Received an iPad as a gift... Now what?

[JBond]

I like toys, but I have never owned an Apple product. Strictly Windows and Android up to this point.

Where do I start? Favorite apps? Tips and tricks? Data plans on AT&T? How do you use your iPad?

Thank you.

John

 

[a_minimalist]

Start selling your other non-Apple products because you're about to get sucked.

 

[Yeagermeister]

Sell it and buy three Android tablets

 

[trickblue]

I like toys, but I have never owned an Apple product. Strictly Windows and Android up to this point.

Where do I start? Favorite apps? Tips and tricks? Data plans on AT&T? How do you use your iPad?

Thank you.

John

You are gonna hate it... they are WAY overrated...

Just send it to me and I'll dispose of it for you...

 

[trickblue]

Here's some suggestions from user Air Force One...

HBOGO and MAXGO: if you have a subscription for either or both via cable or DirecTV you can watch movies etc.. for free on your iPad with these apps

ESPN Scorecenter: get push notifications and customize the app with your favorite teams

CNBC: great live stocks app

NEWS: CNN, Politico, FOXNEWS, USAToday

NFL 2011: official NFL App for schedules news and scores

Crackle: Free TV episodes and movies(has some commercials)

Speedtest and Speedtest X HD: speedtest for cellular and wifi networks

Quakes: great app for monitoring earthquakes(never thought I would need this but....)

Waze: FREE Turn By Turn Voice Navigation

Google Earth

Slacker Free radio: Free Music Streaming

Planetary: A music player that uses animated planets and stars to represent your music tracks and albums...you have to see it to understand

Shopping: Amazon, EBAY Walgreens

Games: Gun Bros, NOVA 2 HD, Rainbow Six, Monopoly, Race Illegal, Plants vs. Zombies, Ms. PacMan

The Weather Channel

Photon Web Browser can play Flash videos and Atomic Web Browser has craploads of features​

I would also add:

StarWalk: Point the Ipad at the sky. The GPS it tells you which stars are which and which ones are planets

Netflix: If you have a Netflix account you can watch movies and TV series right on your iPad

NBC app: Lets you watch their shows on your iPad

ABC app: Lets you watch their shows on your iPad

CBS app: They ain't got one

redbox: tells you where their movie kiosks are and what movies are available in each individual box. You can reserve a movie and prepay then pick it up at your convenience.

Games: Angry Birds HD (especially the "Space" version, Draw Something, Air Mail, Carcassone, Infinity Blade II, Machinarium, Pinball Arcade, Super Stickman Golf, Where's My Water, Words With Friends.

*Note. Most of these are paid games, but many have free try it before you buy it versions. When you go to the iTunes store, they have a list of Top Selling Paid Games and Top Downloaded Free Games​

 

[JBond]

Honestly my Samsung Galaxy S3 fulfills most of my mobile needs. My 3 year old daughter loves playin Angry Birds on the iPad. Ive only had it for a couple of days. I'm not sure what I'm going to use it for.

I am going to head to the AT&T store for a sim card and I need to pick a rate plan today. How much data are people using?

My phone is from T-Mobile and it is very efficient. I have a Sprint Wifi hotspot from work and it is very inefficient regarding bandwidth. It uses four times the data to download the same show on netflix, etc. How is AT&T?

 

[a_minimalist]

Here's some suggestions from user Air Force One...

HBOGO and MAXGO: if you have a subscription for either or both via cable or DirecTV you can watch movies etc.. for free on your iPad with these apps

ESPN Scorecenter: get push notifications and customize the app with your favorite teams

CNBC: great live stocks app

NEWS: CNN, Politico, FOXNEWS, USAToday

NFL 2011: official NFL App for schedules news and scores

Crackle: Free TV episodes and movies(has some commercials)

Speedtest and Speedtest X HD: speedtest for cellular and wifi networks

Quakes: great app for monitoring earthquakes(never thought I would need this but....)

