One of the first things I did was of course to search for cool apps. I had a list in mind but I soon realized that not all the iPhone apps were optimized for the big screen so I had to look around for the best apps for iPad. It was not a easy job because of the huge number of apps available.
Also, the annoying part is that I was seeing the local version of the app store, so the apps shown here were not the cool ones you read on TC and Mashable.
After a few weeks of using it I can share with your my list of top apps for iPad, the applications I use most often. The list below has only free iPad apps, but I promise to come back with a list of the best paid iPad apps… soon
Best iPad Apps
Flipboard for iPhone
Named Apple’s iPad App of the Year and one of TIME’s top 50 innovations of 2010, Flipboard is a fast, beautiful way to flip through the news, photos, videos, and updates your friends are sharing on Facebook, Twitter, Google Reader, Flickr, and Instagram. See your social media in a magazine layout that is easy to scan and fun to read. Catch up on the latest stories, videos and posts from popular publications and people such as National Geographic, The New Yorker, Wired, Rolling Stone, Oprah, Forbes, Robert Scoble, and Brain Pickings’ Maria Popova. Share articles and photos, comment on posts, and like or favorite anything. Customize your Flipboard with sections created from your favorite news, people, blogs, and topics.
Your Flipboard is everything you care about in one place. It’s your magazine. It’s your Flipboard.
Here’s what others are saying:
Reviews:
- “Flipboard is a fantastic iPad app that makes everything you read on the Web better than it is by itself. I can’t recommend it highly enough.” Macworld
- “Flipboard offers iPad users an entirely original alternative to browsing the Web for news; its magazine-style layouts and breathtaking use of photos and white space show the way forward for digital media.” PCMag.com
- “Flipping for Flipboard: The brilliant iPad app that has changed the way I read the news.” SLATE
- “Flipboard begins to imagine an entirely new way of accessing the social Web.” New York Times
- “Stop. Put down this computer, go pick up your iPad and come back here. Now go get this app: Flipboard. Why? It’s pretty awesome.” Wired.com
- “I am thoroughly impressed from our first run with Flipboard. It is simply gorgeous and a pleasure to browse.” Mashable
- “Flipboard turns Facebook updates, tweets into digital magazine” USA Today
Tweets:
- The Twitter experience on @flipboard is unlike anything i have ever seen. I didn’t know it at the time, but it’s the reason I got an #iPad…. @sylvioso
- Wow. @flipboard for the iPad really is a FANTASTIC way to consumer the media in your Facebook & Twitter feeds. Love it… @johncachero
- #Flipboard is the best invention since sliced bread. Come to think of it, actually it is like sliced bread… @fredvasse
- Just downloaded the Flipboard app for the iPad… love, love, love… @slhoppin
- Did we mention were on @flipboard? Because we are. Check it out and help us reach our goal of xplatform domination. @bonappetitmag
Follow us at: http://twitter.com/flipboard
Use of the Flipboard Application is governed by the Flipboard Terms of Use (http://www.flipboard.com/terms).
Flipboard reviews
: (see more reviews)
The Weather Channel Max for iPad for iPhone
The Weather Channel Max for iPad delivers in-depth weather, innovative maps, a robust video library, plus so much more.
Full screen, customizable weather maps
In-motion radar includes past and future views
Local, regional and national forecast video
Riveting storm footage and breaking news video
Real-time Twitter feeds from popular TWC on-air personalities
Your feedback helps us make our product better! Please email us at ipad@talk2.weather.com to send your comments and questions. If you are reporting a technical issue, please provide as much detail as possible.
The Weather Channel Max for iPad reviews
: (see more reviews)
TED for iPhone
Riveting talks by remarkable people, free to the world.
TED presents talks from some of the world’s most fascinating people: education radicals, tech geniuses, medical mavericks, business gurus and music legends. Find more than 900 TEDTalk videos (with more added each week) on the official TED app — now for both iPad and iPhone.
