iMore's best of the rest: Notable new and updated apps for the week

Every week we provide you guys with app reviews [1] for iPhone, iPad, and Mac as well as give you the scoop on the hottest new and updated apps. No matter how much time we spend writing reviews or posting news on app updates, there’s no denying that the App Store is a huge marketplace to dig through.

That’s why we think these apps are worth mentioning even if we didn’t have time to give them all full on reviews. This week we found a few weather apps, some children’s apps for both parents and kids, some games for both Mac and iOS, and more.

Games

Must Keep Counting for iPhone and iPad

Must Keep Counting is a basic counting game where you’ll need to tap on the tiles as fast as you can in order to count as high as you can. As you tap on a tile, it will be replaced by a different number. Count in order as high as you can while racing against the time. As you’re tapping on tiles faster and faster, you’ll gain more time but take too long and the timer starts counting down. When you get to zero, your game will end.

Must Keep Counting supports Game Center integration too so you can challenge and check out your friend’s high scores.

Word Slide for iPhone

If you’re a fan of word games, Word Slide is an interesting twist on classic word creation games. You’ll have to work against the clock in order to form words as fast as you can but there’s a little catch, the letters move in turn making it more challenging.

You can either play solo or match up against friends in turns of three round games.

Golden Trails 2 for Mac

In Golden Trails 2, you’ll play as Henry whose grandfather was accused of being a pirate. In order to save him you’ll need to defeat bandits, find hidden items, and solve lots of puzzles. The graphics are also beautifully designed.

If you like casual RPG’s that contain more puzzles and mini-games than they do hand to hand combat, Golden Trails 2 may be what you’re looking for.

Productivity apps

PasswordBox for iPhone and iPad

Password Box is a password manager that can store all your account information and login information in one place. With a built-in browser you’ll be able to tap once and log in to all your accounts that you’ve got stored. The interface is surprisingly clean and well laid out. If you don’t need or want to pay for a more extensive solution such as 1Password [2] , PasswordBox may be a nice compromise.

PasswordBox is a universal download for both iPhone and iPad.

Actions for iPad

Actions allows you to create actions straight on your iPad in order to control and work more seamlessly with your computer. All your actions can wirelessly sync between the two for a much better workflow. If you like integrating your iPad and appreciate touch screen controls over basic computer controls, Actions is worth checking out. Actions works with both Mac and PC.

Stocks for iPhone

There’s no shortage of stock apps in the App Store but the quality of each one varies. Stocks for iPhone caught our attention because not only does it give you pretty detailed information, it’s one of the best put together stock apps we’ve seen paired with a gorgeous interface. If you don’t need a hardcore stock app that ties directly into your stock portfolios, Stocks makes a perfect app for just checking on things at a quick glance.

Task Player for iPhone

Task management apps run rampant in the App Store and choosing one can be a hard decision. I personally use a couple different ones for different reasons. Task Player aims to make task management less work and more fun. With custom alerts and a great interface, Task Player allows you to think of tasks like an album. Choose tracks to go with certain tasks and go.

The creators of Task Player think it’s an ideal app for activities such as circuit training, Yoga, and timing dishes in the kitchen.

Photography apps

Modern Photo Editor for iPhone and iPad

If you can’t get enough photo editing apps stock piled on your iPhone, Modern Photo Editor is another great one that’s got a clean layout and lots of filter, edit, and sharing options. With lots of filters, adjustments, textures, and spot-editing options you’ll be able to fully edit your photos and then share them to the social network of your choice including Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, email, and text message.

ProPhotos for iPhone and iPad

ProPhotos takes a new approach on how you view your photos. Instead of viewing them in a boring list, why not check out your best photos in different 3D shapes and slideshows? With six different views to choose from, you can view 3D models of your photos and expand on them as you’d like. ProPhotos also supports animations for transitions between photos.

Social apps

Socialblend for iPhone

Socialblend combines all your social networks together in one feed including Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, and Twitter. The feed view is visually attractive and even lets you play YouTube videos native within the app. If you want to simply switching between apps in order to catch up on what your friends are posting, Socialblend is one of the best options we’ve found to be available.

Moment for Mac

Moment for Mac is a new way to share to Facebook directly from your Mac. Not only can you post status updates, you can also videos and photo galleries without ever having to log in to Facebook via a web browser. One of the coolest features is the ability to drag videos directly from Vimeo and YouTube right to Moment’s status icon in order to upload them.

