18. Charging and iPad Peripherals

You’ve learned all about the various apps and features that your iPad offers, but now it’s time to learn a few bits of information related to third-party products and services. You’re going to find that the iPad has its own industry of providers who sell chargers, cases, keyboards, screen covers, and just about anything else you can imagine.

Hopefully you’ve been using and enjoying your iPad or iPad mini, playing games, reading eBooks, opening email messages, taking photos, shooting videos, sending messages, web chatting, taking notes, and lots more.

You may have been enjoying your iPad so much that you’ve now discovered a fundamental truth about your new tablet—it runs on batteries that eventually must be charged!

Yes, your tablet is an electronic device, and like all electronic devices its batteries will only last so long before they must be charged up again. Fortunately, the iPad and iPad mini were built with some hefty batteries! I’ve found it rare that I have to charge my iPad every day. Actually, every three or four days is more realistic, and I’m a heavy iPad user. If you’re only using your iPad to check email and maybe read some websites and eBooks, you may very well find that your iPad’s batteries are lasting much longer.

The charging port is found at the bottom of the iPad or iPad mini, just below the Home button. As a rule, it’s always safer to plug your charger into the wall first and then insert the other end of the wire into the tablet; if you plug in your iPad first, and then the plug into the wall you could damage your iPad with a small surge of power. (If you’ve ever inserted a plug into the wall and seen a small spark, that can cause problems for sensitive electronics like the ones inside the iPad.) Try to never plug in the wire to your iPad and then insert the charger into the wall socket.

Charging time varies from iPad to iPad. With the iPad 1 and 2, I could typically get it fully charged from below 10% to 100% in less than four or five hours using a 10-watt charger. The iPad 3 and 4 seems to take about seven to eight hours to get fully charged. The iPad mini comes with a 5-watt charger and can be completely charged, 0% to 100%, in about three-and-a-half hours. Not bad!

If you’re one of those iPad power users and you’re always finding yourself on the road with an iPad at 5% and you’ve left your charger at home, you might want to consider a third-party power charger, such as those available from Hypershop.com. The HyperJuice Micro costs around $70 and can charge an iPhone and an iPad at the same time using its two USB ports. Figure 18.1 shows the HyperJuice Micro device.

FIGURE 18.1. Consider an external power charger for your iPad.

Many vendors sell external chargers that are similar to the HyperJuice Micro. Just be sure to do your research and read some user reviews before making a purchase.

That said, when I need to print something I’ve found on my iPad (or maybe an attachment received via email), I typically end up forwarding it to my laptop that’s connected to a printer. I do very little printing, but I could see this being a major inconvenience for a lot of iPad owners. Fortunately, Apple has a solution.

Your iPad can print to any printer that supports the AirPrint service. This service was created by Apple as a way for third-party manufacturers to add iPad support to their products. Not every printer offers AirPrint (as a matter of fact, it’s a very small number that do), so if this feature is important to you, you’ll want to examine the list that Apple continuously updates of AirPrint-enabled printers. You can find that updated list by visiting http://support.apple.com/kb/HT4356. The list is organized by manufacturer name, so if you have a favorite brand of printer, click on the name of the company and view the list of available printers that support the AirPrint service.

At one time, Apple was the only game in town—they used to offer a keyboard with a small stand that also served as a charger. However, this keyboard doesn’t appear to be available anymore (except on eBay). Apple still sells the Bluetooth keyboard, however, that connects to your iPad wirelessly. You can see this keyboard in Figure 18.2.

FIGURE 18.2. Apple’s Bluetooth keyboard option.

But Apple is no longer the only game in town when it comes to external keyboards. Do a Google search for “iPad external keyboard” and prepare to spend some time sifting through all the available options.

One of the more popular options these days is a case for the iPad that also includes a keyboard built in to the cover of the case. Figure 18.3 shows the Logitech Ultrathin Keyboard Cover. The keyboard covers the screen of the iPad, serving as a cover until you open it up and prop the iPad on the built-in stand.

