Here at GA we love the iPad. Not only is it a snazzy little tool, perfect for meetings held outside of GA HQ, but it’s also another mobile device for us to check when designing a new website, or optimizing older ones.

Using the iPad isn’t exactly rocket science, but there are a few tricks which may not be so apparent from the out start (especially if, like us, you were so eager to get going that you didn’t take the time to read the manual!).

So here for you, dear readers, are some handy iPad tips and tricks which you may find useful…

1. Open Safari Links in a New Page

Remember that you can load multiple webpages in Safari simultaneously. So, if you don’t want to leave your current page, you can open the link in a new window (like tabbed browsing, but without the tabs).

To do this, instead of just tapping the link, press and hold it until you see the option to “Open in New Page”. Hit this, and Safari will open a new window and load that link.

To manage the pages you have open, or to return to another page, look to the top of the browser and you’ll see an icon that looks like two overlapping boxes or pages. Press the icon and you’ll be presented with all the pages you have open. From here you can tap any of the “X” buttons to close an individual page.

2. Activate AutoFill in Safari

The AutoFill option is a great time saver as it automatically remembers your usernames and passwords for services. However, make sure you only have it activated if you know and trust anyone who is likely to use your iPad.

To activate it, ensure your details are saved in “Contacts,” then head to “Settings,” choose “Safari,” and click “AutoFill”. Then set both options to “On” and select your file from “Contacts” in the “My Info” field.

3. Quick Mute Your iPad

The one gripe many people have is that the iPad has no “mute” option. However, you can still quickly silence your device by pressing and holding the down volume button — this drops the volume down to zero in about two seconds.

4. Make Use of the Home Button

The iPad’s “Home” button will take you to your homepage if pressed once, but it has a few other functions worth knowing about as well.

To access these functions, go to “Settings,” press “General,” then choose “Home.” Here you can select which function you’d like a double press of the button to carry out, such as opening up “Spotlight Search” or accessing the iPod.

From this area in “Settings” you can also set “iPod Controls” to “On,” which means that when you have music playing and you’re in another program or app, a double press of the “Home” button will bring up basic music controls.

5. Use your iPad as a digital photo frame

You probably know by now that the iPad doubles as a digital picture frame. You can access this function a few ways, but what’s the easiest way?

When you wake the iPad, look to the right of Slide to Unlock and you should see a flower. Click it. This will randomly start playing the photos contained in the Photos application on your device.

GA tip: Toggle the speed in Settings and try turning off “zoom in on faces”—it tends to make your photos a little grainy.

6. Take giant screenshots

It’s on oldie, but a goodie! Push the top (power) and home buttons at the same time for half a second. The photo (at 768×1024 resolution) will be stored in your photo library.

7. Super Fast Webpage Scrolling

You’re all the way to the bottom of a blog but you want to read a story back at the very top. Don’t repeatedly drag your finger across the screen – it looks silly and is inconvenient.

Instead, tap the title bar once and you’re right back on top of the page!

8. Preview More Of Your Mail

Did you know that you can set your mail to preview more than two lines? Although you can also do this on the iPhone, the feature is a lot more useful on the iPad – primarily because it is larger and you can skim several emails without opening them.

Go to “Settings”, “Mail”, “Contacts and Calendars” and select “5 lines” under “Preview”.

9. Put 6 apps into the dock

By clicking and holding on any icon until it wiggles (just as you do to rearrange apps), you’ll unlock each app’s position. Then just drag any two additional apps into the bottom tray. Easy peasy!

10. Download the iPad User Guide eBook

Did you know you can download the official Apple iPad User Guide as an e-Book?

Although available in Safari’s pre-loaded bookmarks, for offline access to the guide simply search for “iPad” and download it for free from the iBooks store.