On iPad:
The entire library is at your fingertips. Watch TEDTalks in high or low res formats based on your network connectivity. Play it on your device or send to your home entertainment system via AirPlay. Curate your own playlist. Watch them later, even when you can’t be online. Sort views by recency or popularity. Find something by tags, themes, or related talks. Share favorites with your friends. Tell us how much time you have and let us guide you to a delightful playlist.
On iPhone and iPod touch:
The entire library is available for browsing and searching in both online and offline modes. Bookmark or download your favorite TEDTalk for playback anywhere, including AirPlay. Tune in to TEDRadio for instant, one-click access to a continuous stream of TEDTalks audio. Share favorite talks and playlists with your friends, and much more.
For more information regarding audio problems reported in the reviews, please visit our blog http://on.ted.com/iPadAudio
TED reviews
: (see more reviews)Same issue as others: no sound and no way to manage volume. There is no volume slider in the video pop-up and my volume toggle on my brand new iPad2 doesn’t even show up when I press it.
Soooooo . . . Anyone interested in quality will want to wait until the app is fixed.
TuneIn Radio for iPhone
Listen to over 50,000 radio stations including thousands of AM/FM local stations on your iPhone, iPod touch or iPad with TuneIn Radio!
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If you enjoy TuneIn Radio, consider upgrading to TuneIn Radio Pro to record live radio stations and remove banner ads!
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With TuneIn Radio, you get more than just a list of stations. You get a radio guide that helps you find the shows and stations that matter to you.
Plus, with TuneIn Radio, you can pause and rewind live radio just like your DVR.
KEY FEATURES
Play all stations and podcasts in the background on multitasking capable devices
Control audio playback with the built-in music controls, Apple headphone controls and most dock controls
Stream audio to an AirPlay compatible receiver (requires iOS 4.2)
Extensive directory featuring 50,000+ radio stations and thousands of radio shows
Simple, quick, and easy-to-use interface
Browse or search for your favorite shows and find out what stations they’re currently available on
Browse local stations with GPS or Wi-Fi location
Search for stations by keyword
Browse stations by genre or location
Pause live streams for up to 30 minutes
Rewind and fast forward within last 30 minutes streamed
Listen to podcasts of radio shows when available
Save your favorite stations, songs, categories or shows to Presets
Search for stations playing your favorite song or artist
Browse recommended stations based on music library
Alarm clock
Sleep timer
SUPPORT
Station not working? Let us know at tunein.com.
NOTICE
This software uses code of FFmpeg (ffmpeg.org) and LibMMS (launchpad.net/libmms) licensed under the LGPLv2.1 (www.gnu.org/licenses/old-licenses/lgpl-2.1.html) and their source can be downloaded at tunein.com/mobile/ios.
TuneIn Radio reviews
: (see more reviews)
Twitter for iPhone
Follow your interests: instant updates from your friends, industry experts, favorite celebrities, and whats happening around the world. Get short bursts of timely information on the official Twitter app for iPhone.
Real-time search reveals breaking news, while trending topics and maps show whats happening now around the world. View trends, browse your interests and see suggested users in several categories, including fashion, entertainment and travel, or search to find out what people are saying about topics you care about, such as politics or big sporting events.
Features: Browse interests, Find & follow friends, Tweet, Retweet, Favorite, Direct Message privately with your followers, share photos, videos and web pages, real-time search, view maps, trends, and follow.
Twitter reviews
: (see more reviews)——-
Why in the world would you remove the URL shortener? Twitter.com has it as just about every other app on the planet. Is this some sort of joke?
Echofon for Twitter for iPhone
Now a universal app, works on iPad and iPhone!
Echofon is an easy to use, super-fast Twitter app for the iPhone, iPod touch and iPad.
- Inline photo and video preview makes browsing media super simple.
- Use the new mute feature to squelch users, clients and hashtags.
- Receive instant push notifications when you are sent a direct message, @mention, reply, have a tweet favorited or are followed by someone. You can use Echofon as a free SMS replacement!
- When using your iPad on a WiFi connection, new tweets and direct messages show up instantly, without the need to refresh (thanks to the User Streams API). It’s amazingly fast!