If anything, Moment is a super convenient way to share directly to Facebook without disrupting your workflow.

Kids and Education

First Years for iPhone

First Years is one of the most gorgeous ways we’ve ever seen to document and chronicle your child’s life. Not only are the different ways beautiful, tilting your iPhone into landscape mode will bring up a calendar you can tab through in order to easily access moments on certain dates.

If you’re looking for a way to organize and store photos of your kids, First Years is a great option. The built-in camera also makes it an all-in-one app for the times you want to snap photos and instantly add them.

LittleLearner for iPhone and iPad

LittleLearner is a basic learning app for young children with an easy to use and navigate interface. It includes the ability to pull up letters and allow a child to trace over them with different colored crayons in order to learn the alphabet. There are several categories to choose from including numbers, letters, shapes, fruits, and music.

If you’re looking for a discovery app to help your child discover the basics, LittleLearner is a great option.

Weather and Travel apps

Weathertron for iPhone and iPad

Instead of providing a detailed advanced forecast, Weathertron aims to make it easier to plan what you’re doing right now by focusing on what today’s weather will bring. With information such as whether it’ll rain to cloud cover and more, Weathertron is not only beautiful, it can help you better plan your day around the weather that’s currently happening and how it will develop over the course of the entire day.

SimplyWeather for iPhone

There are lots of gorgeous weather apps available in the App Store and SimplyWeather has just made that decision even harder. WIth beautiful forecast and current condition screens to a well laid out list of information, SimplyWeather shows what you need to see beautifully.

SimplyWeather supports weather information for local weather, weekly forecasts, wind speed, humidity, visibility, and more. If you’re looking for a replacement weather app, give SimplyWeather a look.

Travel Budget App for iPhone

If you’re thinking about traveling, you’ll probably want a good amount of travel apps [3] on your iPhone before departure. If one of your goals is to budget yourself and be mindful of how much you’re spending while you’re done, Travel Budget App can do just that.

For business users, Travel Budget App makes a great way to track expenses since you can easily export them at the end of your trip to be sent or uploaded wherever you need them.

Your picks?

These are the apps we found to be notable throughout this past week but that doesn’t mean we covered them all. If you found a new or updated app this past week that you think is worth mentioning, make sure you drop it in the comments below!

Links

1. ^{^} app reviews (www.imore.com)
2. ^{^} 1Password (www.imore.com)
3. ^{^} travel apps (www.imore.com)

source: thegadgetpost.com

Free desktop iphone ipad wallpapers & calendars for July

Hi there! Happy July! Today I have the latest wallpapers for you. I think these are very cute and make me think of Summer (which I am dying for! haha)…

See below on how to download them and add them to your computer or mobile device.

ipad quote

ipad calendar

iphone 5 quote

iphone 5 calendar

iphone 4 calendar

iphone 4 quote

desktop 1024 x 768 quote

1024 x 768 calendar

desktop 1900 x 1200 quote

1900 x 1200 calendar

desktop 1280 x 1024 calendar

1280 x 1024 quote

desktop 2650 x 1440 quote

2650 x 1440 calendar

If you’re not sure how to do it, click on the size, save to your camera roll, or right-click and save to computer. Then go to settings or personalisation, find background and select the size you just saved. With the iphones and ipads you shouldn’t need to resize them and with the desktop one (if you don’t know your computer screen size), it might just be a bit of trial and error. To save them from your ipad/iphone make sure you are viewing the images in Safari and hold your finger on the photo and it will then ask if you want to save it to camera roll. Then go in to your settings and choose the wallpaper option.

Hope you like them! X

PS. Here were the  January ,  February ,  March ,  April ,  May  and June QUOTES.

source: www.katrinaleechambers.com

17 Smart Uses for Dropbox – Save time, become more efficient and free up space

I started writing with the goal of sharing five great uses for Dropbox, but the list just kept growing.

As I researched ideas and tested them out, I decided against cutting the list, because there were just too many useful tips that might save someone a fistful of time and effort.

I’ve also split back-up into several categories which I think are particularly useful.

Here are 17 tips that I think can make your life easier, save you money and help you run your business more efficiently.

