The newly released iPad from Apple is a truly versatile computer that can be suitable for a wide variety of applications. It is light, has the right dimensions (you could say it’s the perfect size for most applications) and it’s got enough processing power to run most programs that users need, including some very good looking 3D games and 720 HD videos (no 1080 support yet, unfortunately).
No wonder Apple representatives, together with Steve Jobs, kept saying that it will be a revolutionary device. It really is! The iPad will definitely change the way people use computers, and it will also introduce the older generation to a useful, accessible and easy to use computer, the likes of which they’ve never seen before. If your grandparents said that they “don’t understand these computers and how they work”, you should give them an iPad as a present, and chances are high they’ll love it.
But besides your usual computing tasks like surfing the web, watching videos, editing documents, taking notes and reading books, the iPad can be used for a whole lot of other things, thanks to its great design and form factor. Here are some things you can use the iPad for that seem a bit unusual for this device, yet are accomplished perfectly fine.
Digital Photo Frame.
This is not a very obvious function, but one which the iPad does great. You can use the stand that comes with the iPad to put it on a desk and have a picture or a slideshow on it showing at all times. Thanks to its slim design and big screen, it’ll look even better than a dedicated photo frame. You can even play music on it, although the speaker quality will make it hard to hear from more than a few feet away.
Apple iPad
TV Set.
With apps like ABC video player (which streams the ABC channel using an Internet connection) and Netflix (with their video on demand service, which is also cheaper than cable competitors) you can use the iPad to watch almost any TV channels, shows and movies you want. Throw in the ability to watch Youtube videos and the iPad’s portability (which means you can use it anywhere in your house), and you’ve got a winner. Most channels have a desktop application, and a lot of them (NBC, TBS, Lifetime and others) have announced that they’ll release their own iPad apps, following ABC. If you have the iPad, a fast enough Internet connection (8 mbits or more) and don’t care about the size of your TV, you might think twice before buying a new one.
Hi-Fi Music Player.
The iPad has the same great audio quality as the iPod and iPhone, plus your usual 3.5mm connector jack and the ability to use wireless Bluetooth headphones and external speakers. This means you can use it as a great Hi-Fi music and video player for your house, car or party! The iPad’s screen is also perfect for selecting the songs and controlling playback.
GPS Navigator.
OK, so the Wi-fi only version that is currently on sale doesn’t have an integrated GPS transceiver, and that’s too bad. But the upcoming 3G version will have one, which means you can easily use it in your car, or even when walking/hiking. If you think it’ll look weird, don’t worry. The iPad is a great multifunctional device, and with it’s amazing 10 inch screen, it actually looks very cool. You can see the map clearly, and you can use it to listen to music or watch videos when you don’t need the GPS. It’s also perfect for replacing a map on travels and hikes: whereas the iPhone was a bit too small to be used as one, the iPad is the perfect size and weight, and can hold all the maps and guides you need. You’ll just need to be careful not to drop it 
.
DJ Pad.
So, what is the most important thing for a DJ party? Of course, it’s the turntables! But the real deal is expensive, bulky and hard to use (you also need to spend money on good vynils and learn how to use the turntable correctly). The iPad has the potential to make every owner a DJ. It has a very sensitive touch screen, which is perfect for apps like Mixr (check it out, it’s amazing). With the amount of songs the iPad can hold and its ability to connect to any external speakers, you can set it up for DJ’ing at your own party in mere hours, if not minutes.
Cash Register.
Bet you never saw this one coming . There are actually a lot of great apps for managing money, tasks and other business-related things on the iPhone marketplace. And of course, they can all be used on the iPad (most of them will be ported specifically for the bigger screen). This means you can easily use the iPad as a cash register. With an app like Square, you can manage your payments and money for any purpose. You can also use it to later do accounting and calculate the tax you have to pay, which is much easier than using papers, which often get lost. Square can also generate email or SMS receipts for your customers. I believe this app and the iPad will save a lot of trees in the US in the following years.
There are a lot of other fun and innovative ways to use an iPad. You just have to think out of the box and try to make it solve a problem you want. After all, it is a very slim and portable computer, so it should be able to do most things (or even more) that a desktop or laptop computer does. No wonder everyone thinks it’s a revolutionary device.
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