Welcome to the MacNN Forums.

If this is your first visit, be sure to check out the FAQ by clicking the link above. You may have to register before you can post: click the register link above to proceed. To start viewing messages, select the forum that you want to visit from the selection below.

You are here: MacNN Forums > Hardware - Troubleshooting and Discussion > iPhone, iPad & iPod > iPad tips

iPad tips
Thread Tools
subego
Clinically Insane
Join Date: Jun 2001
Location: Chicago, Bang! Bang!
Status: Offline
Reply With Quote
Apr 15, 2010, 01:34 PM
 
1) Hold down the comma key to get an apostophe.
xxa) Or tap and swipe up. [mdc]

2) Holding down the volume button (volume down) for a second or so will mute the sound. [::maroma::]

3) Four taps on editable text to select the whole paragraph.

4) Force Quit: Hold down the sleep key until the power-off slider shows up, release the sleep key, and then hold down the home key until the app quits.

4.5) When typing in Safari's address bar, if you hold down the .com button it brings up .edu, .org and .net [Stogieman]
xxa) Or .de, .co.uk, .ru, etc., depending upon enabled keyboard layouts and language settings. [Spheric Harlot]

5) When typing, if you ignore a suggested spelling the first time you can bring it back up by tapping the word once and/or select and then use "replace". Also works for words underlined with the red squiggly (i.e. misspelled words). [Macfreak7]

6) Hold down…
xxa) the period key on the symbol keyboard to type a single-character ellipsis (“…”)
xxb) apostrophe or double-quote key to get typographic variants (including guillemets)
xxc) 0 to get the degree symbol
xxd) hyphen to get em dash (but no en dash!) or bullet

a) and b) only work in the number/punctuation keyboard, not using the .? or ,! keys. [slugslugslug]

7) If you're typing in a text window, you can scroll inside that window with two fingers! With OS5, scrolling can be accomplished with a single finger swipe, and the text window need no longer be selected.

8) The spacebar is multi-touch. You get the same number of spaces as the number of fingers you use. Sort of a pseudo-tab.

9) WANT A DOUBLE-TAP OF THE SHIFT KEY TO BE A CAPS LOCK? Go to Settings app, and in General>Keyboard there's a switch to enable it. [danbrew]

10) Shake the iPad to get an "Undo Typing" dialog. You may have to shake it hard though. Really hard.

11) Rather than tapping the shift key, and then tapping a letter to capitalize it, you can tap the shift key and slide to the letter you want. Not vastly superior to two taps, but nice to know it's there. Works on phone, pad, and presumably touch.

12) In Mobile Safari (iOS 5 and later), tap and hold the new tab (plus sign) to get a window of "Recently Closed Tabs".

13) In iOS5 you can do a 4-finger-swipe left or right to switch between running applications. However, this only works with the iPad2. Also, 4-finger swipe up reveals the multitasking bar, and a pinch will take you to home. [Macfreak7]

14) In Settings > International > Keyboards you can touch Add New Keyboard and add an emoji keyboard. [chabig]

15) Tapping and holding the "hide keyboard" key gives you the option for a split keyboard.
( Last edited by subego; May 21, 2012 at 02:16 PM. )
     
turtle777
Clinically Insane
Join Date: Jun 2001
Location: planning a comeback !
Status: Offline
Reply With Quote
Apr 15, 2010, 01:34 PM
 
Ha, great ! Thanks.

-t
     
::maroma::
Addicted to MacNN
Join Date: Jan 2002
Location: PDX
Status: Offline
Reply With Quote
Apr 15, 2010, 01:37 PM
 
This is probably known by most, but not really documented, but:

2) Holding down the volume button (volume down) for a second or so will mute the sound.

(edited... thought I'd follow the format )
( Last edited by ::maroma::; Apr 16, 2010 at 12:01 PM. )
     
subego  (op)
Clinically Insane
Join Date: Jun 2001
Location: Chicago, Bang! Bang!
Status: Offline
Reply With Quote
Apr 16, 2010, 10:48 AM
 
That's good. I didn't know that. Here's another.

