iPad storage starts at just 16GB of data. Many of us have music or movie libraries that are far larger than even the greatest of the iPad's storage options. If you have a 16GB iPad and a 20GB music library, not only will you not be able to fit all your music, but, even if you settle for 16GB of your music library, you won't have room for photos, movies, books, or apps. Recognizing this reality, Apple devised the settings preferences to help you organize and select your most important data and bring it to the iPad. The following tabs that we discuss will help you select what to sync to your iPad.

Do note that although you most likely will not be able to fit all of your music, photos, and movies onto the iPad, you can easily change what you have on the iPad. For example, once you've watched a movie on your iPad, you can remove it and replace it with another one. Also, some files are larger than others. Movies are typically the largest and thus are good candidates for removal if you need space. Contacts, calendars, and book collections are all text-based files, and text takes up very little space, so don't worry about syncing all of these onto your iPad.

The iPad is a great leisure device for consuming media. But where do you get that media? The easiest and most direct way to get movies, music, TV shows, and books onto your iPad is through the iTunes Store on your computer (see Figure 2-5). In the iTunes Store you can buy music by the song or album, rent or purchase movies, download your favorite TV shows by the episode, or subscribe to a Season Pass and download free podcasts and iTunes U content.

Figure 2.5. The iTunes Store is the world's largest music store. You can also download movies, TV shows, apps, podcasts, and books from it.

You can also import music and movies from your own collections. Importing music from CDs is straightforward using iTunes, and importing video isn't hard either. One way to get movies onto your iPad is to rip them from your DVD collection.

To get applications, you must use the iTunes App Store. There's no other way to add new software items to your iPad. You can easily browse for apps from the desktop version of iTunes or in the dedicated App Store app on the iPad, which is covered further in Chapter 8.

You can build your iPad e-book library in a variety of ways. Perhaps the easiest is to buy titles through Apple's iBookstore (see Chapter 8 for details), which is part of Apple's free-to-download iBooks app. You can also take advantage of the more than 33,000 free e-books at Project Gutenberg (www.gutenberg.org) by downloading books to your downloads folder and then dragging them into iTunes. There are also many e-book stores and publishers that sell e-books directly online. For a good list of websites that sell e-books, go to www.epubbooks.com/buy-epub-books.

After you change iPad settings in iTunes via the settings pane (as described in the following sections), they do not become finalized until you click the gray Apply button to the right of the Capacity bar (see Figure 2-6). If you forget to click it, iTunes will automatically remind you before you navigate away from the iPad settings pane. If you make a change in the settings pane by mistake, simply click the Revert button that sits above the Apply button. Note that the Capacity bar will grow and shrink as you opt to add and subtract media; this happens before you sync, allowing you to monitor how much of your iPad's storage you'll be using once you commit the sync.

Figure 2.6. The Revert and Apply buttons allow you to accept or negate any of the changes you have made in iTunes' iPad settings pane.

The Summary tab (see Figure 2-3) is the first tab you see in the iPad settings pane. It displays your iPad's overview, including the iPad's name, capacity, currently installed firmware version, and serial number. From this page, you can check for firmware updates, restore your iPad to a pristine, factory-installed condition, and set options to help you manage the way your data is synced. The page is broken up into three boxes: iPad, Version, and Options.

iPadBox

In this box an image of your iPad is displayed along with its name, capacity, software version, and serial number, which are described in the following list. The iPad image should match the model and color of your device.

• Name: This is whatever name you have given your iPad. To rename it, click the iPad in the source list. This opens a text edit field around the name. Edit the name as desired (see Figure 2-8), and then press Return or Enter to confirm your change.

• Capacity: This number indicates the actual data capacity of your iPad. As with all data storage, the advertised capacity (16GB, for example) never quite matches the actual capacity (14.03GB).

