iPad 2 The Missing Manual 3rd Edition – ‘Book Mystique Review
I’ve been one of the Missing Manual series’ biggest fans for years; indeed since the very first “Mac OS X The Missing Manual” edition back in 2002. OS X TMM remains my favorite computer book, and indeed that of many others who have made it the best-selling computer book for several years running now. I’m a strong proponent of the RTFM (read the fine manual) school of thought, but banefully, Apple no longer deigns to include much of anything really useful in hard-copy manuals with their products any more.
And I truly detest most online Help manuals, not to mention that the reason you want to consult a manual can often be something that prevents you from getting at content on your computer or in the Cloud. Consequently, I’m in full and enthusiastic accord with the Missing Manuals series’ signature self-description — “The Book that Should Have Been In The Box.” Of course, with some Apple products, notably OS X 10.7 Lion, there’s not even a box anymore. I digress.
Anyway, due to my abiding admiration for TMM founder David Pogue’s OS X manuals, I opened New York Times tech columnist J.D. Biersdorfer’s latest iPad 2 TMM 3rd Edition anticipating that it would probably become my favorite iPad book, but alas it will not. What I Had been hoping for, and expecting I guess, was something more hardware-oriented and technically-versed, but instead what I found was content very similar to Ms. Biersdorfer’s iPod Missing Manual books, only applied to the iPad. The formula that seems entirely appropriate for relatively simple gadgets like the iPod doesn’t work nearly as well for a more ambitious and broadly-focused device like the iPad.
iPad 2 TMM’s primary focus is more on acquiring and consuming content — iTunes, iBooks, apps. from The App Store, games, social networking, organizing and viewing photos, downloading and watching videos and movies and suchlike. Now, there’s nothing wrong with that approach if it reflects your primary focus as an iPad user, particularly if you’re a relative newbie or non tech-oriented (or that describes the person you’re buying the book for, this being the season and all). I don’t doubt that these criteria represent a large proportion of iPad users, and if that be the case for you, you’ll probably like and find plenty useful to you in this book.
On the other hand, if you’re more like me, you’ll probably be better off checking out an alternate iPad manual, such as Wallace Wang’s “My New iPad 2‚Äù from No Starch Press, that https://www.macprices.net/2011/06/15/my-new-ipad-2-a-simple-step-by-step-users-guide-book-mystique-review/ I reviewed here back in June, and found more suitable for veteran computer users like myself making a transition from PC to tablet computing. It’s really a matter of taste and use-orientation. Wang includes a lot of instruction about acquiring and using content on the iPad in his book too, but it’s main focus is more on the machine itself and the OS.
Okay, so what is in this book? First, iPad 2: The Missing Manual, Third Edition is updated to cover the changes and new features that the iOS 5 release brought, including new apps like Reminders, iMessage, and Newsstand, and new features like the ability to edit photos and post Twitter updates from the Camera app. The new edition follows the familiar and successful Missing Manuals series formula, and like the iPod (now in its 10th edition) and iPhone TMM volumes, it’s many screenshots and other illustrations are rendered in full color on semi-matte paper stock. It’s a lot slimmer than OS X TMM, but at 342 pages it’s still a substantial tome. There are 16 chapters and two appendices, as well as a 14-page index.
Chapter 1′ “Get To Know Your iPad,” covers the basics, including initial setup, identifying the tablet’s controls and connection port and explaining their functions, battery charging, and keeping the touchscreen clean.
Chapter 2, “Interact With Your iPad,” explains how to use finger gestures and swipes to control the iPad and software apps., use the virtual keyboard in standard or split keyboard modes, connect an external Bluetooth keyboard, work with what passes for multitasking on the iPad (significantly improved with iOS 5, I’ll concede), use cut/copy/paste in text applications, plus how to use the iPad’s built in Search function, and print from the tablet using AirPrint wireless connections.
Chapter 3, “Get Online,” is what it sounds like, beginning with a discussion of WiFi vs 3G connectivity plus the difference among various carriers’ 3G services, continuing on with instructions on how to use public Wi-Fi hotspots, being secure while online, traveling internationally with the iPad, and using Skype to make Internet phone calls.
Chapter 4, “Surf The Web,” begins with a tour on the default Safari Web browser, explaining how to use Safari tabs, zoom and scroll through webpages, using Safari Reader and the Reading List, and other Safari features. There’s a tutorial on creating and using bookmarks, editing and organizing bookmarks and folders, and syncing bookmarks with Windows PCs or Macs. There’s a section on saving and mailing images from the Web using streamed Web audio and video, working with online applications like Google Docs, social networking with notes about the various popular services, and browser security.
Chapter 5, “Keep In Touch With Email,” covers setting up an email account or several, a tutorial on using built in Mail program, writing and sending emails, formatting your messages, managing your email archives, plus Webmail on the iPhone, and setting up POP 3 and IMAP accounts.