3) Four taps on editable text to select the whole paragraph.
     
mdc
Addicted to MacNN
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: NY²
Status: Offline
Reply With Quote
Apr 16, 2010, 01:59 PM
 
I just read this on Cabel Sasser's twitter feed.
Do you tap and hold the ", !" key on the iPad to get an apostrophe? Cut the hold — tap and swipe up in one gesture for an instapostrophe!
     
danbrew
Grizzled Veteran
Join Date: Jan 2001
Location: Chicago, IL
Status: Offline
Reply With Quote
Apr 20, 2010, 07:04 PM
 
very cool.
     
subego  (op)
Clinically Insane
Join Date: Jun 2001
Location: Chicago, Bang! Bang!
Status: Offline
Reply With Quote
Apr 24, 2010, 04:42 PM
 
4) Force Quit.

Hold down the sleep key until the power-off slider shows up, release the sleep key, and then hold down the home key until the app quits.
     
Stogieman
Addicted to MacNN
Join Date: May 2000
Location: Santa Rosa, CA
Status: Offline
Reply With Quote
Jun 7, 2010, 03:25 AM
 
Here's one I just discovered. When typing in Safari's address bar, if you hold down the .com button it brings up .edu, .org and .net

Slick shoes?! Are you crazy?!
     
Spheric Harlot
Clinically Insane
Join Date: Nov 1999
Location: 888500128, C3, 2nd soft.
Status: Offline
Reply With Quote
Jun 7, 2010, 05:34 AM
 
Originally Posted by Stogieman View Post
Here's one I just discovered. When typing in Safari's address bar, if you hold down the .com button it brings up .edu, .org and .net
It also brings up .de, .co.uk, or whatever else is appropriate to the localization your keyboard is set to at that moment. (iPhone's done this since 2007. )
     
Macfreak7
Mac Elite
Join Date: Oct 2000
Location: Macfreak7
Status: Offline
Reply With Quote
Jun 7, 2010, 07:04 AM
 
5) When typing, if you ignore a suggested spelling the first time you can bring it back up by tapping the word once and/or select and then use "replace". Also works for words underlined with the red squiggly (i.e. misspelled words).
     
slugslugslug
Mac Elite
Join Date: Jan 2002
Location: Durham, NC
Status: Offline
Reply With Quote
Jun 7, 2010, 11:17 AM
 
More “Holding down keys tips”

6) Hold down…
a) the period key to type a single-character ellipsis (“…”)
b) apostrophe or double-quote key to get typographic variants (including guillemets)
c) 0 to get the degree symbol
d) hyphen to get em dash (but no en dash!) or bullet

a) and b) only work in the number/punctuation keyboard, not using the .? or ,! keys.
     
turtle777
Clinically Insane
Join Date: Jun 2001
Location: planning a comeback !
Status: Offline
Reply With Quote
Jun 7, 2010, 11:23 AM
 
Originally Posted by slugslugslug View Post
More “Holding down keys tips”

6) Hold down…
a) the period key to type a single-character ellipsis (“…”)
Uselsss.

It's much faster to type 3 x "."

-t
     
philm
Mac Elite
Join Date: May 2001
Location: Manchester, UK
Status: Offline
Reply With Quote
Jun 7, 2010, 12:14 PM
 
Originally Posted by turtle777 View Post
Uselsss.

It's much faster to type 3 x "."

-t
That makes me feel gramatically dirty, however.
     
turtle777
Clinically Insane
Join Date: Jun 2001
Location: planning a comeback !
Status: Offline
Reply With Quote
Jun 7, 2010, 12:21 PM
 
Originally Posted by philm View Post
That makes me feel gramatically dirty, however.


-t
     
slugslugslug
Mac Elite
Join Date: Jan 2002
Location: Durham, NC
Status: Offline
Reply With Quote
Jun 7, 2010, 01:09 PM
 
I think you mean “orthographically dirty…”
     
slugslugslug
Mac Elite
Join Date: Jan 2002
Location: Durham, NC
Status: Offline
Reply With Quote
Jun 7, 2010, 01:14 PM
 
Originally Posted by turtle777 View Post
Uselsss.

It's much faster to type 3 x "."

-t
I’ve gotten so used to typing real points of ellipsis on a Mac, where option-colon is about as fast as 3 periods, or probably faster, so it just seems wrong to revert to the “fake” way on anyhing else (in fact, I regularly use Alt-0133 on Windows at work). Lately, too, Snow Leopard’s system-wide smart quotes makes me cringe when I use straight ones, so unless I’m in a real hurry, I use Alt- codes on windows and tap-and-hold on iPhone/iPad.

Actually I keep wishing smart quotes and maybe other text substitutions will show up in iPhone OS.