Echofon makes it easy to do common Twitter tasks such as viewing your timeline, messages, replies, lists and favorites. Echofon has a powerful tweet-authoring where you can write tweets, take photos/videos and update your current location.
Echofon for Twitter reviews
: (see more reviews)
Skype for iPhone
Call, video call and instant message anyone else on Skype for free with Skype for your iPhone, iPod touch or iPad.
Plus call and text your Contacts (or any other number) at Skypes low rates. Its great value with Skype Credit. .
Skype for iPhone, iPod touch and iPad is free to download and works over 3G* or Wi-Fi.
Share moments over free* video calls with front and rear-facing cameras:
Enjoy video calls with Skype contacts on, iPhone, iPod touch or iPad, compatible mobiles, PCs, Macs or Skype-enabled TVs.
Call Skype-to-Skype, wherever you are:
Call Skype contacts for free on 3G* or Wi-Fi.
Save on calls to Contacts or any phone number:
Text and call phones anywhere with Skype Credit. Its especially good value to international numbers.
Send free* instant messages for an instant response:
Message friends, wherever, and whenever the mood strikes.
Near CD quality sound for Skype-to-Skype calls:
Enjoy wideband audio (SILK codec) on iPhone 4, iPhone 3GS, iPad and 2nd & 3rd generation iPod touch.
*Operator data charges may apply
SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS:
* Skype video calling requires iOS 4.0 or above.
* Send and receive video using front or rear camera on iPhone 4 and iPod touch 4th Generation.
* Send and receive video using rear camera on iPhone 3GS.
* Receive video only on iPad 1st generation and iPod touch 3rd Generation.
* Works with any H264 compatible devices, including TVs.
This version works on iPhone, iPhone 3G, iPhone 3GS, iPhone 4, iPad and iPod touch. Skype requires iPhone OS version 3.0 or above. Calling functionality is available on iPhone, iPhone 3G, iPhone 3GS, iPhone 4, iPad and 2nd generation iPod touch and later. iPod touch requires a compatible headset with a microphone.
Skype reviews
: (see more reviews)1. If I leave an external mic plugged into the device, I can’t hear the phone ring.
2. But if I leave the mic unpugged, I have to hastily plug it in to answer a call, AND tap past a popup message telling me that there’s no mic plugged in. (I know this already.)
Skype could serve iPod Touch users better by allowing the phone to ring on the external speaker even when a mic is plugged in.
imo instant messenger for iPad for iPhone
With imo instant messenger, its easy to stay in touch with friends on your existing IM accounts. imo currently supports Facebook Chat, Google Talk, Skype, MSN, ICQ/AIM, Yahoo, Jabber, and Myspace.
Winner of About.coms 2011 Readers Choice Award for Best Free iPhone/iPad App
Features:
- No need to create a new account with imo
- Option to link accounts or save passwords to log in faster
- Push notifications sent for 72 hours after you close the app
- Searchable chat history on the app and on imo.im
- Links from buddies open directly in app
- Voice IM
- Concurrent sessions on different devices
- Favorite buddies and optional buddy icons
This app will work anywhere you have network or data access.
imo instant messenger for iPad reviews
: (see more reviews)
StumbleUpon! for iPhone
StumbleUpon is a discovery engine that finds the best of everything that is out there on the web, recommended just for you. With a touch of the Stumble button, or swipe of the iPad screen, youll discover photos, videos and web pages recommended by friends and people sharing your interests. StumbleUpon learns what you like, so you only see what’s interesting to you from across the web.
With the iPad and iPhone apps, you can sit back and discover web pages wherever you are. See what others have liked as you explore web pages in any of your interests or top recommendations in Photos, Videos and News. Connect with friends by being the first to share content you like via email, StumbleUpon, Facebook or Twitter.
StumbleUpon! reviews
: (see more reviews)
BBC News for iPhone
Get the latest, breaking news from the BBC and our global network of journalists.
By downloading the BBC News app you can view:
News stories by geographical region
News by category including business, technology, entertainment and sport
News in other languages including Spanish, Russian and Arabic
Video including one minute news summaries to keep you informed on the go
You can also personalise the app to suit your interests and download content for offline browsing
