The iPad is gaining some popularity amongst the general public as a device that can have multiple uses. You can use it as a e-reader, game console and a tablet PC. Unknown to many people, there are alternative iPad browsers that people can use instead of the default Safari browser. Even though the Safari browser is already optimized, alternate browsers are customized to suit people with different needs. In this article, I will show you some of the mobile software you can install into your iPad.

iLunascape

This free iLunascape browser has a bookmark sort of menu at the bottom of the page so that you can go to your favorite sites very quickly. It has multi-tab support for up to 6 tabs and you can easily switch between them very quickly. iLunascape also has the built in ability to take a screenshot so that you can view the page offline.

Duo Browser

As the name implies, the Duo Browser allows you to view 2 browsers at once. This browser works best if you hold the iPad in upright position. The pages will appear stacked on top on each other and now you can have one browser always on your social networking site and the other for your web surfing needs. You can still zoom despite the fact that one page is only half of the iPad.

Night Browser

This Night Browser is suitable for users who like to use the iPad before you sleep. The whole contrast and lighting is adjusted so that it looks comfortable in a dark environment. So it comes in handy if you are sitting in a café at night. There is a button in the browser itself for you to adjust the brightness of the screen.

Atomic Browser

The Atomic Browser is a browser packed with features. It has a free version and a paid version for just (US$0.99). The free version will not allow you to customize the browser, settings such as the “home page” cannot be changed. The paid version will allow you to set “screen gestures”, which equals to the short cut keys that you can use to open a new tab, bookmark this page and enter or exit full screen mode for example. Additional features are also included in this Atomic Browser like rotation lock, anonymous surfing, night mode, in-page search and adjustable fonts. This Atomic Browser is an app worth your buck since it works for the iPhone as well.

Anonymous Browser

This browser has one characteristic that other browsers do not have and that is it does not keep any information or history of what you have surfed or viewed. The Anonymous Browser will be useful if your friend needs to borrow your iPad to access sites that are personal, like email. Once they close the browser, nothing will be recorded. There is also a special blackout mode that allows you to turn off the screen instantly in case you sense that some one might be trying to peek at what you are surfing.

All the browsers shown in this article are freeware except the Atomic Browser that has a free and a paid version. I hope readers out there enjoyed this tech tips. As usual, if you have any other recommendations, please comment.