Funny thing is, I’m not at all pedantic about grammar and usage.
     
andi*pandi
Moderator
Join Date: Jun 2000
Location: inside 128, north of 90
Status: Offline
Reply With Quote
Jun 7, 2010, 01:22 PM
 
Typography is sneaky.

Thanks for the tips!
     
turtle777
Clinically Insane
Join Date: Jun 2001
Location: planning a comeback !
Status: Offline
Reply With Quote
Jun 7, 2010, 01:50 PM
 
Oh hell, when I'm on the iPad, I'm not doing anything typography related. For Pete's sakes, guys

-t
     
jokell82
Professional Poster
Join Date: May 2001
Location: Hampton Roads, VA
Status: Offline
Reply With Quote
Jun 7, 2010, 03:20 PM
 
Originally Posted by subego View Post
4) Force Quit.

Hold down the sleep key until the power-off slider shows up, release the sleep key, and then hold down the home key until the app quits.
Simply hold down the home key until the app quits; the first step you have is unnecessary.

All glory to the hypnotoad.
     
macaddict0001
Mac Elite
Join Date: Jun 2004
Location: Edmonton, AB
Status: Offline
Reply With Quote
Jun 7, 2010, 08:53 PM
 
I had no idea so many people did … instead of ..., I thought I was the only one.
     
Phileas
Mac Elite
Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: Toronto, Canada
Status: Offline
Reply With Quote
Jun 9, 2010, 06:32 AM
 
I just got a @ somehow when I wanted to get a '. Problem is, now I can't recreate whatever it was I did.

Edit: Simple. Swipe up from the switcher key on the right and you'll get a @. Excellent.
     
slugslugslug
Mac Elite
Join Date: Jan 2002
Location: Durham, NC
Status: Offline
Reply With Quote
Jun 9, 2010, 11:18 AM
 
Originally Posted by turtle777 View Post
Oh hell, when I'm on the iPad, I'm not doing anything typography related. For Pete's sakes, guys
I never said it was reasonable.
Originally Posted by macaddict0001
I had no idea so many people did … instead of ..., I thought I was the only one.
Yeah, for years now. I’d put the substitution into Typinator or SL text substitution, but I think option-: is faster.
     
subego  (op)
Clinically Insane
Join Date: Jun 2001
Location: Chicago, Bang! Bang!
Status: Offline
Reply With Quote
Jun 12, 2010, 01:06 AM
 
7) If you're typing in a text window, you can scroll inside that window with two fingers!
( Last edited by subego; Jun 12, 2010 at 01:16 AM. Reason: forgot my own numbers)
     
mdc
Addicted to MacNN
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: NY²
Status: Offline
Reply With Quote
Jun 12, 2010, 08:14 AM
 
The two finger scrolling also works for websites with IFrames.
     
bigjara
Fresh-Faced Recruit
Join Date: Jun 2010
Status: Offline
Reply With Quote
Jun 19, 2010, 03:54 PM
 
Great tips. I don't have an iPad yet, but when i do get it I will be sure to use this!!
     
turtle777
Clinically Insane
Join Date: Jun 2001
Location: planning a comeback !
Status: Offline
Reply With Quote
Jun 19, 2010, 04:08 PM
 
Originally Posted by Phileas View Post
Edit: Simple. Swipe up from the switcher key on the right and you'll get a @. Excellent.
Ah, I see. Not really a shortcut, but still somewhat useful.

-t
     
subego  (op)
Clinically Insane
Join Date: Jun 2001
Location: Chicago, Bang! Bang!
Status: Offline
Reply With Quote
Jul 31, 2010, 06:29 AM
 
8) The spacebar is multi-touch. You get the same number of spaces as the number of fingers you use. Sort of a pseudo-tab.

As an addendum to 6, you can get .edu, .org, and .net by holding down the .com key.
     
Spheric Harlot
Clinically Insane
Join Date: Nov 1999
Location: 888500128, C3, 2nd soft.
Status: Offline
Reply With Quote
Jul 31, 2010, 06:43 AM
 
You also get .de, .co.uk, .ru, or whatever, depending upon enabled keyboard layouts and language settings.
     
danbrew
Grizzled Veteran
Join Date: Jan 2001
Location: Chicago, IL
Status: Offline
Reply With Quote
Jul 31, 2010, 09:28 AM
 
Originally Posted by slugslugslug View Post
I’ve gotten so used to typing real points of ellipsis on a Mac, where option-colon is about as fast as 3 periods, or probably faster, so it just seems wrong to revert to the “fake” way on anyhing else (in fact, I regularly use Alt-0133 on Windows at work). Lately, too, Snow Leopard’s system-wide smart quotes makes me cringe when I use straight ones, so unless I’m in a real hurry, I use Alt- codes on windows and tap-and-hold on iPhone/iPad.

