iPad For Seniors For Dummies. Feiler Jesse

to use your phone’s 3G or 4G connection to go online if you have a data-use plan that supports hotspot use with your phone service carrier. Check out the features of your phone to turn on the hotspot feature.

      

If you have CarPlay, chances are you have a mobile hotspot: It’s called your car. Not all car dealers talk about technology in the same way that other people do: You may have to do a bit of poking around to find out what technology is behind “Super Duper Feature” in your car’s advertising and documentation, but chances are you’ve got a mobile hotspot that you can use with your iPad. If you get a new car with a 2- or 3-month trial period for the built-in car Wi-Fi, use that time to monitor your usage per the instructions from your car dealer. See how much data you’re using and, more important, keep track of what you’ve been doing.

      

Because 3G and 4G-LTE iPads are also GPS devices, they know where you are and can act as a navigation system to get you from here to there. The Wi-Fi–only model uses a digital compass and triangulation method for locating your current position, which is less accurate; with no constant Internet connection, it won’t help you get around town. If getting accurate directions is one iPad feature that excites you, get 3G/4G-LTE and then see Chapter 17 for more about the Maps feature.

KNOW WHERE TO BUY YOUR IPAD

      At this writing, you can buy an iPad at an Apple Store; at brick-and-mortar stores such as Best Buy, Walmart, Sam’s Club, and Target; and at online sites such as MacMall.com. You can also buy 3G/4G-LTE models (models that require an account with a phone service provider) from Sprint, AT&T, T-Mobile, and Verizon, as well as at the Apple Store.

      Apple Stores aren’t on every corner, so if visiting one isn’t an option (or you just prefer to go it alone), you can go to the Apple Store website (http://store.apple.com) and order an iPad to be shipped to you – even get it engraved, if you want. Typically, standard shipping is free, and if there’s a problem, Apple’s customer service reps will help you solve the problem or replace your iPad. Additionally, smaller stores that sell electronics can have an Apple Specialist designation that allows them to carry and sell Apple products. Check your local stores for this.

Consider iPad Accessories

      At present, Apple offers a few accessories that you may want to check out when you purchase your iPad, including

❯❯ iPad Smart Case/Smart Cover: Your iPad isn’t cheap, and unlike a laptop computer, it has an exposed screen that can be damaged if you drop or scratch it. Investing in the iPad Smart Case or Smart Cover is a good idea if you intend to take your iPad out of your house – or if you have a cat or grandchildren. The iPad Smart Cover (see Figure 1-2) costs $40 to $130 from various vendors, depending on design and material.

      ❯❯ Printers: Several HP, Brother, Canon, and Epson printers support the wireless AirPrint feature. At this writing, prices range from $129 to $399, and discounts are often available.

      ❯❯ Smart Keyboard: You can buy an attachable keyboard for your iPad Pro for $169, which will make working with productivity apps much easier. This keyboard connects to your iPad to provide power and transmit data between the devices. Also, the Magic Keyboard from Apple costs $99 and uses Bluetooth to connect to your iPad, a Mac, an iPhone, or any other device that works with a Bluetooth keyboard.

      ❯❯ Apple Pencil: For $99, you can buy the highly sophisticated stylus for use with the iPad Pro. The Apple Pencil makes it easy to draw on your iPad screen or manage complex interactions more precisely.

      ❯❯ Apple Digital AV Adapter: To connect devices to output high-definition media, you can buy this adapter for about $40 and use it with an HDMI cable. More and more devices that use this technology are coming out, such as projectors and TVs. But remember that wireless connections such as Bluetooth and Wi-Fi are less expensive and can eliminate all those cables and cords. In some circumstances, a wired connection is faster and more effective than wireless.

      ❯❯ Stands, docks, and other accessories: These are available from Apple Stores and from many third parties.

      FIGURE 1-2