How To Use AirPrint, AirPlay, Multitasking, Folders | iOS 4.2

By now you have probably already heard that iOS 4.2 for the iPad will be released very soon.  In fact, the current rumors suggest it will be released on Friday (November 12th).  That seems to be inline with the original announcement of “mid-November”.  Well, we have been using iOS 4.2 since the first beta and wanted to show you how to actually use the top 4 features that most people have been asking for. We are going to show you how to use AirPrint, AirPlay, Multitasking, and Folders.

How To Use AirPrint

AirPrint is the feature of iOS 4.2 which allows you to print from your iPad.  A lot of people wanted this feature from day one of the iPad release and leading up to this new iOS it was up to apps to allow you to print.  AirPrint does have a few requirements I want to point out:

• Wireless Printer or Wired Printer on a Wireless Network
• Wireless Network
• Printer that supports AirPrint

Using AirPrint

Let’s talk about these.  First of all let’s discuss how to use AirPrint.  In the image below you can see the AirPrint menu.  On the iPad there is no “printer” icon so just realize that to use the new printing feature you will need to look for the little arrow which is located at the top of the screen in most apps.  It is usually an icon of a box with an arrow indicating you are moving something “out” of the iPad.  Now, when you want to print from Safari, or iWork, or even from the Photo app, then just make sure you look for that icon and tap it.  Once you do, a menu shows up and one of the new options is “Print”.  At this point you can choose the option but unless you have the following in place, nothing will actually print.

Getting Ready For AirPrint

As stated above you will need to have at the very least a wireless printer which will support AirPrint.  We have put together a special page just so you can see and buy one of the HP printers that are known to support AirPrint out of the box.  Access our store by clicking here now. With all that said, there is another way you can use AirPrint if you do not have a Wireless Printer.  If yo have a Mac with a printer already connected to it, then you can also use AirPrint to print to that printer via your Mac (this is provided your iPad and Mac are both on the same wireless network).  There were rumors that this would not work but those have been largely dispelled.  Yet another way to access a printer is if you have a wireless print router such as the Airport Extreme.  This allows you to hook the printer directly into your wireless router and print using AirPrint.

So there are three ways to get your equipment ready.  To review, here they are:

1. Get a pure wireless printer such as the ‘e’ series from HP
2. Print via your Mac
3. Print to a printer connected to your wireless router

I tested option #1 with the amazing HP D110A.  I love this printer.  It is not on the high end of the scale in terms of specs but it was 100% easy to set up and it assigns the printer it’s own email address which allows you to print to it from anywhere you are in the world with an Internet connection.  Not too shabby for the price.

Once you have your printer in place using one of the above methods then you can officially begin using AirPrint.  Here are two things you can test out right away to see how nice AirPrint is:

1. Browse to a webpage in Safari and once you get to a page you want to print, look up at the top of the screen and tap the little box with that arrow.  Choose the “Print” option and print the page once AirPrint finds your printer.
2. Go to your Photo App. Find a picture you want to print and then notice up at the top right hand of the screen is that little box icon again with the arrow.  Tap it and print your photo once AirPrint finds your printer.

That’s about it.  AirPrint is a great feature but realize that not all apps support it yet.  Just remember to look for the icon of the box with that arrow and if you see the “Print” option when you tap it then it is a pretty safe bet you can use AirPrint.

See more One Tap Printing | How To Use AirPrint

How To Use AirPlay

AirPlay is the probably the second largest draw for using iOS 4.2 on the iPad.  With AirPlay, you can wirelessly stream videos, music, and photos from your iPad to one of the following:

• The new Apple TV
• Music to AirPlay speakers or receivers
• Music through Airport express

The new Apple TV is one of the best choices because it is inexpensive ($99) and it allows you to stream more than just audio.  The second best choice is using Airport express.  The reason that’s the second best choice is because a lot of people already have this in place so there is really nothing to do.

AirPlay speakers have just now started arriving on the market.  This announcement by iHome is the first one so far that is a true speaker to work directly with AirPlay.

Using AirPlay For Videos and Photos

To use this feature you will need the new Apple TV and it will also need to be updated to the latest version.  Once you have that in place here is how you can use AirPlay.

1. Tap on the Video app and begin playing a video
2. Notice on the control bar a little blue box with a triangle (see the image below)
3. Tap the box and choose “Apple TV”

Once you do this, your audio and video will be sent to your TV and/or your TV and Receiver.  It’s a pretty easy and very quick way to send your videos (and photos) through to the Apple TV.  For photos you do the same thing but you tap the blue box while in a slide show.

