Image rights from top left: Apple, Hyper, Anker, Apple, Ookla LLC, Crunchy Bagel Pty, Read It Later.Handy iPad
utilities
Apple doesn’t include
all the same fonts in
iPadOS as macOS, and you
may have your own extras
that you need. With no font
installer included, use this
to add font files from your
Mac (licences permitting).When you’re mobile,
you can’t rely on
performance over your
Wi–Fi or cellular connection.
At least with this app you
can check whether your
impression of reception is
borne out by testing, and
decide whether to soldier
on or try elsewhere.Calendars, reminders
and to–do lists can
be too rigid to simply
encourage you to do things
you’ve vowed to do more
— or less. Streaks lets you
take control of your habits,
syncing via iCloud.When you’re on the
move, internet access
isn’t guaranteed. Before you
leave, or while camping on
the Wi-Fi over a coffee, send
web links you want to read to
Pocket and it’ll download the
content to your iPad.patchy Wi–Fi and watching previously
downloaded Netľix episodes. I select
my AirPods Pro in Settings > Bluetooth
and hand–hold the iPad. The high
screen brightness cuts through the
sun streaming through the window.
As I step back into the house, the
iPad pings. It’s my automated
reminder to charge it. Clever me!FRIDAY
Importing photos to the iPad is more
ľexible than before, but still needs
extra hardware. The camera’s Wi–Fi
access is limited to its maker’s own
app, which is hopelessly clunky.
So my options are to connect the
camera using a Lightning to USB
Camera Adapter ($39> for the iPad Pro,
the USB-C to USB Adapter is $19) or
take out the memory card and insert
it in a Lightning to SD Card Camera
Reader ($29> the USB-C to SD Card
Reader is $39). Either way, I can then
bring pics into my Camera Roll, which
grabs both the raw and JPEG versions.
Or, because iPadOS now natively
supports external storage, I can
import them into the Files app or
other apps: see the walkthrough on
the opposite page.My last task of the week is a video
meeting. It’s in FaceTime, which is
ideal, but the iPad also has free apps
for the likes of Skype and Zoom. The
problem is that the camera is only at
the top if you hold the iPad vertically,
which the Smart Keyboard can’t.
Neither side-eyeing nor handheld
shakycam is a good look, so this is the
Ľnal straw for me and the Smart
Keyboard. I dig around for an
aluminium tablet stand.
You can Ľnd a selection of these on
Amazon, with an iMac–like foot and a
rotating gripper that holds the iPad in
either orientation (if you have an iPad
Pro, check it’ll Ľt). This worked well
for video chat, although I was tempted
to upgrade to the articulated iKross
2-in-1 ($24.99, amazon.com). After
the call, connecting a spare Magic
Keyboard via Settings > Bluetooth
completed a more ergonomic desktop
setup for work.
Well, here’s the weekend and, if
I’m honest, the MacBook Pro will be
coming back out so I can catch up on
some layouts in InDesign. With
AL·nity Publisher coming to the iPad
in 2020, though, who knows? Desktop
equality might not be too far oļ.ANKER POWERCORE
ESSENTIAL 20000
$42.97 anker.comWith a 20,000 mAh capacity,
this portable battery can
recharge even an iPad Pro
more than once, and twin
ports mean that you can
top up your iPhone at the
same time.Stay connected on the move
iFONT
Free (IAPs) apple.comSPEEDTEST
Free speedtest.netSTREAKS
Free streaksapp.comPOCKET
Free getpocket.comHYPERDRIVE 6–IN–1
USB–C HUB
$89.99 hypershop.comThis crowdfunded multi–
function hub is made
specifically to fit the iPad Pro- It adds USB–A, HDMI
and 3.5mm audio ports, SD
and microSD card slots, plus
USB–C pass–through.
APPLE ADAPTORS
From $19 apple.com
Everything from SD cards
to HDMI projectors can be
connected to your iPad’s
Lightning or USB–C port
using an adaptor. AV (audio/
video) adaptors come with a
passthrough port to keep
your iPad charged.
maclife.com MAR 2020 39Ditch the MacBook