Use for old ipad mini 2

[steelo]

This is probably a silly question, but I have an old ipad mini laying around that we never were able to find a good use for. (It was an impulse buy) It was purchased circa 2014 as a Christmas gift to my wife and barely ever used.

 

Anyways, I charged it last night and was only able to update it to ios 12.x.x (I think ios 13 is the latest?) It seems to be in good condition but the touch screen feels pretty laggy - maybe the hardware isn't quite up to par with the new OS?

 

Right now, I have it in a case propped up with a sports ticker displaying...it looks nice but isn't really useful. I was thinking of maybe a game companion (although I'm not sure if there are any ios game companion apps for the games I play)

[mamamia88]

Permanent fixture on coffee table and a chromecast?

[steelo]

15 minutes ago, mamamia88 said:

Permanent fixture on coffee table and a chromecast?

I was thinking that at one point, but the room I'd use it in already has a roku and TV for netflix, plex, etc

 

I'm trying to create some type of PC companion that I can actually reference while gaming, etc. I guess I could also use it as a visual calendar and reminder if siri functions on it...

[mariushm]

Install an ebook reader and get into reading ebooks.

[mamamia88]

14 minutes ago, steelo said:

I was thinking that, but the room I'd use it in already has a roku and TV. Unfortunately, I don't believe you can connect to it via Win10 to use it as a 3rd monitor.

Oh well. You might consider donating it to a charity that could use it or something. Otherwise maybe keep it next to your bed so you don't forget to charge your phone at night? If my tablet wasn't so slow (hd8) that's where it would live

[mamamia88]

Just now, mariushm said:

Install an ebook reader and get into reading ebooks.

I guess he could do that. But, kindle e-ink is way better.

[steelo]

36 minutes ago, mamamia88 said:

Oh well. You might consider donating it to a charity that could use it or something. Otherwise maybe keep it next to your bed so you don't forget to charge your phone at night? If my tablet wasn't so slow (hd8) that's where it would live

I considered donating it, but where it really isn't secure due to Apple no longer providing recent updates to ipad mini 2's...I wouldn't feel right about somebody else potentially putting their personal data at risk.

 

I'm not sure if I'm able to 'summon' siri with my voice on this, but that would make it a lot more useful. I was thinking of hanging it on the wall next to my computer and using it as a simple tertiary display without ever having to tap the screen. "Hey siri, open calendar", "Hey, siri open sports scores", etc. There have been so many times when I wanted to check a score or something, but a game or whatever is utilizing my monitor in full screen mode and won't allow me to move the mouse over to my second display.

 

I know...first world problems. LOL. I'm probably setting myself up for failure with my expectations of creating an 'Ironman' type reality in my home 

 

[kelvinhall05]

3 hours ago, mariushm said:

Install an ebook reader and get into reading ebooks.

Reading books for a long period of time on anything but eink or regular paper is painful.

[mariushm]

3 minutes ago, kelvinhall05 said:

Reading books for a long period of time on anything but eink or regular paper is painful.

Try a transflective LCD screen... there's no backlight, only an aluminum foil on the back reflecting light back.

Can't hurt your eyes because there's no backlight, no flicker, no nothing.

 

Still it would be good enough to read a chapter of something before you go to sleep... I've read several novels that way.

 

 

[kelvinhall05]

1 minute ago, mariushm said:

Try a transflective LCD screen... there's no backlight, only an aluminum foil on the back reflecting light back.

Can't hurt your eyes because there's no backlight, no flicker, no nothing.

 

Still it would be good enough to read a chapter of something before you go to sleep... I've read several novels that way.

 

 

Cool idea but not only do e-readers have sexy e-ink but they also have lots of nice e-reader features...I can't think of anything that does a better job at being a digital book than a dedicated Kindle or Kobo or whatever the fuck

 

 

Also, I'd rather bring around a 7" Kindle than a 10+" laptop.

[steelo]

7 minutes ago, kelvinhall05 said:

Cool idea but not only do e-readers have sexy e-ink but they also have lots of nice e-reader features...I can't think of anything that does a better job at being a digital book than a dedicated Kindle or Kobo or whatever the fuck

 

 

Also, I'd rather bring around a 7" Kindle than a 10+" laptop.