Using AirPlay For Music

If it’s just music you want listen to then you don’t need the Apple TV to enjoy the benefits of AirPlay.  All you need is something to send the sound to.  You can send sound via AirPlay and the iPod app to speakers through your Airport Express wireless unit or you can send sound to dedicated wireless speakers.  Of course you can also send sound to the new Apple TV and enjoy music as well.  To use this feature do the following:

1. Open the iPod app on your iPad
2. Begin playing music
3. You will notice the same icon as you did in the videos (the one with the box and the triangle)
4. Tap the icon and choose your Apple TV or your Airport Express or your wireless speakers

Music will fill the room and you are done.  It’s that easy.

Of course this all assumes you have a properly functioning wireless network running.  These days, however, that is a very simple process that used to be pretty complicated.  We will do a separate article to show how to set up a wireless network but for this article it’s assumed you already have one in place.

So there is AirPlay. Just as with AirPrint, it’s a pretty easy feature to use as long as you remember that you need to tell the iPad to send video, photos or music somewhere.  And to do that you need to look for the “AirPlay” icon and tap it to tell iPad what to do.

Using Multitasking + A Tip

The multitasking feature in iOS 4.2 means great things for you and your iPad.  Ever noticed how frustrating it is that you cannot listen to Pandora (or another radio app) and read your email at the same time?  Yeah, that’s frustrating.  Well, with multitasking you can switch between all your apps instantly.  And here’s how.  We also have a tip for you too.

Using Multitasking

To use multitasking there really isn’t much you need to do.  Just launch an app and begin using it.  Now, double-tap the home button.  See how the screen rises up and you get a list of icons at the bottom?  Now you simply scroll through the list and pick one.  It will open up and you can begin using it.  Want to switch back to your original app?  Just double-tap the home button again and choose that app.  This works great with Pandora as an example.  To put your screen back in place, just double-tap again and it multitasking will close.

Did you happen to notice that with iOS 4.2, the hardware switch on the side of the iPad which used to lock your screen rotation is now a volume mute switch?  It sure is.  And that probably leaves you wondering where your screen rotation function is?  Go ahead and double-tap the home button.  Now scroll your app ions all the way over to the left.  See that little icon all the way to the left with a arrow in it?  If you tap it, that will lock the screen rotation.  This is where the feature is now located.

A Multitasking Tip

Things are a little different in the world of multitasking and we wanted to give you a tip you can use.  Suppose you have an app that is misbehaving.  It happens.  In order to solve some types of issues with apps you will need to completely shut down that app.  With multitasking running apps are always going in the background so you need a way to completely shut one down.  No problem just use this tip.

1. Double-tap the home button to activate multitasking
2. Use your finger and press down on one of the apps for a few seconds until they are all shaking
3. See the red minus symbol on the apps?  (see the image below)
4. To shut down an app just press that red minus symbol and it will not be running any longer

Using Folders in iOS 4.2 For iPad

We wrap up this guide with using folders for iOS 4.2.  This is probably the easiest feature to use but the least understood.  If you do not have an iPhone with this feature it can be confusing to use at first.  But what are folders and why should you care?  Folders are not really folders like on your desktop.  They are groupings of apps by category.  In the image you can see there are some folders created.  It’s a way to keep all your common apps organized and to clear your screen clutter.

Using Folders

To use folders in iOS 4.2 on the iPad you do the following.

1. Hold your finger down on an app that you want to move into a folder.  Let’s say this is a game app.  The apps will all start to shake.
2. Using your finger, drag this game app (or any app) on top of another similar app.  A folder is automatically created with the two apps “inside”.
3. Keep dragging similar apps into your new folder and you will see the benefits of a well organized home screen

iOS automatically names these folders for the most common of apps.  But you can also rename these folders and here is how to do that.

1. Hold down your finger on a folder until it begins to shake
2. Tap the folder
3. Notice that you can now delete the name of the folder and/or rename it

Folders are pretty easy to use once you get the hang of it.  They are great because they keep your entire screen organized and generally feel more productive.

So there is the guide to using AirPrint, AirPlay, Multitasking, and Folder in iOS 4.2 for the iPad.  Please leave any comments, tips, or observations in the comments below for others to see.

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