Without question, the greatest advantage of the iPad ecosystem is the ability to add Apps to suit almost any purpose. Categories of Apps include productivity, education, music, photography, games, sports, etc. Although Apple does create its own Apps that can be downloaded from the App store in addition to the stock Apps that come included on the iPad, most Apps in the App Store are "purchased" from developers. There are three main business models for Apps keeping in mind that nothing is free in life:
1. Paid Apps: these are usually the highest quality apps and therefore cost money. In order to purchase these, you will need to either link a credit card to your Apple ID account or use an iTunes card that can be purchased at a retail outlet.
2. Free Apps: the majority of apps are indeed free to purchase but developers will make their money through advertisements. This may take the form of videos that advertise a product or another App, or a banner somewhere on the screen.
3. Free Apps with In-App Purchases: these Apps are free to download but may be limiting in the features that can be used in the App. In order to unlock these features, the user will need to pay to use that feature. Some Apps will allow the user to use all of the features for a limited time before purchasing the full version. Other apps, such as creativity Apps, will allow full feature access but limit the user to a certain number of creations.
Apps are "purchased" through the App Store on a device. Some users may recall a time when Apps could also be purchased through the iTunes app on a computer. This is no longer possible. Although many Apps have no cost to them, they are still "purchased". Once an App is purchased, it can never be removed from your Apple ID. Even if the App is deleted from the device, it will still show up as purchased in your account. It is then downloaded onto a device. Before an App is purchased, the user will be prompted to enter their Apple ID password. You can have the iPad remember the Apple ID password for free items in the Settings menu.
Purchased apps show up on an empty space on the device represented by their App icon. These Apps can be repositioned onto any page or onto the Dock for frequently accessed apps. There are a number of features on an iPad and strategies to make using the iPad more convenient.
The first page on a device is referred to as the Home Page. Everytime the Home button is depressed, the iPad will reposition itself to the Home Page. Therefore, it makes sense to place Apps that are most used on the Home Page.
The bottom of the screen contains the App Dock. Apps that are placed in the Dock are pinned there and are always available regardless of the page that the user is on. The number of Apps that the Dock can hold depends on the device that is being used and the iOS version. Prior to iOS11, iPhones could hold up to 4 Apps in the Dock and iPads could store up to 6 apps (due to the larger screen size). For those devices that are able to take advantage of the iOS11 update (see iPad chart), the Dock has been enhanced to allow up to 15 App icons. However, this is only if the Recent and Suggested Apps feature is toggled off in the Settings menu. Additional Apps can be added to the Dock through the use of a folder.
Having too many App icons spread across multiple pages makes App launching a bit of a logistical nightmare. There is a simple tool to help organize Apps into categories and that is by storing them into folders. To create a folder, simply long press an App icon until it shimmers (about 2-3 seconds). Drag one App with your finger over another App. This will put both Apps into a folder with a suggested folder name. The name can be renamed by clicking in that field and typing the new desired name. Additional Apps can be placed in this folder simply by dragging the App icon on top of the folder.
Prior to iOS9, a folder could contain 3 rows of 3 Apps per page for a maximum number of 15 pages bringing the total number of Apps that could be stored in a folder to 135. iOS9 expanded the number to 4 rows of 4 Apps per page resulting in the total number of Apps that can be stored in a folder increasing to 240.
Folders can be repositioned to different pages or to the App Dock.
Both Apps and Folders can be repositioned at any time by long pressing the App icon or the Folder until it shimmers (about 2-3 seconds). Drag the desired App or Folder to its new location. Apps can also be repositioned within a folder using the same process.
It is possible to reposition both App or Folder to other pages by dragging and holding the App or Folder on the right or left edge of the screen for a few seconds. If there are other Apps or Folders on that page, the App or Folder will go on the next available space. If there are no Apps or Folders, a new page will be created. Navigate between pages simply by swiping to the left or to the right (similar to turning pages in a book).
Apps can be removed from the device (and therefore reclaim some memory) by long pressing the App Icon. The icons will shimmer and a red 'x' in a circle will appear in the top left hand corner of the App. Clicking on the 'x' will delete the App. Apps can always be downloaded again from the App store.
Folders are not necessarily deleted as much as they are dissolved. Whenever there are less than two Apps in a folder, the folder will revert itself to an App. To remove Apps from a folder, put the iPad in shimmer mode (long press on any App) and drag the App from the folder onto the screen. That App will now be removed from the folder. When there are two Apps left, simply removing either App will dissolve the folder.