what iPad apps do you use?

[Jeanne Boyarsky]

I did search to see if there was a thread on this already.

What iPad apps do you use/recommend to someone who just got one. I know of two I need:
1) Unzip utility - iUnarchive?
2) PDF reader - the built in one leave something to be desired - Readdle? Also looks like it facilitates file transfer.
or
3) PDF to e-book converter - calibre?

What else don't I know I need yet?

[Andrew Monkhouse]

Have you tried out Kindle on it yet? (There are plenty of free Kindle books)

I saw a guy at work using some form of remote desktop with his iPad - seemed to be working OK.

[Jeanne Boyarsky]

Andrew,
I've tried virtually nothing thus far.

Did just download twitterific. Looks nice.

My plan is to get the iPad working for what I bought it for and then try to replace some things i do on the computer. Still curious what apps people like though.

[Bear Bibeault]

Here's the extra apps I've loaded (in no particular order):

GoodReader (PDF reader)
Kindle
WeatherBug
Dropbox
Planets (planetarium)
Netflix
Evernote (synched note taking)
Converter (conversions of all types)
Pinball HD (too cool!)
iBooks
The Elements (interactive periodic table)
Epicurious

iPod Touch apps that are also loaded:

RadarScope (radar)
A Check List
Tiltmeter Pro

[Mark Spritzler]

I use GoodReader myself for PDF files, and I can hook into my DropBox account to easily transfer my pdf files.

Mark

[marc weber]

Here are my favorite apps for iPad. These are free except where noted. (I don't have access to iTunes at work, so I guessed on the game prices.)

NEWS:
Editor's Choice (New York Times)
NPR
BBC News
News Pro (Thomson Reuters)
News (AP)

WEATHER:
WeatherBug
TWC Max+ (The Weather Channel)
AccuWeather

INFORMATION:
Wiki^2
Wikipanion
Dictionary (dictionary.com)
WolframAlpha ($1.99)
Planets
Periodic Table
Now Playing
IMDb
Constitution for iPad

TOOLS:
iBooks
Kindle
Pages (word processing, $9.99)
iDisk (if you use MobileMe)
GoodReader (PDF, etc.)
Abobe Ideas (sketch pad)
ArtStudio (sketch pad)
Shazam
PCalc Lite (calculator)
Clinometer

MISC:
eBay
Amazon
Crosswords (New York Times)
Pocket Pond

GAMES:
Warheads ($0.99 updated missile command)
Blocks Classic ($1.99 or less? - also a free lite version)
Pinball HD ($1.99 or less?)
Shanghai ($0.99, just reduced from $2.99 - also free lite version)
Hold'em HD (free - also a $4.99 expanded version)
iChess Pro ($7.99)

MORE GAMES (NOT QUITE AS COOL):
SpaceBlast HD ($1.99 or less? retro arcade asteroids)
Star Pagga (free space dogfight)
PaddleFX (free retro pong)
Air Hockey (free)

[Jamm Mu]

not exactly an app but useful online tool to convert files to native ipad formats
http://iiiconverter.com

[marc weber]

Jeanne Boyarsky wrote:...PDF to e-book converter - calibre? ...

I've given up on Calibre. I tried converting some Word docs and PDFs to ePub format, but the results were ridiculous -- page breaks every couple of lines, random font changes, paragraphs run together, indentation messed up... It even jumbles order by interspersing lines from different pages! I tried their help pages and some different conversion settings, but didn't get very far. I've Googled for alternatives, but haven't found anything promising (unless I want to pay more than what the iPad itself cost).

It would be terrific to get content into iBooks, because that's such a cool reader. But for now, I'm just using GoodReader for PDF files.

[Maneesh Godbole]

Jamm Mu wrote:

Welcome to the Ranch.
Please check your private messages for an important administrative matter

[marc weber]

marc weber wrote:... It would be terrific to get content into iBooks, because that's such a cool reader. But for now, I'm just using GoodReader for PDF files.

PDF reading (and note taking) coming to iBooks later this month.

[Bear Bibeault]

marc weber wrote:

marc weber wrote:... It would be terrific to get content into iBooks, because that's such a cool reader. But for now, I'm just using GoodReader for PDF files.

PDF reading (and note taking) coming to iBooks later this month.

Indeed!

[marc weber]

I just installed Noby Noby Boy.

I don't quite get it (which is why I like it). Whatever it is, I've already gotten $1.99 enjoyment from it.

[Jerry Gana]

This is an interesting discussion. thank you for sharing

[marc weber]

I've become an app addict with the iPad. Here are some new favorites in addition to what I've listed above:

NEWS:
Financial Times (FT), Free

INFORMATION:
WebMD, Free
Exoplanet, Free (nice complement to Planets, if you're extra geeky)
Declaration for iPad, Free (nice complement to Constitution for iPad)
Presidents of the United States, $0.99
World Factbook for iPad, $1.99

ENTERTAINMENT:
X-Plane 9 (flight simulator), $9.99
Pocket Organ C3B3, $2.99 (way cool, far beyond those goofy piano apps)
Koi Pond HD, $1.99 (because I'm easily entertained)

GAMES:
Isaac Newton's Gravity HD, Free for first 5 levels, then $9.99 for 95 additional levels. You can also create your own.
Paper Toss HD, $2.99 (Did I mention I'm easily entertained?)