Note

The difference between the actual data capacity and the advertised capacity is due to the fact that the advertised capacity uses base 10; Apple and other manufacturers talk about a gigabyte as 1,000,000,000 bytes. In computer terms, this decimal number is worthless. Computers use base 2. To a computer, a gigabyte is 1,073,741,824 bytes, so the advertised 64,000,000,000 bytes for a 64GB iPad get cut down to about 59.6 computer-sized gigabytes. Add in some overhead for the operating system's file structure, and boom, you're down to those 59.42GB that your iTunes screen mentions for your 64GB iPad. All sorts of useless lawsuits have been filed over this issue throughout the years, and this is still the way things are done in the mass-storage industry.

• Software Version: The iPad regularly updates its software with bug fixes and improvements. iTunes indicates which firmware release is currently installed on your iPad. Click the phrase Software Version to switch to the Build Version display, showing which firmware build you are using. As this book is being written, the latest iPad software is release 4.3.1, with build 8G4.

• Serial Number: This unique serial number identifies your iPad to Apple. Click the phrase Serial Number to reveal your unit's UDID, or unique device identifier.

Tip

Use the serial number to check your current warranty status at the Apple Self Solve website (https://selfsolve.apple.com/GetWarranty.do). There, you can see whether you have properly registered your device, whether you have active telephone technical support service, whether you are covered for repairs and service, and the details about your AppleCare protection plan. If you have not yet signed up for AppleCare service for your new iPad, you can do so directly at the Self Solve site. It prompts you for billing information and processes your credit card payment. AppleCare extends your iPad coverage to 2 years from the purchase date of your hardware.

Note

You can use the UDID to register your iPad for certain developer beta tests (called ad hoc builds). Copy this value to memory via Edit

In general, the only things that could change in the iPad box are your iPad's software version number and your iPad's name. When you perform a software update to the iPad, this field matches its new version number. This provides an easy way to determine what version of the iPad OS you are using. If you change the name of your iPad by clicking its name in the iTunes source list and then editing the text (see Figure 2-8), the Summary tab reflects that change. Your iPad's capacity and serial number will never change.

Figure 2.8. Click your iPad's name in the iTunes source list to rename it to anything you want. The name change will be reflected on the Summary tab.

Version Box

The Version box allows you to manually check for iPad OS software updates by clicking the Check for Update button. Next to the button you will see text notifying you whether your iPad software is up-to-date or an update is available. Sometimes iTunes will notify you that there is a software update available before you've even clicked the Check for Update button. It knows this because iTunes automatically checks for iPad OS updates once a week. The text next to the button also tells you when iTunes will next automatically check for an update.

Note

If there is an iPad software update available, you should install it. Sometimes updates provide new features; other times they provide simple bug fixes. Apple rigorously tests these updates before releasing them to the public, so it's safe to assume the updates will make your device better (whether you notice it or not). Confused between the Restore and Update options? Updates offer newly released firmware from Apple. Installing an update leaves your data and applications unchanged. Restoring your iPad returns it to a factory-fresh state, removing all apps and data.

Below the Check for Update button is the Restore button. You may experience problems with your iPad at some point and need to restore your unit to its factory-fresh settings. To do this, click the Restore button and follow the prompts (see Figure 2-9). Backing up your unit saves both your settings and your data to your computer. The restore process wipes all information from your iPad and reloads the most recent firmware. After restoring, use your backup data to reload your personal settings, contacts, bookmarks, and photos to your iPad.

You can, if needed, restore your iPad to a firmware version other than the current one. Select which iPad firmware to restore to by pressing the Shift key (on Windows) or Option key (on a Mac) while clicking the Check for Update button or the Restore button. iTunes opens a file dialog box in which you can navigate to the .ipsw file (which stands for iPad software; these files are actually renamed ZIP archives, which you can unzip and explore if you're so inclined) you want to use, select it, and perform your update or restoration.

Figure 2.9. After a restore, you'll have the option of putting back all your data on the iPad as it was before.

