iPad: Das Missing Manual

by J.D. Biersdorfer

The iPad 2 is faster, lighter, and more versatile than its predecessor, but there's still no printed guide to using its amazing features. That’s where this full-color Missing Manual comes in. Learn how to stream HD video, make video calls, manage your email, surf the Web, listen to music, play games, and maybe even do a little iWork. This is the book that should have been in the box.Build your media library. Fill your iPad with music, movies, TV shows, eBooks, photos, and more. Share with others. Stream music, HD movies, TV shows, and more, to and from your iPad. Create your own media. Use the iPad’s new Photo Booth, iMovie, and GarageBand apps to express yourself. Get online. Connect through WiFi or Wi-Fi+3G, and surf with the iPad’s faster browser. Place video calls. See who’s talking with the iPad’s FaceTime app and its two cameras. Consolidate your email. Read and send messages from any of your accounts. Learn undocumented tips and tricks. Get the lowdown on cool iPad secrets and workarounds.

Genres: Nonfiction, Reference, Computers, Technology, Apple

Paperback

First published May 1, 2010

About the author

A military brat, Biersdorfer has lived in eight U.S. states, including such diverse locales as a nuclear-missile base in North Dakota; Washington, D.C.; and rural Indiana.
A member of the newsroom technology staff at "The New York Times," she was heavily involved with the recent conversion of the Sunday Times Magazine to a desktop publishing system.
Coming from a non-technical background herself, Biersdorfer is dedicated to finding the most efficient ways of explaining computers to new and bewildered users in the simplest language possible. Biersdorfer is the author of 'The Missing Manuals' for the ipad and ipod.

Reviews

[LemontreeLime · Rating 3 out of 5]

Read quickly as an overview.

[Drew · Rating 3 out of 5]

I downloaded iPad: The Missing Manual and read it on my iPad (in iBooks). This gave me the opportunity to switch out of iBooks and quickly test some of the things that are mentioned in the book.

Overall, the book is well written and has a nice layout. It is very self-explanatory and has plenty of illustrations to help the reader see what things should look like on the iPad screen.

While the manual would be very useful to someone who just purchased the iPad and is just getting up to speed on how set it up and use the different functions, there are very few things that someone who has had the iPad for a couple of months or more would find very useful (although I did find a few tips and tricks that I didn't know about).

The section on iBooks was ok, but it left out some things, such as- when you download a free book with a generic cover, there is a way to change the cover, just like you can do with music.

There was quite a lot dealing with iTunes, but unless you've never used an iPod or iPhone before, this was information that seemed to be repetative of other "Missing Manuals."

Although I normally like the "Missing Manual" series, this book didn't help me much (if I had to pay full price, what new things I did learn wouldn't be worth the price I'd paid). This book should definitely be aimed at those who are brand new to the iPad and/or iTunes, but not toward those who have already had the iPad for a couple of months.

[Emma · Rating 4 out of 5]

I learned a lot about how to use my new iPad from reading this manual. It was obviously written pre-release of the iPad and based on documentation rather than experience with the iPad. However, as an ebook O'Reilly is periodically releasing updates to reflect actual working conditions. I highly recommended this book to anyone who wants to get more out of their iPad.

[Emily · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not a bad reference. There isn't much in here I didn't already know, and had I been editing the book I would have avoided including a large section on particular apps (they outdate so quickly!). If you don't know what you are doing on an iPad, this is a pretty good place to start. Honestly, I'm using this same review for other iPad reference books--the ones I've read are all pretty much the same.

[Linda · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is another of those books that serve no purpose other than for those that have absolutely no familiarity with the subject matter. I suppose for them it might be useful but for anyone else it is a waste of time and electrons.

[The Subway Reader · Rating 3 out of 5]

useful book, it certainly helped but it could be much better as well, ideally it now gets replaced with true world experience about the iPad.

[Pam · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book gives bare bones info on how to use your iPad. It is very simple and just about anyone should be able to understand how to do simple things on the iPad. There are better books for iPad.

[Joe Lawrence]

I have not received the ipad i ordered yet
Joe lawrence

[Hapzydeco · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you just purchased your first iPad this book will bring you up to speed quickly. Even is you own an iPod or iPhone the section on iTunes will teach you a few new tricks.

[Ally Cabella · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Missing Manuals are always helpful. This one had plenty of little known tips even though it is based on the previous iPad and first generation iPad Mini.

[Anthony Faber · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good, but the tone is annoying.

[Ken · Rating 4 out of 5]

Helpful with plenty of good humor, made it easy to read. Too expensive, however

[Julia Hendon · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very helpful.