iPad & iPhone User - USA (2019-11)

FEATURE

lot closer to ditching paper than I once figured we’d be

at this point in history.

This arrangement works well enough for traditional

writing and outlines with the right apps, but sure, you

can just as easily do these things by typing. The Apple

Pencil, though, shines because it allows you circle key

items in your notes, easily make highlights, and scribble

comments in the margins when you’re using specialized

apps like MyScript Nebo or Notability. Word processing

software still doesn’t successfully mimic this kind of

organic drafting, and the Pencil helps you enjoy that

process without killing a forest.

The iPad as a virtual desktop

Setting up a virtual desktop program such as Chrome

Remote Desktop on my iPad saved me a couple of

times when I needed to remotely access a file that’s

only available on my desktop PC. The catch is that it’s

sometimes awkward to interact with the interface of my

Windows machine with my iPad’s display, particularly

when I try to ‘right-click’ with my fingers. Most of the

time, I can’t wait until I’m done. Apple Pencil makes

this process more bearable. The slender Pencil makes

it a lot easier to pinpoint small icons my fingers would

normally obscure, and holding down the Pencil to ‘right-

click’ feels a little more intuitive. It’s still not as ideal as

using a mouse, but it comes very close. It’s certainly a

big improvement over prodding with my stubby fingers.

A digital ‘whiteboard’ for presentations

Got a TV that works with AirPlay? Got an HDMI dongle

for your iPad? If you do, you can hook up your iPad

FEATURE

lotclosertoditchingpaperthanIoncefiguredwe’dbe

atthispointinhistory.

Thisarrangementworkswellenoughfortraditional

writingandoutlineswiththerightapps,butsure,you

canjustaseasilydothesethingsbytyping.TheApple

Pencil,though,shinesbecauseitallowsyoucirclekey

itemsinyournotes,easilymakehighlights,andscribble

commentsinthemarginswhenyou’reusingspecialized

appslikeMyScriptNeboorNotability.Wordprocessing

softwarestilldoesn’tsuccessfullymimicthiskindof

organicdrafting,andthePencilhelpsyouenjoythat

processwithoutkillingaforest.

TheiPadas a virtualdesktop

SettingupavirtualdesktopprogramsuchasChrome

RemoteDesktoponmyiPadsavedmeacoupleof

timeswhenIneededtoremotelyaccessafilethat’s

onlyavailableonmydesktopPC.Thecatchisthatit’s

sometimesawkwardtointeractwiththeinterfaceofmy

WindowsmachinewithmyiPad’sdisplay,particularly

whenItryto‘right-click’withmyfingers.Mostofthe

time,Ican’twaituntilI’mdone.ApplePencilmakes

thisprocessmorebearable.TheslenderPencilmakes

italoteasiertopinpointsmalliconsmyfingerswould

normallyobscure,andholdingdownthePencilto‘right-

click’feelsalittlemoreintuitive.It’sstillnotasidealas

usingamouse,butitcomesveryclose.It’scertainlya

bigimprovementoverproddingwithmystubbyfingers.

A digital‘whiteboard’forpresentations

GotaTVthatworkswithAirPlay?GotanHDMIdongle

foryouriPad?Ifyoudo,youcanhookupyouriPad