Actually I keep wishing smart quotes and maybe other text substitutions will show up in iPhone OS.

Funny thing is, I’m not at all pedantic about grammar and usage.
You probably use the ellipsis too much. Hey, just saying...
     
danbrew
Grizzled Veteran
Join Date: Jan 2001
Location: Chicago, IL
Status: Offline
Reply With Quote
Jul 31, 2010, 09:30 AM
 
When you type in ALL CAPS on your iPad, you should use the caps lock keyboard feature.

Tap the Settings app. and click on the General menu > the Keyboard. Then turn "Enable Caps Lock" on.

Now just double-tap the shift key to enable caps lock once using the keyboard.

     
chabig
Addicted to MacNN
Join Date: Jun 1999
Location: Las Vegas, NV, USA
Status: Offline
Reply With Quote
Jul 31, 2010, 01:52 PM
 
4) Force Quit: Hold down the sleep key until the power-off slider shows up, release the sleep key, and then hold down the home key until the app quits.
a) Or, you can just hold down the home key. [jokell82]
No, you cannot just hold down the home key. You must do it like the original tip says.
     
subego  (op)
Clinically Insane
Join Date: Jun 2001
Location: Chicago, Bang! Bang!
Status: Offline
Reply With Quote
Jul 31, 2010, 02:20 PM
 
Just figured this out for myself yesterday. Safari locked-up. After a long home key press, when I ran Safari again it was still locked-up. The full method did the trick.

P.S. I'll do edits/adds to the OP when I'm on something bigger than my phone.
     
subego  (op)
Clinically Insane
Join Date: Jun 2001
Location: Chicago, Bang! Bang!
Status: Offline
Reply With Quote
Jul 31, 2010, 02:25 PM
 
Ahhh! I just realized 4.5 and 6e are the same. Whoops! I'll fix that too.
     
chabig
Addicted to MacNN
Join Date: Jun 1999
Location: Las Vegas, NV, USA
Status: Offline
Reply With Quote
Jul 31, 2010, 02:32 PM
 
Home key alone worked in iOS 1. Apple changed the method in iOS 2 when they added the capability for screen shots (press and hold home, then click sleep/wake). You don't want to be force quitting apps just because you're taking a screen shot!
     
chabig
Addicted to MacNN
Join Date: Jun 1999
Location: Las Vegas, NV, USA
Status: Offline
Reply With Quote
Jul 31, 2010, 02:37 PM
 
Originally Posted by subego View Post
7) If you're typing in a text window, you can scroll inside that window with two fingers!
I can scroll with one, three, four, five, but NOT two!
( Last edited by chabig; Jul 31, 2010 at 02:45 PM. )
     
chabig
Addicted to MacNN
Join Date: Jun 1999
Location: Las Vegas, NV, USA
Status: Offline
Reply With Quote
Jul 31, 2010, 02:39 PM
 
Originally Posted by subego View Post
Ahhh! I just realized 4.5 and 6e are the same. Whoops! I'll fix that too.
Don't forget to delete 4a.
     
subego  (op)
Clinically Insane
Join Date: Jun 2001
Location: Chicago, Bang! Bang!
Status: Offline
Reply With Quote
Aug 1, 2010, 02:18 AM
 
Originally Posted by chabig View Post
I can scroll with one, three, four, five, but NOT two!
For me, one, three, four, or five scrolls the whole page, as two will if you do it outside the input window. Two inside the input window scrolls through the text inside that input window.
     
chabig
Addicted to MacNN
Join Date: Jun 1999
Location: Las Vegas, NV, USA
Status: Offline
Reply With Quote
Aug 1, 2010, 02:26 AM
 
Originally Posted by subego View Post
For me, one, three, four, or five scrolls the whole page, as two will if you do it outside the input window. Two inside the input window scrolls through the text inside that input window.
I see what you mean now. I was confused. Never mind...
     
subego  (op)
Clinically Insane
Join Date: Jun 2001
Location: Chicago, Bang! Bang!
Status: Offline
Reply With Quote
Aug 1, 2010, 03:02 AM
 
It could be phrased better. I'll ruminate on it.

