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iPad gets its features from a combination of hardware and its software operating system, with the most current operating system being iOS 6.0. Small updates appear all the time, so by the time you read this, you might have 6.1, 2, or 3. If you’ve seen the original iPad in action or own one, it might be helpful to understand what new features the third- and fourth-generation iPad brought to the table. In addition to features on the original iPad and iPad 2, the third-generation and fourth iPad offer:

* Retina display: This awesomely crisp display provides 3.1 million pixels, which trust me, is a lot.

* An improved dual-core A5X chip on third-generation and A6X chip on fourth-generation: These chips give your iPad much faster performance and quad-core graphics, with the A6x being the faster of the two.

* An improved 5-megapixel iSight camera: The rear-facing iSight camera offers advanced optics, an illumination sensor, a face detection feature that makes people you capture clearer, and the ability to capture video in 1080 pixels, all discussed in more detail in Book II, Chapter 4.

* Dictation: You can use the Dictation feature to speak into your iPad rather than typing. This comes in handy in apps like Maps, Mail, and Notes.

* Available 4G LTE: Whereas the original iPad and iPad 2 were offered in a 3G version, the third- and fourth- generation iPad can take advantage of 4G and even 4G LTE, the latest in cellular communication technology, which simply means you can get a very fast, strong connection to the Internet if you’re near a 4G-enabled locale. Unfortunately, because this is a relatively recent technology, right now you have to live near a major city to take full advantage of it. However, the fourth-generation iPad brought with it more LTE bands to give you a better chance to take advantage of LTE.

* An improved FaceTime HD camera in fourth-generation iPad. The front-facing camera on both the third and fourth-generation iPad is perfect for making video calls using FaceTime. The fourth-generation iPad brought with it some improvements to the quality of that camera.

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Any iPad device can use iOS 6.0 if you update the operating system. Version 6.0 of iOS adds a few new features, including

* Brand-new Maps: The Maps app has been totally rebuilt in iOS 6.0. Graphics are crisper, and you have more control over panning, tilting, and zooming. You can use Maps to get spoken turn-by-turn navigation, as well as traffic information in real time.

* Siri: This is a technology that was introduced with iPhone 4S and appeared first on iPad’s third generation models. You can talk to Siri and ask questions from the practical (Where’s the nearest gas station?) to the fun (Where can I buy a used sailboat?). See Book V, Chapter 6 for all things Siri.

* Sharing: You can share photos with your Facebook friends, share links from Safari, share high scores from Game Center, or update your status using Notification Center or Siri.

* Shared photo streams: The Photo Stream feature isn’t new to iOS 6.0 but the ability to share photos with a select group of people is. This approach uses iCloud to share with other Apple devices, or to share photos with anybody online.

* FaceTime over cellular: You can now use the FaceTime video calling feature to call others over cellular networks (if you have a 3G/4G iPad model) as well as over Wi-Fi.

* Guided Access: This accessibility feature allows you to focus your iPad to just certain sites or apps to help you or those you’re helping to have an easier learning experience.

* Find My Friends: You can use this feature to share your location with others and receive alerts when friends leave or arrive at a certain location.

* Better-than-ever apps: Several apps such as Mail, Safari, and Apple’s online stores have been spiffed up to offer a few neat features.

Siri is a personal assistant feature that answers questions and performs actions such as adding a reminder or opening an app via voice command. Press and hold the Home button and speak a request to check it out!

The fourth generation of iPad added the following features:

• Improved front-facing FaceTime camera.
• Superfast A6X processor chip.
• The lightning connector. This connector changes from the traditional 30 pin connector to a much smaller connector that slots into your iPad in any direction. The small connector goes into your iPad and the USB connector goes into a computer or a power adapter that comes with your iPad.

Moving to the Latest iOS

If you have an iPad you can update to iOS 6 for free.  Just connect iPad to your computer, using the Apple USB cable, open iTunes and click on your iPad in the list on the left side. On the Summary tab click Check for Update. You can also tap Settings, General, and then Softtware Update to update without connecting to your computer if you have a Wi-Fi or 3G/4G connection to the Internet available.

IPad mini!

Ipad mini  is a 7.9” version of iPad. It sports an A5 processor and the screen resolution of an iPad 2. Otherwise, it shares just about every feature of a larger iPad, including 10 hour battery life and front and rear facing cameras.

The onscreen keyboard now has a Dictation key. Tap it and then speak your text in apps like Maps, Notes, Mail, and Calendar. Tap the key again to insert what you’ve spoken.

3.1 million pixels mean your screen is crisp and clear. Check it out on third- and fourth-generation iPad!