1. Sync your iTunes music library across multiple devices

Problem: Using multiple devices often leads to being out without your favourite playlists. I use a different iPhone when I go running, and the only time I think to update the music library is when I’m standing on the road, ready to go.
By changing your Music Library folder to a Dropbox folder, you quickly sync music across devices. , making them accessible without having to manually download them.
Note: Limited by your Dropbox storage space. Try only syncing “on the go” playlists, or upgrading to a paid Dropbox account if you want more space.

2. Use Dropbox as Your Documents Folder on your Local Drive

Your Documents often holds some of your most often used and most important files. It can be easy to miss in a backup as well. Set this to be a Dropbox folder and not only can you access it from anywhere, it’s backed up too.

3. Document collaboration

Sharing documents can get messy if you lose track of document versions or who is using what.
Free extension http://notifybox.com/ enables you to use Dropbox as a document management solution.

4. Online image galleries

Create a gallery for sharing, quickly. Just copy and paste a bunch of pics and add everyone. I find the Dropbox folder system easier than most image upload scripts. It’s as easy as copy and paste, and can save you time and frustration if you do this often or have a lot of images.

5. Integrate with Project Management Software

We use TeamWorkPM to manage our teams and clients. Dropbox integrates with this online platform, so you can attach documents directly to tasks, assign roles and track completion. I can’t tell you how much easier it is to read the task and have the file stored right there!

6. Backup important files from your Local computer

This may sound obvious, but if saves you from losing one crucial document, it will have been worth including!
Use Dropbox to backup your most important files on your local drive. This can include financials, passwords and other sensitive information essential to your business/personal life. Dropbox encrypts everything, so it remains safe online. This is really useful if your home computer dies or is stolen. It’s also easy to access them out of home.

7. Backup your iPhone Contacts

The ‘Contacts Backup to Dropbox’ app [1] is just one way of backing up all your contacts to Dropbox.
iCloud does this already, but this app comes in handy when you need to switch iCloud accounts or upgrade your iOS.
This is great if you are away, lose your phone and need to access your contacts online. You can also download them by wifi to add them to your replacement phone.

8. Backup travel documents

Add itineraries, copies of tickets, passports, licenses and visas for safe keeping in case you lose something whilst away. Also makes it easy to share this with a contact back home for their reference and/or safe-keeping.

9. Backup your website

Use a Dropbox folder as the location of your WordPress website or blog. We use the BackUpBuddy plugin for our client sites, so it happens automatically, and on schedule.

10. Easy access and back up of Instagram pics

I often use my Instagram pics in blog entries. It can be fiddly downloading them from Instagram to your local computer.
So I set up a ‘recipe’ on IFTTT.com [2] to automatically add all my new Instagram photos to a Dropbox folder.
You can also choose to save images by #hashtag or by user.

11. Access old versions or deleted files

“Dropbox is like a time machine”

If you want to recover a previous document version, or even a deleted file, Dropbox automaticaly keeps the last 30 days. You can extend this with PackRat [3] , which is available in the Pro version.
To find an old version, click the file’s version history (under More) and choose Previous Versions.

12. Refer to increase your space

With all these ideas, you’ll be using up your storage space!
Free accounts start with 2GB space. You can expand this to 16GB by referring friends and colleagues.
If you need more, you’ll need to think about upgrading to a Pro version.

13. Host large files for your website

You can save your website hosting bills by using Dropbox as a storage place for large files eg. videos. All you need to do is embed the file on your site, and traffic will be routed via Dropbox, saving your data usage.
This is also useful for zipped files.

14. Store your photos

I had 4,000+ photos on my iPhone when I set out the write this article. You can imagine my phone was getting a bit slow as a result. When I came across this tip, I set up my camera roll to sync and it was done before I hit publish.
Install the Dropbox app on your iPhone and allow it to automatically add all your photos to Dropbox.
It’s easier to access them across different devices, and frees up space on your iPhone.

15. Theft recovery

You can increase your chances of receovering a stolen machine, or tracking unauthorised usage by using a keylogger and screenshot application. Together, these will log activity on the stolen device and save screenshots into a Dropbox folder. You can even hook up your web cam, enabling you to photograph your theif!
LifeHacker recommends this screen capture tool
and tells you how to set it up here [4] [5]

16. Sync password apps

If you use 1Password, RoboForm or LastPass, you appreciate the convenience of having all your passwords in one place. Unfortunately this is no help if you need to use your partner’s computer.
Use Dropbox to sync your application on multiple devices.