 My sister had a kindle and the screen was much more pleasant to read than a regular tablet.

 

I think I'm going to find a tidy way to mount it to the wall and use it for a sports ticker/surveillance camera monitor/google calendar/weather forecast display...LOL.

 

I'm hoping ios 12 gives my ipad mini 2 hands free siri support so I can effortlessly switch between apps.

[NineEyeRon]

A GPS for a flight sim?

[steelo]

Just now, NineEyeRon said:

A GPS for a flight sim?

That's freaking cool...I wouldn't know where to begin...LOL

[NineEyeRon]

Just now, steelo said:

That's freaking cool...I wouldn't know where to begin...LOL

download a free app to make iPad a second monitor 

[steelo]

Just now, NineEyeRon said:

download a free app to make iPad a second monitor 

As far as I'm aware it's not compatible with Win 10 PC's...which is a shame.

[NineEyeRon]

The above is windows 10 iPad and FSX steam edition.

 

Google alternatives to paid apps like duet display for free ones

[steelo]

1 minute ago, NineEyeRon said:

The above is windows 10 iPad and FSX steam edition.

 

Google alternatives to paid apps like duet display for free ones

Ah thanks, I'll look into that! I do have a dual monitor setup already so I'm not sure if this is still feasible or not.

[NineEyeRon]

Just now, steelo said:

Ah thanks, I'll look into that! I do have a dual monitor setup already so I'm not sure if this is still feasible or not.

You can always put it on some kind of arm and put it above monitor, sling Teamspeak on it or something. I plan to do that for CSGO.

[steelo]

16 minutes ago, NineEyeRon said:

You can always put it on some kind of arm and put it above monitor, sling Teamspeak on it or something. I plan to do that for CSGO.

A dog room webcam server? LOL

[Video Beagle]

Siri by voice ("Hey siri") only works when plugged in/charging.

 

My iPhone can only go up to ios 12, and it has pretty fully capabilites... netflix, videos, games etc.. Newer stuff will have issues, for sure, but it's pretty capable (and while the new OS isn't coming, there are new security updates)

[steelo]

5 hours ago, Video Beagle said:

Siri by voice ("Hey siri") only works when plugged in/charging.

 

My iPhone can only go up to ios 12, and it has pretty fully capabilites... netflix, videos, games etc.. Newer stuff will have issues, for sure, but it's pretty capable (and while the new OS isn't coming, there are new security updates)

I had my plugged in last night and "Hey Siri" only works when you push the button. That's okay, I took some command strip hooks last night and mounted it to the wall last night behind my monitors. I'm going to use it as a tertiary display for weather, sports and discord chat for my games

[Video Beagle]

9 hours ago, steelo said:

I had my plugged in last night and "Hey Siri" only works when you push the button

Could be a difference in the models.

[mr cheese]

2 minutes ago, huilun02 said:

Try idisplay or duet display, to use it as an extra computer monitor

I use Duet with my Air 2, it's legendary and incredibly useful on-the-go with my laptop

21 hours ago, Video Beagle said:

Siri by voice ("Hey siri") only works when plugged in/charging.

this can be changed by using a jailbreak tweak with minimal battery usage (would like to note that the Mini 2 is compatible with Checkra1n which means it's got plenty of fun uses now)

16 hours ago, steelo said:

I had my plugged in last night and "Hey Siri" only works when you push the button.

You do have to configure Hey Siri to your voice, in case you didn't already know

[Video Beagle]

2 hours ago, DaJakerBoss said:

this can be changed by using a jailbreak tweak with minimal battery usage (would like to note that the Mini 2 is compatible with Checkra1n which means it's got plenty of fun uses now)

You sound like te person to talk to when I replace my 5s as my active phone...

[steelo]

20 hours ago, huilun02 said:

Try idisplay or duet display, to use it as an extra computer monitor

I found a use for it...it's semi-mounted behind my monitor as a third display. That way I can see what's happening on discord, sports scores or whatever when my PC monitors are being used

 

btw, that person on the monitor is me (sigh) - it was the 90's...LOL.