This video is brought to you by Benks! I've wanted to do an overview iPad guide for
a long time. From beginner's concepts, tips & tricks, apps,
and setups to accessories, I will cover some essentials that can help you get the most
out of your iPad. Most of what we'll talk about today applies
to modern-day iPads that support external displays and pencil support. Still, owners of older & less expensive models
can benefit from most of what we'll discuss. Let's first lay the foundation. First and foremost, the iPad is not a computer. As soon as you accept this reality, you'll
see the iPad as a more focused or less distracting yet VERY capable device. The software limitations that most people
are complaining about are, for the most part, an ingredient in the iPad recipe, making it
a more purposeful instrument. At a glance, you open an app, maybe two, and
stay focused on the task at hand. But there's a lot more to it, and many people
don't realize that. Let's start with iCloud and Files. If you have an iPad, consider integrating
it into a cloud service and start using it as an aid to your primary computer - not just
another streaming-at-home device. The idea is to quickly access Mac files on
the iPad. Whenever you need to do something work-related,
you grab the iPad, knowing you can access what's necessary. I am a big iCloud fan, and I keep all my work
and personal-related files in the cloud, knowing I can easily reach them on my iPad. Even if it's not iCloud, you can integrate
another service into the Files app, like Google Drive. While on the topic of files, I keep my iPad
Files app resembling Mac Finder's app. All my files are in list view (because it's
10x more productive than icons), plus I keep all my most accessed folders as favorites
in the sidebar for quick reference, replicating my Mac's Finder view. If you want to learn how I use iCloud to run
my life, you can check out my dedicated iCloud episode at the end of this video. Aside from organizing files, I use the Files
app for scanning documents. This is a big deal for my day-to-day accounting
and expense processes, and the built-in scanner is a must-have. Here are a couple of quick tips to easily
manage and grab files. Use two fingers to initiate multi-select and
remember the More menu when you select files. Aside from copy/paste, you also have the archive
button, allowing you to create zip files to send around in emails, for example. BTW, if you end up enjoying this video, subscribe,
because WHY NOT? Let's talk about the home screen setup. My philosophy here is that your home screen
should be a single screen. I don't see reasons to use multiple home screens
with endless folders that hold apps just as readily available in the app drawer. The purpose of the home screen should be to
help you navigate around the most popular apps as well as trigger and toggle actions
as efficiently as possible. The home screen setup should be intuitive
and not a place to get lost into. I'll put a link to my iPad home screen video
guide below and above and only skim through some examples here. On my single homepage, I keep all widgets
on the left, while my most used apps take the right 2/3rds of the screen. The principle is that all multitasking apps,
including those I use almost all the time, live in the dock. The rest remain on the Home Screen beside
the widgets and are mixed with quick-action shortcuts. Regarding apps, I can't tell you which are
best since each person's workflow varies, but I can show you a glimpse of my must-haves
and why you might want to try them. Starting off with Notion. At its core, Notion is a note-taking app. You can create all sorts of pages, folders,
and nests and take it up from there to learn to use tables and databases. I started using Notion to run my business. Still, as time passes, I rarely find a reason
to use another note-taking app for my personal stuff, so I come back to Notion for that too. It's an app that can be used with team members
and expanded a ton, so feel free to check it out. I have a video about it, BTW, so I'll also
link it below. Another app I use all the time is Procreate. If you have an Apple Pencil, it's worth exploring
some basic tutorials. There's something magical about its ability
to bring out the artist in every person. I also use it with my kids as it encourages
them to draw. Most of my wallpapers are drawn in Procreate,
and I love this app. A recent app that became important to me is
Apple's Freeform. This is now a built-in iPadOS app that you
can use to gather mood boards and inspiration for all sorts of projects. I collect screenshots and images that inspire
me to build widgets and wallpapers, but you can use Freeform for pretty much anything
- recipes, social media posts, etc. Lightroom is my go-to photo editing app. Most of the photos I post on the internet
go through Lightroom first. I use it not only to apply my presets but
also to do lens corrections and adjust perspectives to make everything look its best. Microsoft to-do is my current to-do app because
it's effortless and quick to insert tasks into. It works across all my devices, and it's not
limited to Apple products, plus it's free. OK… let's talk accessories. To get the most out of your iPad, you have
to try the Benks Infinity Pro Magnetic Stand. It's not only ideal for a desk setup scenario
but also great for drawing and get this - meetings. The 360-degree, extremely satisfying, rotatable
base turns the iPad into the ultimate workstation. The iPad snaps into place effortlessly, ready