The Info tab lets you choose whether to synchronize certain basic desktop features to your iPad: your contacts, calendars, mail accounts, notes, and bookmarks. These items might contain personal or confidential information about you or others. You have to determine whether the convenience of having them with you at all times outweighs the security concerns of this information falling into the wrong hands if your iPad is stolen.. Use the sections in the Info tab to select which items you want to synchronize and specify how you want them to be selected. For example, you can synchronize all your calendars or just your work calendar, or you can synchronize all your contacts or just those from selected groups. The choice is up to you.

As long as you have been using Mail, iCal, and Address Book on a Mac or using Outlook on a Windows machine, you'll already have everything you need to sync your information to your iPad. All you'll have to do is tell your iPad how you want to sync that information.

Sync iCal Calendars

To sync your calendars, you need to be using one of the following: iCal or Microsoft Entourage on a Mac, or Microsoft Outlook on a Windows computer.

To sync your calendars, select the Sync iCal Calendars check box (see Figure 2-11). Just like with contacts, you then have the option of syncing all your calendars or just selected ones.

Figure 2.11. Your calendar syncing options

If you check the "Do not sync events older than" check box, iTunes does not synchronize events that are more than a certain number of days old. The default number of days is 30, but you can enter anything up to 99,999 days.

Note

A great place to find premade calendars for holidays, school events, or your favorite sporting teams is at www.icalshare.com.

Sync Mail Accounts

Each mail account you have set up in Mac OS X's Mail or Microsoft's Outlook appears here (see Figure 2-12). After you select the Sync Mail Accounts check box, you have the option of selecting or deselecting any account. Accounts not selected will not appear in the iPad's Mail app. This option does not sync your mail messages, just the account settings.

Figure 2.12. Your e-mail account syncing options

Other

Apple should really have named this section "Bookmark and Notes Syncing," but it opted for "Other." Here you can sync your web bookmarks from your browser on your computer to the Safari web browser on your iPad (see Figure 2-13). Again, if you have a MobileMe account, your bookmarks will be synced over the air. If not, select the Sync Bookmarks check box, and if applicable choose your browser from the drop-down menu. On the Mac, bookmark syncing supports Safari. On a Windows computer, bookmark syncing supports Safari and Microsoft Internet Explorer.

Figure 2.13. Your bookmarks and notes syncing options

This section also allows you to sync your notes to your iPad. Note syncing works only with the Mac OS X Mail application or, on a Windows machine, Microsoft Outlook. To enable note syncing, select the check box.

Advanced

This section allows you to replace your contacts, calendars, mail accounts, bookmarks, and notes on the iPad with information from your computer (see Figure 2-14). This is a handy feature if your information gets out of sync and you want to make sure that everything you see on your computer matches with what's on the iPad.

Figure 2.14. Your advanced syncing options

When you select the respective check boxes, iTunes will replace the information on your iPad during the next sync only. After that sync, normal syncing will resume between your iPad and computer.

Note

If your calendars and contacts are being synced via MobileMe, you will not be able to select their check boxes in the Advanced section.

This tab is the place where you get to decide which apps you want to put on your iPad and allows you to arrange them with drag-and-drop simplicity. This tab is composed of two main sections: Sync Apps and File Sharing.

Sync Apps

Under the Sync Apps heading, shown in Figure 2-15, you'll see a scrollable list of all the applications you have in your apps library in iTunes. You can sort the list by name, by kind, by size, by category, or by date downloaded.

In the apps list, you'll see a check box on the left of each app's icon. To the right of each icon is the app's name, and below that are the app's category listing and the file size of the individual application. Any app that has a selected check box means the app is set to sync with the iPad.

Figure 2.15. The Apps tab is where you choose what apps to put on your iPad and in what order to arrange them in.

Note

Whenever you download a new app in iTunes, it will automatically sync with your iPad on the next sync. You can, of course, simply remove the app after the sync or deselect the Automatically sync new apps option shown in Figure 2-15.

Next to the apps list you'll see a visual representation of your iPad desktop, and next to that you'll see one or more black screens with icons that are already on, or set to be synced with, your iPad. You'll also see a completely gray screen below the last black one.

