How to setup the New iPad (iPad 3rd Generation).

	Select language.		Select country.		Disable location services.
	Tap OK to confirm.		Select Wi-Fi network.		Enter Wi-Fi password.
	Wait for activation.		Tap Setup as New iPad.		Sign in options.
	Sign in with Apple ID.		Tap Don’t use iCloud.		Tap Don’t use Dictation.
	Tap Don’t Send diagnostics.		Toggle Register with Apple on.		Start using iPad!

If you do not purchase your iPad at the Apple Store, or opt to setup the device yourself, there are some decisions that must be made shortly after turning your new iPad on the first time.

Fundamental to your decision making process is the amount or type of data about your person that you feel comfortable sharing with Apple, third party application companies, and marketers.

If you are reticent in the slightest about sharing personal data with faceless third parties, use the screenshots above as your visual guide in locking down your new iPad. Keep in mind that keeping your personal data private is becoming more and more of a battle that must be fought as time marches on. A perfect example of this concept is the contentious subject known as Location Services. I know of no valid reason that office applications, games, utilities, eBook readers, et al. need to know my physical location in order to work properly. The only types of applications that have a “need to know” are proper mapping or direction finding apps.

In my opinion, any excuse or reason offered by an application to log location data is for the most part a poor, thinly veiled excuse to build a profile of your usage data and in turn sell or share this information to marketers, spammers, or worst of all – large corporations. The next topic on glasskeys.com will show how to enable Location Services to make it available only for the Maps application on the iPad or the app(s) of your choosing (please choose wisely).

I opted to skip iCloud signup as I don’t consider it a cost-effective solution, especially for backups as the free iCloud account is a scant 5GB and only works with iOS, the Mac and PC, skipping Android devices entirely. If you want similar free cloud storage that works with virtually every device use Dropbox instead. Read this article on how to use Dropbox with all of your devices, or check out this list of all of the Dropbox topics available on glasskeys.com.

Additional providers of free storage include my favourite – the very secure SpiderOak. I was so impressed with SpiderOak, I opted to upgrade to the paid version of this service for secure backup of my home desktop machines. Box, a cloud storage provider used by many in the corporate world, gives away 5GB (and occassionally offers 50GB) of free storage to new users. More storage is available with SugarSync, Wuala, or create your own cloud storage service using Tonido.

So in light of this cornucopia of free or low-cost storage options, paying a subscription for additional iCloud storage seems rather pointless and silly.

Disclaimer: I am not associated or employed by any company producing software reviewed on this site.