Instant New iPad Features in iOS 6 How-to: Learn to use Mail, iCloud, Photo Stream, iPhoto, iWorks, iTunes, iMovie, and Garageband through easy-to-follow recipes

Just got yourself a new iPad? Don't really know how to use it, but impatient to learn how? This book will introduce you to the iPad in a way that will get you up and running.First, you become acquainted with new iOS 6 features, and the apps that are already included in your iPad. Then you learn how to set up your email accounts in your iPad's settings, use the Mail app, and add an iCloud.com email address. Subsequent sections cover importing PDFs into iBooks and downloading from the iBookstore; editing and sharing photos using Photo Stream and iPhoto; capturing, editing, and sharing footage using iMovie; creating and recording music using different instruments in GarageBand; and using the iWork apps Keynote, Pages, and Numbers, and sharing and syncing documents between them.Be prepared to spend money if your iPad doesn't already have the last six apps. As of this writing, the prices of Keynote, Pages, and Numbers have been raised from $4.99 to $9.99.One of my favorite things about this book (which is divided into sections, not chapters) is the way Renee Valdez marked each recipe in the table of contents "Must know," "Should know," or "Become an expert." This helps readers tailor their iPad use to their specific needs -- especially different media needs -- and determine how basic or how advanced they want their iPad knowledge to be.This book does not only do a good job teaching novices the iPad; it does a great job showcasing the different uses of media the iPad offers. Artists, musicians, designers, and media professionals like Renee Valdez, who is a producer at MTV's Comedy Central, should especially find it helpful. One thing I wish the book discussed a little more was the App Store, since there are so many other iPad apps out there readers might want to explore. Other than this, I found this book a very useful hands-on guide.Some tips when doing the recipes in this book:- If you've just downloaded Keynote, Numbers, Pages, and GarageBand and are opening them for the first time, you will be taken through introductory screens where you can create new documents. In GarageBand, the swipeable menu of instruments appears first, enabling you to choose an instrument and create a song from it.- Please note that changes have been made in the following apps since this book came out last month; which I hope Renee Valdez will update if she gets a chance:1) To make transitions in Keynote, tap each slide once, and a bar with the words "Cut, Copy, Delete, Skip, and Transition" will appear. Tap Transition, and a window titled Transitions will appear. Then tap each slide, and a bar saying None with a plus sign next to it will appear. Tap the plus sign to choose a transition. Then tap the blue Done button in the upper right-hand corner of your iPad's screen once you've chosen the transition you want for each of your slides.2) In iBooks 3.0.2, the bottom bar has changed. Instead of Featured, NYTimes, Top Charts, Categories, Browse, and Purchased buttons; now this bar contains Books, NYTimes, Top Charts, Top Authors, and Purchased buttons. When learning to use iBooks, you can now just tap the Top Authors and Top Charts buttons.3) In GarageBand, you can no longer upload your song to iCloud. Instead, if you tap the share icon when your songs are shaking in Edit mode, you have options to share your song to Facebook, Youtube, Soundcloud, or iMovie, via iTunes and Mail, or as a ringtone.This book is published by Packt Publishing.This review was first published as "Instant New iPad Features in iOS 6 How-To" on Technorati.com.

What is covered?The book provides a short and practical coverage of apps available in iOS 6, specifically designed for iPad. The apps covered include iPhoto, iMovie, Keynote, Numbers, Pages, iBooks, GarageBand, Mail, and Photos. Instructions on how to leverage iCould to keep your data and documents in sync are also provided. Over 60% of the content is focussed on paid Apple apps, such as iPhone and GarageBand.What isn't covered?At the start the book indicates technical device details wont be addressed. iOS 6 delivered significant new features that the book does not cover. For example Siri, Safari, and Phone had powerful additions. Maps is a completely new app and there was also the addition of Passbook and finally a Clock app. Social integration was also expanded and deepened. However, the book does not address these.The Verdict?Great little book if you require some practical guidance on using and setting up some of the Apple apps available for iPad.Disclaimer: I was given a free copy for review.