8 Best iPad Apps (Free and Paid)
It has been three months since Apple released its game-changing tablet device and it is almost universally accepted now that it was a successful launch. The last numbers we read were after two months and Apple had claimed to sell over two million iPads. It is now a month later and something tells me their million a month sales have not slowed down.
I finally got my iPad a few days ago and after admiring the beauty of the device, I turned to the App Store to search for the best iPad app out there. While it is true that it is only three months old, the iPad App Store is clearly in its infancy compared to the iPhone store or even the Android Market. Last I heard there are 10,000 iPad apps available compared to the 200,000 iPhone apps and the 50,000 Android apps.
In order to discover the best iPad apps for me, I did a lot of reading and tweeting. Now, after three days of getting to know what is out there, I thought I would offer my readers a bottom line list of my favorite iPad apps. Now, here is the thing. Mobile apps are very personal and what one person likes, others will not, but the following apps are the best iPad apps according to yours truly, and that does not mean others will not have different selections.
Whether it is the graphics, the usefulness. or the addictive nature of the apps, these apps really enhance the functionality of the iPad in my opinion:
- Real Racing HD ($9.99): From day one, everyone told me this is the app to have. I had never payed $10 for an app before, so I was somewhat hesitant, but I finally went ahead and downloaded Real Racing HD. The premise is pretty simple. Here is an app with cutting edge graphics one can only experience on the iPad. You choose your track and your car and race against either the clock, other cars, or other players via Wifi or a global network. I was a little disappointed that for $10, I did not have access to all the cars, since some of them required an “unlock” based on your “career achievements”, but the flip side is that this competitive nature is what makes the game interesting. You know that one app you used on your iPhone to show off to your friends? On the iPad, this is that app. It will blow your mind!
- Dropbox (Free): I think it is safe to say that Dropbox is my favorite online service, and definitely my favorite free one. If you are not familiar with Dropbox, you seriously do not know what you’re missing and must sign up now. Dropbox adds a virtual folder to your desktop on PC, Mac, iPhone, iPad, and many other devices that enables you to easily transfer files from one to another and keep things in sync. Basically, any file I work on using my Macbook at work is placed in the Dropbox folder so I can access it on the home PC. The iPad version is optimized for the size of the screen and offers all the functionality needed to make Dropbox your Finder or Windows Explorer on the iPad. This is probably the most important app I have on my iPad and it won’t cost you a dime!
- Osfoora HD ($4.99): This is hands down the most beautiful Twitter app on the iPad. Osfoora HD is absolutely feature packed and designed to perfection. To name just some of its features, it has multiple account support, landscape support, Auto Refresh, multiple photo upload, Twitlonger support, native and new RTs, profile customization, full list integration, direct message conversation view, InstaPaper and Read it Later integration, and trust me, the list goes on. Osfoora HD is almost the perfect iPad Twitter app with only two features missing, the ability to change the icons on the main bar (add a list instead of All Friends) and push notifications.
- Tweetings ($3.99): Tweetings for iPad might not be as well designed as Osfoora, but it has all the features Osfoora has with support for push notifications, making it my Twitter app of choice. Other features supported by Tweetings include the ability to see anyone’s tweets, mentions, and favorites, full conversation view, remembers position on launch and reload, support for Twitpic, Yfrog, pic.gd, twitpix, and Twitgoo, support to audio recording and sharing, Facebook integration, scheduled tweets, and full search capabilities. The one and only thing I am missing here is the ability to add a list to the main bad for easy access.
- Angry Birds HD ($4.99): This is hands down the most pointless, offensive, and addictive game on the iPad. Everyone I spoke to told me I have to try this game and I could not understand how throwing birds at pigs could possibly be so satisfying, until I tried it. This was the first app I paid for on the iPad (the others were either free or provided by the developers. I did pay for Real Racing, Paper Toss, and Air Video but that came later) and I am so not regretting it. The graphics are awesome, and the game is completely addictive, challenging, and fun. There really is nothing else to say besides, it is well worth the money.
- Air Video ($2.99): This is one of those apps that make you say “wow”. Basically, with Air Video, the whole Apple Flash problem as well as the iPad’s lack of support for different video formats simply disappears. Using Air Video, you can easily and quickly (almost no setup) stream video from your desktop to your iPad in near perfect quality. Sounds impossible, right? I know, but it works and it works well. The app can convert the video and save it, or simply watch it while it converts in real time. I found this option to work flawlessly when my Wifi signal was strong. However, it is important to remember this app very much depends on how strong your connection is as well as how powerful your computer is. Assuming you have a strong computer and a fast connection, this app is an absolute must have.
- Air Photo Wifi Printing (Free): The concept is simple yet brilliant. With no USB ports, the iPad does not allow you to connect a printer. Air Photo Wifi Printing solves that. Simply launch the app, connect to the server installed on your computer and print away almost instantly. In my tests, the app worked flawlessly and just like Air Video, it required almost no setup.
- Paper Toss HD ($2.99): This is one of my favorite apps on the iPhone and the iPad version does not disappoint. Which one of us has never played a little game of basketball using a wrinkled up piece of paper and a garbage can? Well now you can do it on the iPad. The graphics are amazing and the app adds another variable of a fan blowing wind forcing you to adjust the direction in which you throw the piece of paper. The fan shows a direction and a number, which signifies the strength of the wind. According to that direction and number, you throw the ball toward the garbage can. The app has different difficulty levels with Easy, Medium, and Hard, as well as different settings, such as airport, basement, restroom, and pub. The game is simple, fun, and entertaining, and for $2.99, it is an absolute no brainer.
As you see, some of these apps are utilities that boost productivity and others are games that decrease it. Whatever you intend to do with your iPad, these are some of the best iPad apps currently on the App Store.
Do you have a favorite iPad app not on this list? Please let us know in the comments.