FIGURE 18.3. The Logitech Ultrathin Keyboard Cover.

Dozens of vendors sell cases with keyboards built in, so be sure to look around. A great place to start is MacMall.com—do a search for “iPad keyboard cases” and you’ll find a number of competing products.

You’ll find hard cases, soft cases, gel cases, and Kevlar (bulletproof) cases for both the larger iPads and the iPad mini. I’ve tried a number or cases, and I prefer hard cases to soft ones, but that’s just my personal preference. I’m more likely to drop something on my iPad than to drop my actual iPad, so I’ve steered clear of the soft and gel-style cases and gone with something that has a tough top shell to protect the glass screen.

One thing is for certain, however, when it comes to iPad cases—get one! A case will keep the iPad somewhat protected from spills, drops, and bumps, so it’s a worthwhile investment. No case is going to protect your iPad from a 50-foot drop (well, maybe...some case vendors make some mighty big claims), but my iPad has been saved from some near misses all because I’ve wrapped it in a nice protective shell.

Personal recommendation time: I love my DODOcase from Dodocase.com. From a distance, it looks like I’m carrying a hardback book. The top flips over to reveal my iPad held inside a tough bamboo frame. The thing is handmade (you can pick from a number of styles and colors) and I never stop getting compliments on it. Figure 18.4 shows the DODOcase I purchased—I love orange.

FIGURE 18.4. The DODOcase.

Figure 18.5 shows one popular minimalist tabletop stand from Grooveipadstand.com—simply insert the bottom edge of the iPad into the groove and your iPad is ready to go.

FIGURE 18.5. A simple stand with a groove for holding your iPad.

Figure 18.6 shows another type of stand that is more protective in nature and surrounds your iPad while still offering hands-free operation. This one is the Luxa2 H4 Holder from Luxa2.com.

FIGURE 18.6. This stand holds your iPad firmly.

If you like to use your iPad while sitting at a table or maybe as a presentation device in small meetings, a stand is a great way to securely hold your iPad at an easy-to-read angle.

The AppleTV is tiny—that’s it tucked under the TV in Figure 18.7.

FIGURE 18.7. The AppleTV makes a great partner to an iPad.

The AppleTV by itself can do some amazing things—Internet browsing, iTunes access to play your music via iCloud, Photo slideshows, movie purchase and rentals, and much more. For a complete description of all its features, visit Apple.com/appletv.

AppleTV also has what’s called AirPlay, which allows you to display whatever is on your iPad screen on your TV! (This is only supported with versions of the iPad 2 and higher).

With AirPlay, any app I open on my iPad, any game I play, any photo or video I watch can be displayed on the larger television screen in my living room. For example, at a recent birthday party for my oldest son, I had a slideshow of photos of him that continuously played on my iPad and displayed on the TV—our visitors (friends and family) enjoyed seeing all the pictures cycle through his birth to his fifth birthday party!

Lots of accessories haven’t been mentioned here: screen protectors (clear sheets for protecting against smudges and spills), attachments for connecting photo and video cameras, and even toy cars that you touch to the screen and drive over the terrain that’s displayed (search for Cars 2 Appmates or Hot Wheels Aptivity in the App Store).

As you use your iPad more and more, you may find yourself wanting a case, a stand, or some other accessory that would make using your iPad that much more enjoyable. Rest assured, if you can think of an accessory you’d like to own, someone out there is probably making and selling it!

Like iPad accessories, you have options when it comes to insurance. The most obvious is the Apple Care service you can purchase when you buy a new iPad. You can find more information about the extended coverage offered by Apple by visiting http://www.apple.com/support/products/.

And there are other options out there besides the one sold by Apple. You’ll want to do a Google search for “iPad insurance” and investigate the various companies that offer protection against damage and theft. Not all of them offer the same types of protection, and not all of them have the greatest record based on customer reports. Do your homework, investigate your options, and if you’re wanting to purchase some additional backup for your tablet, get a plan that you can afford and that your gut tells you will be honored should you have need to use it.