Display Technology: The iPad Mini has True Tone, a feature that automatically monitors the light in an environment, then adjusts the color and intensity of a screen to make it match the ambient light so that images appear more natural, while also reducing eye strain. It also has a wide color gamut, which is a wider range of reproducible color. Bluetooth: The iPad Mini has Bluetooth 5.0. (upgraded from Bluetooth 4.0) which offers improved speed and greater range Apple Pencil Support: The iPad Mini has support for the Apple Pencil (1st Generation). No previous iPad Mini offers this. (See following section for more information about the Apple Pencil and how it can be used). OS: Both the iPad Mini and the iPad Mini 4 can be used with the new iOS13 and iPadOS. The iPad Mini (5th Generation), measuring 8 inches x 5.3 inches x .24 inch wide and weighing just .66 of a pound, offers tablet users some very unique advantages. The iPad Mini is a smaller, more portable device. It can be carried around easily, but at the same time, is fully functional. It is easy to hold in one hand, small enough to take out or put away whenever you want. And together with the Apple Pencil (1st Generation), can be used to jot down notes, sign documents, fill out forms and read books, anything you want on the go. This iPad Mini is almost identical in function to the 10.5 inch iPad Air. With iPadOS, the iPad Mini now has multitasking capabilities, organizational features like the Files app, new muti-touch gestures, multitasking features like slide over and split views, the ability to mark-up documents, photos, etc., use of new gestures for copy, paste, undo, Dark Mode and much more. Also, because of its small size, light weight and portability, the iPad Mini is a great device for those using the iPad for Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) purposes. In addition, the iPad Mini with the Apple Pencil, offers us- ers many options for access while still preserving portability. Whether you prefer using an on-screen keyboard, an external keyboard, speech recognition or writing with a pencil, all op- tions are always with you and available in the one compact de- vice. It has the ability to switch from one to the other, quickly and easily. Combine this with the new software and accessibil- ity features of iOS13 and iPadOS, the large number and quality of apps and accessories available and the iPad Mini joins the other iPads in becoming a powerful learning and educational tool. So, if your phone is just too small to do what you need, and the iPad you are using at home is too heavy to carry around, the iPad Mini might just be the answer for you. (Watch for more information and details about iOS 13 and iPadOS, USB-C connectivity on the iPad Pro, using the iPad for mouse access (trackball, mouse, etc.) and with external hard drives-in upcom- ing articles.)
The Apple Pencil 1st Generation: Pencil & Pencil Charge (www.apple.com)
THE APPLE PENCIL: (WWW.APPLE.COM) The Apple Pencil (1st Generation) is a 7-inch Bluetooth digi- tal stylus that works with the iPad Mini 5. One end of the pencil is the writing tip and the other end has a magnetic removable cap with a lightning connector underneath for charging. The Apple Pencil charges quickly, 15 seconds gives you about 30 minutes of use and a full charge usually takes about 15 min- utes. It makes writing a very natural and comfortable experi- ence. While using it, you can rest your hand on the iPad screen without any interference. You don’t have to worry about hand placement, just write like it’s a piece of paper. The Apple Pencil has many applications for individuals with Special Needs. It’s a powerful tool in the areas of notetaking, organizational skills, scheduling and calendar applications, an- notating text files, PDFs and photos and filling out and signing forms. In addition, it’s an impressive art tool and is supported by many specialized art apps. Some examples of its use include the following: The Apple Pencil can be used to turn paper worksheets or children’s home- work into iPad worksheets. Just take a picture of the sheet, find the picture in Photos, press ‘Edit’ on the upper right, select the circle with three dots on the bottom right and choose Markup. Pick pencil, color and have your students or children start filling in their answers. You can use the same procedure to markup anything, even putting captions on your photos before sharing them. It’s also good for “Precision Pointing”- using like a stylus
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