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5 Exciting iOS 5 Features for iPad Owners

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Apple announced iOS 5, the latest version of the popular iPhone, iPad and iPod Touch operating system at WWDC 2011 this week. While iOS 5 will be coming to a collection of devices, there are a number of new iOS 5 features that extend the functionality of the iPad and iPad 2. While iOS 5 is helping the iPhone catch up to Android, iOS 5 knocks Android tablets running Android 3.1 HoneyComb out of the water.

5 Exciting iOS 5 Features for iPad Owners

iPad Split Thumb keyboard

Split Thumb Keyboard – If you like to type with your thumbs, which is pretty much anytime you are holding the iPad, you will love this new split keyboard. We have been using it this morning and it delivers a much better typing experience while you are holding your iPad. The split thumb keyboard allows you to choose move the keyboard location up and down the screen to find the right spot for you to type and hold the iPad. Another bonus is that it works in landscape and portrait.

airplay - ipad mirroring without wires

Wireless AirPlay Mirroring – The powerful processor on the iPad 2 will allow you to wirelessly stream your iPad 2 display to  a projector or big screen that is connected to an Apple TV. Unfortunately, the need for an Apple TV means you won’t be using this everywhere just yet. Hopefully Apple or a third party will work out an app for Mac and Windows that you can use to stream to a computer and then on to a projector for use in classrooms and conference halls. In addition to presenting, you can also use the Air Display Mirroring to play games on the big screen.

iPad iOS 5 Tabbed Browsing

Tabbed Browsing in Safari – Apple updated Safari on the iPad and iPad 2 in iOS 5 so that you have real tabbed browsing. Now you can switch between tabs without popping out to a thumbnail screen for faster back and forth. The performance of Safaris is also updated and Apple has added a Reading List which you can keep in sync between multiple devices.

ipad iOS 5 mulittouch gestures

Multitasking Gestures – On the iPad and iPad 2 you can now switch between your apps and go to your home screen with simple gestures instead of double pressing the home button. To switch between apps, perform a four finger left or right swipe across the screen. To open the multitasking bar, swipe up with four fingers. To go to your home screen, just pinch on the center of your screen while in an app.

iPad PC Free iOS 5

No PC Needed / Wi-Fi Sync – Two of the nicest features are the ability to start using your iPad without connecting to a computer and the ability to wirelessly sync when you connect to a power source. If you are using your iPad to view photos, movies and TV shows you’ll love the ability to wirelessly sync to your device when you charge it at night. The only downside for iPad users is that you might need to change your charging habits from once a week to every night.

29 Comments

29 Comments

  1. JimmyC

    06/07/2011 at 3:56 pm

    Guess the guy that wrote this hasn’t actually used Honeycomb, or he’d realize that all of these features are already standard fare for that OS.  Good try though.

    • Jason Dunn

      06/07/2011 at 4:26 pm

      I owned a Motorola Xoom for two weeks before returning it, and I don’t recall seeing a split keyboard, wireless display mirroring, or those types of multi-touch gestures. It did have tabbed browsing though, so I guess you’re 1/5th right. ;-)

  2. JimmyC

    06/07/2011 at 4:05 pm

    Guess the author hasn’t actually used Honeycomb, or he’d realize that all of these features are already standard fare.  The split keyboard can be had using Tablet Keyboard, which is free.  The wireless mirroring can be done through Google TV, and in fact you can also access your computer for wireless desktop use through SplashTop.  Tabbed browsing is a standard part of the Android Browser.  Multitasking can be done with the button on the bottom of the screen in honeycomb that shows all your open windows and apps.  Use this all the time.  Wireless sync is something Android has done pretty much from the get go.  Good try though.  Enjoyed your post.

    • Windows Phone Review

      06/07/2011 at 4:46 pm

      You know what online sites like to suck? Apple’s ****

    • Antonamor

      06/08/2011 at 11:56 pm

      Split keyboard requires downloading on android? Its standard with iOS 5 ;)

    • Anonymous

      06/26/2011 at 9:33 pm

      The Android browser, which by the way is based on WebKit.  Honeycomb is unfortunately still too unstable for me.  At least they made the task switching list scrollable.  Still a bit too unstable for day to day for me, though.  Happy trolling to you.

    • Vcust

      09/09/2011 at 7:02 pm

      Awesome if you’re one of the 3 people in the US to have google TV.   Good luck with that brick.

    • Vcust

      09/09/2011 at 7:02 pm

      Awesome if you’re one of the 3 people in the US to have google TV.   Good luck with that brick.

  3. Shem Hamphorasch

    06/07/2011 at 5:06 pm

    No one who’ll buy an iPad cares that an Android tablet has dozens more features, will feed the cat, and will bake bread.  It’s some kind of strange, juvenile myopia that makes otherwise intelligent people carp on details and forget that the average sod wants an “experience”.  As Apple builds out the “experience” it will have a longer, if not richer or more compelling, narrative to tell prospective buyers; and Apple are nothing if not good at narrative.  

    Besides, these are companies, all of questionable virtue, who are hell-bent on separating you from your money.  Whether it’s the underdog Google or big, bad Apple, you get pooched when you pony up for the latest electronic thing.  

    • tigger959

      06/07/2011 at 6:26 pm

      so, what were you pooched for?

  4. Anonymous

    06/07/2011 at 7:08 pm

    If the iPad were only 7 to 8 inches, I could see getting one again. It’s getting more usable and less of a pain with these updates. If iPad 3 comes in other sizes and has a stylus, I might have to bite.

    • Jkgao 97

      06/13/2011 at 5:40 pm

      A stylus… You choding me right..

    • Yo

      07/19/2011 at 10:48 pm

      moron

    • Negro

      07/31/2011 at 3:00 am

      There is alreday a special stylus for ipad

      I have it

  5. marco

    10/12/2011 at 10:07 pm

    Ok, I just installed IOS 5 on my iPad and Im not able to switch apps with a four finger swipe or any kind of swipe.  Am I missing something?

    • Anixx

      12/03/2011 at 1:40 am

      I think the feature is already enabled once you install iOS 5

      Still, you can try to see the option for it in the General tab in Settings, to enable multitouch gestures

  6. EJ

    10/17/2011 at 6:56 am

    You have to actually open the apps before you can 4 finger them!

  7. Ondrej Franka

    11/24/2011 at 9:25 am

    Can iPad 2 run wirelessly Epson PowerLite 1705 Projector?

    Thanks, Ondrej

  8. Francisshephard

    12/28/2011 at 3:11 am

    Have Apple removed the thumbnail screen altogether? from Safari? I cannot believe they could remove these visual graphical representations of what web pages a person has open. This is by far the most visual user friendly approach, do they really believe text descriptions inside tabs, cut it for non technical users, or new users? Is there a way to bring back website thumbnails?

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