How To

Apple helps you protect your iTunes Store account

If you have recently purchased one of Apple's mobile devices (iPhone, iPad, iPod) you most likely have set up an iTunes Store account to easily access music, movies, podcasts, and applications. Occasionally users report phishing attacks (emails designed to trick people into giving third party hackers password information) that target iTunes Store accounts. The following article details what to do if your account is compromised and some best practices for keeping it secure in the future.

The first rule of thumb is to never enter your iTunes Store account information in any website that is not Apple's and … Read more

Check your AT&T data usage to keep within new iPhone, iPad plans

With the big announcement coming from AT&T, introducing tethering and changing the data plan structure for iPhone and iPad, here is a quick guide to checking out your monthly data so you can purchase the right plan for you.

Starting on June 7th, iPhone and iPad customers may want to be a little more savvy about checking their data usage, given AT&T's new plan structures. To check your data usage online, open your favorite Web browser and navigate to the AT&T Wireless homepage. Enter your account information and log in. Click on "… Read more

How to get an iPad for $399

I know plenty of people who would love to have an iPad, but aren't willing to spend $500 (minimum) on one. Well, how about $400? If that sounds a little more palatable, read on.

A new Citibank promotion is offering a $100 credit when you spend at least $300 using a new Citi Diamond Preferred Rewards Card.

That means if you use the card to buy a $499 iPad, the credit brings your bottom-line price down to $399. (Obviously the same math applies to any iPad model: basically, you're saving $100.)

There are, of course, a few terms … Read more

How to change an iPad e-mail signature

The first time you send an e-mail from your iPad, you may notice the little "Sent from my iPad" e-mail signature Apple includes on your outgoing messages. It's cute, at first--like a postmark from a foreign country. Eventually, though, you may find it a little obnoxious.

Changing or clearing the e-mail signature on an iPad isn't rocket science, but if you've never toyed with an iPhone or iPod Touch, it may not seem obvious where to locate the exact setting. In this CNET How-To video, I'll walk you through the quick and painless process … Read more

How to wall-mount your iPad

We've seen a nonstop parade of cases, docks, and stands for Apple's iPad tablet, but one configuration we would have thought would be a natural is mounting it on a wall. After all, the iPad offers many useful widget-like apps, requires no separate keyboard or mouse, has a large bright screen that can be seen across the room, connects to data wirelessly, and--most importantly--has a long-running battery that can display useful info all day long without recharging.

We trekked down to our local hole-in-the-wall hardware store and picked up a handful of plastic hooks from the 3M Command … Read more

Turn a coat hanger into an iPad stand

One thing I've learned as an iPad owner is that I need more than one stand for the device. I mean, sometimes I want it propped up on my desk, sometimes it pulls kitchen-counter duty, and on occasion it needs a show-off spot in the living room (usually to impress guests with its Picture Frame mode).

As you may recall, there are plenty of cheap or free iPad stands out there--but I'm hard-pressed to imagine anything cheaper or freer than this, the coat-hanger stand:

Needless to say, I immediately raided my closet--and found a limitless supply of sturdy, … Read more

Why pay for extra 3G service for your iPad when you can just tether it?

If you've already got an iPhone and you're thinking about whether or not to get the iPad with 3G, you may want to consider tethering your current phone instead. Apple's iPad with 3G option is an extra $130 plus a monthly service fee, costs you may be able to apply toward a larger internal hard drive capacity or a fancy case, if you're willing to do a little extra work to get 3G on your iPad.

Now, before you get started, you will need to know that there are a few downsides to enabling your iPhone … Read more

How to use the iPad's Picture Frame mode

I'll admit it: I'm not using my iPad much. Maybe that's because I was already an iPhone user, and that continues to be my go-to device for e-mail, e-books, Facebook, and the like. Or maybe it's because I just haven't found enough killer apps yet.

Whatever, the case, I'm finding I enjoy the device more when I'm looking at it than when I'm touching it. That's because I've discovered Picture Frame, which turns that big, beautiful screen into a splendid animated photo frame.

Perhaps you've noticed the little picture … Read more

How to make an iPad safe for kids

At two-years old, my son is already obsessed with the gadgets I bring home from work. He knows my iPod Touch can play Elmo songs and has a Sesame Street app. He knows the Chumby I use as an alarm clock also has games on it. But nothing prepared me for the day I brought an iPad home. He went nuts.

Years from now there will probably be a study detailing how much damage I'm doing to my kid by letting him play games and watch Sesame Street on my iPad, but for now, it's great to watch … Read more