Waze: FREE Turn By Turn Voice Navigation

Google Earth

Slacker Free radio: Free Music Streaming

Planetary: A music player that uses animated planets and stars to represent your music tracks and albums...you have to see it to understand

Shopping: Amazon, EBAY Walgreens

Games: Gun Bros, NOVA 2 HD, Rainbow Six, Monopoly, Race Illegal, Plants vs. Zombies, Ms. PacMan

The Weather Channel

Photon Web Browser can play Flash videos and Atomic Web Browser has craploads of features​

I would also add:

StarWalk: Point the Ipad at the sky. The GPS it tells you which stars are which and which ones are planets

Netflix: If you have a Netflix account you can watch movies and TV series right on your iPad

NBC app: Lets you watch their shows on your iPad

ABC app: Lets you watch their shows on your iPad

CBS app: They ain't got one

redbox: tells you where their movie kiosks are and what movies are available in each individual box. You can reserve a movie and prepay then pick it up at your convenience.

Games: Angry Birds HD (especially the "Space" version, Draw Something, Air Mail, Carcassone, Infinity Blade II, Machinarium, Pinball Arcade, Super Stickman Golf, Where's My Water, Words With Friends.

*Note. Most of these are paid games, but many have free try it before you buy it versions. When you go to the iTunes store, they have a list of Top Selling Paid Games and Top Downloaded Free Games​

add the app pulse to that. it's a good app that combines all of your news sources into one. Reuters is a good app too if you like facts and not opinion in your news.

 

[JBond]

Here's some suggestions from user Air Force One...

HBOGO and MAXGO: if you have a subscription for either or both via cable or DirecTV you can watch movies etc.. for free on your iPad with these apps​

ESPN Scorecenter: get push notifications and customize the app with your favorite teams​

CNBC: great live stocks app​

NEWS: CNN, Politico, FOXNEWS, USAToday​

NFL 2011: official NFL App for schedules news and scores​

Crackle: Free TV episodes and movies(has some commercials)​

Speedtest and Speedtest X HD: speedtest for cellular and wifi networks​

Quakes: great app for monitoring earthquakes(never thought I would need this but....)​

Waze: FREE Turn By Turn Voice Navigation​

Google Earth​

Slacker Free radio: Free Music Streaming​

Planetary: A music player that uses animated planets and stars to represent your music tracks and albums...you have to see it to understand​

Shopping: Amazon, EBAY Walgreens​

Games: Gun Bros, NOVA 2 HD, Rainbow Six, Monopoly, Race Illegal, Plants vs. Zombies, Ms. PacMan​

The Weather Channel​

Photon Web Browser can play Flash videos and Atomic Web Browser has craploads of features​

I would also add:

StarWalk: Point the Ipad at the sky. The GPS it tells you which stars are which and which ones are planets

Netflix: If you have a Netflix account you can watch movies and TV series right on your iPad

NBC app: Lets you watch their shows on your iPad

ABC app: Lets you watch their shows on your iPad

CBS app: They ain't got one

redbox: tells you where their movie kiosks are and what movies are available in each individual box. You can reserve a movie and prepay then pick it up at your convenience.

Games: Angry Birds HD (especially the "Space" version, Draw Something, Air Mail, Carcassone, Infinity Blade II, Machinarium, Pinball Arcade, Super Stickman Golf, Where's My Water, Words With Friends.

*Note. Most of these are paid games, but many have free try it before you buy it versions. When you go to the iTunes store, they have a list of Top Selling Paid Games and Top Downloaded Free Games​

Thanks Trick...I wish the forum had a thanks button like XDA, a mobile tech site I frequent.

 

[trickblue]

Honestly my Samsung Galaxy S3 fulfills most of my mobile needs. My 3 year old daughter loves playin Angry Birds on the iPad. Ive only had it for a couple of days. I'm not sure what I'm going to use it for.

I am going to head to the AT&T store for a sim card and I need to pick a rate plan today. How much data are people using?

