iPad

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.

Facebook updates Pages Manager app with photo filters, stickers and more

Cody Lee ∙ May 9, 2013

Facebook rolled out its Pages Manager app about this time last year as a way to help users—you guessed it—manage their Facebook Pages. These are essentially profiles for businesses, schools and other organizations that want a presence on the social network.

Anyway, users will be happy to hear that the app received a fairly significant update last night, bringing it to version 2.0. Facebook says that it has completely rebuilt the app for better performance, and it's added support for photo filters, stickers and more...

Popular sketch app Paper by FiftyThree updated with pinch to zoom and more

Cody Lee ∙ May 9, 2013

It was just a little over a year ago that FiftyThree launched Paper for the iPad. But during its short existence, the sketch app has amassed quite a few accomplishments, including winning an Apple Design award.

Last night, Paper received its first major update since its original debut. And the release, which brings the app to version 1.3.1, offers a few improvements, including the highly-requested pinch-to-zoom feature...

Pegatron sees softening iPad mini orders

Christian Zibreg ∙ May 8, 2013

In another sign of consumers postponing purchasing iPad minis in anticipation of a second-generation model, said to sport Apple's high-resolution Retina display, contract manufacturer Pegatron has cautioned investors Wednesday to brace themselves for as much as a 30 percent revenue decline when it reports second-quarter earnings, the most since a 37 percent decline in the fourth quarter of 2011.

Although Pegatron assembles Apples' iPhone 4S and iPad mini, the Taiwanese corporation also acts as a contract manufacturer for consumer electronics from other makers. But as Apple is one of its principal clients - and given Apple's high-volume needs - Pegatron attributed the decline to shrinking iPad mini orders...

MiniPlayer 2.0 is out with a new look courtesy of Surenix

Cody Lee ∙ May 8, 2013

Earlier this week, we told you about a new jailbreak tweak called MiniPlayer. It's essentially a hidable widget for your device's music controls, which was based on a concept from Auxo-designer Sentry, and looks a lot like the iTunes 11 mini player.

The initial release saw mixed reviews, but if you weren't a believer before you need to checkout today's update. MiniPlayer 2.0 just hit Cydia, and thanks to a complete UI overhaul by Ayecon theme designer Surenix, it looks and feels much better...

‘Secretary’ reads you your messages and missed notifications

Cody Lee ∙ May 8, 2013

Looking for a new way to sort through notifications on your iPhone? If so, you might want to check out Secretary, a new jailbreak tweak that will read your notifications aloud to you upon connecting your device to a Bluetooth speaker or headset.

Once activated, the tweak can tell you how many unchecked missed phone calls and messages you have, as well as the number of impending calendar events. It can also read your text messages aloud to you using text-to-speech, similar to Siri...

iPad mini 2 Retina screens reportedly entering mass-production next month

Christian Zibreg ∙ May 7, 2013

NPD DisplaySearch is on a roll. After reporting yesterday that Apple could release two Retina-enabled iPad mini models - one in the second half of this year and another in the first quarter of 2014 with an updated processor, the display market researcher tell CNET today they think those high-resolution Retina panels for the second-generation iPad mini could go into mass-production soon, as early as June or July of this year.

If true, and assuming satisfactory yield rates, Apple should be able to ready its first Retina iPad mini for a Fall introduction, a time frame KGI Securities' well-informed analyst Ming-Chi Kuo recently outlined based on his own sources...

Apple patents smart audio splitter

Ed Sutherland ∙ May 7, 2013

Many of us have shared a pair of earbuds with a friend. The problem crops up when you enjoy rocking out at max volume while your friend enjoys a more modest audio level. Enter Apple with what's essentially an intelligent audio splitter.

Instead of enduring the default sound level of the iPhone or iPod, an adapter envisioned by Apple would allow you to customize your individual audio, according to a patent published by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office Tuesday.

Additionally, the headphone splitter would permit two people to use built-in mics to speak over the soundtrack, opening up some wild possibilities with gaming...

Adobe unveils new iPad-friendly Bluetooth stylus and digital ruler

Cody Lee ∙ May 6, 2013

Adobe announced a number of new products and changes to its current lineup today, during a keynote at its MAX conference. The company is ditching its Creative Suite, and turning its focus to a new cloud-based platform it's calling CC.

In addition to the software announcements, Adobe also showed off new hardware today. And there are two products that we're particularly interested in, an iPad-friendly smart stylus code-named "Project Mighty," and a digital ruler...

Bill Gates: you’re frustrated because your iPad lacks real keyboard and real Office

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated October 12, 2018

Microsoft Chairman Bill Gates thinks Apple’s iPad is "frustrating" to use because it lacks a physical keyboard and doesn't run Office. The Surface, he says, brings the "portability of the tablet but the richness of the PC" to mobile productivity.

Being a Google Apps fan, I'm obviously biased and not exactly the right guy to comment on the Office part of Bill's comment.

Now, I'm underestimating the real world outside the Apple bubble and obviously there are heavy Office users out there who agree with Gates on Office for iPad. Regardless, you'd think Microsoft's co-founder should know that any Bluetooth keyboard works with iPads.

On top of that, a bunch of iPad cases incorporate physical keys like NIBIQÜ's and Logitech's Surface-like iPad cases, the latter featuring physical keys seamlessly fused into its interior fabric. Go past the fold for the full quote and video evidence...

Accessories makers embracing Bluetooth to side-step Lightning, AirPlay and Apple exclusivity

Ed Sutherland ∙ Updated April 11, 2018

A growing trend by accessory makers to adopt wireless connections could disconnect Apple from a significant source of revenue. In a departure from the days of the iPod, where accessories such as speakers were designed with 30-pin connections fitting only Apple devices, add-on device manufacturers are have increasingly been turning to Bluetooth for some time to connect a growing number of mobile devices - many not made by Apple.

The reason for the transition includes the rise of Samsung, Amazon and other iPhone and iPad rivals, along with the feeling Apple kept secret from accessory makers its new Lightning connection. As a result, some of the largest accessory makers are turning to the wireless Bluetooth standard to avoid any more surprises from Apple, according to the New York Times...

Photo Organizer Pro is out with new features, better iPad support and more

Cody Lee ∙ May 6, 2013

Good news Photo Organizer fans. The developer lordscotland has listened to your feedback, and has subsequently posted an update to the app with new features, sort options and more. Actually, he rolled the update into a whole new tweak.

The original Photo Organizer, which was released back in February, is a simple tweak that allows you to copy, delete and rearrange pictures in the stock Photos app. And the Pro version is exactly like that, but with a few more options...

Velox updated with new activation method and several bug fixes

Cody Lee ∙ Updated April 11, 2018

Velox, arguably one of this year's most highly anticipated jailbreak tweaks, finally landed in Cydia this weekend after what seemed like several weeks of waiting. Initial feedback for the tweak has been mostly praise, but there have been some scattered reports of bugs.

Of course, bugs are typical in first-version software releases, as are the bug-squashing '0.1' updates that follow them. And today, Velox has received its 0.1 update that includes a new, double-tap activation method, and a handful of other improvements and bug fixes...