10 Alternative Uses For Your iPad

Everybody knows that the iPad (or any tablet, for that matter) is a lovely gadget that can be used for all manner of essential stuff such as sending emails, browsing the web, reading books, watching movies, playing games and the like. Despite cries of “what is it for?” when it first appeared, the world moved on and most people now recognise that the iPad can be a genuinely useful gadget.

The iPad has obviously been available for ages now, and people have come up with some interesting alternative ways to use the device. So in that spirit here are a few suggestions for what else you can do with an iPad…

Mini Arcade

The iPad’s large screen makes it a brilliant mini arcade system for your bedroom or garage - and there are loads of excellent classic games such as Asteroids. The best bit is that you can even use the arcade-style joystick and buttons! What started as a ThinkGeek April Fools Day joke was actually made into a real product.

The ION iCade gaming cabinet is on sale in the UK (£69.99 from Amazon) - this would be the perfect addition to the Gadgets4Everyone office.

The iCade

Bookends

Perhaps not the most original idea, nevertheless the iPad is a really brilliant bookend. The only problem is its annoying tendency to fall over, so you might need an additional bookend to prop up the iPad. Ideally, two iPads are required for either end - this is where the iPad 1 and the iPad 2 come in handy. Apparently, there is already a convenient iPad holder called the iBookend as shown in the - just slot the iPad in! Genius...

ibookend

Mouse Mat

Many people use the iPad as a pointing device to control slides, or as a fancy media centre controller to manage home media libraries, music and videos. However, the iPad also excels as a decent-sized mouse mat, especially when its inside a neoprene case. But as I use a trackpad, the iPad does occasionally serve as a handy coffee mat, which brings us onto...

A handy mouse mat

Drinks Tray and Giant Coasters

It seems so obvious, but an iPad is a fantastic tray on which to serve cocktails, especially if you can manage to balance them precariously on the top whilst roller-skating and doing turns. Unfortunately, the drinks have a tendency to slide off, so perhaps a giant coaster is a more suitable use?

iPad Skateboard

Some crazy US skateboarders already demonstrated that the iPad can function as a pretty basic skateboard, but whilst fun the end results weren’t very impressive. Perhaps roller-skates would be a better alternative? Watch the video here.

And The Rest...........

Cyclists, eh? You never notice them until you're right on top of them. Design agency Maya came up with the Sprocket Pocket, a wearable pocket that puts the iPad on your back as you pedal, allowing its app (iTunes link) to display turn signals and messages such as, "Back off, buddy!"

Hey boy, hey girl, superstar DJ... here we go! Donald Bell at CNET.com gets on the wheels of steel to try out apps that could turn the iPad into an essential DJ tool for mixmasters, decknicians, and chaps with mullets who do weddings.

"It's just a giant iPhone!" decried the decriers, when the iPad was unveiled -- and with VoIP apps such as Skype, it can indeed make calls. Complete the dog-and-bone experience with the Moshi Moshi Retro Handset, shown here with an iPhone. Just imagine a smaller handset.

You're whipping up some gourmet geek eats -- but both hands are occupied stirrin' an' stewin'. How do you hold your iPad at the same time? DIYer Alan Daly solves that problem, mounting his iPad in the door of a kitchen cabinet. Tasty.

Who said the Internet is a solitary, isolating experience? With SimulBrowse (iTunes link), two friends, family members or lovers can surf the Web on one iPad while sitting opposite each other, their eyes occasionally meeting for fun, friendship and maybe more.