Six things every new iPad (or iPhone) owner should do immediately

Summary: So you got a new iPad (or iPhone) as a holiday gift huh? Here's some things that you should do right now to keep your new gadget safe.

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Get the AppleCare+ Protection Plan

If you didn't buy the AppleCare+ Protection Plan (APP) for your iPad or iPhone at the time of purchase, don't sweat it. You can purchase the Apple extended warranty -- which I highly recommend -- for up to 30 days after purchase. In addition to extending the technical support period from 90-days to two years, the new AppleCare+ package offers adds up to two incidents of accidental damage coverage, each subject to a $49 service fee (even if damaged due to negligence). Get it now before the 30-day window close, because it's well worth the $99.

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Topics: Apple, iPhone, iPad

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  • AppleCare

    Whilst Apple have to provide a 2 year warranty on their hardware, in the case of the iPhone, the AppleCare warranty is useful. Here in Germany, if the iPhone stops working, you either have to bring it to a carrier shop or use their telephone service to get it fixed.

    This normally takes 2 weeks, during which time, you will be without your beloved iPhone. The AppleCare warranty brings the repair service into line with other manufacturers, meaning that you will receive a replacement phone when they collect your defective one.

    An expensive way to get the standard of service the other manufacturers provide for free, but given the reliability of the iPhones we've had, it is worth the money. One user here has a had 7 replacement iPhones in 2 years, 6 were hardware defects, the 7th due to the phone being dropped.

    I didn't have AppleCare with my iPhone 3GS and spent 6 of the first 7 weeks of ownership without the phone as it was sent off to the Apple repair centre 3 times without them finding the fault and returning it unrepaired! After the last failed attempt, they "graciously" replaced it, after I made a very loud comments about their incompetence in a very full shop.
    wright_is
    • What you're saying is

      your iPhone and that of the other person you mentioned are crap. Six hardware defects in 2 years? Yours being repeatedly sent to Apple without being repaired. Gee, it sounds to me like the best protection for Apple products is not to buy them.

      Have a nice day,

      Doc
      Doc.Savage
  • LOL!

    the first thing that you want to do with your new 'iCrap' is don't tell anybody. Secondly, go out and find a cover for it so no-one can tell what it is!
    Mujibahr
    • lol lol

      Mujibar
      Im not sure I can be bothered to read articles which arent relevant to my interests let alone bother to make the effort to comment. Why not use your time more efficiently and take this much interest in articles about the device you actually own?
      MrMan365
      • Follow The Money

        It's because Mujibahr and other 3rd worlders are being paid by Samsung to disparage Apple products in public forums. This seems to be a new front in the Apple - Samsung war, which Apple has declined to participate in. In the end, Samsung's nefarious ways will turn out to be the best sales tool for Apple products ever.
        Yacko
        • Andriod is like a Brothel

          Anyone can go in and F any one. Apple is not like that. you need to have the credentials to use one :)
          karthik007_v@...
        • More likely Microsoft, rather than Samsung...

          Yes! There are a lot of paid shills (or astroturfers) here on ZDNet (and other blogs). I think Mujibhar is more Microsoft than Samsung. Have a look at his other posts! Very pro Windows 8.
          I am Gorby
    • Hmm

      You sound disgruntled Mujibahr.. Does your camel not have Wi-Fi service?? Sorry to hear that.. now get back under your box unless you have something constructive to add.
      TJWinSC
  • Number 1 should be

    Trade it in for an Android, with numbers 2-6 being an Android buyers guide :-D
    T1Oracle
    • Almost

      Trade in for 2 more powerful devices (mini to N7 or i4 to N10) and share one with your friends. After all it is the season.
      alex_darkness
    • trade magazine

      ((( "Trade it in for an Android..." )))

      That would be like trading in a signed first edition of Huckleberry Finn for a stack of People magazines.
      buddhistMonkey
  • Find my iPad/iPhone - critical additional step

    I'm not normally one for online comments, but this is really important. In addition to the steps outlined above for Find My iPhone, you should go to Settings>General>Restrictions, scroll down to Privacy, and then tap Location Services. Tap Don't Allow Changes - if you don't take this step, a savvy thief that takes your phone before the auto-lock engages can simply turn off Find My iPhone as fast as you activated it.

    In my opinion, this is a bug apple needs to fix - there should be a separate "lock" you can enable on Find My iPhone. Adding this restriction requires you to visit this area every time you add a new app and want to allow it to use location services. Until Apple fixes this though, it is a worthwhile inconvenience.
    dm4jesus
    • Agreed...

      You're absolutely correct. Although I've found a similar but simpler way (at least on OS 6, not sure about earlier versions) that allows you to avoid locking down location services, meaning you don't have to keep enabling and disabling them every time you want to install an app that uses them.

      Go to Settings > General > Restrictions > Enable Restrictions. You will be asked to enter a four-digit passcode and then confirm it. After that's done, if a thief makes off with your iPhone, he won't even make it to the Restrictions page without knowing the passcode. So he won't be able to disable the "find my iPhone" function.
      Minit Mafia
      • Not so Agreed...,

        If a thief makes off with your iPhone, he just needs to put it in DFU mode and wipe it. Very simple, pretty quick, and find my iPhone wont work.
        kizby
    • Also Accounts

      The whole account can be disables / deleted unless you add a restriction to it Accounts.

      Settings > General > Restrictions > Accounts
      truethug
  • You only have 30 days to purchase AppleCare +

    Because it covers accidental damage you only have 30 days from date of purchase AND the device has to be inspected at an Apple store.

    Just making sure you are giving out the correct information. AppleCare + is well worth the money.
    b4ndafter
  • Six things every new iPad (or iPhone) owner should do immediately

    Does the AppleCare program for iPhone cover a cracked screen when dropped or accidentally dropped in water?
    Loverock-Davidson
    • Apparently you weren't covered for accidental dropping

      enuff said.
      ego.sum.stig
      • So you don't know

        and only commented just to comment because its me. Thanks for being a fan!
        Loverock-Davidson
  • DISABLE IN-APP PURCHASING - #1 STEP

    You left out the most potentially expensive hole in the iPad/iPod/iPhone experience if you are ever going to let anyone under the age of knowing better near your new toy.
    In-app purchasing has been hijacked by game developers who provide well-disguised options to purchase up to $110 at a time of game credits, etc. In the hands of a 9-year-old who doesn't know better this can be an unwelcome and expensive intro to the world of Apple (and yes I know it happens on other devices but this is an apple article).
    Apple could lower this risk very easily by shipping their devices with in-app purchases turned off by default - good for buyers but not so good for the apple coffers so it probably won't happen even in the 7th version of iOS
    joneda1