30 habits of women men don’t get

Women like to believe and like you to believe that they can get along perfectly well without a plan. But the truth is they cannot. Everything has to be organised, arranged, expected, and planned. And this is just the beginning of their quirkiness. Over the years, women have harboured and honed habits that they continue to develop and stick to with fervour. We list a few of those.

MensXP.com – Thu 16 Aug, 2012

1. Going to the ladies room in groups

‘Seriously, what is that all about?’ is what all men think and discuss when all the ladies at their table get up together to visit the ladies room. We, like many others, have tried to decode this habit of women in the past, but there still remains an air of mystery around the ladies room saga.

2. A dab of powder here & a touch of lipstick there

Most women carry mini make-up stores in their bags. When going to a party, women leave home all decked up. A 15 minute car ride later, they ‘touch up’ their faces before entering the designated venue. And at this exact instant men wonder, why is she doing that? Didn’t she spend an hour getting ready anyway?

3. Giggling

All women giggle. In fact, all women love to giggle. There is nervous giggle, excited giggle, I’m-hiding-a-secret giggle and so on. Women giggle out of habit, but not without reason. And the reason behind the giggle is hardly ever known to the confused man.

4. ‘Am I fat, honey?’

To be honest, women ask this question more out of habit. Yes, they are conscious about their weight and their looks, but many-a-times this question is thrown at a man just because their subconscious says it is time to do. So, the next time she asks you this question, make sure you give an answer that she is habituated to listen to.

5. The face pack

Yes, men know that the face pack promises to give women a glowing, well moisturised skin. But I haven’t met a single man who has genuinely noticed a considerable difference in the way his woman looks after the application of a face pack. In fact, I’m yet to meet a woman who 100% believes that the face pack did ALL that it promised to better her skin. The desire to look better almost always results in the formation of a senseless habit; hence, the once a month face pack routine.

6. Try 5 outfits; Decide to buy a new one

All women do this. Before going to a party they try everything their wardrobe has to offer, and then ceremoniously declare they have no clothes and need to go shopping ASAP. As a man who can spend a week in two pairs of trousers and two shirts (and rock an office and party look in them), he only left wondering and emptying his pockets.

7. Clutches

The only thing a clutch can hold is one pair of keys and a lipstick. The rest – comb, phone, tissues, powder, etc – are all stuffed in the dashboard of the car or a man’s pocket. In spite of knowing the uselessness of a clutch, women carry it with them, always. Why?

8. The BIG bag

Obviously women need to carry a bag around. But do they need to carry a bag big enough to fit the Taj Mahal in it? Probably not.

9. Foot / nail lotion

A cream for the face, hair, body is one thing. But the habit of buying a separate cream for the foot, toes, and nails is something men never understand. The question that crosses a man’s mind is: foot and nails are a part of the body, so why a separate cream for them?

10. Ribbons

Women love ribbons. They like to tie them to their hair, use it to hold paper together, add them to gift packaging and perhaps use them to decorate a hat. Ribbons are a part of every woman’s collection and it is one thing they cannot do without. Creatures of habit?

11. Greeting cards

It is the day and age of e-cards and text messages, but women cannot get over their greeting card obsession. And men cannot understand why! A greeting card needs to be made or bought for birthdays, anniversaries and any and all events of celebration.

12. Cleaning and arranging

For most women, cleaning and arranging things in their proper order is a hobby, let alone a habit. They cannot rest till all the blues are lined from light to dark, till the cushions are puffed up right or till the already clean mirror is further cleaned. All men wonder how women go from interesting and zappy in the first date to domestic devils post marriage.

13. Crockery and Cutlery

Women love both these items. The kitchen is well stocked with a fruit fork, a dessert spoon, a salad bowl, a serving dish, an eating dish, a small plate, a…. OMG! By the time the man figures out in what plate he is to eat using which fork, he is sure to lose his appetite.

14. Change of clothes

Women love changing clothes. If possible, they would have separate morning, afternoon, evening, night and late-night clothes and go about changing their looks 5 times a day for every day of their life. Alas! Budget and space constraints stop them from following this habit to the T.

