18. iPad Accessories
In this chapter, we use some optional accessories like cases, docks, keyboards, and adapters.
• iPad Smart Cover and Smart Case
• Apple iPad Camera Connection Kit
Many accessories available for your iPad perform a variety of tasks, protect it, or just make it look pretty.
You might already have some things that work with your iPad—printers and wireless keyboards, for instance. Let’s look at a variety of accessories to see how to use them.
Printing from Your iPad
Some time after the release of the first iPad, Apple added wireless printing to the iOS operating system. They call it AirPrint. You can print a web page or document directly from your iPad over your wireless network.
The one catch? It works only with newer printers that support AirPrint. Fortunately, the list is growing fast and now includes printers by many companies. You can find an updated list of AirPrint printers at http://support.apple.com/kb/ht4356.
Assuming you have one of these printers and have set it up on your local network, here’s how you print, using the Pages app as an example.
1. In Pages, with the document you want to print open, tap the Tools button.
2. Tap Share and Print.
3. Tap Print.
4. If you have never used this particular printer before, you’ll need to add it to the iPad’s list of printers. Tap Select Printer.
5. If the printer is on and has been configured to your network, it should appear in a list. Tap it to select it.
6. The printer will now appear in the button.
7. Tap Range to specify a range of pages to print, or leave it at All Pages. The Range option will appear only if you have more than one page in your document.
8. Tap here to set the number of copies to print, or leave it at 1 Copy.
9. Tap the Print button to send to the printer.
At this point, your iPad will launch a special Printer Center app. You may not notice it unless you quickly double-press the Home button to bring up the Recents List. You will then see this Print Center app running.
10. Double-press the Home button to bring up the Recents List.
11. Tap the Print Center icon to bring up a status menu.
12. You can see the status of the printing process and other information.
13. Tap Cancel Printing to stop printing.
How you initiate printing differs from app to app. Using Safari, for example, you go to the same button at the top of the screen that you use for bookmarking a page. You see Print as one of the options. In the Photos app, it is the same button that enables you to email a photo, among other things.
Although not all Wi-Fi printers support AirPrint, there is a way to cheat. Some enterprising third-party developers have come up with software for Macs that sets up a printer connected to the Mac as an AirPrint printer. You aren’t really printing directly to a printer—you are going through the Mac. Still, it may be a good option for some. Search on the web for the Macintosh software Printopia, FingerPrint, or AirPrint Activator.
iPad Smart Cover and Smart Case
A cover is just a cover, right? But Apple didn’t make “just a cover” for the iPad. They made a “smart cover.” By using magnets, this cover sticks to the front of the iPad and iPad mini without hiding the rest of the iPad’s design. And it is highly functional, acting as a stand as well. It does not, however, work with the original iPad. The Smart Case is basically the same as the Smart Cover, but it includes a cover for the back of the iPad as well and only fits the full-size iPad.
1. The cover will align to the front of your iPad using magnets and protect the screen.
2. Unfold the cover and two things will happen: the lining will clean your screen slightly, and the iPad will automatically wake up from sleep.
3. Fold the cover all the way back to form a triangle and elevate one side of the iPad for typing.
4. Flip the iPad over, and it will lean against the triangle-configured cover to stand the iPad up for watching video or using FaceTime.
(Courtesy of Apple Inc.)
(Courtesy of Apple Inc.)
(Courtesy of Apple Inc.)
You can get the Smart Cover in five colors in polyurethane and five colors in leather. Plus, with the magnets built into the iPad, there are sure to be third-party case makers that come out with even more styles in the future.
Power Accessories and Docks
A power user of any gadget usually acquires additional power chargers and cables. For instance, you might want to charge your iPad at home and at work. Remembering to carry the adapter with you everywhere you go usually doesn’t work out well because it is too easy to forget.
You can buy a second charger and dock cable from Apple that is the equivalent of the one that came with your iPad. Alternatively, the iPad Dock from Apple enables you to stand the iPad up vertically while it’s either plugged in to a power outlet or docked with your computer. You can also use the iPad in this position and even pipe the audio into external speakers through the dock.
Here is a list of items you might want to consider:
• Apple iPad 12W USB power adapter: A 12-watt adapter that charges the iPad at full speed, faster than a standard USB port. You’ll need to use a dock connector to connect it to your iPad. Make sure you get a Lightning cable for the 4th generation or iPad mini, and a 30-pin cable for older iPads.
• Apple Lightning to USB cable: If you just want an extra dock cable to plug your iPad into a Mac or PC for syncing and slow charging. Many cars and some public places like airports now have USB outlets that you can use with this cable or the one that came with your iPad. It is always good to have a spare cable, as losing your only one means you can’t charge your iPad. But if you have a recent iPhone or iPod, you already have another dock cable. But much older dock cables might not work with the iPad.
