iPad Tip ~ How to View Webpages Desktop Style

Many popular sites have mobile versions that are optimized for devices such as the iPad. While occasionally useful, mobile sites often lack the features of the desktop versions of the same site. Luckily, most (but not all) mobile websites can be disabled. First, confirm that the site you are viewing is a mobile site (this can be denoted by a m, mobile, or mobi web address prefix or suffix). Then, delete this extension. Alternatively, some sites may have a button that you can press to redirect you to the full site.

NOTE: For some sites like Facebook, there is no way to disable the mobile version.

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Henry Alex Rubin: Is Technology Disconnecting Us?

In the world of Henry-Alex Rubin’s new feature film, Disconnect (http://youtu.be/aqCcQOlDM4o), the hunters have a distinct advantage over the hunted and their protectors. The bullies and thugs have technology on their side, and they use it in all sorts of ways to stalk, trick, surprise and catch their prey.

But don’t mistake Rubin for a luddite, or an alarmist. In a recent interview with Big Think, he described technology as something neutral. We can build bombs with it and it can also take us to Mars, Rubin points out. And yet, what Rubin is most interested in as an artist is the distancing effect that technology can have.

“All these screens in our lives can bring us closer and then can also keep us farther apart from each other,” he says.

iPad Tip ~ The Universal Troubleshooter, v 2.0

If deleting your multitasking queue and restarting your iPad (a process known as the Universal Troubleshooter) doesn’t fix any problems you may be having with your iPad, try going into Settings -> General -> Reset -> Reset All Settings. This will reset all customizable settings to their factory standards, and will generally fix anything the Universal Troubleshooter doesn’t.

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iPad Tip ~ How to Instantly Organize Apps in Alphabetical Order

If you love to keep your apps organized, we have a great tip for you today. By going to Settings -> General -> Reset -> Reset Home Screen Layout, your iPad will not only reorganize all stock apps to their default positions, but also organize all non-stock apps in alphabetical order.

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iPad Tip ~ How to Turn on Voice Over

Voice Over is an accessibility feature that activates a personal assistant who reads any content you tap (this differs from Speak Selection in that ANY content can be read with a tap, including times, battery life, and non-body texts). To turn it on, go to Settings -> General -> Accessibility -> Voice Over. This setting is a little harder to turn on than most settings. First, toggle the Voice Over switch as usual. A confirmation message will pop up; you must DOUBLE-TAP the Ok in order to really turn Voice Over on. On this same page, there is also a Voice Over tutorial to get you acquainted with the modified Voice Over iPad controls (they are slightly augmented from regular controls).

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How to Turn on Mono Audio

We previously told you about a setting that allows you to change to headphone pan setting if you have a dominant ear. But what if you can only hear out of one ear, period? Mono audio is a great feature that optimizes music so that it can be heard in its complete with only one headphone. Go to Settings -> General -> Accessibility -> Hearing, and turn on the toggle next to the Mono Audio setting.

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How to Edit Headphones Pan Setting

For those who may have a dominant ear, there is a headphones sound panning setting that adjusts the distribution of polyphonic sounds. To customize this setting, go to Settings -> General -> Accessibility -> Hearing. Adjust the blue switcher bar; the further to the left the marker is, the more representative sounds will be for the left headphone, and vice versa.

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iPad Tip ~ How to Select Notification Styles

Notification preferences can be individually catered to each app. Go to Settings -> Notifications, and select an app on the notification list. Finally, select what type of notification you want the selected app to send out (you can also turn off notifications completely for the selected app).

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iPad Tip ~ How to Auto-Join a Wi-Fi Network

If you frequently use a password-protected Wi-Fi network, you can a toggle a setting that allows you to bypass the password check after the first login. To toggle it, go to Settings -> Wi-Fi, and click the blue arrow to the right of the network’s name. Finally, toggle the Auto-Join feature on.

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iPad Tip ~ How to Auto-Login a Wi-Fi Network

Most academic or professional facilities that have Wi-Fi networks require users to login (i.e., provide username and password information, versus just providing the network password). All iOS devices have a neat feature that automatically logs you into such networks after you enter your login info the first time. This feature is usually toggled automatically when such networks are detected, but you can also turn it on manually by going to Settings -> Wi-Fi, and click the blue arrow to the right of the network’s name. Finally, toggle the Auto-Login feature on.

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