15. Yes means No, No means Yes

ALL men agree that they cannot fathom this particular habit of women. For the love of God, why do women have to say yes when they mean no and vice versa?! Maybe, they are just genetically engineered to be this way. Maybe.

16. Frenemies

You know that habit, when women hug each other when they meet but then bad mouth one another behind the back? Yea, that one. This frenemy concept is one which men fail to understand. Coz in the man world, you’re either a buddy or not. Simple.

17. Trick questions

“So, who is hotter? Your ex or the one you were staring at 2 minutes ago” THIS right here is a trick question. She doesn’t care about your ex, she doesn’t care about the other woman, she is mad at you for staring but she won’t tell you that. Instead, she will put you in a spot and absolutely agonise you. And she is doing this out of habit.

18. Shopping

This one is a centuries old issue and men have made peace with it by accepting the fact that women love to shop. Still, if you dig deeper you will know that men simply cannot fathom how women can love shopping so much? How can they make a habit out of a rather tiresome experience? HOW?

19. Ask questions, yet don’t seek answers

Of course women love asking questions. In fact they are habituated to asking ones they know they don’t want an answer to. Yet, they trouble a man till he answers and then yell at him for answering. Women and their habits!

20. Gossip

Men gossip too. But they don’t understand how women can live on gossip; day-in, day-out, 24 hours, 7 days of unadulterated gossip. Truth be told, this is one habit that is passed down generations. It is an important evolutionary concept and men shouldn’t break their head trying to understand it.

21. Carrying flats around

Women love heels, even when they cannot walk in them. Yet, they will wear them and, as an alternative, carry flats around. When you see a woman switching her heels with her flats, you will spot her companion (standing right next to her) rolling his eyes in exasperation.

22. Texting

“What will you eat?” “What time will you come?” “If you are reaching in 5, should I heat the food?” Women have found a way of turning texting into question-asking. And men are yet again at a loss of words at a woman’s ability to turn a helpful tool into a tiresome habit.

23. To eat or not to eat

Women don’t want to gain weight and yet they dream about chocolates and cakes. Why not eat and be happy or not eat and be happy? But then again, women never liked to keep it simple.

24. Screeching

Women screech. They don’t shout or yell, they make that shrieking noise that can burn a hole in a man’s ears. If you don’t know what I am talking about, think of the way in which girls screech when they see their favourite celebrity or pair of shoes they love. Got what I am saying now?

25. Pouting and posing

Women love to pout and pose. All you have to do is stand with a camera in front of them and they will start their performance. While men are perfectly happy to make do with an awkward smile, women feel it imperative to unleash their inner model. Yet again, to do so is their habit and men don’t understand head or tail of it.

26. Cross-checking

Women like to verify facts and stories. And they do so even at the risk of irking their man. Women may cross-check out of habit or doubt, but this behavioural trait is one they got to do away with.

27. Sharing EVERYTHING with her BFF

Men have never understood and perhaps will never understand why women share everything with their girlfriends. They also cannot comprehend what it is that woman can talk about for hours and hours non-stop. Guess, it’s just a girly thing afterall!

28. Last minute arrangements

Women will work and arrange and decide and organise till the very last minute. So much so, that sometimes, all the preparations make the man not want to go to wherever it is that they are headed.

29. The silent treatment

Either they talk too much and ask too many questions or they don’t talk at all. Using silence as a weapon when they’re upset is typical of a woman. This is one habit that *scares* men and puts them into uncomfortable, damage-control zone ASAP.

30. XOXO and

Women love using symbols and emoticons to express their feelings. While it is good sometimes, most of the times most men think it is downright funny and unnecessary. What’s this excessive need to blow air kisses and hugs in the first place, they wonder.

Source: 30 habits of women men don’t get 

7 Easy to Digest Foods

When your system needs a detox, try these simply cooked and easy to digest foods.

MensXP.com – Wed 18 Jul, 2012

Erratic lifestyles that each one of us live today result in excessive consumption of junk food. After a point, our system stops accepting such food and demands simply cooked and easy to digest food. Let us look at some such food we can include in our diet.

