iPad Apps: 10 Hidden Gems
Apple's iTunes Store has more than 140,000 apps just for the iPad. You can't try all of them, of course, but here are 10 hidden gems worth the effort.
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There's one thing iPad owners don't have to worry about: A shortage of apps designed specifically for their tablets. But which ones are good? And what makes a great iPad app?
Numerous pundits have opined on this topic since the iPad's debut three years ago, and the general consensus comes down to this: Less is more. A great app does a few things really well, but leaves out gratuitous features that aren't essential to the app's core functionality. After all, an iPad--or any tablet, for that matter--isn't a conventional PC and shouldn't try to match the PC's versatility. A quality app, rather, should strive to fill a particular niche.
Easier said than done. As hardware evolves, it invariably adds new features--and hence complexity. For instance, not long ago the cell phone exceled at two things: talk and text. But its modern descendant, the smartphone, has added dozens of capabilities, some of which are more useful than others. (Quick quiz, iPhone fans: How often do you use FaceTime video chat?)
The iPad is no exception in this complexity conundrum. Its original 2010 model, for instance, lacked front and rear cameras, which were added to the iPad 2 in 2011. The new iPad, as Apple dubbed the model released last week, boasts much better screen resolution and camera power, which may enable a host of new apps in areas such as HD video and gaming. (For more on the new iPad's features and how they stack up, see iPads Vs. Android: 3-Way Tablet Shootout. )
Augmented reality (AR) is another up-and-coming mobile app that would benefit from a better pair of iPad eyes. AR apps display computer-generated information over a live-video stream. One early example is Aurasma Lite, a free app that "augments" your real-world view with music, videos, and 3-D animations.
The limitations of the iPad's touch interface compel developers to devise innovative solutions. For instance, Tweetbot, a well-designed Twitter client, and Clear, a simple-yet-effective to-do list, both do a fine job of incorporating touch and swipe commands. (Click through this slideshow for more info on each app.)
In some cases, a "hidden" app may work better than its famous competitors. Or it may fill a gap, operating as a surrogate for a widely-used desktop program that has yet to migrate to the iPad. Example: Quickoffice Pro HD is a good alternative to the mythical iPad version of Microsoft Office, which may arrive imminently, according to persistent rumors.
Here are 10 hidden iPad gems you must try.
Your iPad doesn't do 3G? Limiting yourself to Wi-Fi is a great way to save money, but it's not so great when you're far from a Wi-Fi hotspot. Codium Labs' Offline Pages Pro lets you save Web pages--and even entire websites--on your iPad and read them offline. This handy $10 app downloads HTML5 and MP4 videos, saves Office files and PDFs from email or Safari, and works with password-protected websites. The $5 standard version leaves out a few key features, such as the ability to auto-update your favorite pages.
Running a Virtual Network Computer (VNC) app on an iPad can be tricky business. While VNC is handy for iPad-toting business travelers, allowing them to remotely access Mac, Windows, and Linux PCs from afar, it's often a pain to use a touch interface to navigate screens built for a keyboard and mouse.
Edovia's Screens VNC simplifies things by giving iPad users a powerful set of touch tools for remote access. For instance, you can click, drag, and scroll where your fingers happen to be, not where the cursor is located. And Screens understands many of the multi-touch commands you use on a laptop trackpad. Priced at $20--a bit steep for an iPad app--Screens is a solid choice for VNC users.
Has this ever happened to you? You're away from work--maybe in an airport or taxi--and want to scan a business card, receipt, poster, or some work-related paper that's within reach. What to do? Well, with DocScan HD Pro, you can use your iPad as a makeshift scanner.
This $4 app from iFunPlay allows you to use the iPad's camera (excluding the original iPad, of course) to scan multi-page documents as well as books, coupons, and even whiteboards. You can annotate and draw on DocScan's scanned images, which are automatically saved as PDF files.
Want to learn to fly an airplane? Believe it or not, the iPad makes a great flight simulator--provided you're using the right app. Laminar Research's X-Plane for iPad is powerful flight-sim with beautiful HD graphics optimized for the tablet. Touchscreen cockpit controls, detailed instrument panels, and background chatter from Air Traffic Control make you feel as if you really are flying--without the barf bags. Priced at $10, X-Plane is a lot of fun.
Do you use your iPad to create outlines, notes, and checklists? Check out MagicalPad, an intuitive $5 app that's handy for freeform note-taking. Like most of our hidden gems, simplicity is the key to MagicalPad's appeal. To create new notes, simply double-tap the screen. It's easy to indent and edit list items as well. You can share notes via email, or export them to Dropbox, Evernote, and Google Docs in several file formats, including the ever-popular PDF.
Clear epitomizes the less-is-more philosophy in app design. RealMac Software's $1.99 to-do list is optimized for the smaller screen of the iPhone, but works quite well on the iPad too. Clear's simple, uncluttered interface uses a "heatmap" to show higher-priority tasks (e.g., items with a dark red background are the most pressing), and its touch controls are a snap to learn. Finished a task? Simply swipe it off the screen. Clear is an easy, inexpensive way to organize your day.
