What can be done with an old iPad 3 besides throwing it out?

[Refrigerator]

My friend gave me this old iPad 3, which is in great condition and works perfectly well.
The battery lasts for ages and, with a sim card, it can still go on the internet.
WiFi works too, of course, but that's a given with any device these days.
But what can i do with it? Apps don't download because the iPad is "incompatible" (suuuuure, apple).
I thought about using it as maybe a drawing tablet, because the display is pretty nice still, shame apps don't install.
Is there a workaround though? Jailbreaking? Rootkit? Linux?
I hate throwing out stuff that works perfectly well, but what options do I have?

[xrunner]

Use it as a monitor for internet information. Like maybe weather radar, stocks, news, ...

Just connect to a site and turn off the screen saving, set it on a table and let it go until ... it doesn't go no more.

[Psi]

Attach to a wall as home automation interface to Home Assistant

[artag]

https://www.amazon.com/101-Uses-Dead-Computer-Wahlstrom/dp/0672485400

[bdunham7]

I hate throwing out stuff that works perfectly well, but what options do I have?

I keep my mint-conditioned refurbished IPad 3 that I bought as an HTPC controller around just to remind myself of why I no longer purchase any Apple products, ever, no matter how nice they may be (or not).  They all belong in jail.

[edavid]

Here's a website that lets you find apps that will run on iOS 9:

http://ios-compatible.com/us/ipad-ios9/apps/business/free/1/#content

Of course the built in apps like web browser, email, messages, calendar will still work.  Isn't that enough to make it useful?

[Refrigerator]

Here's a website that lets you find apps that will run on iOS 9:

http://ios-compatible.com/us/ipad-ios9/apps/business/free/1/#content

Of course the built in apps like web browser, email, messages, calendar will still work.  Isn't that enough to make it useful?

Web browser works but needs an update badly because some sites use funky overlays for their cookie settings that don't render on the iPad.

[edavid]

Here's a website that lets you find apps that will run on iOS 9:

http://ios-compatible.com/us/ipad-ios9/apps/business/free/1/#content

Of course the built in apps like web browser, email, messages, calendar will still work.  Isn't that enough to make it useful?

Web browser works but needs an update badly because some sites use funky overlays for their cookie settings that don't render on the iPad.

You could try installing the iOS 9 version of Chrome:

https://discussions.apple.com/thread/8592465
https://discussions.apple.com/docs/DOC-13282

[brucehoult]

3rd generation iPad has a 32 bit CPU.

All current iPads and iPhones have 64 bit CPUs that are only capable of running 64 bit software, and all software distributed today is 64 bit.

ARM's 32 bit and 64 bit instruction sets are utterly different. They are no more similar to each other than ARM is to x86. There is no software hack that can paper over such a fundamental incompatibility.


My iPad Mini 2 ("retina Mini") is just a year newer than yours. I still use it daily, mostly to read books, for which it is the perfect size. It does have the advantage of having a 64 bit CPU.

But we are fundamentally talking about ten year old machines here, which is an eternity in tech.

[bdunham7]

But we are fundamentally talking about ten year old machines here, which is an eternity in tech.

I don't have an issue with the 32-bit CPU making it obsolete for new apps, my issue is with the way that they essentially shut down usage of the device at the time by removing existing 32-bit apps from the only place they could be obtained and blocking anyone and everyone from supplying, downloading or installing those apps.

I don't agree with the blanket excuse that 10 years is an eternity in 'tech' because tech is a lot of things.  My HTPC, audio system and TV are all over 10 years old and I would be incensed if the manufacturer caused them to cease working (the receiver still depends a bit on support).  I still haven't forgiven Samsung, Netflix, Pandora and the Blu-Ray association for my Blu-Ray player ceasing to be of any practical use.  Although to be fair, it Samsung isn't the one most at fault there...  I haven't bought a Blu-Ray movie or player since. 

I won't even start about the cell modem in my decade-old Ford.  Aargh!  Ten years is a long time for AI chips, cell phones and other types of emerging technology.  It's not an acceptable life for mundane consumer products. 

[magic]

I have 32 bit machines which still work and run modern software.

But they are X86

edit
Wait, my ARM Chromebook is 32 bit too.
Also works, if by "new software" you mean "Linux" rather than "CrOS".
Only it's stuck with old kernels because f*** upstream support if you are an ARM vendor

[brucehoult]

I have 32 bit machines which still work and run modern software.

But they are X86

Curious what you're calling "modern software".

- Windows is 64 bit only since Windows 11 (2021)

- MacOS is 64 bit only since Mojave (2018)

Even major Linux distros have been trying to drop 32 bit CPU support for some time. It has become very difficult to build many packages on 32 bit systems.

[DiTBho]

Is there a workaround though? Jailbreaking? Rootkit? Linux?
I hate throwing out stuff that works perfectly well, but what options do I have?

Jailbreaking to install an application and use it as personal notes display, or calendar, or clock, on your desktop.
Nowadays you can buy a friendly GNU/Linux SBC for less than 30 euro, so installing GNU/Linux on a blind device, which is also too limited, doesn't make any sense for me.

[DiTBho]

My iPad Mini 2 ("retina Mini") is just a year newer than yours. I still use it daily, mostly to read books, for which it is the perfect size. It does have the advantage of having a 64 bit CPU.

Compared to a Kindle PaperWhite it is very little adequate as a book reader.

I can put my PaperWhite into my bag and take it to the beach, between sand and water, or to the mountains, even at high altitudes, or under the sun, it reads well, does not overscale, and does not get damaged!

It's lighter, it doesn't have all that junk of useless applications on a device that should only make you read a book, the screen doesn't tire your eyes, and the battery lasts infinitely longer!

I cycled up to 200 km a day this summer with a "be wild" hat on my head and a swimsuit and towel in my light backpack, and during breaks, while resting under some plants, or on any makeshift beach found along the lake, the PaperWhite was the ideal reading tool!

What well-being 

Sorry for Apple, but… they need to (re?)invent a dedicated device if they really want to *compete* with the Kindle PaperWhite, which *IS* the best device I've ever tried on the road!

Similarly, if you ask a cyclist to tell you what he/she thinks of an iPhone, or an iPad mini used as a bike GPS navigator(1) ... well, there is nothing better than a Garmin Edge 830, or the new ones with solar charging!

edit:
(1) I'm not joking, in my part for several months they have advertised magnetic attachments to attach an iPhone or an iPad Mini to the bicycle handlebar, with GPS navigator apps.

[brucehoult]

My iPad Mini 2 ("retina Mini") is just a year newer than yours. I still use it daily, mostly to read books, for which it is the perfect size. It does have the advantage of having a 64 bit CPU.

Compared to a Kindle PaperWhite it is very little adequate as a book reader.

No doubt, but I don't think it's $300 better for my use when I already have the iPad Mini 2 (and have had it since 2013) and the battery lasts at least a week if not two (I can always turn it off when not in use to get longer) and I'm only using it for 15-30 minutes in bed before sleep anyway.