Fruits

One of the most basic, and something that each one of us enjoy eating are different types of fruits available in the market. Being low in fiber, fruits are considered to be light for the system as they digest easily. Apples, melons, papaya, mangoes, strawberries are not only low in fat but also give us the essential vitamins, minerals and nutrients.

Rice

Another food that is absolutely easy to digest is rice, which contains a simple form of carbohydrates. Hence you must consume a plain, liquid rice preparation when the stomach feels upset or uneasy.

Chicken

For all you non-vegetarians, chicken can be your choice when you need to eat food that can be digested simply. It is known to relieve the stomach when consumed in its boiled form.

Soup

Any form of vegetable soup is considered to be an easy to digest food. They provide essential nutrients that your body requires and hence it is highly recommended to consume the soup of your choice especially when you have an irritated stomach.

Yogurt

The bacterium present in yogurt is what makes it an easy to digest food. It is known to be healthy for the overall digestive system as well as improves the immunity levels of the body.

Leafy Vegetables

Cabbage, spinach and other green leafy vegetables facilitate the flushing out of foodstuffs that do not digest properly in the system. The rich nutrients present in these vegetables are essential for the body and also aid the weight loss process.

Oats

Another savior that can be consumed during an upset stomach is oats, which are an excellent source of fiber that are known to relax an upset stomach. Also, its low cholesterol level makes it a perfect choice as a health food.

Making the right choice of food while suffering from any sort of stomach or digestive problem is an absolutely necessity. Your digestive systems needs a desperate break from the over dose of junk food and hence, consumption of healthy and easy to digest food is crucial.

Top detox foods to get your body back on track

Lemon: Lemons are a staple of many detox diets, and there is good reason for this. Firstly, lemons are packed with antioxidant vitamin C, which is great for the skin and for fighting disease-forming free-radicals. Furthermore, the citrus fruit has an alkaline effect on the body, meaning that it can help restore the body's pH balance, benefitting the immune system. Try starting your day with hot water and a slice of lemon to help flush out toxins and cleanse your system.

Ginger: If too much fatty food or alcohol has caused problems for your digestive system, it may be worthwhile adding some ginger to your diet. Ginger is not only great for reducing feelings of nausea, but it can help improve digestion, beat bloating and reduce gas. In addition to this, ginger is high in antioxidants and is good for boosting the immune system. To give your digestion a helping hand, try sipping on ginger tea or adding some freshly grated ginger to a fruit or vegetable juice

Garlic: Garlic has long been known for its heart benefits, however the pungent food is also good at detoxifying the body. Garlic is not only antiviral, antibacterial and antibiotic, but it contains a chemical called allicin which promotes the production of white blood cells and helps fight against toxins. Garlic is best eaten raw, so add some crushed garlic to a salad dressing to boost its flavour and your health at the same time.

Artichoke: If you have recently been overindulging in fatty foods and alcohol, adding some steamed globe artichoke leaves to your meals is a great way to help get your body back on track. Globe artichokes are packed with antioxidants and fibre and can also help the body digest fatty foods. On top of this, globe artichoke is renowned for its ability to stimulate and improve the functions of the liver - the body's main toxin-fighting tool.

Beetroot: For those needing a quick health-boosting shot of nutrients, you can't do much better than beetroot. Packed with magnesium, iron, and vitamin C, the vegetable has recently been hailed as a superfood due to its many reported health benefits. Not only is beetroot great for skin, hair and cholesterol levels, but it can also help support liver detoxification, making it an ultimate detox food. To enjoy its benefits, try adding raw beetroot to salads or sipping on some beetroot juice.

Green tea: While it's not technically a food, no detox plan would be complete without regular consumption of essential liquids. Fluids are essential for keeping our organs healthy and helping to flush toxins from the body, and drinking green tea is a great way of boosting your intake. Green tea is not only a good weight-loss drink, but it is extremely high in antioxidants. Research has also suggested that drinking green tea can protect the liver from diseases including fatty liver disease.

