You’re Still The Best: Dcmacnut’s Top 10 Essential Apps for the iPad Revisited

This post originally appeared on my Random Facts of Life blog as You're the Best Around, January 11, 2012.

In January, I offered my suggestions for the essential apps for any iPad user. Many were focused on features that the iPhone had, but the iPad did not. Since then, Apple has released its 3rd generation iPad and annouced iOS 6, both which provide much needed upgrades in some of these areas. But not all iPads will benefit from these additions, with the first generation iPad not being able to run iOS 6 at all. So here, again, is my list of essential apps – version 2.0.

  1. When the iPad was released in 2010 it was missing a feature: a clock app. Developers stepped up to fill the void. One of my favorites is Nightstand Central. It comes in paid and free versions, and is worth a look. Even though iOS 6 will finally add a clock app to the iPad, these third-party apps will continue to deliver. Get it from the Nightstand Central for iPad - Music Alarm Clock with Weather and Photos - Thomas Huntington.
  2. The iPad's bigger screen is perfect for a calculator, but the iPad doesn't come with one. The third-party app I use on a daily basis is Calculator HD for iPad. It gives you four calculators, including a scientific calculator, in a stylish interface. Get it from the Calculator HD for iPad - CrowdCafé.
  3. The new iPad has built in speech to text capabilities, and will support Siri as part of iOS 6. But Nuance, the company behind the popular Dragon Natural Speaking also makes Dragon Dictation for iOS, and has announced a new virtual assistant called Nina that other developers can incorporate into their mobile apps. Get it from the Dragon Dictation - Nuance Communications.
  4. Are you sensing a theme? The iPad is also missing a stand-alone weather app, meaning you need to turn to the App Store. The Weather Channel® app is great for casual users. If you need more robust apps, read my intereview with Erin Huntimer of Hannoverskies.com to find out what she recommends. Get it from the The Weather Channel® for iPad - The Weather Channel Interactive.
  5. The iOS calendar app is great, but it's not for everyone. Agenda Calendar by App Savy is a powerful calendar manager with a minimalist design. The interface gets out of your way so you never have to worry about your meetings. Until you're late for one. Get it from the Agenda Calendar - App Savvy.
  6. New York Times tech columnist David Pogue recently had his iPhone stolen, and this free app helped him track it down. It works great on the iPad, especially when your toddler hides it behind the couch cushions. Get it from the Find My iPhone - Apple.
  7. The iPad is designed for reading, and GoodReader is one of the most popular document managers out there. It will store and let you view PDF and Word documents, as well as PowerPoint presentations, photos, and video. It syncs with iCloud and many popular could services, like Dropbox, Box, and SugarSync. Get it from the GoodReader for iPad - Good.iWare Ltd..
  8. Evernote is more than just an app. It's an entire ecosystem that could fill it's own review. This free service connects with multiple other apps, letting you store photos, business cards, photos, audio, and more. With apps available for every major deskop and mobile platform, you're information will never be out of sync. Get it from the Evernote - Evernote.
  9. Flipboard is a social magazine that took the iPad by storm. There are many other apps that will aggregate the news for you, but Flipboard has the best viewing experience of them all. The company is constantly improving and expanding the apps capabilities, and it deserves a spot on your iPhone home screen. Get it from the Flipboard: Your Social News Magazine - Flipboard Inc..
  10. Snapseed by Nik Software is a simple yet powerful editor that was named Apple's iPad App of the Year in 2011. The new iPad has a camera on par with the iPhone, but where it really shines is in viewing and editing photos. The bigger screen is better suited to this task, whether your editing photos taken with the iPad, iPhone, or transferred to the iPad from your point and shoot camera. Get it from the Snapseed - Nik Software, Inc..

 

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