Upcycle your tech: 8 clever uses for an old iPad
The iPad was introduced as something of a miracle device, more comfortable than your phone and more convenient than your computer. The tablet quickly gained tons of fans who couldn’t imagine living in a world without it.
This many years after it’s introduction, you might have an old one sitting around.
Don’t just let yours sit around collecting dust.There are plenty of great uses for those older models. Here are eight clever uses for an older iPad that will work just as well as newer models.
1. Stay connected with loved ones far away
The pandemic brought FaceTime, Zoom and other video plaforms to more people than ever as we all looked for safe ways to keep in touch. Older iPads are perfect for this. You can either use the FaceTime app that is already on your gadget if those you want to speak with also have an Apple device. Tap or click here to find out how to make group calls on your Apple device.
Or you can download a video conferencing app like Zoom or Skype. Either way, you’ll be able to speak with everyone who’s important in your life with a more personal touch than just by a phone call.
2. Digital photo frame
Within the Photos app, Apple allows you to generate and play slideshows of any photo album, local or on the cloud. By changing certain settings on your iPad, you can turn your device into however much of a dedicated digital photo viewer as you’d like.
First, turn on Do Not Disturb mode: From Settings, tap Do Not Disturb and toggle it on. This will silence any calls or notifications that would otherwise distract from photo-viewing.
The next step is to turn Auto-Lock off. Here’s how: From Settings tap Display & Brightness, then set Auto-Lock to Never. This will make it so your screen never goes to sleep. Finally, turn on Guided Access: From Settings, tap Accessibility then Guided Access, which you can toggle on. This allows you to lock your iPad to the current app.
3. A nice big remote
Blur your home on Maps and erase your data to remove your life from Google’s grip
I use Google for so many things, from looking things up, handling my email and calendar, and video chatting with my team, to peeking in on the Nest cam in my mother’s living room. The company provides a slew of really great products. But you have to remember, you are also a product in its profit stream.
Tech how-to: Easy way to set up your own music server
If you’re an audiophile who loves to collect digital albums and songs, you know the struggle that comes with finding a media server that you like and trust enough to use for storing your music. That struggle becomes even more real when you find a free service you like, but it suddenly starts charging for using the server, leaving you in a lurch.