Cabbage: Many celebs have resorted to the cabbage soup diet to help lose weight and get in shape quickly before a big event, however cabbage is not only good for weight loss - it is also an excellent detoxifying food. Like most cruciferous vegetables (including broccoli and sprouts), cabbage contains a chemical called sulforaphane, which helps the body fight against toxins. Cabbage also supplies the body with glutathione; an antioxidant that helps improve the detoxifying function of the liver.

Fresh fruit: Fresh fruits are high in vitamins, minerals, antioxidants and fibre and are also low in calories, making them an important part of a detox diet. If you're after brighter eyes and skin, shinier hair and improved digestion, try boosting your intake of fruit and eating from a wide variety of different kinds. The good news is fruit is easy to add to your diet, so try starting your day with a fresh fruit salad or smoothie and snacking on pieces of fruit throughout the day.

Brown rice: If you want to cleanse your system and boost your health, it is a good idea to cut down on processed foods. Instead, try supplementing your diet with healthier whole grains such as brown rice, which is rich in many key detoxifying nutrients including B vitamins, magnesium, manganese and phosphorous. Brown rice is also high in fibre, which is good for cleansing the colon, and rich in selenium, which can help to protect the liver as well as improving the complexion.

Watercress: Like most green herbs and vegetables, watercress is an excellent health-booster and detox food. Firstly, watercress leaves are packed with many vital detoxifying nutrients, including several B vitamins, zinc, potassium, vitamin E and vitamin C. Secondly, watercress has natural diuretic properties, which can help to flush toxins out the body. To reap the benefits of this nutritious food, try adding a handful of watercress to salads, soups and sandwiches.

Source: 7 Easy to Digest Foods

Emirates Airlines A380 First Class

Emirates Airlines A380 First Class

Top 7 ways to improve your fertility

Trying to have a baby but having little luck? Sit back, relax, and try these simple steps

Fertility enhancing trick 1: Quit alcohol

When it comes to trying for a baby, alcohol is one of the biggest hindrances for both men and women. For men, boozy nights often lead to a rise in oestrogen levels which decreases sperm count and increases the amount of abnormal sperm. Alcohol also affects men’s ability to get an erection. For women, alcohol can cause all sorts of hormonal imbalances and problems with the ovaries that make it difficult – sometimes impossible – to conceive. What might seem like an innocent taste of your favourite tipple can decrease your body’s ability to absorb nutrients such as zinc, which is important for conception. So, when it comes to baby making, swap the cocktails for ‘mocktails’ and the beer for barley water.

Fertility enhancing trick 2: Men, keep your testicles cool

Men, stay cool. We don’t mean it in a hippy way, but in the temperature sense. Your testes are designed to hang outside of your body because sperm needs to be below a certain temperature for it to function properly. Sperm that is too hot gets lazy and can become completely ineffective – this is no good for anyone trying to conceive. To keep your fertile friends in tip-top condition, you must make sure your dangly bits stay at a comfortable temperature. Avoid long hot baths, tight clothing around your crotch, and – we know it defeats the object – but don’t balance your laptop on your lap because it will warm up your genital area and could damage your sperm.

Fertility enhancing trick 3: Avoid lubricants

Researchers have found that vaginal lubricants can be toxic to sperm and often interfere with the role of natural vaginal mucus. Some experts have suggested that, bizarrely, using egg whites is an all-natural way to lube up your love-making parts without harming the sperm. Others suggest that even egg whites can render the sperm ineffective. Luckily, we didn’t fancy spreading raw egg over that region anyway. Instead, we recommend spending more time building up to intercourse to increase your body’s natural lubricants; spend longer kissing, touching, and having oral sex. If you still experience difficulty getting naturally ‘wet’, try warm water. This is a completely natural form of lube that won’t decrease the effectiveness of sperm.

Fertility enhancing trick 4: Relax, de-stress, and be happy

If you’re struggling to conceive and you’re also super stressed-out, there’s a good chance that some simple relaxation techniques will solve infertility issues. It doesn’t sound like an effective resolution, but a report by the University of California has noticed that stress hinders fertility in those trying to conceive naturally, and even those who are trying to conceive through artificial insemination. Relaxing, de-stressing and being happy is often the key to successfully becoming pregnant. Take this as your perfect opportunity to put your feet up and have some rest.

