How to Use the iPad mini Multitouch Screen

Using the multitouch screen is an easy way to move around on your Apple iPad mini. The iPad mini doesn’t have a mouse, physical keyboard, or keypad buttons; the multitouch screen displays virtual versions of buttons and controls as required for the tasks at hand. Try the following:

• Flick a finger on the iPad mini screen to scroll through pictures, music, contacts, e-mails, and more.

• Tap against the iPad mini screen to play songs, choose photos, open applications, and so on.

• Though it might be small and compact, your iPad mini is a multitasking marvel. While you can have only one app on your screen at a time, you can swipe left or right with your fingers to switch between recently used apps. Or double-tap the Home button to see the icons of recently used apps.

• Pinch and unpinch (sometimes called “spreading”) to enlarge pictures and web pages, or to make them smaller. To pinch or unpinch using multitouch, place your thumb and index finger against the iPad screen. Then keeping the thumb in place, drag your index finger towards or away from your thumb to pinch or unpinch accordingly.

• Trust the iPad mini virtual keyboard. It makes suggestions and corrects mistakes as you type. Use the little “x” to reject incorrect suggestions; your iPad mini has a good memory and will get the message and stop making that suggestion.

• Tap anywhere in text to select one or more words, or to cut, copy, or paste text to the clipboard.

• Correct errors in a note or e-mail by holding your fingers against the iPad mini screen to bring up a magnifying glass that allows you to position the pointer in the precise spot to be edited. Release your finger when the cursor (a vertical line) is in the proper spot.