What’s so special about an Ipad?
ipad Air- Highlighting features such as refined typography, new icons, translucency, layering, physics, and gyroscope-driven parallaxing as some of the major changes to the design. The iPad Air comes with several applications, including Siri, Safari, Mail, Photos, Video, Music, iTunes, App Store, Maps, Notes, Calendar, Game Center, Photo Booth, and Contacts.[10] Like all iOS devices, the iPad can sync content and other data with a Mac or PC using iTunes, although iOS 5 and later can be managed and backed up without a computer. Although the tablet is not designed to make phone calls over a cellular network, users can use a headset or the built-in speaker and microphone to place phone calls such as Skype.[11] The device has a dictation application, using the same voice recognition technology as the iPhone 4S. This enables users to speak and the iPad types what they say on the screen, though the iPad must have an internet connection (via Wi-Fi or cellular network) because the speech is processed by Apple servers.[12] Apple also began giving away free versions of its popular iLife (iPhoto, iMovie, Garageband) and iWork (Pages, Keynote, Numbers) apps with the device.
A thinner design that is 7.5 millimeters thick and has a smaller screen bezel similar to the iPad Mini. Still uses the same 9.7-inch Retina Display as the previous iPad model,[24] an improved front-facing camera makes using Face Time much clearer.[25] The new front facing camera is capable of video in 720p HD, includes face detection, and backside illumination. The enclosure of the iPad Air is milled from a solid block of aluminium making it 100% recyclable. The iPad Air is also free of harmful materials such as BFRs and PVC.[23]
https://www.apple.com/ipad/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/IPad_Air
http://www.intomobile.com/2014/01/22/apples-new-ipad-air-ads-dive-underwater-climb-mountains/
ipad- The user interface is built around the device's multi-touch screen, including a virtual keyboard. An iPad can shoot video, take photos, play music, and perform Internet functions such as web-browsing and emailing. Other functions—games, reference, GPS navigation, social networking, etc.—can be enabled by downloading and installing apps. As of October 2013, the App Store has more than 475,000 native apps by Apple and third parties. Like the iPhone, the iPad is designed to be controlled by bare fingers; normal, non-conductive gloves and styli do not work,[57] although there are special gloves and capacitive styli designed for this use.[58][59]
The display responds to other sensors: an ambient light sensor to adjust screen brightness and a 3-axis accelerometer to sense iPad orientation and switch between portrait and landscape modes. Unlike the iPhone and iPod Touch's built-in applications, which work in three orientations (portrait, landscape-left and landscape-right), the iPad's built-in applications support screen rotation in all four orientations, including upside-down. Consequently, the device has no intrinsic "native" orientation; only the relative position of the home button changes.[60]
There are four physical switches on the iPad, including a home button near the display that returns the user to the main menu, and three plastic physical switches on the sides: wake/sleep and volume up/down, plus a software-controlled switch whose function has changed with software updates.The iPad has two internal speakers reproducing left and right channel audio located on the bottom-right of the unit. In the original iPad, the speakers push sound through two small sealed channels leading to the three audio ports carved into the device, The iPad uses an internal rechargeable lithium-ion polymer (LiPo) battery. Apple offers several iPad accessories,[79] most of which are adapters for the proprietary 30-pin dock connector, the iPad's only port besides the headphone jack.[6] A dock holds the iPad upright at an angle, and has a dock connector and audio line out port. Each generation of iPad requires a corresponding dock. A dock that included a physical keyboard was only supported for the original iPad,[80] but all generations are compatible with Bluetooth keyboards that also work with Macs and PCs. The iPad can be charged by a standalone power adapter ("wall charger") also used for iPods and iPhones, and a 10 W charger is included with the iPad.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/IPad
iPad Mini- iPad Mini (branded and marketed as iPad mini) is a line of mini tablet computers designed, developed, and marketed by Apple Inc. It is a sub-series of the iPad line of tablets, with a reduced screen size of 7.9 inches, in contrast to the standard 9.7 inches. The iPad Mini comes with several pre-installed applications, including Siri, Safari, Mail, Photos, Video, Music, iTunes, App Store, Maps, Notes, Calendar, Game Center, Photo Booth, and Contacts.[13] Like all iOS devices, the iPad can sync content and other data with a Mac or PC using iTunes, although iOS 5 and later can be managed and backed up with iCloud. Although the tablet is not designed to make telephone calls over a cellular network, users can use a headset or the built-in speaker and microphone and place phone calls over Wi-Fi or cellular using a VoIP application, such as Skype. The device has an optional iBooks application, which displays books and other ePub-format content downloaded from the iBookstore. There are four buttons and one switch on the iPad Mini, including a "home" button near the display that returns the user to the home screen, and three aluminum buttons on the right side and top: wake/sleep and volume up and volume down, plus a software-controlled switch whose function varies with software updates. The Smart Cover, introduced with the iPad 2, is a screen protector that magnetically attaches to the face of the iPad. A smaller version is now available for iPad Mini. The cover has three folds, which allow it to convert into a stand, held together by magnets.[21] Smart Covers have a microfiber bottom that cleans the front of the iPad, and wakes up the unit when the cover is removed. It comes in six colors of polyurethane.[22][23]
Apple offers other accessories, including a Bluetooth keyboard, several types of earbuds or headphones and many adapters for the Lightning connector.[24] AppleCare and free engraving are also available for the iPad Mini.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/IPad_Mini
Retina Display (marketed by Apple with a stylized lowercase 'D' as Retina display) is a brand name used by Apple for screens that have a pixel density of around 300 PPI.[1] The term is used for several Apple products, including the iPhone, iPod Touch, iPad,MacBook Pro, iPad Mini, and iPad Air.[2] Because the typical viewing distance is different, depending on each device's use, the pixels per inch claimed to be of Retina quality can differ, depending on the size of the display, with higher PPI for smaller displays and lower PPI for larger displays: 326 PPI for the smallest devices (iPhone, iPod Touch, and iPad Mini (2nd generation)), 264 PPI for mid-sized devices (iPad (3rd & 4th generations), iPad Air), and 220 PPI for larger devices (MacBook Pro). Many other manufacturers' displays have similar or higher pixel density. When an Apple product has a Retina Display, each user interface widget is doubled in width and height to compensate for the smaller pixels. Apple calls this mode HiDPI mode. Apple has applied to register the term "Retina" as a trademark in regard to computers and mobile devices with the United States Patent and Trademark Office, Canadian Intellectual Property Office, and in Jamaica.[3][4] On November 27, 2012 the US Patent and Trademark office approved Apple's application and "Retina" is now a registered trademark for computer equipment.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Retina_Display
How can we use the ipads in a science class:
Download apps relative to science
Simulate science labs on your ipad
Videos for lab experiments and lab presentations/reports
Assessments
Online Books
Lab notes
GPS Routes/Checkpoints
Cartography Unit- Make your own map
Taxonomy, Geology, Plant ID
Astronomy App