Fertility enhancing trick 5: Boost your zinc intake

When trying for a baby, it is important that sperm is in top condition. It is common for harmful environmental chemicals to be absorbed into our bodies and impede the effects of sperm. Zinc plays an important role in ‘activating’ semen and repairing environmental damage so it’s a good idea to up your intake whilst trying to make babies. Nutritionists recommend taking 15mg of zinc a day to help repair any damaged semen. Foods that are packed with zinc include oysters, red meat, wholegrain, and pulses. Make sure you consult your doctor before making any drastic changes to your diet.

Fertility enhancing trick 6: Ladies, plan sex around your cycle

Some lucky ladies become pregnant without having to look into the scientific implications of their menstrual cycle, but for those of us who struggle, it’s an excellent way to boost your baby-making potential. The average menstrual cycle is twenty eight to thirty two days and, whilst it can vary for individuals, ovulation happens on average between day eleven and day twenty one of your cycle. At this point, you may produce discharge that is a slippery egg-white consistency and this helps the semen to make its way to the egg easier – having sex during this time in your cycle is great for boosting your chances of pregnancy. The egg only lives around twelve to twenty four hours – sperm lives for around three to five days – and if it is not fertilised by then, it usually dissolves. By knowing when you’re due to ovulate you and your partner can plan the most effective time to ‘get busy’. There are all sorts of weird and wonderful inventions nowadays that can help to predict when you’re ovulating, from phone apps to ovulation predictor kits (OPK).

Fertility enhancing trick 7: Stop smoking

Everyone knows that smoking is bad for you, but many feel that just a ciggie a day won’t affect their chances of having a baby. The truth is, smoking seriously hampers our chances of a successful pregnancy as it is known to decrease fertility in women and bring on early menopause, making cigarettes a particularly bad idea for older women trying to conceive. Male smokers are proven to have a lower sperm count than non-smokers as cigarettes cause the blood vessels to narrow, making it difficult for blood to be carried to the genitals and therefore impacting upon sperm. Having a crafty cigarette whilst you’re trying to conceive is really not a good idea.

Source: Top 7 ways to improve your fertility

11 power foods for DIABETICS

Walnuts

Enjoying a handful of walnuts daily can help lower a diabetic's heart disease risk.

Walnuts are rich in alpha linolenic acid, an omega-3 fatty acid and vitamin E both being highly protective against heart disease.

Flaxseed

Flaxseed is rich in fiber and alpha-linolenic acid (ALA), which your body converts to omega-3s EPA and DHA. Flax seeds also help in lowering cholesterol and blood sugar.

You can add ground flaxseed to your meals such as oatmeal, low-fat cottage cheese, and fruit smoothies.

Fenugreek

Amino acids from Fenugreek help facilitate glucose and insulin management.

Fenugreek helps speed the process of blood glucose being utilized for energy, thereby preventing unhealthy levels of glucose continuing to circulate in the blood.

Beans

Beans (kidney, pinto, navy, black) are rich in nutrients and packed in soluble fiber, which helps makes you feel full longer, it actually slows digestion and keeps blood sugar from spiking after a meal, keep blood sugar steady and plus help lower cholesterol levels.

Beans also make an excellent protein source.

Dairy products

Fat free yogurt will provide the calcium and vitamin D that adults need plus serves as a healthy in-between snack helping to curb cravings.

Yogurt is rich in protein and calcium. Studies show that people who eat plenty of calcium-rich foods are less likely to become insulin resistant.

Berries

Blueberries, strawberries, raspberries are rich in antioxidants, vitamins and fiber and are lower in carbohydrate content.

100 grams blueberries = 57 about calories; 100 grams strawberries = 32 about calories; 100 grams raspberries = 52 about calories.

Barley

Rich in fiber Barley helps steady your blood sugar while filling you up delivering a weight loss bonus.