My phone is from T-Mobile and it is very efficient. I have a Sprint Wifi hotspot from work and it is very inefficient regarding bandwidth. It uses four times the data to download the same show on netflix, etc. How is AT&T?

I didn't buy the one with built in 3g. I use my wireless at home and my WiFi hotspot.

The $15 get 2 gigs of data. I think the $25 gives you 5 gigs. I'm not sure as they change these things so often.

Mine is so useful that my wife takes it with her to work almost every day before I wake up...

It is a very smooth tablet that is very easy to use...

 

[BrAinPaiNt]

Honestly my Samsung Galaxy S3 fulfills most of my mobile needs. My 3 year old daughter loves playin Angry Birds on the iPad. Ive only had it for a couple of days. I'm not sure what I'm going to use it for.

I am going to head to the AT&T store for a sim card and I need to pick a rate plan today. How much data are people using?

My phone is from T-Mobile and it is very efficient. I have a Sprint Wifi hotspot from work and it is very inefficient regarding bandwidth. It uses four times the data to download the same show on netflix, etc. How is AT&T?

Do you have a desktop or laptop computer at home that hooks into a cable modem?

If you have a cable modem (I say cable modem as that seems to be the norm these days)...you can get a cheap wires router to hook up to it.

In doing so you can use that as a wifi hub in your house for you phone AND your Ipad or other computers (laptops or tablets) that have wireless capabilities.

In doing that you would not have to get a data plan from any carrier to use your ipad at home. The only thing is if you go out anywhere that does not have free wifi, you would not be able to get on the internet.

So my best advice to you would be to go and get a cheap wireless router (like a lynksis) and hook it up to your cable modem at home. Much cheaper in the long run than getting a data plan through a carrier for your Ipad.

That of course is if you have internet at home.

After writing all of that...how did she get angry birds on the Ipad...did it come with it or did you already use the wifi in your house or someone where else?

 

[JBond]

Do you have a desktop or laptop computer at home that hooks into a cable modem?

If you have a cable modem (I say cable modem as that seems to be the norm these days)...you can get a cheap wires router to hook up to it.

In doing so you can use that as a wifi hub in your house for you phone AND your Ipad or other computers (laptops or tablets) that have wireless capabilities.

In doing that you would not have to get a data plan from any carrier to use your ipad at home. The only thing is if you go out anywhere that does not have free wifi, you would not be able to get on the internet.

So my best advice to you would be to go and get a cheap wireless router (like a lynksis) and hook it up to your cable modem at home. Much cheaper in the long run than getting a data plan through a carrier for your Ipad.

That of course is if you have internet at home.

After writing all of that...how did she get angry birds on the Ipad...did it come with it or did you already use the wifi in your house or someone where else?

It is a first generation model that was handed down when my dad purchased the new model.

I hooked it up on wifi on my home system last night. I am a bit of a storm chasing junkie (not that there has been much this year) and thought it would be nice to have on the road if it ever rains again.

 

[BrAinPaiNt]

It is a first generation model that was handed down when my dad purchased the new model.

I hooked it up on wifi on my home system last night. I am a bit of a storm chasing junkie (not that there has been much this year) and thought it would be nice to have on the road if it ever rains again.

Well I don't know if I would pay for a monthly service plan if I was only going to use it once in a great while away from your wifi.

Just something to think about to save a buck or two.

If you use the wifi at home it will work for about everything. My wife has an Ipad and does not service plan on it...just uses the Wifi and she has no problems...heck for her it is 100x times better than the old crappy laptop she had. She just plays games, surfs the net, reads books on it now and I showed her some places she can watch movies...so she is good to go. If she is away from the house she can just use her iphone to surf.

 

[trickblue]

I showed her some places she can watch movies...so she is good to go. If she is away from the house she can just use her iphone to surf.

You gave her the credentials to your iPorn account?

 

[BrAinPaiNt]

You gave her the credentials to your iPorn account?

No...not for those...those are mine...allll mine. :laugh2:

On a side note to the OP.

