We gave my mom an Ipad a few years ago and recently upgraded her to a Samsung Galaxy Tab; she gave the Ipad to the Dudeling.
First off, how do I do a factory reset? I’m sure there is no data on there, but there are likely stored passwords and other personal information.
Once that’s done, do I visit Web sites for apps or do I have to go to the Apple Store? I assume the factory default setting will have the store built in, but what am I looking for? Or can I just go to someplace like Netflix and it’ll walk me through from there.
Will I need to connect it to a computer? I have vague memories of her having to install Itunes or something on her laptop. Is it safe to assume that an old Mac Mini will have whatever is necessary? He won’t get it if it means installing any Apple software on my PC, so it’s kind of crucial to get the older Mini to fit in (or not have to connect to a PC at all). There is a modern Powerbook available if absolutely necessary. I don’t think it has Itunes on it, but that may be due to never having accepted their terms of use.
If I’ll need to enter credit card information somewhere, is there an easy place to set a PIN so he can’t make in-app or other purchases?
Where are network settings? I’ll need to connect him to our Wi-Fi network and the occasional travel network, but only when needed.
To reset to factory settings, go into your settings. The icon will look like a box with gears in it. Under the general settings, there should be a menu item for Reset. From there, you can reset to factory settings.
The network settings are also under settings. There will be separate settings for WiFi and Bluetooth. It’s pretty straightforward.
I think you can only get iPad apps through iTunes. When you set up an iTunes account, you set a password, and it won’t download any new apps (even free apps) without asking for the password. It won’t ask for a password to update apps you’ve already downloaded.
Can’t help you with the question about apps for 4-year olds.
For what it is worth my wife has an Ipad and has been using it for a year or so. It has never been connected to itunes on a computer. She does not have music or videos or anything loaded onto the ipad. It is mostly just used to surf the web.
Thanks, this is great. I kinda figured it would live up to the ‘easy’ hype of Apple marketing, but wasn’t sure. Looked and looked for a reset but didn’t scroll in the general settings :smack:
Was able to set it up via Wi-fi. I’m pretty sure that wasn’t an option the first time she opened the box a few years ago, but possily overlooked it.
Right now all the apps are jiggling a bit on the home screen. I’m not exactly sure why, but I’m about to vomit. Maybe I should find him a water-/ shock-proof case pretty quickly.
If the apps are jiggling and have little Xs next to them, you’ve accidentally triggered the “delete app” mechanism by holding your finger on (as opposed to tapping) one of the icons. If there’s something you want to delete, you can do this (on any icon, not just what you want to delete), then once they’re jiggling, tap on the X.
I was actually trying to get things off the home screen. But none of the stock icons (mail, messages, newstand…) have that little ‘x’, and I can’t find a trashcan to send them to.
If Apple thinks it’s imperative for him to keep these things installed, is there any way to get them off the home screen?
Okay, WTF is going on, Apple? “Your apple id has not been used with the itunes store.” Well no shit.
But I get half a chance to accept the terms, set a country, and it’s been just sitting there with a dark, shaded rectangle (where the input box was) for about fifteen minutes now. No, thirty–I tried restarting it already.
Yes, that’s one of the frustrations for me. If it’s an app that comes with the device, you can’t get rid of it. What you can do, however, is drag the ones you never use to the last “page” of your home screen.
When the apps are jiggling, put your finger on the one you want to move and drag it to the right. You can drag it off the first page and onto succeeding pages. Not sure how many there are on an iPad. There are 5 on an iPhone. I’ve stuck the stock market app and the game center on the 5th page.
You can also make a folder and stick them in that. Just drag one icon on top of another, and it will put them in a folder. It’ll give the folder a name that it thinks make sense, but you can change it.
Rhythmdvl, can you use one of the other Macs to set up an Apple ID? You don’t have to do that through iTunes. Go here. Once you have the Apple ID set up, you can use it on any Apple device.
There are stock items that I have no interest in using that Apple put on my iPhone that I can’t uninstall/delete. So I created a folder on one of the other pages for apps named “Apple shit” and moved those icons into that. They’re out of the way there and there’s no chance of hitting them accidentally.
Be sure to go into the settings and turn on some restrictions. Especially the one that prevents in-app purchases. I also disable deleting and installing apps.
Be sure to get insurance or be prepared to smack yourself on the head really hard for giving an iPad to child… I’ve seen a six year old “clean” her Nintendo DS in the sink. Also, seen many screen broken by just by dropping it or stepping on it. Something small kids are prone to do.