Barley is one of the healthiest grains and is packed with a specific kind of soluble fiber called beta-glucan that can lower total and LDL cholesterol by preventing your body's ability to absorb it.

Oats

Oats are a diabetes power food because of their rich fiber content; half cup of cooked oats provides 4 grams of fiber; Oats can also lower total and bad / LDL cholesterol levels plus improves insulin resistance.

Barley, oatmeal, breads made out of whole grains also contain magnesium, chromium, folate and omega 3 fatty acids.

Dates

People with diabetes should indulge in just 2-3 dates a day as they are rich in fiber making them a diabetes friendly snack.

Dates are also loaded with antioxidants and have more antioxidants per serving than grapes, oranges, broccoli, and peppers.

Lentils

Lentils are healthy for diabetics as they help control your blood sugar levels as just1 cup cooked Lentils contains 16 grams of fiber.

Lentils are packed with soluble fiber, which digests slowly to keep your blood sugar from spiking. Lentils boost your energy levels and improve your mood.

Salmon

People with diabetes usually have low levels of HDL or good cholesterol and high levels of triglycerides. Omega-3 fatty acids in fatty fish (salmon, mackerel, herring, sardines and tuna) helps in increasing HDL levels and lower triglyceride levels.

Deep fried fish does not deliver the same health benefits.

Source: 11 power foods for DIABETICS

Top 10 unhealthiest habits in men!

World over, men have almost always been on the scale of cleanliness. While some are total freaks when it comes to hygiene, there are some who are complete slovens. The perfectly coiffed cut, spice and leather fragrances might be a charade behind which lurks an unhygienic nose picker!

Here is a list of top 10 unhealthy habits of men that women find truly annoying and drives them nuts!

1. Hand in the nose/mouth

How gross is that! Not only is it unhygienic, but etiquette demands that you don’t pick your nose in public. In addition, nose picking can lead to various infections. We all know that cold virus is passed into the body through the mucus membranes. Sticking your finger into the nose after coming in contact with contaminated surfaces is a sure way to give yourself a bout of bad cold. Also, since the nose is situated so close to the brain, they share the same blood supply. And an infection in the nose could be dangerous. So, refrain yourself from ‘digging gold’. In addition, trying to pull out remains of  lunch from your mouth is yet another sore sight!

2. Bathroom hygiene

Is it so difficult to wash your hands once you’ve visited the bathroom? A research carried out by a school of hygiene found that only one in three men actually wash their hands with soap. Unwashed hands are the easiest way of spreading infection and germs. So guys, there is nothing wrong in lathering up even if you think of it as ‘waste of time’, your health is more important, right?

3. Peeing on the toilet seat

It could be the middle of the night or broad daylight, they could be groggy or wide awake, they will still do it. It’s not rocket science to aim right inside and pee into the big bowl. Puddles of urine on the toilet seat and around the base of the toilet are not just unhygienic, but downright dirty!

 4. Avoiding health check-ups

It is an agreed fact that visiting a doctor not exactly a pleasant experience. However, health check-ups can help in diagnosis of illnesses at an early stage which in turn increases the survival rate. Also, doing self-checks is important. With testicular cancer being on the rises, particularly among young and middle-aged men, it is mandatory that men check themselves for any signs. So, visit the doctor when necessary and stop living in denial.

5. Scratching in public

Why is that men have to constantly scratching and readjust themselves in public all the time. It’s embarrassing. Researchers claim that while 60% men scratch their testicles only because it makes them feel ‘proud’ and ‘macho’ another 30% do it just out of habit. Hygiene issues or humid weather could be the reasons for the itch, but do try to contain yourself until you reach someplace private to scratch your ‘privates’. Cleanliness could be the key to stop the ‘itch’.

6. Smoking

While everyone is aware that smoking is bad for health, no one really pays much attention to the fact. Smoking can cause lung cancer. According to a study published in the Archives of General Psychiatry, smoking may lead to rapid mental decline. Researchers found that with smoking being a risk factor for dementia, it increases the person’s chances of developing heart and lung diseases. And, to top it all, women like men with fresh minty breath and beautiful white teeth!

