Printing from iPad

I have an Epsom XP-310 printer with WiFi.  According to  Epsom, it is compatible with an iPad and can be used with AirPrint.

This weekend I hope to take a screenshot of iMovie, email it to my  computer, and place it on the blog. I also hope to find time to print from the iPad.

Apple gives very specific directions on printing from iPad and it looks easy.

1. Open the app you want to print from. Find the print option by tapping the app’s share icon ( or ) or settings icon ( or). If you can’t find the print option, check the app’s User Guide or Help section. Not all apps support AirPrint.
2. Tap (  ) or Print.
3. Choose an AirPrint-enabled printer. 
4. Choose the number of copies.
5. Tap Print.

These directions come directly from Apple Support.  I will report on the ease this weekend and give my opinion at that time.

Resources:
https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT201311
http://www.epson.com/cgi-bin/Store/jsp/Product.do?sku=C11CC88201
https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT201387

Taking a Screenshot on your iPad

In the previous post I wanted to show features of the iMovie app for iPad.  At the time I went to the
Apps Store page for iMovie and created a link to it.  Today I wondered if a screenshot could be made of the app on my iPad.  The answer is yes, the iPad is as versitile as the PC.

If you hold down the Home button and the Sleep/Wake button (located a the top of your iPad), at the same time, you will generate a screenshot.  After simutainously holding down the two buttons you will hear the shutter click and see a flash on your screen.  You can then find the screenshot in your Photos app.

The more I get to know the iPad the more I like it and recommend it as a device equal to a computer even with the learning curve to the use of it.

As you see in the Resources addresses, I used two different tech sites to search for this information.  I have added Daniel Nations web address to my bookmarks bar. His directions are easy to follow!  Joe Donovan at Digital Trends also offers an easy explanation to taking screenshots on an iPad.

Resources:
http://www.digitaltrends.com/mobile/how-to-take-a-screenshot-ipad/
http://ipad.about.com/od/iPad_Guide/ss/how-to-take-ipad-screenshot.htm

Using iMovie

Today I downloaded iMovie to the iPads in the library.  I now wish I had it on the iPads earlier this year.  This app lets you take video clips and turn them into movie trailers and it is fun!  I found out about this app through a blended course I am now taking -  iPads for the Classroom.

You can choose a template that offers imaginative graphics and music.  The template choices are titled Adrenaline, Bollywood, Coming of Age, Expedition, Fairy Tale, Family, iNDIE, Narrative, Retro, Romance, Scary, Superhero, Swashbuckler, and Teen.

In each format you are given an outline and storyboard to guide you through the process.  Examples of each can be seen at the iPad advertisement for iMovie.  Just click on the link and scroll down 4 photos.  The fourth photo is labeled Create Trailers and is an example of the iNDIE trailer.  If you click on the arrow to the right of the photo you will see the Storyboard.  In the Outline section you fill in the names of your cast, your studio name, and and give the credits (director, etc.)

iMovie also offers a selection to create videos.

This would have been a great app for my students to use for their video project.  I look forward to using it for my own videos.

Resources:
http://www.apple.com/ios/imovie/?cid=wwa-us-kwg-features-com
http://iteachtechnow.edu20.org/visitor_class_catalog/show/264508

Free iPad Apps for Kids

Today I downloaded Hopscotch, a free iPad coding app, for the K - 3rd grade students to help develop coding skills.  They have been using Kodable and the lite version of Tynker.   All three apps can be found under education apps in the iPad App Store .

Benson's Tech Coordinator had suggested both Kodable and Tynker.  At a later time he also mentioned Hopscotch. During a discovery trip through the App Store at my iPads class yesterday, I spotted Hopscotch.

Free apps would seem like an easy find and are; but my first priority is to find apps that are safe, educational and entertaining.

A search for free iPad apps for kids through Google did find these three articles with great recommendations.

https://www.commonsensemedia.org/lists/free-apps-for-kids#
Common Sense Media
Common Sense Media is a non-profit based in San Francisco, CA.  Their mission is to provide information and tools needed for parents to make certain their children have a positive experience with technology.

http://fun.familyeducation.com/mobile-apps/online-games/69665.html
Family Education  is part of Family Education Network (an "online consumer network of the world's best learning and information resources").


http://childrensmd.org/uncategorized/top-15-apps-web-sites-kids-2015-edition/
Most of these apps are free and if they aren't they have free trials or lite versions
The Childrens Mom Docs are pediatricians with St. Louis Children’s Hospital and Washington University School of Medicine. 

iPads for the Classroom

Today was spent at Castleton State College for a Tech course - iPads for the Classroom.
The class time was both enlightening and informative.  I walked away with a positive view of iPad's usefulness in education and in general.

I will start with what iPads offer free when you purchase an iPad.  The apps are:  Pages,
iMovie, GarageBand, Keynote, Beats Music, Numbers, Find iPhone, iTunes U.

