IPad Software ?

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seadog30

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I have just been given an old but working IPad and would like use it as a store of info i.e. harbour plans, technical manuals etc.
I have no experience of "IPading" and do not intend using it online while onboard the boat.

The machine is now cleaned up and had a factory reset and is connected to the internet via my home router but I do not have Apple or Google accounts.

Can any one recomend sources of software ?

Thanks
 
Sign up for a Dropbox account. Get the Dropbox app on the iPad and also your home computer. Then save whatever you want onto your home computer's Dropbox folder and it will appear on the iPad when it next goes online. On your home computer - if its a PC and not a Mac, the Dropboc folder will appear as a folder in your file directory. You can save to this folder directly. You do not need to go to the Dropbox website. The basic personal account is free for 2Gb storage Dropbox Basic (Free account)

If you have an Android phone, you can set the phone to save photos that you take to your Dropbox. It makes it easy to find the photos on your home computer

If you are not a regular Apple user, then using an iPad is frustrating when everything else is WIndows and Android. So you could sell the iPad and buy an Android tablet! The Dropbox recommendation stands either way.


TS
 
iPad for dummies might be a useful guide if you are new to world of iPad. Otherwise I guess it depends on proposed usage Of items but if it just a store you could scan the docs or photo on iPad . If this is a challenge scan into computer with e mail account and set up a new iCloud mail account for iPad and mail docs to your iPad when logged on at home?
 
seadog30 said:
No I don't have a MAC (or an Iphone) and therefore have no cloud access.

We only have Windows 10 on laptop and dessk top.

Does this mean that an IPad is useless for anthing other than Apple programs ?
Click to expand...
software for the iPad has to be downloaded by one of the apps already on your iPad, called 'App Store'
To download software from the App Store, you will need an Apple ID (normally)
iPad can use all sorts of software from all sorts of suppliers, so for instance you can download and use Office programmes like Microsoft Office Word, Excel etc, though you already have Apple programmes on the ipad that can do the same thing. Many apps are free, some you have to pay for.
 
ashtead said:
iPad for dummies might be a useful guide if you are new to world of iPad. Otherwise I guess it depends on proposed usage Of items but if it just a store you could scan the docs or photo on iPad . If this is a challenge scan into computer with e mail account and set up a new iCloud mail account for iPad and mail docs to your iPad when logged on at home?
Click to expand...

Thanks Ashtead,

yes I will look out for "IPad for Dummies"
 
So you can mail from your computer to the iCloud email address you create on the pad and the doc is then on the pad eg as a word doc once you have downloaded on App Store. Your iPad should have an icon to take you to set up App Store account and you then down apps to hearts content like navionics , find my harbour, you tube etc to look at harboursetc.
 
Before you start it’s worth checking which version of IPad. You have as unfortunately some app will no longer download on older machines And may end up frustrating you . The size will be a factor as it’s easy to fill the smaller ones with photos and music I replaced an early Pad for this reason and all the contents transferred so at least you won’t waste your time
i have a load of of instruction manuals and it is an excellent way of keeping them the files will transfer from a PC or lap top
an Apple account is essential
There are plenty of guides on line which will tell you how to get started with it .
if you want to use it for navigation you need a cellular version or external GPS
you can normally use a phone as a link To download data but it will not Navigate
sorry it’s a bit random But trust some of this is useful
 
Another vote for dropbox, get it on your phone as well then you can save pics there of serial numbers, filter sizes, harbour charts from the marina office, save web pages or sections of, anything and everything :cool:
 
Hmm. Forgot iPads don't have GPS. Another reason to buy an Android tablet such as a Samsung with inbuilt GPS. Then with Navionics you effectively have a spare chart plotter.

Ts
 
tudorsailor said:
Hmm. Forgot iPads don't have GPS. Another reason to buy an Android tablet such as a Samsung with inbuilt GPS. Then with Navionics you effectively have a spare chart plotter.

Ts
Click to expand...
Wrong. WiFi only ipads have no GPS chip, the cellular ones do.

Reading all the above, it is incredible how difficult some like to make things. The beauty of the iPad is that as BrendanS has said, just create an Apple ID. Then you can decide what you want for free and if you want to pay for something.

An Apple ID will not kill you.
 
ctva said:
Wrong. WiFi only ipads have no GPS chip, the cellular ones do.

Reading all the above, it is incredible how difficult some like to make things. The beauty of the iPad is that as BrendanS has said, just create an Apple ID. Then you can decide what you want for free and if you want to pay for something.

An Apple ID will not kill you.
Click to expand...

We don't know whether Seadog has a WiFi only iPad or one that takes a sim card?

TS
 
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tudorsailor said:
Hmm. Forgot iPads don't have GPS. Another reason to buy an Android tablet such as a Samsung with inbuilt GPS. Then with Navionics you effectively have a spare chart plotter.

Ts
Click to expand...

I've never been tempted by an Apple. I believe they don't have SD card slots whereas most Android devices do. So you have to get one that has enough storage straight off, before knowing what you are going to use it for...

Mike.
 
I’m a great fan of iPads having been an early adopter when they first came out, and I have overcome my anti-Apple prejudice to become a firm devotee

Just a word of warning ...when you say an old iPad, there is in effect built in obsolescence in that older iPads can’t have the operating system updated to later versions of IOS ....my initial iPad is still in use (albeit with a big crack) but won’t upgrade past IOS 8,

The significance of this is that many of the apps you might want to download from the App Store will not run on older versions of IOS...this will compromise some of the uses of the iPad which you could otherwise put it to
 
Thanks all

It seems as if an iPad is not what I need. I currently used a windows 10 laptop which stores Gbites of stuff on the hard disc which can be accessed at any time without the tinternet.
I had hoped that the iPad which is smaller lighter neater etc could replace the laptop as a store of info. The iPad runs IOS 9 and appears to be running ok so I will pass it on to someone who wants to spend their day on facebook or playing games.

Regards
 
Sea dog I don’t know if you have a chart plotter but before you ditch the iPad one of its greatest features is ability via an app to display stuff on plotter in handy form . Clearly might not be relevant if no plotter to pair but it does in effect mean your plotter is wherever you want it so you can track Progress happily from the sofa or berth or under the spray hood etc while others are up top etc. iPads comes in different storage sizes so it’s quite hard to overfill larger ones for just marine use. Maybe take your pad down to local club or marina office and cadge some free advice on set ups?
 
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