Tag Archives: setup

Got a new iPhone for Christmas? Some things to do before using it

….or even AFTER using it! These tips are from an article on cnet.com.

  1. Clean out your old phone – delete unwanted apps and photos, for example. Then backup your old phone to iCloud. That’s going to make it MUCH easier to setup your new device.
  2. If you are moving from Android to IOS, Apple has an app caled “Move to IOS” in your app store. Install it on your Android device – it will also save you a lot of headaches.
  3. Learn about Gestures, which are used to navigate and use the phone. CLICK HERE for a cnet article – complete with animations – that explains what’s available in IOS13.
  4. Setup FaceID – the feature that uses your face to unlock the phone. It’s a concept that’s been around a while – Windows Surfaces have been using this type of thing for several years. CLICK HERE to learn more about FaceID from cnet.
  5. Spend some time getting to know your new device. On campus we call it “playing” – off campus we call it “research”. Either way, spend the time just exploring. CLICK HERE for a good article about the new features. CLICK HERE for an article about some hidden gems – features you may not know exist.
  6. Make sure you have the Find My service setup and turned on. [Settings –> AppleID section on the top left.]
  7. Elsewhere on this site is an article with some suggested Privacy settings. You don’t want Apple to know ALL your business, now, do you?
  8. Did you know you can record your screen? That’s also true of many of the iPads on campus.

iPad Setup details

What buttons to push to get your iPad setup:

1) Get on the Network

• Find the Settings app
• Click Wi-Fi
• Select the network MDS-Student
• A page SHOULD come up asking you for your MDS number and Password. Use JUST the mds##### part and your Moodle password.
• If it does NOT come up:  Fire up a web browser [Safari/Chrome/Firefox] and go to a webpage that is OFFcampus and you’ve never visited before – like HamSandwichTees.com] That should trigger the login page.
• If the link at the top right never changes to Done after you login, AND you’ve waited 60 seconds – go back and try it again.
• If it gives you an error message, it’s likely you mistyped your password. Try again.

2) Email

• If setting up a new account – Settings –> Mail –> Accounts –>add Account.
• GOOGLE is the correct type.
• Login. If the sliders turn green, you are in.
• It isn’t setup until you click the SAVE link.

3) Google Drive

• Fire it up.
•  Login.
• It’s your MDS email address and Moodle password.
• Once in, click on the “hamburger menu” – the 3 stacked lines top left.
• Settings –> Photos.
•  Both sliders turned blue.

Now your pictures and videos will automatically be copied to a folder named Google Photos in your Drivespace.

You can delete a photo or video from your iPad safely – the copy will remain in Drive until you manually delete it from there.

4) Notability

• Fire it up.
• Get past the intro screens, if they appear.
• On the bottom right, click the Gear icon [settings].
• Select AUTOBACKUP –> Google Drive
• Login [if it asks].

Once done, anything you create in Notability will be automatically backed up to Google Drive, inside a folder named NOTABILITY, but only when you exit the document and get back to the front screen where your documents are listed in Notability.

5) AppleID

This is primarily so Find My iPad works, and secondarily as a backup.

• Open up Settings. On the top left, if you see your name. you are connected.
• If your name is there, AND there is a red notification, click it. It is probably asking you to setup Two-Factor-Authenticaion. DON’T – it creates headaches. Click the link to say “No thanks”. [If you already did – oh, well. We’ll deal with the headaches later.]
• If your name is NOT there – click there, and login.
• Remember: No number in moodle, add 1871 to the end to make your AppleID password. Missing an Upper or Lowercase letter? Change the case of the first letter.
• Can’t remember your AppleID password? Do the “I Forgot” dance – you’ll see a link onscreen.
• Never had an account? Come by the ARC.

You MUST use your MDS email address for an AppleID – don’t use an iCloud address, don’t use a personal email.
Use your moodle password for AppleID password.
DON’T turn on Two-Factor-Authentication if it’s an option to not use it [ but you might be required. Use YOUR cell phone if that’s true.]

iCloud – how to setup your account

The MUST list:

  • you MUST use your MDS email address
  • you MUST use your Moodle password [or if your moodle password is missing a number, add 1871 to the end of it. Ask Mr. Rule is you don’t know the significance of that date.]

The WHY list:

  • because it will allow restoring your data if your iPad has to be wiped [MUCH faster and easier than the alternative]
  • because you can use Find My iPad when [not “if”] you misplace your iPad [saving many headaches]

The HOW List:

On your iPad:

  • Settings –> iCloud
  • Create an account
  • Type in your birthday
  • Use an existing email [NOT an iCloud email]
  • Set the email address and password – remember, MDS email address, moodle password
  • Answer the security questions.
  • DO NOT setup a rescue email.
  • Open your email – look for an email from Apple, It will ask you to click on a link, Do so to complete the process.
  • Back in the Settings app –> iCloud, it should say your name and your MDS email address at the top.
  • Confirm the Find My iPad is turned ON.
  • Confirm Backup is Turned ON.
  • Start a Backup. Seriously. Right now.

 

These instructions were from memory, and so might be a tad off. Use your common sense if/when reality diverges from this list.