Chapter 6, entitled “Use The iPad’s Built-In Apps,” contains tutorials on setting up and using calendars, maintaining contacts, taking notes with the iPad Notes program, using Twitter on the iPad, how to use iMessage, Reminders, Notifications, and Newsstand for e-periodicals. Moving on, there’s a section on using the iPad’s somewhat mediocre built-in camera for taking photos and recording videos, making video calls in Face Time, taking portraits with Photo Booth, watching YouTube clips, finding your way with Maps, locating your position using GPS, getting directions on Map, viewing photos, watching videos, listening to music, plus shopping iTunes and the App Store.
Chapter 7, “Shop The App Store,” is about using the only way to get software onto a non-jailbroken iPad. There are sections on setting up an Apple ID, buying, downloading, and installing apps, uninstalling apps, scaling up iPhone apps for iPad, organizing in iTunes, troubleshooting apps, and more.
Chapter 8, “Read iBooks And Periodicals,” starts with a visit to the iBooks app and the iBooks store, with tutorial information on browsing and searching for books, buying and downloading books, finding free iBooks, reading iBooks, changing the screen appearance of an iBook, searching an iBook, using the Dictionary, creating bookmarks and margin notes, using newspaper and magazine apps, and subscribing to e-publications.
Chapter 9, “Play Games,” pretty much repeats the format of the previous chapter, only focused on games rather than iBooks and periodicals. There are also tutorials on playing multiplayer games in person, troubleshooting games, and a short gallery Of iPad games examples.
Chapter 10, “Get Productive With iWork,” is all about using Apple’s IWork productivity suite for the iPad for word processing, spreadsheets, and making presentations using the tablet instead of a personal computer. Ms. Biersdorfer notes that Apple created iWork to cover much of the same ground as Microsoft Office, and other competing office suites, transforming the point-and-click office applications into tap-and-drag iPad software. There are sections on getting started with IWork, on creating documents in Pages, creating spreadsheets in Numbers, and creating presentations in Keynote. Also tutorials on how to import, export, and share iWork files, and troubleshooting iWork files.
Chapter 11 has the cumbersome title “Sync And Share Media Files Using iTunes And iCloud,”. Discussions include the iTunes window and its controls, where iTunes stores your files, and organizing your content, the iTunes Store in its various permutations, authorizing computers for iTunes and home sharing, de-authorizing your computer, automatically syncing the iPad, manually syncing the iPad, syncing music, video, photos, info, podcasts, books, and games, and troubleshooting syncing problems. There are also sections on using iTunes in the iCloud, using iTunes Match, using iTunes Home Sharing on your iPad, and streaming in mirroring files with AirPlay.
Chapter 12, “Master iTunes,” contains even more about using iTunes with the iPad, searching for songs, changing a song’s file format, improving music quality with the Graphic Equalizer, editing song information and album information, installing apps, making new playlists in iTunes, changing or deleting existing playlists, making a genius playlist in iTunes, rating your music, smart playlists, getting album art, reviewing your purchase history, getting iTunes Store help, setting up multiple iTunes libraries, and moving the iTunes music/media folder to an external drive.
Chapter 13, “Playing Music And Other Audio,” contains even more about getting music and audio for your iPad, exploring the music menu, playing music, as well as audiobooks and podcasts, controlling the Now Playing screen, making playlists, and making music with GarageBand.
Chapter 14, “Watch And Edit Videos,” contains tutorials and more information about getting video on your iPad, transferring video from iTunes, finding and playing videos, playing iPad videos on your TV, editing videos on the iPad, and a review of all video formats that work with the iPad.
Chapter 15, “View, Edit, And Manage Photos,” similarly covers importing, organizing, viewing, and editing pictures on the iPad, playing slideshows, either on the tablet’s own screen or a TV, changing the iPad wallpaper, and turning the iPad into an electronic picture frame.
Chapter 16, “Back Up And Sync Your Gadgets With iCloud,” tells you how to set up iCloud on your iPad, use IWork with iCloud on the Web, and share or stream photos with iCloud.
Appendix A, “iPad Settings,” includes a tour of the iPad’s settings panel with an explanation of what each setting does.
Appendix B, “iPad Troubleshooting And Care,” includes troubleshooting basics like restarting the iPad and forcing quitting frozen apps, resetting the iPad, downloading and reinstalling iTunes and iTunes updates, updating the iPad’s operating system, using iPad backup files, restoring your iPad software, protecting your iPad with cases, finding a lost iPad, finding an iPad repair shop, and a discussion of AppleCare — what it is and whether you need it.
Summing up, as I said above, iPad 2 The Missing Manual 3rd Edition is not my favorite iPad 2 book, although that doesn’t necessarily mean it won’t be yours. I’ve explained in the review. I suggest that it would make an excellent choice for a Christmas gift for someone on your list who is new to tablet computing, or just computing in general. For me and other tech veterans, however, I can’t rate it higher than 3 out of 5.
iPad 2: The Missing Manual, Third Edition
Ebook (Formats: ePub, Mobi, PDF): $19.99
Print & Ebook: $27.49
Print: $24.99
Canada: $26.99
For more information, visit:
http://bit.ly/upnIZK