At the time, I was just thrilled to be able to use the tip to edit the OP.
     
Spheric Harlot
Clinically Insane
Join Date: Nov 1999
Location: 888500128, C3, 2nd soft.
Status: Offline
Reply With Quote
Aug 1, 2010, 04:13 AM
 
Basically, two fingers scroll within frames.
     
subego  (op)
Clinically Insane
Join Date: Jun 2001
Location: Chicago, Bang! Bang!
Status: Offline
Reply With Quote
Aug 14, 2010, 02:36 PM
 
I know I should fix number 7, but in the meantime:

10) Shake the iPad to get an "Undo Typing" dialog. You may have to shake really hard though.
     
Stogieman
Addicted to MacNN
Join Date: May 2000
Location: Santa Rosa, CA
Status: Offline
Reply With Quote
Aug 15, 2010, 07:58 PM
 
Thanks for tip #10 subego.

You don't need to shake as hard if you hold the iPad by the bottom two corners and move the top portion towards and away from yourself. This is much easier than shaking it side to side. I can usually get the "Undo Typing" dialog to appear after 2 shakes.

Slick shoes?! Are you crazy?!
     
andi*pandi
Moderator
Join Date: Jun 2000
Location: inside 128, north of 90
Status: Offline
Reply With Quote
Oct 12, 2011, 08:24 AM
 
bumped on request:
     
subego  (op)
Clinically Insane
Join Date: Jun 2001
Location: Chicago, Bang! Bang!
Status: Offline
Reply With Quote
Oct 12, 2011, 12:52 PM
 
Thank you much!

11) Rather than tapping the shift key, and then tapping a letter to capitalize it, you can tap the shift key and slide to the letter you want. Not vastly superior to two taps, but nice to know it's there. Works on phone, pad, and presumably touch.
     
subego  (op)
Clinically Insane
Join Date: Jun 2001
Location: Chicago, Bang! Bang!
Status: Offline
Reply With Quote
Oct 30, 2011, 12:38 PM
 
12) In Mobile Safari (iOS 5 and later), tap and hold the new tab (plus sign) to get a window of "Recently Closed Tabs".
     
Cold Warrior
Moderator
Join Date: Jan 2001
Location: Polwaristan
Status: Offline
Reply With Quote
Oct 31, 2011, 06:39 PM
 
Nice tip. Lately I've found myself closing the leftmost tab before I've read it.
     
Macfreak7
Mac Elite
Join Date: Oct 2000
Location: Macfreak7
Status: Offline
Reply With Quote
Nov 1, 2011, 07:30 AM
 
In iOS5 you can do a 4-finger-swipe left or right to switch between running applications. However, this only works with the iPad2. Also, 4-finger swipe up reveals the multitasking bar, and a pinch will take you to home.
     
chabig
Addicted to MacNN
Join Date: Jun 1999
Location: Las Vegas, NV, USA
Status: Offline
Reply With Quote
Nov 20, 2011, 04:19 PM
 
Originally Posted by Macfreak7 View Post
In iOS5 you can do a 4-finger-swipe left or right to switch between running applications. However, this only works with the iPad2. Also, 4-finger swipe up reveals the multitasking bar, and a pinch will take you to home.
This works on the original iPad since the release of iOS 5.0.1.
     
chabig
Addicted to MacNN
Join Date: Jun 1999
Location: Las Vegas, NV, USA
Status: Offline
Reply With Quote
Nov 20, 2011, 04:22 PM
 
6)
a) the period key to type a single-character ellipsis (“…”)
At least with iOS 5.0.1 on my iPad 2, this only works on the number or symbol keyboard. On the alphabet keyboard, holding down the period key is a shortcut for quotation mark.
     
chabig
Addicted to MacNN
Join Date: Jun 1999
Location: Las Vegas, NV, USA
Status: Offline
Reply With Quote
Nov 20, 2011, 04:23 PM
 
In Settings > International > Keyboards you can touch Add New Keyboard and add an emoji keyboard.
     
 
Thread Tools
 
Forum Links
Forum Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts
BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Top
Privacy Policy
All times are GMT -4. The time now is 12:55 AM.
All contents of these forums © 1995-2017 MacNN. All rights reserved.
Branding + Design: www.gesamtbild.com
vBulletin v.3.8.8 © 2000-2017, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.,