Watch 6 Great How-To Videos for iPad with iOS 11

Apple wants to show off iOS 11 on iPad, and despite the operating system still being under beta development, Apple has gone ahead and released six YouTube tutorials designed to demonstrate and walkthrough how to perform some of the more interesting iPad specific functions newly available in iOS 11.

The Apple videos focus on iPad and iPad Pro with iOS 11 performing various tasks, including using the new Dock, using the Notes app to scan and sign documents, using the new multitasking capabilities, managing files with the new Files app, using gestures, and using Markup with Apple Pencil.

We recently discussed installing and testing out iOS 11 beta specifically on iPad, noting that iPad hardware is where iOS 11 really shines with many new and interesting features, and this collection of one minute videos from Apple does a good job of demonstrating some of those great new capabilities. They’re certainly worth checking out if you’re curious about iPad and iOS 11.

You will notice some of the videos specify “iPad Pro” instead of simply “iPad”, but most of the iOS 11 tips will work on a standard iPad too as long as they don’t require the Apple Pencil. For example, I have a new iPad (2017 model) which is nearly half the price of an iPad Pro and it performs great with iOS 11 public beta, even without the Apple Pencil and some of those Pencil specific tricks. Anyway, onward with watching the videos below!

Dock: How to harness the power of the new Dock with iOS 11 on iPad

Multitasking: How to get more things done more quickly with multitasking with iOS 11 on iPad

Files: How to manage and fly through your files with iOS 11 on iPad

Gestures: How to get the most out of your hands with iOS 11 on iPad

Notes: How to effortlessly scan, sign, and send a document with iOS 11 on iPad

Markup: How to mark stuff up with Apple Pencil with iOS 11 for iPad Pro

(Note the Markup feature works on iPhone and iPad models without an Apple Pencil as well, but triggering the Notes feature from the lock screen and other Apple Pencil features obviously require the iPad Pro with an Apple Pencil to work as shown in the video)

Looks pretty neat, right? Want to check it out yourself but don’t have an iPad? You can buy a new iPad 2017 model for around $330 or an iPad Pro for around $650 and install iOS 11 public beta onto it. If you have an existing iPad you can also go with any other iOS 11 compatible device too. It’s a worthwhile experience if you’re an existing iPad user, or even just curious about where the future of iPad is heading.

Remember, iOS 11 is currently in beta testing and all beta system software is generally less stable and more buggy than a typical operating system experience would be. Thus it’s important to regularly backup your device if you choose to test out a beta version, or, ideally use beta system software on secondary hardware that is not mission critical or containing vitally important functions or data. If you’re shy about running beta system software, then waiting until iOS 11 is released as a final version this fall is perfectly reasonable as well.