7. Talking with your mouth full

What is the hurry and if it is so important, speak and then eat. Nobody relishes food when it lands on your face from the other person’s mouth. Were you not taught in kindergarten NOT to talk with your mouth full, to chew, swallow and then speak!

8. Clipping toenails

Men mostly live in a mystical land. They leave a trial of unwashed clothes and expect them to magically enter the laundry bag, clip their toe nails and think that they will disappear into the blue. The toe nails, which are sometimes as sharp as knives, might harm the others in the house including the pets. While you take care not to let it go flying, also make it a point not to leave it on the coffee table or the night stand. Here’s a tip: There is something called the garbage bin, why not make use of it!

9. Indiscriminate drinking

Binge drinking is so common among men that there have been a consistent rise accidents and deaths due to consumption of too much alcohol. This kind of indiscriminate drinking not just increases your immediate safety but also lead to long-term health problems. Keeping your health and family in mind, stick to moderate drinking and never cross the recommended limit.

10. Super-hot baths

Taking a hot bath after a long day’s work is something everyone looks forward to. However, men sometimes take it a step further and linger in the hot bathtub or the Jacuzzis for too long. According to a study conducted by researchers of the University of California, too much time in the hot bath tub can lead to infertility. So guys, it’s time you ditched the hot tub and took a quick shower. 

Source: Top 10 unhealthiest habits in men!

Ten tips for mastering the iPad

Impress others with your iPad savviness by learning these tablet tricks

Posted on Mar 8, 2011 12:10 am by Lex Friedman, Macworld.com

With Apple releasing a second version of the iPad on Friday, it’s easy to feel as if that tablet has been around forever. In reality, though, the original iPad shipped less than a year ago—enough time to become familiar with the tablet’s ins and outs, but hardly long enough to truly master its controls.

Not to worry—we’ve assembled this list of tips for subduing the iPad’s on-screen keyboard, managing your multitude of apps, searching through the contents of your tablet, and more. Learn these skills, and you’ll soon impress everyone with your iPad-savvy, whether you’ve owned an iPad since day one or if the iPad 2 is your first model.

1. The comma key’s hidden powers

Whether you’re a touch-screen typing savant or a two finger tapper, there’s no denying that iPad typing isn’t as convenient as using a real keyboard—especially when you want to access frequently-used punctuation that isn’t even available on the virtual keyboard’s main screen. A little-known trick can help: swiping up quickly on the Comma key will instantly insert an apostrophe; swiping up on the Period key inserts a quotation mark. That’s one quick swipe, instead of a tap on the .?123 punctuation key, and then a second tap on the specific punctuation mark you’re after.

2. Tapping and holding virtual keys

Other virtual keys hold special powers, too. Press and hold on a vowel, for example, and a popover containing accented versions of the selected character appears. (Certain consonants, like C, S, and N, also offer alternate versions when you tap and hold on their virtual keys.)

Press and hold a vowel key—the ‘i’ in this case—and the iPad will summon a popover with accented versions of the character in question.

Similarly, holding down punctuation marks can provide extra options. the standalone Period key—the one on the punctuation keyboard, not the main keyboard—hides an ellipsis. The hyphen offers an em-dash and bullet. And the dollar sign hides symbols for numerous currencies.

3. Common keyboard shortcuts

When you connect your iPad to a regular keyboard like the Apple iPad Keyboard Dock or a Bluetooth keyboard, you can use some of the same keyboard shortcuts you’ve mastered on your Mac. Text editing key combinations—like Command-C, X, and V for Copy, Cut, and Paste—all work, as does Command-Shift-Arrow key-based text selection.

You can also use Option-key shortcuts for typing diacritical characters. Other key combinations that work include Undo and Redo (Command-Z and Shift-Command-Z, respectively), and Emacs-style cursor shortcuts like Control-A, Control-E, and Control-K.

Even with the iPad 2 introducing a new design, external keyboards should still work with Apple’s latest tablet. Apple, for example, lists its Wireless Keyboard as an accessory for the iPad 2, and we’ve heard no reports of changes to Bluetooth keyboard support in this week’s planned iOS 4.3 update.

