Chapter 2. Interact with Your iPad
These days, touchscreens are nothing new; you find them everywhere. They’ve been on automatic teller machines for years, and dispensing New York City subway fare cards for more than a decade. Some delis let you order up a turkey-and-swiss by pressing a touch-sensitive menu. So, in the grand scheme of things, the iPad’s touchscreen isn’t unfamiliar.
But using the iPad takes more than touch. You tap, you flick, you swipe, you double-tap, you drag, you press-and-hold. Which motion you make and when you make it depends on what you’re trying to do at the time. And that’s where this chapter comes in.
Over the next few pages, you’ll learn how to do the digit dance so your iPad responds to your every command. You’ll also pick up a few keyboard shortcuts and learn how to use your fingers to find stuff on your ‘Pad. So get those hands limbered up by turning the page.
Finger Moves for the iPad
The “brain” behind the iPad—its operating system—is smart enough to respond to a series of very different touches. The ones you make depend on what you want to do. Here are the moves:
Tap. Take the tip of your finger and lightly press an icon, thumbnail image, song title, or control you see on-screen. The iPad isn’t a crusty old calculator, so you don’t have to push hard; a gentle touch does the trick.
Drag. Keep your fingertip pressed down on the glass and slide it around ...
Get iPad 2: The Missing Manual, 2nd Edition now with the O’Reilly learning platform.
O’Reilly members experience books, live events, courses curated by job role, and more from O’Reilly and nearly 200 top publishers.