• Car Charger: If you want to charge your iPad in your car, get a car charger. You can find several: The Griffin PowerJolt Car Charger, the Kensington PowerBolt Micro Car Charger, and the Incase Car Charger. Incase also makes a “combo” charger that works from both AC power and cars. Make sure the charger you buy matches the connector on the bottom of your iPad: either 30-pin dock or Lightning connector. However, many chargers simply use a USB connector, allowing you to plug in either cable type provided you have the dock cable that came with your iPad handy.
Your iPad requires extra power to charge properly. With the power supply that came with your iPad, a 10 or 12 watt model, it should charge fully after about 4 hours. But with an iPhone power supply, or while hooked up to a full-power USB port on a computer, it takes twice that amount of time since those are 6 watts. Some low-power USB ports on computers won’t charge the iPad at all.
Video Output Adapters
If you want to show your iPad’s screen, or output video or a presentation from your iPad, you need to use either a cable or an Apple TV. Apple sells several dock adapters that send video from the dock to a monitor, television, or projector.
Lightning to VGA Adapter
The Lightning to VGA Adapter attaches on one end to the dock port on the bottom of your iPad. The other end is a VGA port you attach to a VGA cable that can be attached to a monitor or projector.
Whereas the original iPad could show only movies, presentations, and slideshows, the iPad 2 and newer can use this adapter to show almost anything that is on the screen. If you have an older iPad with a 30-pin connector, you'll need to get the old Apple VGA Adapter instead of this Lightning version.
1. Connect the Lightning to VGA Adapter to the dock port on your iPad.
2. Connect the other end of the adapter to a standard VGA cable.
3. Connect the other end of the VGA cable to a monitor or projector that accepts a VGA connection.
4. Use an audio mini jack to connect the headphone port of the iPad to the line in on the projector. The exact type of cable you need depends on what audio input the project takes.
5. At this point, the video on the projector or monitor should mirror that of the iPad. Some apps may show different things on the iPad’s screen and the external display. For example, Keynote will show the presentation on the external display, while you have the presentation plus controls on the iPad’s screen.
(Courtesy of Apple Inc.)
Lightning Digital AV Adapter
This is an HDMI connector that enables you to connect directly to televisions and newer projectors that have an HDMI port. In addition, you can connect HDMI and another dock cable at the same time, allowing you to keep your iPad charged.
(Courtesy of Apple Inc.)
An HDMI connection gives you a higher quality connection over a VGA adapter. But while most modern televisions have HDMI input, it is still rare on school and corporate projectors. The way you use an HDMI adapter is the same as how you use a VGA one. It will mirror the screen except in cases like with Keynote.
The video coming from the iPad is compatible with both 720p and 1080p HD televisions and video devices. It also includes audio over the HDMI cable. Many televisions support only 1080i, not 1080p. In that case, the video may be shown in 720p instead.
AirPlay Mirroring with Apple TV
The second generation Apple TV, the one that looks like a little black box, may be the best iPad accessory of them all. It enables you to mirror the screen of the iPad just like the VGA and HDMI cables do. But you can do this wirelessly, using the local Wi-Fi network and something called AirPlay mirroring.
You need to make sure several things are in place before you can use AirPlay Mirroring.
1. Make sure that both your iPad and Apple TV are connected to the same local network.
2. Make sure both your iPad and Apple TV are up-to-date. Using older or mismatched versions of software on the devices could prevent AirPlay from working.
3. Turn on AirPlay on your Apple TV. To do this, go into Settings, AirPlay, and turn it on.
4. On your iPad, double-tap the Home button to bring up the Recents list at the bottom of the screen.
(Courtesy of Apple Inc.)
5. Swipe left to right to get to the media controls.
6. Tap the AirPlay button.
7. Select which Apple TV you want to mirror the iPad’s screen.
To stop AirPlay mirroring, just repeat steps 4 through 7, selecting the iPad instead of one of the Apple TVs.
The $99 for an Apple TV may be worth it just as an AirPlay accessory for the iPad. But you also get all the other Apple TV features, such as iTunes movie rentals, YouTube, Netflix and Hulu apps, and streaming for iTunes on Macs and PCs.
You’ll notice that some apps won’t mirror to Apple TV at all. Certain video streaming apps have purposely restricted mirroring due to licensing issues and other reasons. So you might not be able to mirror when using apps from certain cable networks.
Apple Wireless Keyboard
If you have a lot of typing to do, and are sitting at a desk anyway, you can use Apple’s Bluetooth keyboard with your iPad. This is the same wireless keyboard that you would use with a Mac.
1. To connect to the Apple Wireless Keyboard, first make sure that you have good batteries in it.
(Courtesy of Apple Inc.)
Choosing the Right Wireless Keyboard
If you have an older Apple wireless keyboard, it might not work with your iPad. The Apple Store warns that only “newer” keyboards can successfully connect to the iPad. Reports from people with older wireless keyboards indicate that this is true. However, you don’t need to stick with Apple’s wireless keyboard. Most Bluetooth keyboards work fine with the iPad. Search your favorite online store for all kinds of compact wireless Bluetooth keyboards. Check reviews to see if anyone has mentioned trying the model with an iPad.