If you don't want it or want to keep it for a family member. You could raffle it off or you could, flat out sell the Ipad or donate it to a worthy charity.

 

[Kangaroo]

My only problem with any of tablets is I can not do what i need to do for work from them.

The only real use I could get out of them would be if I can get them secured on my network then I could create an QR print out slap it on the server rack and then I could use the camera and qr app to automatically launch ILO on the server helpful but not and end all be all for me.

Oh and if I hook the bluetooth wireless scanner to one it be worth scanning the hardware when i receive it and deploy it but even that is slowing reducing in value with are VMware growth

 

[Yeagermeister]

My only problem with any of tablets is I can not do what i need to do for work from them.

The only real use I could get out of them would be if I can get them secured on my network then I could create an QR print out slap it on the server rack and then I could use the camera and qr app to automatically launch ILO on the server helpful but not and end all be all for me.

Oh and if I hook the bluetooth wireless scanner to one it be worth scanning the hardware when i receive it and deploy it but even that is slowing reducing in value with are VMware growth

You could play Angry Birds on it

 

[iceberg]

i got an android 4.0 tablet the other day to watch movies as i flew to seattle this week for work.

then i got an inner and outer ear infection and fluid imn my ear canal and was flying nowhere.

but the tablet itself, i love. it's *not* an OS per se in the typical windows way, it's more of a ... phone. you don't download software to install you just download the widget and it does whatever you need done.

i'd say that's an advancement but when i looked at the advanced to the android OS they actually list copy/paste as a new feature.

tablets are consuming devices. play games. watch movies. light surfing. but would you write a book on it? do any video editing?

just understand what it's for and use it. i'm a microsoft person but the ipad is pretty bad arse.

 

[JBond]

No...not for those...those are mine...allll mine. :laugh2:

On a side note to the OP.

If you don't want it or want to keep it for a family member. You could raffle it off or you could, flat out sell the Ipad or donate it to a worthy charity.

I give plenty to charity. Too many place to list. My wife seems enamoured with it. It will probably end up as her new toy and earn me some bonus points! My birthday is not till September.

 

[Phrozen Phil]

i got an android 4.0 tablet the other day to watch movies as i flew to seattle this week for work.

then i got an inner and outer ear infection and fluid imn my ear canal and was flying nowhere.

but the tablet itself, i love. it's *not* an OS per se in the typical windows way, it's more of a ... phone. you don't download software to install you just download the widget and it does whatever you need done.

i'd say that's an advancement but when i looked at the advanced to the android OS they actually list copy/paste as a new feature.

tablets are consuming devices. play games. watch movies. light surfing. but would you write a book on it? do any video editing?
just understand what it's for and use it. i'm a microsoft person but the ipad is pretty bad arse.

I got one and it was my first Apple purchase. The a/n part in bold is a great description of the device. It will not replace my laptop and it does not not do somethings well. I have a Kindle and would not recommend the iPad as an eReader.
It does Facebook reasoanably well and browsing this board is good. For me the best part is picking it up at home and instantly being connected to my network. Each App does its' function pretty well and is available right now.
One of my favorites is National Geographic. The digital version of the magazine has interactive elements and and the tablet allows for viewing great pictures and video clips. There are sites that provide access to films and TV shows, many of them free. It's primarily an entertainment device. I don't have 3G on mine and wouldn't likely use it. That's what the phone is for.

Do most people need it? Probably not, but when you have it, it can be a blast. There are apps that help you find the apps you're looking for and App Hits will help you find them free or on sale. BTW, if you like Angry Birds, you might get a kick out of Catapult King. Enjoy.

 

[YosemiteSam]

I like toys, but I have never owned an Apple product. Strictly Windows and Android up to this point.

Where do I start? Favorite apps? Tips and tricks? Data plans on AT&T? How do you use your iPad?

Thank you.

John

Sell it and get a Nexus 7. They are a lot more functional. You will have a better tablet and a pocket full of cash to boot.