookmarks info

- add a web clip icon to the home screen for frequently-accessed websites. This could be very useful! I've usually left my frequently used websites open in tabs in Safari, but will try this.

- Safari Reader. I've seen the button but not tried it.



Things I did know:
- seeing open apps (which I had thought were just the last apps I'd used, rather than "running" apps...) and switching between them on the bottom multitasking bar.

- how to install and remove apps

- how to create folders (and label them) to organize similar kinds of apps

- how to rearrange icons

- how to put a period at the end of a sentence/word by double tapping the space bar

- how to cut, copy and paste

- how to select wallpapers (I use this a lot!)

- notification center

- using the built-in dictionary

- some of the bookmarks info

- tabbed browsing

- setting up email accounts

- changing mail signatures

- sending instant messages (free between iOs devices!)

- using the calendar for reminders and appointments. I have my calendars and contacts sync between the iPad, iPhone, and home and work computers. Invaluable!!



Unfortunately, the free downloadable iPad User Guide isn't available for my not-yet-upgraded-to-iOs-7 device, so I'll have to hold off on that a bit. But I've learned a few things from this article that should make my iPad more useful. I should also read the iPhone article...