There
are many thousands of apps available. (As Apple's advertising campaign says,
"There's an app for that.") But some apps are simply
must-haves--whether for their functionality, interface brilliance, or sheer
entertainment factor.
With
the third-generation iPad now on retail shelves, chances are there are a lot of
newly minted iPad owners out there wondering which apps to download first. Here
are my ten must-haves. Note that I left out Apple's own iOS offerings, though
many--including the newly updated GarageBand, iMovie, andiWork suite and the
just-released mobile version of iPhoto--are tremendously impressive and worth a
download. (And if you're looking for even more download ideas, a few months
ago, my colleagues came up with a list of 50 essential iOS apps, which include
more than a few dandy iPad-optimized offerings.)
Reeder
Reeder
is a $5 RSS reader, and if you're not yet on the RSS bandwagon, you should be.
The app, which syncs via Google Reader, presents a gloriously elegant interface
for reading the latest articles from your favorite Websites.
Tap
on a headline, and the article slides into view. If the feed in question shows
only a summary, Reeder's built-in Readability support can help: Reverse-pinch
on the text (or tap the Readability button), and Reeder quickly loads the rest
of the article automatically. Tap and hold on links to bring up a sharing
window; Reeder makes it easy to email links, save them to Instapaper (see
below), post them to various social networks, and more. There's a separate iPhone
version of Reeder, too, but the iPad incarnation is simply glorious. You'll
never want to catch up on your feed subscriptions with anything else.
Instapaper
Once
you start relying on Instapaper ($5), you'll wonder what took you so long. The
idea is simple: Reading on your iPad is more pleasant than reading on your
Mac's screen.
When
you come across lengthier articles online, you tap the Instapaper
button--whether in your browser, RSS reader, or Twitter client, or in any of
the many other apps that integrate with the Instapaper service. The next time
you launch Instapaper on your iPad, it will pull down the text of that article,
and any inline images, too--but it'll leave all the navigation, social
networking modules, and Flash advertisements by the wayside. You're left with
just text and images, and you control the font and brightness and all that
other good stuff. The app also makes it easy to discover other good Web content
to read, based on your friends' suggestions.
Tweetbot
Tweetbot
began life as an excellent Twitter client for the iPhone, and the iPad version
is even better. The $3 app's unique interface and brilliantly implemented
gesture support make it not just a powerful app for reading and posting tweets,
but a fun one, too.
Swipe
to the right on a tweet to see the full conversation surrounding it; swipe to
the left to see replies sent to it. Tap and hold--on a tweet, a hashtag, a
username, or a link--to expose contextual options related to that element. With
support for services like Tweet Marker (for keeping you in sync with your
device or desktop Twitter client), Instapaper, and more, it's a full-featured
Twitter app that's a delight to use.
Netflix
It
feels almost like science fiction when you first use the Netflix app to stream
movies and television shows to your iPad.
You
can browse your Watch Instantly queue, search for other titles, and begin
playing any of them in seconds. Netflix isn't the iPad's most elegantly
implemented app; it feels a bit like a website crammed into a program. But it
does what it's supposed to do, which is to let you stream movies! Over the
Internet! Wherever you have a reasonable Internet connection. And it's a free
download, to boot.
Flipboard
Flipboard
takes content you're interested in and presents it in an impressive
magazine-inspired layout. The free app connects to your Facebook, Twitter, and
Google Reader feeds, and also offers a variety of curated feeds in various
categories like politics, technology, and entertainment.
Whether
you're browsing stories from social networks or the curated feeds, Flipboard
jettisons photos wherever it can, and makes it easy to swipe through story
after story. Andof course,the app offers easy ways to share interesting
articles via Twitter, Facebook, and email, and to save them to Instapaper.
PCalc
Lite Calculator
Though
the iPhone's Calculator app works fine, such an app simply doesn't exist on the
iPad. The free PCalc Lite works on all iOS devices, and it looks great on the
iPad.
Beyond
that, it adds tons of functionality beyond simple arithmetic: a scientific
calculator, unit conversions, constants, Reverse Polish notation, multiple undo
and redo, and themes. A $10 version comes packed with features, but if you
start with the free Lite edition, you can add other options from the paid
version with separate in-app purchases.
CNN
Other
news apps exist, but no free news app offers quite the polish of CNN on the
iPad. The app combines videos and cleanly displayed articles to keep you
abreast of all the news that's fit to consume.
The
CNN app is very visual, with lots of photographs, easily readable text, and
high-quality video to keep you informed. Scrolling through headlines is simple,
and the content is constantly updated to remain current.
Super
Stickman Golf
Super
Stickman Golf is a fun, fast-paced golfing game that has a lot in common with
classic tank-shooter Scorched Earth: Pick the angle and power of your shot and
let 'er rip.
As
you progress, you'll unlock a variety of power-ups to enhance your game. But
the real challenge in Noodlecake Studios's $3 app begins when you take on your
friends in a fast-paced, frenetic free-for-all via Game Center or locally via
Bluetooth: The goal here, unlike in real golf, is to be the first to sink your
ball, no matter how many shots it takes. It's the most fun you can have on a
golf course that doesn't have tiny windmills.
Dropbox
.Dropbox,
a free Web service, lets you create a folder on your Mac that syncs
automatically with whatever other computers you tell it to.
The
free iPad app isn't beautiful, but it does afford you access to all the files
and folders you store in your computer's Dropbox folder. You can upload your
saved photos and videos to your Dropbox folder, or open saved files in
compatible apps on your iPad--including word processing documents, PDFs,
images, and MP3s.
Toontastic
If
you have kids, do them--and yourself--a favor by downloading a free copy
ofToontastic. The app empowers kids to create their very own cartoons, walking
them through the process of picking out scenery and characters (or drawing
their own), adding built-in background music, and recording narration.
You
can save and rewatch your kids' Spielberg-quality creations, and optionally
share them online, too. The app is adorably designed, and simple enough for the
typical four-year-old to master.
Lex
Friedman is a staff writer for Macworld. Senior associate editor Dan Moren
contributed to this story.
source
PCWorld
Tag :
application,
iPad
0 Comments for "Must know 10 Apps Every iPad User Should Own"