The easiest way to get apps on your iPad is to find them in the apps list and simply drag them onto the virtual iPad screen. As soon as you do, the app's check box is automatically selected in the apps list.

You can drag around the apps on your virtual iPad screen until you've arranged them in the order you like. You can also grab the smaller black screens and move them up or down in the list, rearranging entire pages of apps on your iPad. The black screen at the top of the list will be the home page on your iPad, and each one below that will be a subsequent swipe away. The gray screen at the bottom is an extra screen that you can use to create a new screen with apps.

To remove an app, simply hover the mouse over the app, and you'll see a little X appear in the upper-left corner. Click the X, and the app disappears from the screen. On the next sync, the app will be removed from your iPad (don't worry, you can always get it back by dragging it again from the apps list to the virtual iPad screen).

Note

Apps shipped with the iPad cannot be removed from the device—they can only be repositioned.

Each screen can hold 20 apps in addition to the ones docked at the bottom of the screen. The Dock can hold up to six apps. Any apps you put in the Dock will appear at the bottom of the iPad no matter what app screen you've swiped to. Since the docked apps always appear at the bottom of any app page, it's best to put the ones you use most frequently down there for quick access.

File Sharing

The iPad introduced an easy way to share files between your computer and iPad. Beneath the File Sharing heading you'll see an Apps box and a Documents box (see Figure 2-16). Any apps currently on your iPad that support drag-and-drop file sharing appear in the Apps list here. To get a file into the application, simply select the application in the Apps list, find on your computer the file you want to add, and drag it into the Documents list. You can also click the Add button at the bottom of the Documents list to browse for the file on your computer.

Figure 2.16. Apps that support drag-and-drop file sharing and their enclosed documents

If you've created a completely new file on your iPad, say in Apple's text editor Pages, and want to transfer that file to your computer, select the file in the Documents list, click the "Save to..." button below the list, and choose where on your computer you want to save the file. Alternately, you can simply drag the file from the Documents list to your desktop.

To delete a file from the app that contains it, select the file in the Documents list and press the Delete key on your keyboard. A pop-up window appears asking if you really want to delete the file. Click Delete to complete the deletion.

As long as a file is shared inside an app, that file is always backed up as part of app backups when you sync your iPad to your computer.

Note

Just because you can drag a file to an app's document box doesn't mean the app can open it. Apps are limited to working with files that the iPad supports. For example, the iPad does not natively support Microsoft's WMV video files. If you drag a WMV movie to an app, the app will contain it but will still not be able to play it unless support is built into that application itself. Pages wouldn't be able to open a movie document, for instance.

The Music tab is essentially self-explanatory (see Figure 2-17). Ensure the Sync Music check box is selected at the top. In the box below it, you will see two radio buttons and several check boxes.

Figure 2.17. The Music tab allows you to select which playlists, artists, albums, and genres you want to sync to your iPad.

Figure 2.18. Select the playlists, artists, albums, and genres you want to sync with your iPad.

The iTunes Store offers a large collection of movies available for rent or purchase that you can download and sync to your iPad. The Movies tab, shown in Figure 2-19, gives you several ways of getting your movies onto the iPad.

Figure 2.19. The Movies tab allows you to select which movies you want to sync to your iPad.

To sync your movies, first make sure the Sync Movies check box is selected. You'll see a check box on the Movies tab. If you leave this checkbox empty, iTunes will not synchronize movie content to your iPad.:

As it does with movies, the iTunes Store offers large collections of TV shows available for purchase and download. All of these shows can be synchronized to and played back on your iPad. You can purchase episodes à la carte or buy a Season Pass. With this pass, you pay for the entire season at once, often at a slight discount, and the new shows automatically download as they become available.

To sync your TV shows, first make sure the Sync TV Shows check box is selected (see Figure 2-20).

Figure 2.20. The TV Shows tab allows you to select which shows you want to sync to your iPad.

