The Safari application on the iPad is a very powerful web browsing tool. There are a number of Safari tricks and secrets that will help improve your iPad web browsing experience.

Different Domain Suffix

When entering a web site address in the URL address bar, hold down the ".com" button, and a popup comes up with a number of other domain extensions including ".net, .edu and .org" buttons. Slide your finger onto one of them and then release your finger to choose.

Domain Resolution

When typing a URL in Safari, you don't have to type the "www" or the ".com". For example, you can type "my-iphone" in the URL box in order to view "www.my-iphone.com".

Get URL Hints

In Safari, you can press and hold any link in order to see the web address it will direct you to.

A menu will pop up showing the destination address and will give you the options to 'Open', 'Open in New Page' or 'Copy'. Tap on the screen to Cancel the operation. Clicking 'Open' will take you to the destination address. Clicking on 'Open in New Page' will open the destination address in a new Safari web page window. 'Copy' will copy the address so you can paste it in another application.

Scroll to the Top of the Page

When you are using Safari, you can automatically scroll to the top of the page by tapping on the "top bar", which shows the time, service bars and the battery information. This will also bring up the URL address and search bar as well.

Save or Copy Images in Safari

When you are browsing any web pages on Safari. You simply touch the image and hold your finger until a menu pops up. To save and image select 'Save Image' and the downloaded image is saved in the 'Photos' app in the 'Saved Photos'. To Copy an image for use in another application, select 'Copy'.

Fit-to-page Column, word and Picture

When browsing web pages on Safari, you can double-tap on a column, word or picture to fit its width to your iPad's screen. To zoom back double-tap again.

Save To Contacts from Safari

If, whilst viewing a web page in Safari, you find a phone number you would like to save to either an existing or new contact you do not need to copy the number, close the Safari app and open the contacts app.

To save the number just briefly tap on the number, and iPad will pop up a message asking if you wish to 'Create New Contact' or 'Add to Existing Contact' the number.

If you select 'Create New Contact', a new 'New Contact' pop-up will appear with the number already added to it. Simply complete the additional contact fields and select 'Done'.

If you select 'Add to Existing Contact' a pop-up will appear with all of your contacts alphabetically listed. Select the contact to add the number to and it will automatically be saved.

This tip also works for phone numbers containing text such as 1-800-MY-APPLE.

Bookmarking a Webpage

There a two ways to bookmark a web page in Safari.

To create a standard bookmark click the '+' icon at the top of the screen and select 'Add Bookmark'. You can edit the name of the bookmark if required and choose a folder for the bookmark to be saved in. Select 'Save' to save the bookmark.

To use the bookmark click on the open book icon at the top of the page. A list of your bookmarks will appear. To move bookmarks or to create bookmark folders click the 'Edit' button at the top of the pop-up window. Click the 'New Folder' button to create sub folders.

To create a Home page bookmark click the '+' icon at the top of the screen and select 'Add to Home Screen' and a 'Add to Home' pop-up screen will appear. To the left will be an image of the Home screen icon. This icon is a screenshot of the page you were on. You can create a more customised icon by zooming into a particular item on the web page such as the web sites logo. To the right of the icon will be the text for the button, which should not be more that 14 characters long, or it will automatically be abbreviated. When ready click 'Add' to add the icon to your iPad's Home screen.

The iPad also has a really useful Bookmarks Bar. Click the '+' icon at the top of the screen and select 'Add Bookmark'. You can edit the name of the bookmark if required and choose the 'Bookmarks Bar' folder for the bookmark to be saved in. Now when you select either the box to enter a web address or the box to enter a search the Bookmarks Bar will become visible.

The bookmarks bar can be made to be permanently visible by going to Settings --> Safari and turning the 'Always Show Bookmarks Bar' to ON.

Search Engine Selection

The standard search tool for the iPad is Google, however this can be changed. Go to Settings --> Safari and tap on the Search Engine option. You can select from Google, Yahoo or Bing to be your default Safari search engine.

Scrolling with Two Fingers

Some web pages contain separate text boxes with their own scroll bars. If you are trying to move around in one, you can scroll it with two fingers instead of one. This will let you scroll just inside the box and not affect the position of the entire page.

Getting the Bigger Picture

When viewing web pages using Safari it may be easier to view web pages by rotating the iPad horizontally, the Safari window will switch to horizontal mode.

When in this mode, you will also have a much larger keyboard, making data entry easier.