2. Go to the Settings app on your iPad and tap on the General settings on the left.
3. Tap Bluetooth to go to the Bluetooth settings.
4. Make sure Bluetooth is turned on. Switch it on if not.
5. Turn on your Apple Wireless Keyboard by pressing the button on its right side. You should see a small green light turn on at the upper-right corner of the main face of the keyboard.
6. After a second or two, the keyboard should appear on your iPad screen. Tap where you see Not Paired on the iPad screen.
7. Look for a 4-digit number in the message displayed. Type that on your keyboard. Then press the Return key.
8. After the connection is established, you should see Connected next to the name of your keyboard.
9. After you connect, the iPad automatically uses the physical keyboard by default, rather than bringing up the on-screen keyboard. To use the on-screen keyboard again, you can either disconnect or power off your Apple Wireless Keyboard, or you can press the Eject button at the upper-right corner of the keyboard to switch to the on-screen keyboard at any time.
You can also connect a keyboard to your iPad using the USB connector that comes with the iPad Camera Connection Kit. Not all keyboards work, however, as the keyboard needs to be a low-power model.
One challenge when using a keyboard is to find a way to stand your iPad up with the keyboard just under it. Many stands and cases will help you with this. The InCase Origami Workstation is a case for your Apple wireless keyboard that transforms into a stand for the iPad and keeps the keyboard in the right position just below it.
Protecting Your iPad
Instead of the Smart Cover, or in addition to it, you may want to get a protective case for your iPad. The problem here is not finding one, but choosing from the hundreds of models already available.
An example is the InCase Book Jacket Select case. It completely surrounds the iPad and opens like a book to reveal the screen. The screen cover also folds back to give you a way to stand up the iPad in horizontal orientation.
InCase Book Jacket Select
If you want something inexpensive and simple, the Case Logic 10-inch Tablet Sleeve is basically just a padded fabric envelope for your iPad. This kind of case makes it easy to use your iPad without anything in the way, and protects it when you move from place to place.
Case Logic 10-inch Tablet Sleeve
If you want something that stays on your iPad all the time, the Speck SmartShell case is a good example of one that fits onto the back and protects the back and sides. The InCase Snap Case is another one to look into.
Speck SmartShell
And finally, just to show you how functional cases can get, there is the Kensington KeyFolio Pro Keyboard Case, a case with a built-in Bluetooth keyboard. It basically turns your iPad into a laptop.
Kensington KeyFolio Pro Keyboard Case
When looking for a case, there are many things to consider. Don’t just look in a local Apple Store—it stocks only a few cases. Look online to discover a wide variety. Pick one that fits your needs and style.
Many of the newer cases might also cover the iPad plus the Smart Cover. This solves the problem of which to get: Get both!
Remember that each version of the iPad is physically different. The original iPad and the iPad 2 are different shapes. The 3rd and 4rth generation are slightly larger than the iPad 2. The 4th generation has a different dock type on the bottom. Of course the iPad mini is much smaller than all of them. Check the product carefully to make sure you are getting one that fits your device.
SD Card and USB Adapters
Apple sells two adapters that can be used to connect your camera to your iPad. The first is a Lighting to SD Card Reader that lets you take an SD card and connect it to your iPad. The second is a USB adapter that lets you plug your camera and other devices directly into your iPad. If you have a 3rd generation or older iPad, you'll need to get the old Apple iPad Camera Connection Kit which includes both of these adapters for the 30-pin dock connector.
Here is how to import photos directly from your camera or SD card.
1. Connect either the camera connector or the SD card reader to your iPad’s dock port.
2. Connect your camera using the USB cable that came with it, or slide the SD card into the card reader. If you are connecting a camera, you will most likely need to switch the camera on and into the same mode you use to transfer pictures to a computer.
3. After a slight delay, the Photos app should launch and images on the camera or card should appear on your iPad’s screen. Tap Import All to import all the photos on the card.
4. Tap the Delete All button if you want to delete the images without ever importing them into your iPad.
5. If you don’t want to import or delete all of the images, tap one or more images to select them.
6. Tap Import.
7. Tap Import Selected to bring in only the selected photos.
8. After importing the photos, you will be given the change to delete them from the camera or card. Tap Delete to remove them.
9. Tap Keep to leave the images on the camera or card.
The Connection Kit does a lot more than just let you use cameras and SD cards. You can also connect USB headsets with the camera connector and use them as headphones and/or a microphone. You can connect low-power USB keyboards as well. The SD card reader can be used to transfer video and images, so you can use it to play stored movies from SD cards.
Wirelessly Transfer from Camera to iPad
With the Eye-Fi card (www.eye.fi) you can take pictures with your digital camera and wirelessly transfer them from your camera to your iPad. You can even do this while you are taking more pictures. The card is something you install in your camera that acts like a regular SD card, but it also contains a tiny wireless transmitter. Then you use a free iPad app to connect the card to your iPad. Snap a picture and it appears on your iPad.