From the latest news to the most comprehensive tutorials, learn how to get the most out of your iPad with our step-by-step guides and expert tips.
The iPad mini, because of its size and lack of high-end features, has been informally dubbed a consumption device. It seems like more folks are using it more for web surfing and media than they are for getting work done.
But those of you who are using the mini for work purposes may be happy to hear that Belkin has just taken the wraps off its new Portable Keyboard Case. It's slim, lightweight, and has a removable Bluetooth keyboard...
If you are in the market for a Bluetooth keyboard, there are plenty to keep you guessing. However, I am yet to find a model that collapses into a small portable unit for grab-and-go solutions. Today, Jorno utilizes the small, compact design you may be looking to discover and is launching on Kickstarter.
At 3.5"x3.5"x1.2" folded, the Jorno promises to fit in any travel bag or even a back pocket. With a 2011 Design and Engineering Showcase Honors from International CES, it should raise a few eyebrows as it makes its way around the net...
Since Apple unveiled the iPad two years ago, accessory-makers have been trying to find a way to turn it into a laptop hybrid. We've covered several of these kinds of products on iDB over the years, including the NoteBookCase and the Brydge.
And this morning, we're adding another one to the list: the CruxSKUNK. The Crux team promises the case will turn your iPad into a powerful laptop. And, goofy name aside, it actually looks like it could give its competitors a run for their money...
Of all the interesting iPad accessories we've seen over the years, this one has to be towards the top of the list. It's a real, working typewriter keyboard, that's compatible with your Apple-branded tablet.
The invention comes courtesy of industrial designer Austin Yang of Edinburgh, Scotland. And it's essentially a typewriter with capacitive touch hammers that press the keys on your iPad keyboard. Watch:
SlideWriter has landed on the iPad with a souped up virtual keyboard that takes cues from a concept video gone viral.
It's a note taking app which makes it easier to edit text by simply sliding your finger above the keyboard to quickly move the cursor.
But hold your horses, it's not exactly what you've been hoping for...
Although I've entertained the idea of using my iPad as a laptop replacement on and off during my tenure with the device, I always end up reneging on the thought. One of the primary reasons for this is the utter lack of keyboard shortcut customization within iOS.
Sure, some apps have minor Bluetooth keyboard interactivity, but those are few and far between. What about the ability to customize a keyboard's shortcut settings for all apps, and for those that do support a measure of keyboard support, how about even deeper customization?
That's where BeeKeyboard comes into the picture. It's an upcoming jailbreak tweak that will allow you to create custom shortcuts and add-ons for specific apps. Finally, the external keyboard just got a lot more powerful on iOS.
Not too long ago we told you about a new Kickstarter project that caught our eye. Called the Touchtype, the project offered up a new type of iPad case that really piqued our interest.
More than just an iPad case, the Touchtype promised to offer a safe home for not just your tablet, but also an accompanying Apple wireless keyboard. If you've ever wanted to leave your hefty MacBook Pro at home when popping down to the coffee shop to do a little work, then the Touchtype aimed to make using your iPad for work a real possibility.
The thing is, and as we have all witnessed before, Kickstarter projects all look great when asking for money, but what about the finished article? We have been lucky enough to spend some time with a shipping version of the Touchtype, and we don't think you'll be disappointed...
[tube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6h2yrBK7MAY[/tube]
SwipeSelection — the jailbreak tweak based on Daniel Hooper's iPad keyboard editing concept — is now available on Cydia.
If you haven't seen our hands-on video and review of the tweak in action, be sure to check it out.
You can find SwipeSelection for free on Cydia's BigBoss repo, and it plays nice with both the iPad and iPhone.
Have you tried it? What do you think?
When Cody posted about Daniel Hooper’s iPad keyboard demo, we had no idea that it would be as popular as it has turned out to be. Thousands of retweets later, the public has spoken out against how terrible the iPad's editing situation is. I think John Gruber summed it up best when he noted that the iPad was a great for typing, but poor for editing.
The iPad keyboard demo video was created with the hopes that Apple would respond and implement something similar in the upcoming version of iOS. There's even instructions included on the video for submitting a bug report to Apple.
Well, Apple may not listen, but someone else did. Indeed, the jailbreak community has responded in a big way. Introducing SwipeSelection — a usable realization of the original iPad concept video...
Logitech makes some really nice accessories. Their latest thing, the Solar Keyboard Folio, is a wireless light-powered keyboard for your iPad which also doubles as a cool protective case.
It’s definitely an interesting add-on in that it takes cues from Logitech’s range of solar-powered desktop keyboards.
The Folio converts light to power using on-boad solar cell, charging the built-in Bluetooth keyboard in any light, whether indoors or outdoors…
With the rise of iPads in education continuing at a steady pace, it only seems natural to find ways to replace PC-dependent methods of academic work. Over the past year, I have tasked myself with replacing traditional education methods with the functionality of my iPad, from reading textbooks to taking lecture notes. Only recently have I taken the ultimate challenge: completing an entire research paper using only Apple's groundbreaking tablet, from conception to submission.
In trying to find solutions to the glaring obstacles in my path, I devised a workflow to make this task feasible. I compiled a list of strategies, study habits, iOS apps, accessories, and web apps that made me more efficient in everything from research to writing...
If you're one of those people that knows what U+F8FF means, or what Option+Shift+K does, then this post is for you. For those of you who aren't aware, U+F8FF is the Unicode address for the Apple logo (on Apple devices) that you see on a lot of Twitter profiles, etc.
PictoKeyboard is a new tweak that allows you to have a Unicode keyboard on your iDevice, making it easy to access your favorite symbols on the small screen...