10 Cool Apple iPad Features

If you have a new iPad, you probably have a lot to discover. Here are some cool features you should know about!

Getting a new electronic gadget is always exciting. Just like research after installing a big software update. If you’ve just purchased an iPad, there are a number of cool features to look out for.

A good place to start would be the Tips app. This should be present in the default configuration on the home screen, but if not, you can find it in the app library.

There are things to see and do. Below are our favorite cool features.

Arrange widgets on your home screen

When you get to the iPad home screen, you see the layout of the widgets. By default, your iPad displays Clock, Notes, Calendar, Weather, and News. You can change this layout to suit your needs. To do this, press and hold an app to display customization options, or drag it to reorder widgets.

If you want to edit widgets, swipe right on the screen and tap Edit. From there, you can remove or add widgets to give you shortcuts to the ebook you’re reading, or your favorite game, or your favorite streaming service.

Learn about free trials from Apple

The new iOS device includes a free trial for Apple TV+ and Apple Arcade. In addition to downloading your favorite apps, you will be able to test something new.

Apple Arcade is a subscription-based mobile gaming service. Over 225 games to play offline and new entries every week. With a new iOS device, you can use Apple Arcade for free for three months and another month free for all new subscribers. Apple TV+ is a video streaming service that includes original TV shows and movies.

Join the dark side

Apple will ask you if you want your device to run in light or dark mode during the first setup, but you can always change that later in Settings. Tap Display & Brightness to switch modes, set time-based behavior, and use True Tone, which automatically adjusts screen brightness based on ambient light.

split screen

Split screen allows you to display two applications at the same time on the screen. For example, open your calendar while filling out your to-do list. To start a split-screen session, open the app, tap the three small horizontal dots at the top of the screen, and choose the layout you want.

Sketches for Apple Pencil

If you use an Apple Pencil with your iPad, the Scribble feature introduced in iOS 14 lets you do a lot without putting the stylus down. It converts your handwriting into digital text. Ideal for taking quick notes or adding personalized touches. For example, if you’re drawing in Procreate and need a reference image, you can open Google, write what you’re looking for – just like you would on a keyboard – and get results without dropping your Apple Pencil.

Save time with Touch ID

If your iPad has a fingerprint sensor, you can enable Touch ID during the initial setup. This is not required, but it makes authentication, purchase confirmation, and download much easier. If you want to use Touch ID on your iPad, open the Settings app and select Touch ID & Passcode. The device passcode is one of the first things you’ll be asked to enter when you start iPad, but you can change or disable your passcode here.

To set up Touch ID, click Add Fingerprint and follow the instructions. You can even determine what Touch ID is for, to unlock the device or enter passwords.

Sign in with Apple

Signing in with Apple is a feature you need to know and use, not a setting. This tool is also another layer of protection for your security, just like adjusting your privacy settings or using dedicated tools like VPN or DuckDuckGo.

When you create a new account for an app or site, you can choose to “Sign in with Apple”instead of “Sign in with Facebook”, “Google”, or regular email. The tool generates a random email address that can be used for that specific application. The app or site will use the generated email, but Apple will forward all email to your real email address, protecting your identity. You can reply to any email without revealing your personal email address.

There is also an option to “Hide my email address”. Apple generates a random email address that you can use when creating an account with any service. You will recognize it, it is a sequence of alphanumeric characters ending in @privaterelay.appleid.com.

Voice to text

If your ideas come faster than you can type them, iPad has voice dictation that works in emails, text messages, and notes. For example, you can open the Notes app and tap the microphone icon on your keyboard. Apple will ask you if you want to turn on dictation: click Yes. Now when you click on the microphone icon when available, you will be able to use the voice to text feature. If you use this option in third party applications, you may need to grant additional permissions.

To disable this feature, open Settings, then tap Keyboards. Scroll down and turn off Enable Dictation.

Learn more about his photographs

The Photos app for iPad has a very handy tool that works just like Google Lens. Open the app, select an image, and tap the small “i”in the top right corner. A panel will open and you can see a number of details, such as camera specifications and the date and time of the photo. You can even add image details and location.

You can also learn more about what’s in the photo. Click on the “Search”option in the info bar, and your iPad will offer you a whole bunch of information from Siri, the web, and maps (if relevant).