[marc weber]

GAMES:
SteamBalls HD, $3.99

[Maris Orbidans]

marc weber wrote:It would be terrific to get content into iBooks, because that's such a cool reader. But for now, I'm just using GoodReader for PDF files.

I tried many PDF readers and I like FastPDF the most. It is very similar to iBooks.
And I use Air Share HD for file transfer. It can copy folders so you can get all your PDFs into iPad at once without copying files one by one.

[Kai Wähner]

My two favorites are:
- iThoughts (6usd): Mindmapping App - Compatible to Mindjet Mindmanager and many other products. Very good usability. Dropbox support.
- Remember the Milk: Synchronize your to-do-list with other devices.

I have written the following blog entry with some more details why I really like the iPad (especially at work):
http://www.kai-waehner.de/blog/2010/07/18/ipad-at-work-10-reasons-why-the-ipad-is-a-great-help-for-me/

Best regards,
Kai

[Greg Charles]

I saw an iPad commercial where they showed a star chart application. The screen scrolled as you moved it, so effectively it just superimposed information about stars, planets, and constellations over the night sky. Does that really work? That would be the killer app for me.

[Bear Bibeault]

Yes, it does. It's fantastic!

[marc weber]

Which one is that? Star Walk? StarMap 3D Plus? Starmap HD?

My new addictions are BoxBattle HD and Shell Shock.

The Netflix app that lets you watch content instantly on your iPad is cool too.

[Bear Bibeault]

I think it's Star Walk.

I've been having some fun with Isaac Newton's Gravity HD.

[marc weber]

Bear Bibeault wrote:... I've been having some fun with Isaac Newton's Gravity HD.

That's a fun one to play around with over some beers. I'm on level 21.

[Mark Spritzler]

TubeOrganizer



Sorry, had to add that one.

But I also like

Angry Birds
Friendly
Super Puzzle
Fruit Ninja
Things
Stick Golf
MorphWiz

Mark

[marc weber]

Geek alert: Regexecution, for creating and testing regular expressions. FREE!

[marc weber]

Find in Page!

This app provides the missing feature in mobile Safari to find text in a webpage*. I'm using the free lite version to try it out, but will likely upgrade to the full $1.99 version that has prev/next buttons.

Interesting: After installing the app, you use it to copy a JavaScript function call to the clipboard. Then you create a random bookmark in Safari, and edit the bookmark to point to the copied text. So I don't think it's a plugin that could potentially interfere with Safari's normal functioning. I'm guessing the JavaScript just makes a copy of the current page, edits that copy to highlight occurrences of the query text (and add a toolbar), then has Safari load that page.

* EDIT: This feature is now in Safari with iOS 4.2. Just use the regular search field to enter the string you want to search for, and "on this page" will appear as an option underneath "suggestions."

[Allan A Peak]

I probably read more Kindle books on my iPad than I do on my actual Kindle.

I'm also hooked on PacMan.

[Eduardo Yañez Parareda]

I like a lot:

BROWSERS:
* iCab

NEWS:
* Pulse

GAMES:
* Osmos HD
* Geometry Wars

[marc weber]

The New York Times app is no longer just "Editor's Choice" highlights. It's now (finally) complete! And free until early 2011.

[Gregg Bolinger]

This is a must have for me...

http://www.endloop.ca/imockups/

[Bear Bibeault]

Nice! It looks a lot like Balsamiq -- any relationship?

[T Jung]

I have (and use frequently)
iBooks
Dragon dictation
Google Earth
Read it later (offline reader)
VNC (witch I use to connect with my ubuntu computer)
Dropbox
Plain text (works together with drop box)
iBrainstorm
NYTimes
CNN
News Pro (Reuters)
Sudoku Tablet
Pac man

[Gregg Bolinger]

Bear Bibeault wrote:Nice! It looks a lot like Balsamiq -- any relationship?

They admit to borrowing a lot of ideas from Balsamiq. And you can export your mockup to the Balsamiq format, although it isn't perfect.

[Bear Bibeault]

Some recently added apps:

Media Folders
WeatherStation Free
LCARS Color Calculator
Notes Plus
Notepad Pro
World of Goo
Angry Birds
Osmos HD
Dead Space

[Gregg Bolinger]

those LCARS apps are just too cool. I downloaded the Clock, Calc and Color Calc.

[Bear Bibeault]

Gregg Bolinger wrote:those LCARS apps are just too cool. I downloaded the Clock, Calc and Color Calc.

They're good apps that just happen to appeal to the Trekker in us all..

[marc weber]

Bear Bibeault wrote:...They're good apps that just happen to appeal to the Trekker in us all..

But they're Next Gen.

Someone should do this using a classic Trek theme. Someone should... Hmmm, is that opportunity knocking?

[Ulf Dittmer]