Did you know Evernote, a free app, contains storage room for videos?  Have you seen  Poplet (a graphic organizer app)?  It costs $4.99 and is well worth it.  Gumdrop offers cases that protect your iPad from breakage due to drops.  Glass screen protectors are available for iPads at Amazon.

There are hand signals to use with your iPad.  A description of each one is located on the iPad itself in the Settings section.  Choose General in the left-hand column.  Then go to Multitasking Gestures.  There you will see three different gestures to use with four or five fingers.  They are:

• Pinch to the Home Screen
• Swipe up to multitasking
• Swipe left or right between apps

One other tip from class - If you iPad freezes, hold down the button at top of iPad and the home button and then hold down the home button.  Each move takes a few seconds to take hold. 

These are just a few of the tips and bits of the information from today's class.

Resources:
https://iteachtechnologynow.wordpress.com/graduate-courses-taught/

https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/evernote/id281796108?mt=8
https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/popplet/id374151636?mt=8
http://www.gumdropcases.com/
http://www.amazon.com/s/?ie=UTF8&keywords=ipad+2+screen+protector+glass&tag=googhydr-20&index=aps&hvadid=27054529323&hvpos=1t1&hvexid=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=10255058313016247358&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=b&hvdev=c&ref=pd_sl_6w2fzxpl9n_b

A Trip to AT&T and the Purchase of an iPad

Today was one of the last days to purchase an iPad for an upcoming blended course, 1 day long workshop with remainder of course on line.    "iPads for the Classroom" starts this March 8th. The 1 credit course is offered through Castleton State College located at Castleton, VT.

With a thorough investigation of what is offered by iPad combined with research of pricing and vendors, I first went to an AT&T retail store.  One thing I did want was the option to download data through  AT&T if Wi-Fi is not available.

My final decision was an iPad Air 2 with 16 GB of storage, Wi-Fi and 4 G cellular connectivity. I must say I took a serious look at the iPad Mini 3 but stayed with my first conclusion - the iPad Air 2. My only concern at this point is if I have enough storage space.  If I had realized the AT&T retail store would not have a model with 64 GB of storage, I would have stopped by at least a week before since the larger storage models are shipped.

AT&T offers a 20 month payment plan with no interest charges.  If you pay for the iPad on the day of purchase there is a $100.00 price savings.  I also purchased a Belkin Keyboard which had a $31.00 promotion discount if purchased at the same time as the iPad.

There is a charge for their 4G service but it minimal.

Resources:
http://www.yellowpages.com/queensbury-ny/at-t-store
http://ipad.about.com/od/Tablet_Computers_eReaders/tp/A-List-Of-iPad-Models-Generations.htm

Which iPad do I purchase - 3rd or 4th generation and what about mini iPads and iPad Air models?

The more recently released iPads models are the iPad Mini and Air.  Here is a list of all the releases.

• iPad Air 2 (6th Generation) 
• iPad Mini 3 (3rd Generation Mini)
• iPad Air (5th Generation)
• iPad Mini 2 (2nd Generation Mini)
• iPad (4th Generation)
• iPad Mini  (1st Generation Mini)
• iPad (3rd Generation)
• iPad (2nd Generation)
• iPad (1st Generation)

The question revolves around purchasing new, refurbished, or used.  Also are you looking for speed, larger viewing screen, or best graphics?
The fastest model iPad is the iPad Air2 with a CPU description of 1.5 GHz e Tri-Cor 64-bit Apple A8X w/Apple M8 Motion Co-Processor and Ram of 2 GB.  

The  iPad mini 2 and 3 have the same CPU and Ram: CPU: 1.4 GHz Dual-Core 64-bit Apple A7 w/Apple M7 Motion Co-Processor and Ram: 1 GB.  The only difference is the Touch ID sensor which the mini 3 has.  The iPad Mini 3 would have more options counting the Touch ID sensor.

The iPad Air (5th Generation) is more powerful than the 4th Generation iPad.

In terms of power the iPad Mini 2 and the iPad Air are about the same with the iPad Mini 2 around $100.00 less.  In terms of size the Mini 2 is 7.9 inch and the Air is 9.7 inch.

The 3rd Generation iPad and 4th Generation iPad have the same options with one exception, the 4th Generation iPad is more powerful.

I started this post thinking I would purchase a refurbished 4th generation iPad.  At this point I am looking more at how I will be using it.  As a result, I am going to look at the iPad Air models.  The iPad I need must be able to accomdate larger apps and streaming videos.

Any model you chose certainly needs to match your needs.  

Resources:
http://ipad.about.com/od/Tablet_Computers_eReaders/fl/The-iPad-Air-vs-the-iPad-Mini.htm
http://ipad.about.com/od/Tablet_Computers_eReaders/tp/A-List-Of-iPad-Models-Generations.htm
http://www.techradar.com/us/news/mobile-computing/tablets/ipad-air-2-what-we-want-to-see-1209884
http://dealnews.com/c622/Computers/iPad-Tablet/