Ipad Personalization

    I have never handled this device, or any similar device for that matter.  The first thing I did was go to Youtube and watch a couple of videos that explained basic information about using it.  As with any such tutorial, I wrote down notes to refer to in the future.  I put links at the bottom to these.
    I then used my laptop to access the assignment page for personalizing the device.  I viewed the hyperlinked tutorials, took notes, and tried the directions out on the Ipad. 
    When I went to change the wallpaper, I realized that I would have to upload photos to the unit before I could use them.  I sent myself several emails with photos attached.  (Of course, I had to go find some good pics in my collection, which distracted me off task for a few minutes).  On the Ipad, I went to the browser and opened my Yahoo account up.  I also looked up how to save photos to the Ipad.  When I viewed the attachments, tapping the right corner will bring up a [SAVE IMAGE].  I discovered that pictures of more than a few Mb will slow it down, and anything over 10 Mb will choke the Ipad.  I had to ditch a couple of pics.  (I had chosen several pics to use in the Picture Frame task also).   I verified they were in the photo app, and then followed the directions to set them as wallpaper.  Because the screen is locked to Portrait layout (which I did earlier), I had to choose vertically framed pictures – something to consider.  I used both methods, and set 2 different pics up. 
    When setting up the Picture Frame task, I determined I shouldn't use the “zoom in on faces” option, as I had a lot of landscapes.  When trying out the “origami” setting, I discovered it forced the “zoom...faces” on, which meant I couldn't use it.  I used the simple dissolve instead.  One thing I noticed is the pictures, which are of different dimensions, weren't fitted to the screen.  I shall have to find if that can be adjusted.  I also learned how to take a screen shot.  This is done by pressing the “Home” and “Sleep” buttons simultaneously.
    Since I had already used Yahoo for downloading the pics, it wasn't too difficult to set up the email account.  However, I use a long and complicated password, and I found it is annoying to constantly switch the keyboard between letters and numbers.
    The passcode lock wasn't hard to do.  I had already put some of the apps in a folder as part of the initial learning I had done.  I spent an hour or so, not including the initial work I did researching how to use it.
    I haven't done a lot of things yet, but it seems this could be very useful in many situations, including a classroom.  It could also help as a distraction to students when the teaching plan has a hiccup and the teacher is trying to I'm sure as I get more familiar with it, I will find a lot of uses for it.  I would be concerned about scratches and damage to the screen surface over time from dirty fingers and hard objects, not to mention kids dropping them.  I could be interested to acquire one of these myself in the future if I had the money.  It would certainly be more convenient to carry one of these in a backpack, as opposed to a full laptop.  I could imagine someone hiking and navigating (orienteering) with it using it with a GPS app and Google Maps / Satellite view for that overhead vision.  Also, taking a picture of plants and animals and using it to search google images online and identify the item.   Logging research data from the field would be another use.  Of course, connection range would be important, and perhaps a long distance antenna add-on will be in the future.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JMht9_F3580
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sLzCXB-BD9g