17. Print documents to your home computer from any computer

This is great when you spend time browsing, checking email and researching away from your printer. Follow this guide by Lifehacker to Use Dropbox to Print Remotely to your Home Printer [6]

If you found this useful, please like or share the article with your networks.

And if you use Dropbox in other smart ways that you’d like to share, please add them in comments.

Internet chick, inbound marketer, social media enthusiast and hopeless optimistic. Likes running, cycling, challenging my limits and learning new things. I also collect interesting people. If you're interesting, reach out :)

Tagged as: dropbox , productivity , web apps

Links

1. ^{^} Contacts Backup to Dropbox app (itunes.apple.com)
2. ^{^} If That, Then This (www.ifttt.com)
3. ^{^} PackRat for Dropbox (www.dropbox.com)
4. ^{^} Screen Capture tool recommended by LifeHacker (lifehacker.com)
5. ^{^} use Dropbox to monitor your computer remotely (lifehacker.com)
6. ^{^} Print Files to any printer, remotely (lifehacker.com)

source: eclaire9design.com.au

70 best free iPad games 2013

So you've got an iPad and have come to the dawning realisation that you've gotno cash left to buy any games for it.

Have no fear, because the App Store offers plenty of iPad gaming goodness for the (unintentional or otherwise) skinflint. Our pick of the 70 best free iPad games is listed below.

Note that apps marked "universal" will also work on an iPhone or iPod touch, scaling down controls and graphics accordingly.

1. Dumb Ways to Die (universal)

 

Based on a Webby Award winning video, Dumb Ways to Die [1] lets you try and save those adorable characters from dying in rather dumb ways. From having private parts eaten under water and being hit by a train to having your head explode while out in space, developer Metro Trains Melbourne has created a rather fun, sometimes strange game.

2. PewPew (universal)

 

"Expect retro graphics and megatons of enemies," says the developer about this twin-stick shooter, adding: "Don't expect a story". With its vector graphics and Robotronish air, PewPew [2] brings to mind Geometry Wars and Infinity Field, but without a price tag. Despite being free, PewPew nonetheless boasts five modes of shooty goodness.

3. Flockwork

 

It turns out if you're a sheep that thinks the grass is greener, you should check out the other side of the fence first. In Flockwork [3] , wooly heroes make a break for freedom, but end up immersed in a kind of ruminant hell. Your task: help the sheep escape by way of finger gymnastics and fast reactions.

4. Cliffed: Norm's World XL (universal)

 

This race-to-the-bottom vertical platform game lacks depth but Cliffed [4] is fun for a quick high-score blast. Use the chunky controls to make your guy dash left or right to avoid rocks and leap down holes. If the screen catches up with him, it's game over.

5. Air Hockey Gold

 

Air hockey games work much better on the iPad than the iPhone, simply due to the iPad's larger screen. Air Hockey Gold [5] isn't the only free game of this type, but it was the one that felt best during testing, and the two-player mode works nicely.

6. Jetpack Joyride (universal)

 

Endless game Jetpack Joyride [6] is a witty, polished take on the iCopter format, with one-thumb controls dictating the hero's attempts to avoid death that comes increasingly rapidly from the side of the screen. The real gems here are the power-ups, including the amusing Profit Bird (depicted), which isn't at all a swipe at Angry Birds and Tiny Wings.

7. Real Racing 3

 

Here at TechRadar, we love a good racing game, and Real Racing 3 [7] is a real treat on an iPad. The stunning visuals on a larger iPad screen allows for a much better mobile gaming experience than you would expect - and for free! Though there are in-app purchases for upgrades and boosters, you still get a lot of tracks and cars without any purchases.

8. Escape - Norm's World XL (universal)

 

IUGO's puzzler Escape [8] has you swiping to make your silhouette leap between circles, which vanish when you leave them. The idea is to jump on every circle, whereupon you move to the next level. in-app purchases are available for tougher levels and two-player modes.

9. Frotz (universal)

 

Although it works on an iPhone, Frotz [9] isn't great on the smaller screen. But on the iPad, with its larger keyboard, the interactive fiction player is a revelation. It uses the Z-Machine format, and you can download a selection of freely available text adventures (including the original Zork) using the app, or upload your own files to the app via FTP.

