This app was mentioned in 2 comments, with an average of 1.00 upvote
HI, it seems I'm a bit late to reply but I've been developing a proprietary bluetooth app for android that connects specifically to an HC-09 and I had many problems with it. My phone (Android 4.1) does not even see the module and the tablet I have for testing (Android 4.4.4) couldn't connect. I have tried a few bluetooth terminal apps and only one of them managed to connect - BlueTerm (https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=es.pymasde.blueterm&hl=en) So I suggest trying it.
The led on the module blinks when it's not connected and stays on when there is a connection. As an easy step to test your connection, you can connect the RX and TX of the module to each other and if you establish a connection it should echo back everything you send to it. Then you can proceed to connect it to the arduino.
P.S. In my case after a day or two of research I found a stackoverflow topic that provided a workaround for my app code - http://stackoverflow.com/questions/18657427/ioexception-read-failed-socket-might-closed-bluetooth-on-android-4-3 Basically the way bluetooth works in Android seems to have changed since version 4.2 and it affects the connection attempt to some bluetooth modules. I presume most of the terminal bluetooth apps try only the "normal" way to establish the connection and fail. I still have no idea why my phone does not see the module.
u/Long_jawn_silver A Dashboard in this context is a web page that shows information (see the Magic Mirror project for one way of using a Pi and monitor - other ideas are here) - Grafana is often used on a Pi with node-red to create a reporting system.
There are a few programs that let you access the console (e.g. wetty / Cockpit / Apache Guacamole) that may also work.
u/pogkob WiFi is the normal way from the iPad.
VNC and ssh are both possible BUT you may need an up to date OS to access the APP Store and download them or be limited to old versions.
Bluetooth connection is possible on some Pi boards (depends if the board has it or not - some like the Pi Zero does not and need an add-on card) - some Android Apps allow terminal (ssh) access this way but I've not used them or Bluetooth to a Pi from iOS.