4. Auto-correction is your friend

The backspace key is for suckers—true iPad masters know to let auto-correction fix your typing mishaps.

One last keyboard-related tip: especially when you’re using the on-screen keyboard, the easiest way to becoming a virtual typing pro is simply to trust the auto-correction algorithm. The slower your iPad typing speed, the more likely it is that you make frequent use of the backspace key. Or to put it another way: slow iPad typists only allow themselves to type precisely the right keys, and delete each individual mistake.

Not power users! Power users trust that iOS will fix their typos for them. When I type “Dippieedl,” my iPad recognizes that I’m after “Supposedly.” After just “Wkeph,” the iPad knows I want “Elephant.” Fix fewer typos, and your iPad typing will ironically improve.

5. Avoiding application exits

Sometimes, you notice something you’d like to check out more closely in an app—at the same instant you press the Home button. Instead of letting the app close, then finding its icon and waiting while the app relaunches, you can tell your iPad to abort your now-unwanted Home button press. Doing so is hilariously simple: don’t let go. If you hold down the Home button extra long—just a few seconds needed—your iPad will abandon its plans to close the current app, and you tap on that enticing link instead.

6. Closing background apps

On other occasions, though, you may want to close apps that are still (quietly) running. Ever since iOS 4’s introduction of multitasking, some of your apps can keep on running in the background, even after you’ve closed them. Generally, that’s fine; the iPad does a great job of killing apps when memory limits require it. Some apps, however—particularly GPS and VoIP apps—can eat up quite a bit of memory and battery life if they remain open when you no longer need them.

To quit apps running in the background, bring up the multitasking bar, press and hold on an app, and then tap the red minus sign that suddenly appears.

To make sure power-hungry apps that you don’t need don’t gobble your battery, you can force them to quit: double-tap the Home button to bring up the multitasking bar. Then, press and hold on any one app until all the apps start jiggling. Tap the red circle on the running apps in your multitasking bar that you’d like to quit.

(Again, remember, most apps running in the background will take care of themselves. You needn’t police the multitasking bar; this tip only concerns major memory guzzlers.)

7. Track down music playback controls

With the introduction of that multitasking bar, Apple made it a smidgen trickier to find music playback controls. When you double-tap the Home button, swipe the whole shebang towards the right. Doing so will reveal several controls: playback buttons (Reverse, Play/Pause, and Skip, along with sliders for brightness and volume.

Swiping the multitasking bar to the right will produce those hard-to-find iPod playback controls.

8. Search smarter

When you double-tap the Home button, or swipe to the left of your first home screen, you enter Spotlight search. It’s a great way to launch apps, find specific e-mails, or look up an individual contact. But if you never use (or never need to search) the iPad’s calendar, or Audiobooks, or Podcasts, you can remove those from your Spotlight search results. You can also rearrange the order in which Spotlight presents search results.

Launch the Settings app, tap on General, and then tap Spotlight Search. Uncheck the categories you don’t want to search, and tap and drag on the right-aligned handles to adjust the sorting.

9. Stash more apps in the Dock

Brand new iPads feature just four apps in the Dock. Because of that, many iPad owners keep just four apps in their docks. But it turns out that the dock actually holds six apps, if you’d like it to. All you need to do to keep more frequently-accessed apps in your dock is move them there: press and hold on any app icon until the apps start to jiggle, and then drag the app you’d like to move right into the Dock.

10. Launching apps quickly

Type an app’s name into Spotlight, and you can then tap the search result to immediately launch the app.

I have too many apps on my iPad. While I can always find certain apps quickly—I remember which home screen they’re on, and where geographically the icons are located on that screen—there are many more apps that I just can’t find. Instead of paging through home screen after home screen, I use Spotlight as a virtual keyboard launcher.

Tap the Home button to get to your first home screen, and then either tap it again or swipe to reveal Spotlight. Start typing the first few letters of the app’s name, and then tap on the right result to launch it instantly. Spotlight automatically surfaces your most frequently used apps at the top of its matching results, which is often very useful.

Source: Ten tips for mastering the iPad