Tablets can do some tricks that might surprise you…

1. A WIRELESS MOUSE AND KEYBOARD
Did your wireless mouse go dead? Need a spare keyboard? Your tablet can easily be turned into either one to control your computer – even at a distance.

A free app like Remote Mouse will turn your tablet – or any touch-screen gadget – into a digital trackpad and keyboard.

2. A UNIVERSAL REMOTE
Tired of juggling four remotes to watch a movie or changing the TV channel? A universal remote is a great solution, and a tablet makes an outstanding universal remote. That’s because you can program complicated tasks and link them to a single button.

3. A PORTABLE CASH REGISTER

Having the ability to quickly and safely process credit cards is vital when you own a small business. You can turn your tablet into a mobile cash register with the help of a mobile payment apps.

4. AN EXTRA COMPUTER MONITOR
Sometimes a second computer monitor really comes in handy. To turn your tablet into a second monitor, all you need is an app like iDisplay and a tablet stand. I sell a good one in my store.

You can keep the tablet nearby and use it as a news and social media reader or to control your music player. That way you won’t have to split your attention on the computer itself. It’s a great strategy for taking short breaks in the middle of a major project.

5. A PHOTOGRAPHER’S TOOLBOX
Love photography? Turn your tablet into a simple but powerful photo editing and lighting tool.

Apps like SoftBox turn your tablet into a portable lighting studio.

For easy photo editing, Snapseed auto-corrects your exposures and also lets you manually rotate, crop, straighten and run photos through fun filters.

Need to organize your photos? An app like Tidy has you covered.