iPad - Top 15 productivity tips & tricks

The iPad has grown to become the most popular tablet since its launch in 2010. With iOS 8 now here - we go through 15 key tips to help you get the most out of your mobile companion.

1 Get the most out of the default keyboard

Apple has revamped the default keyboard - which is now known as QuickType. This aims to recommend contextually appropriate words to help you complete sentences faster. It does this by learning your vocabulary, so the more you use it, the better it will become.

If you want to type with two hands you can split the keyboard by placing two fingers in the middle and pulling them apart. This makes it much easier to input content with your thumbs. You can rejoin the keyboard by pushing it together with your fingers.

2 Download a third party keyboard

If QuickType isn't up your street, it's also possible to download third party keyboards.

Swype is our favourite and is also proving to be the most popular in the App Store. The app allows you to type out words without lifting your finger off the screen and you can also add slang words to the dictionary.

3 Answer calls with you iPad

With iOS 8 it's possible to make and receive phone calls from the iPad when it is sharing the same Wi-Fi network as your iPhone.

To do this you must sign into FaceTime using the same Apple ID on both devices and make sure Wi-Fi calling is off.

4 Make use of Safari

Apple has introduced private browsing in the latest edition of Safari. It's also possible to reopen tabs you may have closed accidentally by pressing and holding the '+' button.

Not all websites are mobile friendly and even the ones that are can be cluttered and distracting. Safari comes with a Reader button in the URL bar. Press this once the page has loaded and the web page will instantly declutter by remove all the ads and increase text size for more readability.

5 Send messages without unlocking your iPad

In iOS 8, it's possible to reply to messages without the rigmarole of unlocking, entering passcodes and opening up the app. When a message comes in, simply swipe on the message to the left, tap on reply and type your response and then send.

6 Use Assistive Touch

Assistive Touch is a great feature if you have a problem with the home button. To enable this, go to Settings > General > Accessibility and scroll down to Assistive Touch.

Once on, a black and white button appears on the screen which not only acts as a home button but also allows you to activate the Control and Notifications Centres.

7 Zoom in on text

If you have a visual impairment, the Zoom function will help you see things on the iPad screen better, allowing you to work more quickly. To enable this, go into Settings > Accessibility > Zoom.

Once this is enabled, you can double tap anywhere on screen with three fingers to enable and disable this zoom window. You can also use one or two fingers the scroll particular sections.

8 Use multi-touch gestures

Go to Settings > General > Multitasking gestures. This allows you to return to the home screen from any app by pinching the display, Multitasking can be activated by swiping up four fingers from the bottom of the screen and you can flick between apps by swiping four fingers from the right and left hand edges of the display.

9 Make your own shortcuts

The iPad also allows users to create their own keyboard shortcuts. To do this, go into Settings > General > Keyboard. Scroll down and at the bottom is the option to "Add New Shortcut. Here you can type in the phrase and the shortcut that will be replaced by the specified phrase.

10 Become a dictator

If typing isn't your forte, you can just talk to your iPad and it will do the rest. On third generation iPads and above, there is a microphone button on the keyboard. Just press this and talk away. Dictation is good and seems to cope with all but the strongest of accents. Pressing it again will let the iPad figure out what you are saying and type things for you.

Bonus tip: iOS 8 has introduced a feature called 'Hey Siri' (Settings > General > Siri > "Hey Siri"). When the iPad is connected to a power source you can use the voice assistant hands-free - ideal for using it in-car.

11 Find text in a webpage

If you're looking at a webpage in Safari and you want to find a particular word on the page, you can do this by tapping on the address bar at the top and start to type that word in. Once you have done so, if you scroll down past the web page suggestions and at the bottom is an "On This Page" section. It will show you how many matches for that word is on the page.

Tap on the word and it will bring you back to the web page where the first instance of that word is found. A bar at the bottom will help you navigate through all instances of that word.

12 Sync passwords between iPad, iPhone and a Mac

Instead of having to enter user names and passwords on a website every time, the iPad (as well as iPhones and Macs) can remember those details for you via the iCloud Keychain.

To enable this go into Settings > iCloud > iCloud Keychain. You may also have to verify the account through a notification on other devices.

You can see which details are stored by going to Settings > Safari > Passwords and Autofill. Credit cards details can be entered to save time with online shopping. If you do choose to do this we recommend setting up a strong passcode.

13 Charge your iPad faster

If your iPad is running low on juice and you need to recharge it as fast as possible, make sure Airplane mode is switched on. With no radios sucking power, the device will charge faster.

14 Select the text you want faster

Many people select text on the iPad by tapping in the area they want and then dragging the blue bars until they have exactly what they want. If you want to choose a line of text, simply tap on the line with two fingers.

15 A bit of quiet time

If you really need to concentrate on a task in hand or you are in a meeting you can use the Do Not Disturb feature on the iPad to shut out distractions. Tap on Settings > Do Not Disturb and switch this on manually until you have completed that job.

This feature can also be used to stop calls, FaceTime, messages and emails from bothering you when you are asleep. In that same Do Not Disturb setting, you can schedule this feature to switch on between those hours you need sleep in.