Apple iPad Archives

Reading is FUN-damental

Here are some of my favorites you’ll use time and time again.

A clip-on portable book light is great for traveling or finishing that last chapter without disturbing your spouse! Adjust the brightness or choose a warm amber light for better sleep. It’s on sale for $14.
It’s a real page turner (literally) for your newer Kindle or iPad, and it’s 71% off now.
Get a tablet floor stand for hands-free, comfortable reading. This one is sturdy, 33% off and works with lots of tablets.
This durable canvas book sleeve protects pages from sand or rain for around $13.
Bookmarks are great until they’re sliding out of place. These magnetic bookmarks are desert sunset chic and stay put for $8.

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Sharing is caring: Bruce in Reno called my show with a bright idea. He just got an iPad and wants to watch movies on it with his wife on an upcoming trip. “Is there a way to split the audio signal?” There sure is, Bruce. This handy gadget connects two sets of Bluetooth headphones to any device with a headphone jack. Sweet.

We may receive a commission when you buy through our links, but our reporting and recommendations are always independent and objective.

Our hospitals are under attack

Open/download audio

This week’s cyberattack on one of the largest health systems in the U.S., Ascension, was bad — really bad. Plus, a controversial Apple iPad ad, more Cybertruck problems, and Roblox adds virtual billboards to the game.

“People are not ready”: We have a whole generation of iPad kids, and now, an ex-Google CEO is warning about AI kids. Eric Schmidt says your child’s future bestie could be a bot. He also said “normal people” don’t get AI. Good point, but that’s why you have me! If you’re wondering about AI, I can help.

Summer lovin’ (not splashin’)

Even the highest-rated “waterproof” phones were tested in fresh, calm water — not the beach or a chlorinated water slide. Protect your stuff.

Retire the Ziploc bag: Snag a two-pack of Pelican Marine pouches for your fam’s phones. There’s a lanyard so your phone won’t slip into the water, but even if it does, it floats! The olive color is 30% off.
Float on: This floating HD speaker has eight colors of LED lights … that project flamingos underwater! So fun. Right now, it’s 13% off (under $40).
Throw and go: Get a dry bag and don’t worry about your phone, tablet, book … You name it, It’s covered. The waterproof 5L Heeta Dry Bag is 20% off and just under $12.
Look, ma! No hands: Store your phone, cash and cards with a waterproof pouch — just $9.89 for a black-and-white set of two. It’s touchscreen-friendly, so you can splash and text.
Beach reads: Protect your Kindle or iPad with a waterproof pouch. This floating one fits tablets up to 11 inches and is on sale for 11% off.

We may receive a commission when you buy through our links, but our reporting and recommendations are always independent and objective.

🍏 Using old Apple tech? Starting Dec. 18, there’ll be no more iCloud backups for devices running on iOS 8 or earlier. Device-wise, that’s anything older than an iPhone 4s or iPad 2. Check if you can update to iOS 9 via Settings > Software Update. If not, it’s time to move on, friend. Cheap upgrades: iPad (10th-gen) for 20% off and the iPhone 12 (16% off).

We may receive a commission when you buy through our links, but our reporting and recommendations are always independent and objective.

Update your Apple gear ASAP: Apple dropped important security updates that patch a serious bug in Safari for Macs, iPhones and iPads. Google’s Threat Analysis Group believes a foreign government is behind the attack. On a Mac, click the Apple icon > System Settings. Look for “Software Update Available.” The latest version is Sequoia 15.1.1. Update your iPhone to iOS 18.1.1 under Settings > General > Software Update.

iPad keyboard trick: When you need to type with one hand, switch to the floating keyboard. Then, all you have to do is pinch in with two fingers on the onscreen keyboard to shrink it. Move it wherever you want, and type away. To go back to normal, pinch out.

🧹 Refresh your iPad without losing your stuff: Go to Settings > General > Transfer or Reset iPad > Reset, then pick Reset All Settings. This will return your network, keyboard dictionary, location and privacy settings to their factory defaults. Choose one or go for a full reset. DO NOT tap Erase All Content and Settings unless you’re ready to lose everything.

‘Bout time: Apple iOS 18 makes it easier to change the email address associated with your iCloud account. It’s been a royal pain in the butt until now. Look for the Primary Email option under your account settings.

🖨️ Print from your iPhone or iPad: If you have an AirPrint-compatible printer, open your doc and tap the Share button. Scroll to Print > Printer Options > Print. FYI: Both devices need to be on the same network, either via Wi-Fi or an ethernet cable connected to your router.

📦 Happy deal hunting: Amazon rebranded its used item marketplace to Amazon Resale (secret link there!), where you can snag deals on used, pre-owned or open-box products. I found a pretty sweet Chromebook for around $200 and an iPad for just $110. Every listing is inspected and covered by Amazon’s return policy. Check it out!

We may receive a commission when you buy through our links, but our reporting and recommendations are always independent and objective.

Use YouTube Premium? Buy through an iPhone or iPad, and it’s $18.99 per month. On the YouTube website, it’s $13.99 monthly. Yeah, cancel through your phone and buy it again.

Keyboard shortcut smarts: Attach a keyboard to your iPad (I use this one), and you’ll get a list of shortcuts. Just hold down Cmd while using the app to view shortcuts for that app.

We may receive a commission when you buy through our links, but our reporting and recommendations are always independent and objective.

Pump it up: Stream music, movies or whatever’s on your iPad to a larger screen. Just tap the AirPlay icon in the Control Center and select an AirPlay-compatible device. Score.

Baby- or snoop-proof your iPad: Activate Guided Access. Just triple-click the home button once you’re in the app you wish to lock, then triple-click again to exit and enter your passcode. Now, your kid can play a game or your pal can scroll photos — and nothing else.

Disabled people are finding the Apple Vision Pro life-changing: Maxine Collard, who has uncorrectable low visual acuity and strabismus, is using the Vision Pro to study for her Ph.D., saying it’s “like slapping an iPad” on her face. Steve Coulson used Apple’s AR/VR headset with his profound hearing loss, and he can now attend meetings. If you or someone you know has sight or hearing problems, read this article. It totally changed my opinion of the AVP.

Not banking on this: A creative 53-year-old man used an iPad to rob a bank in Las Vegas, showing a note on his tablet that read, “I am heavily armed.” No joke, his first attempt (the day before) was foiled after someone activated a silent alarm. His iPad trick worked, and he got away with nearly $1,000 in cash … before police arrested him.

Dominate the multitasking game: Use an iPad? Drag an app out of the dock and place it alongside another open app. They’ll run side by side in Split View. Slide down to convert it to Slide Over mode.

Apple announced a larger 13-inch iPad Air with an M2 chip, its first iPad Pro with an OLED display and a 10th-generation iPad that starts at $349. Plus, they teased the AI-compatible M4 chip, a new Pencil Pro with haptic feedback, and an upgraded Magic Keyboard with a larger trackpad and a row of function keys. You can pick them up beginning next week.