Using an iPad to be more productive requires using the right features and downloading the right apps for it. This requires setting up a personal assistant, drafting documents with the latest applications, using the cloud to synchronize documents between devices, and collaborating with teammates.
Make the most of Siri
Siri isn’t just for ordering pizza or checking the weather. Siri is an efficient productivity tool that works best as a personal assistant when bundled with the iPad. Siri can help in many ways. Use Siri to keep up with reminders, set meeting times and schedule events. Siri also takes voice dictation.
Siri works with iPad calendars, reminders and other apps. The apps can also be synced with iCloud and can set up reminders on the iPad and display them on the iPhone. When multiple people use the same iCloud account, they all have access to these calendar events.
Download Office Suite
The iPad comes with an office suite. The Apple iWork, which includes Pages, Numbers and Keynote, is free to download for people who buy iPads or iPhones. Apple iWork includes applications for word processing, spreadsheets, and presentations.
If you like Microsoft Office, you can use the unified iPad version of the app, which has the all-in-one functionality of Excel, Word and PowerPoint. You can also download Outlook, OneNote, Skype, and SharePoint NewsFeed.
There are also applications for Google Docs and Google Sheets that make it easier to use Google’s cloud-based tools.
Integrated Cloud Storage
Dropbox is another highly effective app for the iPad. It makes backing up documents on the iPad a breeze and is perfect for working on both iPads and PCs. Dropbox syncs files in seconds. Take photos and retouch them on the iPad, make deeper edits on the PC, and then return to the iPad to share the photos.
There are other great cloud storage solutions for the iPad. Apple already makes it easy to manage documents in the cloud with a File app and a drag-and-drop function.
Video conference
The iPad is good at communication. Use the iPad as a phone to access video conferencing between FaceTime and Skype. You can choose between Cisco WebEx Meetings and GoToMeeting for video conferencing.
Scan documents using an iPad
The iPad camera acts as a scanner and, when used with an app, makes it easy to take a picture of a document and clip the image perfectly to make it look as if it were passing through a real scanner. The best part is that most scanner applications can copy documents to cloud storage, tag documents, print them, and send them as E-mail attachments.
Scanner Pro is one of the leading applications for scanning documents. To scan a document with the Scanner Pro, click the plus button to activate the iPad camera. Then, align the document within the scope of the camera. Scanner Pro waits until it has a stable photo, automatically takes the photo, and then crops it to display the document.
Buy an Airprint printer
The iPad is compatible with many out-of-the-box printers. AirPrint allows the iPad printer to communicate over a local Wi-Fi network, so there is no need to connect the iPad to the printer. Simply buy a printer that supports AirPrint, connect it to your phone’s Wi-Fi network, and the iPad will recognize it.
You can print from the iPad app by tapping the “Share” button, which looks like a box with an arrow. If the application supports printing, the Print button appears in the second line of the Share menu button.
Download the correct application
If you need to take Notes that are beyond the capabilities of the built-in Notes app, and you want to share your Notes with non-iOS devices, try Evernote. Evernote is a multi-platform cloud-based version of Notes.
If using PDF files, try using Goodreader to read and edit notes. Goodreader is connected to popular cloud storage solutions, so you can plug it into your workflow.
If you need to manage more tasks than the iPad alerts and calendar apps can offer, try Things. Because of its superiority as a task manager, Things is one of the most efficient apps on the iPad.
Multitasking and task switching
Once you’ve loaded your iPad with great apps, learn how to navigate effectively between them. Use task switching to switch quickly and seamlessly between different applications. To activate the task switch, double-click the home button to display the task screen, and then click the application you want to use. The iPad keeps the application in memory while it’s running in the background so it can load quickly when it’s activated.
Another way to display the task screen is to place four fingers on the iPad screen and move them toward the top. To do this, you must turn on the multitasking gesture in the iPad Settings.
The quickest way to switch between tasks is to use the iPad docking station. The New Pier allows you to put more ICONS on it that can be quickly accessed, and it includes the three apps you recently opened. These ICONS are located to the right of the Dock. To access the Dock from any application, swipe up from the bottom edge of the screen.
You can also use the docking station for multitasking. Instead of clicking on the app icon to switch to it, place your finger on it. When the application opens, tap the icon on the Dock and drag it to the side of the screen. If both applications support multitasking, the full-screen application is moved to allow the new application to launch on the side of the screen. When two applications are displayed at the same time, use the divider line between them to have each application occupy half of the screen, or have one application run on one side of the screen. Move the divider line away from the side of the screen to close the multitasking application.
How to use the iPad at work to be more productive
12.9-inch iPad Pro
For productivity, check out the iPad Pro. There are big differences between the iPad Pro and the iPad Air (or iPad) line. The iPad Pro is comparable to most laptops in terms of processing power, with twice as much memory as other iPads and the most advanced display of any iPad, including support for wide-gamut colors.
But it’s not just speed that increases productivity. The extra screen space on the 12.9-inch model is ideal for multitasking. If you’re doing a lot of content authoring, the larger on-screen keyboard will be about the same size as a regular keyboard. It has a row of number and symbol keys at the top, rather than letting you switch between different layouts.
How to navigate an iPad
How to be more productive on the iPad and how to be more productive while using it. There are many navigation shortcuts that can help you get where you want to go faster. For example, instead of finding an app, you can quickly launch it by swiping down on the home screen to open a Spotlight search. Then, enter the application name in the search bar. You can also use Siri to launch apps.
Also, take advantage of the task screen. You can double-click the home button to display the task screen. Even without switching back and forth between applications, this is a good way to start an application if you have used it recently.
Add the website to the home screen
If you work regularly with a specific Web site, such as a content management system (CMS), you can save time by adding your Web site to the iPad’s home screen. This allows the site to behave like any other application. To save the site as an application icon, navigate to the Web page, click the Share button, and select Add to the home screen. Put it in a folder or move it to the iPad dock so you can access it quickly.
Private email
The iPad offers many great features while you’re at work. Use it as an E-mail client or an instant messaging client, or as quick access to a Web browser.
This would be even more effective if the iPad had a dock, which makes it almost like another monitor. If you want it to act as an additional Display, download an application such as Duet Display.