You've probably heard of Vito Technology's clever Space Walk, an "augmented stargazing" app. How does it work? Point your iPad 2's camera at the heavens and watch the display: Space Walk identifies celestial bodies, including stars and satellites, over a real-time image of the night sky. But if you'd prefer a guided 3-D tour of our solar system, check out Vito's Solar Walk, a beautiful and educational $3 app that lets you fly from planet to planet using only your finger. Don a pair of cyan-red 3-D glasses, and view the planets in three-dimensional splendor. But wait, there's more: You can wirelessly mirror the Solar Walk screen to an Apple TV (2nd generation), and display the app on a 3-D-ready TV.
Twitter clients are a dime a dozen, right? Not so. Tapbots' $3 Tweetbot is a well-crafted Twitter app with plenty of useful tools for Tweetaholics. The customizable tab bar makes it easy to access Twitter tools that aren't always easy to find, such as re-tweets and lists. Even better, you can use lists as your timeline--a good way to avoid missing those important tweets. Tweetbot's touch gestures are handy for iPad users too: To view a conversation, simply swipe a tweet to the right; to view replies, swipe to the left.
If you use an iPad to take notes, you're aware of its limitations as a surrogate for pen and paper. The iPad's virtual keyboard isn't ideal for jotting down ideas in a hurry, particularly if you're a speedy scribbler, and finger input is often clumsy. Face it, sometimes a stylus is better, especially when paired with a first-rate note-taking app.
Ramki's $6 Noteshelf is an excellent choice for iPad note-takers. It works with a stylus or finger, and offers your choice of 17 color ink pens. A zoom mode helps you cram more notes on a single page. The Wrist Protection feature allows you to rest your wrist on the screen without wiping out notes or creating unwanted squiggles.
If you believe the rumor mill, Microsoft Office for the iPad is coming soon. But why wait for vaporware when Quickoffice Pro HD is here today? This $20 iPad app lets you create, edit, and view Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint files, and views PDF documents. Of course, other iPad productivity apps, including Apple's own Keynote, Pages, and Numbers, also work with Office formats, but Quickoffice's clean, easy-to-learn interface and intuitive touch controls make it a standout performer. While not the most feature-packed office suite for the iPad, Quickoffice is a solid choice for MS Office veterans.
If you believe the rumor mill, Microsoft Office for the iPad is coming soon. But why wait for vaporware when Quickoffice Pro HD is here today? This $20 iPad app lets you create, edit, and view Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint files, and views PDF documents. Of course, other iPad productivity apps, including Apple's own Keynote, Pages, and Numbers, also work with Office formats, but Quickoffice's clean, easy-to-learn interface and intuitive touch controls make it a standout performer. While not the most feature-packed office suite for the iPad, Quickoffice is a solid choice for MS Office veterans.
There's one thing iPad owners don't have to worry about: A shortage of apps designed specifically for their tablets. But which ones are good? And what makes a great iPad app?
Numerous pundits have opined on this topic since the iPad's debut three years ago, and the general consensus comes down to this: Less is more. A great app does a few things really well, but leaves out gratuitous features that aren't essential to the app's core functionality. After all, an iPad--or any tablet, for that matter--isn't a conventional PC and shouldn't try to match the PC's versatility. A quality app, rather, should strive to fill a particular niche.
Easier said than done. As hardware evolves, it invariably adds new features--and hence complexity. For instance, not long ago the cell phone exceled at two things: talk and text. But its modern descendant, the smartphone, has added dozens of capabilities, some of which are more useful than others. (Quick quiz, iPhone fans: How often do you use FaceTime video chat?)
The iPad is no exception in this complexity conundrum. Its original 2010 model, for instance, lacked front and rear cameras, which were added to the iPad 2 in 2011. The new iPad, as Apple dubbed the model released last week, boasts much better screen resolution and camera power, which may enable a host of new apps in areas such as HD video and gaming. (For more on the new iPad's features and how they stack up, see iPads Vs. Android: 3-Way Tablet Shootout. )
Augmented reality (AR) is another up-and-coming mobile app that would benefit from a better pair of iPad eyes. AR apps display computer-generated information over a live-video stream. One early example is Aurasma Lite, a free app that "augments" your real-world view with music, videos, and 3-D animations.
The limitations of the iPad's touch interface compel developers to devise innovative solutions. For instance, Tweetbot, a well-designed Twitter client, and Clear, a simple-yet-effective to-do list, both do a fine job of incorporating touch and swipe commands. (Click through this slideshow for more info on each app.)
In some cases, a "hidden" app may work better than its famous competitors. Or it may fill a gap, operating as a surrogate for a widely-used desktop program that has yet to migrate to the iPad. Example: Quickoffice Pro HD is a good alternative to the mythical iPad version of Microsoft Office, which may arrive imminently, according to persistent rumors.
Here are 10 hidden iPad gems you must try.
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