Getting the best out of your new tablet

Illustration Credit: Zarif Faiaz

We all love working on our smartphones. However, if we carry a lightweight backpack, why not have a tablet that can get regular tasks as easily and efficiently as other mobile devices? Apart from playing games and videos, your tablet will help you become organised and let you handle work from anywhere. Here are some handy hacks to get the best out of your new tablet.

Get the right accessories

Unlike your laptops and desktops, tablets can lay flat on surfaces. You can opt to attach a compatible detachable keyboard with your tablet to get the most out of it. If you are a fan of wireless devices, see if you can find an additional Bluetooth-enabled headset and a keyboard for your tablet. Choose a headphone that would fit your tablet's headphone port perfectly. Soon, you will have set up a mini-computer!

As for other accessories, you can never go wrong with a stylus. Styluses let you draw, write or paint, and the right stylus can make any work possible on modern tablets. If you are looking for a new stylus for your tablet, our recommendation would be the Wiwu Pencil Max Universal Stylus Pen. It currently costs under Tk. 4,000/- and in one charge, lasts up to 12 hours. Microsoft's Surface Pen is also a feasible stylus to draw on your tablet. You can use apps like Adobe Illustrator Draw to familiarise yourself with electronic painting.

Choose apps for your tablet to work on

Think about which app you need on your tablet. Using e-commerce apps on your tablet is usually a better idea than using them on your smartphone. Since tablets offer a significantly bigger monitor experience, using apps for online shopping on your tablet can allow you to inspect items in a more organised manner.

If you have never used alternative social media or communication applications like Peach or Hangouts (apps that do not come with a homepage/feed but help with messaging/calling), give them a go on your tablet. Even if your smartphone doesn't work, you can replace it with your tablet in most cases. You can run apps on your tablet for entertainment or fitness purposes. Find lighter versions of the apps you regularly use and install them on your tablet. Enable dark mode anywhere possible to avoid excessive battery consumption.

Use your tab to remotely control other devices

Check if screen sharing or casting is available on your tablet. By tapping that option, you can view other screens as well. Apps like Google Home displays your tablet's screen on a TV. To do so, you simply need to open the app, select the screencasting option and choose the device on which you want to cast the screen.

For emergency cases like file rescues or quick editing, you can always use your tab to remotely control other devices. You can type, open a file, delete something, zoom in and out of the monitor to fit your sight as well. TeamViewer is a program that allows you to operate other devices using one 'central' device. Using such software on your tablet will help solve day-to-day problems from remote locations. Remote functionality can make your tablet the go-to hub to control everything else in your life.

Operate from anywhere

There is a high possibility that your tablet might become your favourite gadget, only if you do not stash it away to only watch YouTube tutorials. If you are travelling, it can get difficult to carry your laptop along with you. Instead, use your tablet to operate both work and daily activities from anywhere. Use alternative versions of desktop applications on your tablet like Office apps and photo editing apps to make your everyday functionality easier and more accessible. This way, you can operate from anywhere even if you do not have a computer.

Use your tablet to hold inspirations

Use your tablet to find newer ways to get inspired. Pinterest and Tumblr look better when your screen is larger than the average smartphone screen. Apps like Easy Notes from Google Play Store let you insert pictures from your device and write/draw notes alongside. You are allowed to make your draw-outs atypical as well. You can brainstorm and keep your ideas safe using your tablet.

Tablets are great companions for electronic reading since they offer substantial screen experience, just like a book. Apps like ReadEra are available to help you read books anytime from your tablet.

Work more on your tablet

It takes time to familiarise yourself with anything new. Working with a brand new tablet is no exception. Perform more chores on your tablet to get the best out of it. Try apps you never did and experiment with stuff like casting your tablet's screen to your Wi-Fi-enabled TV.

Depending on your work-chart, install apps that you need to use to get you moving. For instance, if you are typically used to writing programming languages on your computer, try apps that help you write codes on your tablet, such as C++ Compiler IDE. Do not rely entirely on your computer for cinema-watching or programming. Try them out on your tablet as well.

Despite not being as mobile as smartphones or as powerful as laptops, tablets are a great handy companion for everyday work. They can be an excellent balance between smartphones and laptops, in being able to do both their work on more manageable mobility on a more accessible screen. With just a bit of personal tweaking, your brand new tablet can be your next best friend.