to be used in a horizontal and vertical orientation. The elaborate foldable mechanism makes the
stand extremely portable to store and allows for a third drawing mode. I like the soft, padded back that protects
the iPad while also keeping it firmly in place, thanks to the strong magnets. The design of this stand is very clever! You have the same radius of the corners as
the iPad for that fabulous aesthetic look while leaving the camera array available to
be used in a meeting. It's the ideal way to showcase something to
someone. Check out Benks Infinity Pro Magnetic Stand
in the first link in the description below & use code ThisIsE15 for 15% off sitewide. The next accessory I'd like to discuss is
Paperlike. Aside from being an excellent screen protector
for the iPad, Paperlike is also a great companion to the Apple pencil. The unique textured coating provides friction
to the tip of the pencil, simulating the feel of writing on paper and eliminating the weird
feeling of scratching the glass. v2.1 is terrific as it introduces very little
loss of quality to the screen while eliminating the nasty fingerprints. Even if you don't use the Apple Pencil, the
scratch protection and fingerprint reduction are worth this accessory. Having an iPad Air or Pro without giving the
Apple Pencil a try is a crime. Even if you are not artistically inclined,
jotting down notes is worth integrating into your workflow. There are plenty of apps that come with built-in
handwriting recognition. With that in mind, if you are a note-taking
person and don't care about the pressure-sensitive tip of the $130 Apple Pencil, this Benks pen,
at less than half the price, is worth exploring. This is the best 3-rd party pen I've tried
for the iPad. It connects automatically and comes with a
wireless charger to take advantage of the inductive iPad charging, just like the Apple
Pencil. Finally, a keyboard. Even though you can use plenty of wireless
keyboards with the iPad, the best keyboard is the one that is available to you. With that in mind, I have 2 keyboards that
I'Id recommend, and both are by Apple. The Folio keyboard is the lighter version
of the two, which can swivel back, allowing the iPad to be used as a book. It doesn't have a trackpad, but it's more
resilient to dust and some wate r drops. The other one is the Magic Keyboard which
weighs more than the tablet itself, floats, and provides the best typing and trackpad
experience by far. Your choice here relies on the question - do
you need a trackpad and two, do you need a keyboard at all? So to use the iPad in a desk setup, aside
from the stand we discussed, there's one more thing to consider - the monitor. In most cases, if the monitor comes with a
USB-C power delivery port, you are good to go. You can simply connect it to the iPad and
it will stay topped up while working on it. If your monitor doesn't have such a connection
and relies on HDMI, for example, you can consider a USB-C hub like this one from UGREEN. I carry this one at all times since it also
provides an SD card slot for the iPad. With it, you can run 4K at 60hz if the display
supports it. Second, to run the iPad with extended monitor
support, you must use iPadOS 16.2 or later. This will give you the ability to use the
monitor as a secondary display with Stage Manager without having to mirror the display
and witness black bars on both sides. Keep in mind that the tablet can never work
in clamshell mode. If you close it with the Magic Keyboard, you
won't be able to wake it up to work on the monitor only…so you are in a dual monitor
setup, like it or not. You can check out my iPad-in-a-desk-setup
guide in the description below if you want to know the caveats of running an iPad setup. Personally, I don't find the iPad ready for
prime time when it comes to using it exclusively in a desk setup. Still, I do see it as a superstar in a sidekick
setup, where you use it as your best Mac companion. With the help of Universal Control and Sidecar,
you can use one set of peripherals to jump between your Mac and iPad effortlessly. You can use Sidecar to utilize the iPad as
a secondary Mac monitor (essentially extending it) or use Universal Control to jump between
the Mac and iPadOS effortlessly. Of course, universal copy-paste and AirDrop
are here to take full advantage of. When it comes to gaming, the iPad is tough
to beat if we talk about performance capabilities and visual experience. Suppose you have a Pro model with ProMotion
and 120Hz. In that case, you can run fantastic titles
and enjoy visuals better than some portable consoles out there. Playing games on the iPad with touch controls
is challenging, so a controller is something to think about. The iPad works with all the controllers out
there, like Playstation and Xbox, but if you want something smaller, you can check out
something like the 8bitdo controller, which is a great compact alternative. My new favorite controller as of recently
is the Nintendo Switch Joycons. As I carry the Nintendo Switch, I can always
rely on popping out a JoyCon or two and moving to ShadowBlade+ on the iPad. Check out my step-by-step guide on how I set
up a new iPad, and remember to watch my iPad in a desk setup video to find out why I think
the iPad is not Desk Setup worthy yet. Give this video a like and subscribe to the
channel, as well as my newsletter, and as always, it's been an absolute pleasure, This
is E Over and out This is E
Over and out
