We’d be the first to admit using Apple’s iPad isn’t exactly rocket science, and we will also admit that Apple is at the top of its game when it comes to easy-to-use products.

But if you didn’t take the time to read the owner’s manual, we have some quick and neat tips and tricks that can help you get the most out of your tablet.

From managing the sound levels of your tunes, to organization your apps, to muting in the case of emergency, we have 10 handy hints for you to work your way to iPad ninja status.

Check out our tried and tested iPad tips, and impress your friends when they come to you for help with their iPad. Be sure to let us know if there are any shortcuts you’d like to share in the comments below.

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1. Open Safari Links in a New Page

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Remember that you can have multiple webpages loaded in Safari () simultaneously. So if you’re not sure about a link or want to keep your current page open, you can open the link in a new window (a little like tabbed browsing, but without the tabs).

To do this, rather than just tap the link, press and hold it until you see an 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 there you’ll see an icon that looks like two overlapping boxes or pages. If you press the icon, it will show you all the pages you have open (just like in the graphic below). From here you can tap any of the “X” buttons to close an individual page.

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2. Activate AutoFill in Safari

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The AutoFill option is a great time saver for anyone who knows and trusts anyone else who might use their iPad, as it automatically remembers your usernames and passwords for services.

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

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3. Quick Mute Your iPad

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Although the iPad has no “mute” option, you can still quickly silence your device by pressing and holding the down volume button — this quickly drops the volume down to zero in about two seconds.

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4. Make Use of the Home Button

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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 will mean 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.

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5. Add a Website Shortcut to Your Home Screen

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Although you won’t need to do this for Mashable () (thanks to our free iPad app) there is a quick way to add shortcuts to your favorite sites directly to your home screen.

Head to the webpage you want to create the shortcut to, tap the “+” sign at the top of the page and select “Add to Home Screen.” This will then create a shortcut icon offering one-click access to your most-used sites.

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6. Make iBooks More User-Friendly

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The iBooks app’s swipe-to-turn the page function is really nice when you first play with it, but the truth is (and it’s especially true if you’re a fast reader) it gets a little old if you’re settling down to read more than a few pages.

You can tweak iBook’s settings to offer a shortcut to go to the next page, if you simply tap the left margin.

To make this the case, head to “Settings,” then under the “Apps ()” section, press “iBooks,” then “Tap Left Margin” and make sure “Next Page” is ticked, which will change it from the default option — the previous page.

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7. Activate iPod Sound Check

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You know how annoying it is when your songs play at different volume levels, leaving you either scrambling to get across the room to turn it down, or sighing with frustration as an inaudible track comes on? Well there’s a way to stop that from happening.

All you need do is navigate yourself to “Settings,” click “iPod” and then turn “Sound Check” to “On,” which will help regulate volume levels.

Oh, and while you’re there, take note of the “EQ” menu that offers a ton of different sound options depending on the style of music you’re listening to, or you can regulate sound levels for spoken words to help optimize sound for podcasts or audio-books.

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8. Squeeze Six Apps into the Dock

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Until iOS4.2 arrives in November, bringing with it the joy of folders, there are a few ways to help organize your apps and make items you use often more accessible.

You can have 11 pages to arrange your apps on, so although there’s no way to make a games folder, for example, you could drag and drop all your games apps onto one page to create a themed “games” page.

Also, the dock can have up to six apps in it, so you can pick two more than the standard layout offers (just touch an app until it wiggles then drag it into the dock to move it) to make more items closer to hand from any screen.

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9. Use a Space Bar Trick

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In addition to the keyboard shortcuts, tips and tricks we have previously brought you for iOS devices, we have one more spacebar trick to share.

The spacebar will create as many spaces as there are fingers on it, so one finger will produce one space, two fingers two spaces and so on.

We can’t see that this is going to be the most useful trick you’ll ever learn, but it’s interesting if for no other reason than to see how the Apple engineers had fun with the display’s multi-touch capabilities.

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10. Download the iPad User Guide eBook

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

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

Thanks to the modern console, arcade games will never hold as large a place in gaming as they did in the 1970s and 1980s.

But there is some good news for reto-gaming fans, as many arcade classics are now available in the App Store just waiting for you to download. Here are five awesome games that have made the leap from coin-operated arcade machine to your iPhone’s screen.

So limber up your thumbs and let us know your favorites in the comments below.

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1. Pang: Pocket Pong

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The Atari classic arcade game Pong, is undoubtedly the seminal title in the modern computer game industry. While it might be hard to believe now, back in the mid-70s, a home Pong console was the modern-day equivalent of having a PS3 hooked up to your television. Being the only game on the market at the time made it an obvious success, but the game itself is surprisingly addictive.

No “official” Pong app exists, but this version is pretty faithful to the early versions of the game, complete with authentic sound effects. There are several modes of play, which include the classic two-player action, player versus computer mode, and “rebound” in which you rally against the “wall.” There’s also a kind of volleyball variant if you want to mix it up.

Available as Separate iPad App? No
Cost: $0.99

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2. Space Invaders

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Despite the price tag, this is a must-have app for true fans of the original arcade game. There are three different options for controls — tricky tilt controls, drag controls and the easiest arrows method — as well as the ability to customize the screen, although you may prefer the simple “color” option over other more convoluted choices.

This app is from Taito, the game’s original developers, and one nice touch is the inclusion of a gallery of rare artwork and materials from the game’s development. Whether you can remember playing Space Invaders in an arcade, or you’re just curious about the game rumored to have lead to a shortage of 100-yen coins in Japan, then this is the app to opt for.

Available as Separate iPad App? No
Cost: $4.99

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3. PAC-MAN

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Namco has brought back Blinky, Pinky, Inky and Clyde, and the eponymous hero for the iPhone with this excellent mobile version of the vintage gaming giant. Play the “Lite” version (just the first level) for fork out the cash, and you can gobble dots and eat ghosts to your heart’s content.

Like other arcade games ported to the iPhone platform, you get a choice of controls, as well as the choice of your own music from your iPhone that you can select to play. Download this app on the game’s 30th anniversary and you’ll still be playing it in years to come.

Available as Separate iPad App? Yes
Cost: $4.99

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4. Frogger

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Frogger is a classic and fan favorite, appearing on multiple platforms, including unofficial incarnations such as “Froggy” and “Hopper”, since its introduction into arcades in 1981.

Here, Konami manages to keep a more-or-less retro feel to the game, although the graphics are not arcade-original. It also includes up-to-date functionality, such as the ability to post your scores to Facebook.

There are three control options, but slide is the only one that really works – making guiding your little frogs across the roads, and past the various foes, a strange touch experience for anyone used to real-life controls.

Available as Separate iPad App? Yes
Cost: $0.99

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5. Original Duck Hunt

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Despite Nintendo’s dominance in the history of gaming, because they’re a rival to Apple as far as hand held games go, they haven’t been very keen to develop for the platform, meaning a severe lack of vintage Nintendo titles are available on the mobile platform.

So far its existence has escaped the glare of Nintendo’s legal department, so this app is perfect for those nostalgic for Nintendo’s golden days of gaming. You may think Duck Hunt just won’t be the same without a bright orange NES Zapper, but it’s worth giving the game a “shot” on a touchscreen.

The colorful 8-bit graphics and fun sound effects will have you reminiscing about the 80s in no time, while the gameplay is faithful as far as the one duck/two duck options go, and that adorably frustrating pooch giggling if you miss, or retrieving if you don’t. Unfortunately, the clay pigeon shooting option has not been ported.

Available as Separate iPad App? No
Cost: $0.99