The following options appear on the TV Shows tab:

Figure 2.21. The Shows box allows you to select TV series to sync to your iPad. In the Episodes box to the right, you can select which episodes of the series to sync.

Many people use iTunes to subscribe to their favorite podcasts. Podcasts are audio programs delivered over the Internet, much as TV shows are delivered over the airways. Numerous podcasts are available these days, including entertainment, advice, how-to shows, and much more. iTunes monitors your podcast subscriptions and can automatically download new shows when they become available. The Podcasts tab lets you control which shows are synchronized to your iPad.

The Podcasts tab, as shown in Figure 2-22, has a similar look and feel as the Movies and TV Shows tabs.

Figure 2.22. The Podcasts tab allows you to select which podcasts you want to sync to your iPad.

To sync your podcasts, first make sure the Sync Podcasts check box is selected. You'll find these items on the Podcasts tab:

iTunes U is a free service offered by Apple and a wide range of educational institutions to disseminate educational tools such as class lectures and language courses. iTunes U operates much like podcasts, and getting them onto your iPad works in a similar way.

To sync your iTunes U items, first make sure the Sync iTunes U check box is selected (see Figure 2-23).

Figure 2.23. The iTunes U tab allows you to select which iTunes U collections you want to sync to your iPad.

You'll find these items on the iTunes U tab:

One of the big features of the iPad is the ability to buy and read e-books in the new iBooks app. You'll delve into the iBookstore and the iBooks app in Chapters 8 and 9, respectively; for now all you need to know is that the Books tab in the iPad settings pane is where you control what books get synced to your iPad (see Figure 2-24).

Make sure the Sync Books check box is selected at the top. In the box below it, you will see two radio buttons. "All books" syncs every book in your iTunes library. "Selected books" allows you to sync only the books you choose in the Books box further down the page.

Figure 2.24. The Books tab allows you to select which books you want to sync to your iPad.

Below the Books box you will see a Sync Audiobooks check box (see Figure 2-24). Again, there are two options: "All audiobooks" or "Selected audiobooks."

With "All audiobooks" selected, any audiobooks you have in your iTunes library will be synced with your iPad. If you choose "Selected audiobooks," you'll be presented with the familiar layout you've seen on the other media tabs, this time with Audiobooks and Parts boxes. In the Audiobooks box, you'll be able to manually select which audiobooks you want to sync. Some audiobooks have separate files, or parts, that designate chapters. You can select only the parts you want to sync for any audiobook in the Parts box.

Viewing photos on the iPad may be pretty low on your list of reasons to buy one, but it shouldn't be. The experience is so much better than viewing your photos on your desktop. There's nothing like physically holding your digital photos in your hand and swiping through them on the iPad's gorgeous display. (Chapter 13 covers working with photos in depth.)

Use the Photos tab to transfer photos onto your iPad. Make sure the "Sync Photos from" check box is selected at the top (see Figure 2-25); then use the drop-down list to the right to select where you want to sync your photos from. On the Mac, your options will be iPhoto 4.0.3 or newer, Aperture 3.0.2 or newer, or any folder on your computer. On a Windows machine, your options will include Adobe Photoshop Elements 3.0 or newer or any folder on your computer.

Figure 2.25. The Photos tab allows you to select which photos you want to sync to your iPad.

In the box below the check box, you have three options:

If you are ever experiencing problems with your iPad, you can choose to restore it. iTunes offers two options of restoring your unit: restore to the factory defaults, or restore from a backup. The factory default method will restore your iPad to its original factory settings—as if you've just turned it on for the first time. Restoring from backup will restore the iPad from its last saved backup file.

To restore to factory settings, in iTunes on your computer select the iPad from the Devices list, select the Summary tab, and click Restore (this deletes all the data on the iPad and restores it to the factory settings). When prompted by iTunes, select the option to restore your settings.

To restore from backup, in iTunes on your computer right-click (or Ctrl-click) on the iPad in the Devices list, choose Restore from Backup, and select a backup to restore from. The iPad will then be restored from the backup listed in the Device backups list.