10. QatQi (universal)

 

QatQi [10] starts off a bit like Scrabble in the dark, until you figure out that you're really immersed in a kind of Roguelike mash-up. So although the aim is to make crosswords from a selection of letters, you're also tasked with exploring dungeons to find score-boosting stars and special tiles.

11. Harbor Master HD

 

This game might look like Flight Control in the drink, but the gameplay mechanics are subtly different. As with Firemint's effort, Harbor Master [11] is a line-drawing game, this time with you drawing paths so boats can dock. However, once they've unloaded, they must leave the screen or sometimes visit another dock, ensuring things rapidly become complex and frantic.

12. Tiny Tower (universal) 

 

Tiny people in a tiny skyscraper need you to feed then tiny sushi and do other tiny tasks. Things can, inevitably, be sped up by not-so-tiny IAP cash infusions, but if you're a patient sort, and keen on micromanagement games, Tiny Tower [12] is a charming, enjoyable title that will eat many tiny moments out of your day.

13. Crimson: Steam Pirates 

 

This turn-based strategy game comes complete with an engaging story and a healthy dollop of yo-ho-ho. You command pirate ships, setting their courses and then watching the action unfold. Crimson: Steam Pirates [13] gives you eight free voyages and further adventures can be bought via IAP.

14. Labyrinth 2 HD Lite

 

Another demo for a paid-for title, Labyrinth 2 HD Lite [14] is definitely worth downloading if you don't have the full game. It's the digital equivalent of tilt-based marble games, but with crazy designs. You get a small selection of mazes here, but they're playable and varied, and there's always a high-score to beat.

15. Frisbee Forever (universal) 

 

With almost limitless possibilities in videogames, it's amazing how many are drab grey and brown affairs. Frisbee Forever [15] is therefore a breath of fresh air with its almost eye-searing vibrance. The sense of fun continues through to the gameplay, which is all about steering a frisbee to collect stars strewn along winding paths. Initially, you explore a fairground, but soon you're soaring above the wild west and sandy bays.

16. Pocket Legends (universal)

 

Many free iPhone OS MMOs are dreary text-based affairs, so it's nice to see Spacetime Studios creating something a bit more ambitious with Pocket Legends [16] , providing us with an iOS-specific 3D world populated by the usual motley collection of fantasy characters. As always with MMOs, the game demands you invest plenty of time to get anything out of it.

17. Solitaire Ace

 

After a few hands of Klondike, we actually ended up preferring this free app to several of the iPad solitaire apps with hefty price tags. Solitaire Ace [17] might be simple (no undo, only one theme, just three solitaire variations), but it's fast and responsive, with intuitive controls and extremely clear cards.

18. Tilt to Live HD

 

The basic aim of Tilt to Live [18] is simple: avoid the red dots, either by cunning dodging and weaving or by triggering explosive devices in the arena. The game stands apart from similar releases due to its polish and sense of humour. You get the basic mode for free, and others can be unlocked by in-app purchase.

19. Flow Free (universal)

 

Flow [19] 's quite sneaky. It looks simple enough, tasking you with connecting like-coloured blobs via pathways that cannot cross. And indeed it is at first, despite you also having to fill the entire board to proceed. But once you're on larger grids, trying to figure out snaking pathways, your ears will be shooting steam.

20. 10 Pin Shuffle (Bowling) Lite (universal)

 

We're big fans of 10 Pin Shuffle, a universal app that combines ten-pin bowling and shuffleboard. Of that title's three game modes, the best one is included here in 10 Pin Shuffle Lite [20] , for free. Called 10 Pin Poker, it adds a card game to the mix. Get a spare or strike and you're given one or two cards, respectively. At the end of the tenth frame, whoever has the best hand wins.

21. Pilgrim's Punch-Out (universal)

 

Become a 1980s NES-style Scott Pilgrim in Pilgrim's Punch-Out [21] , a movie tie-in that isn't at all a massive rip-off of (sorry, tribute to) Nintendo classic Punch-Out!! Decent controls enable you to fight your way to glory, and although the game's over pretty quickly, there's always a high-score to beat.

22. Fowlplay HD

 

If you ever wanted to poop on someone's head from above, Fowlplay HD [22] is the game for you. Taking on the role of a pigeon that should really cut back on fibre, you zoom around a stylised forest that appears to be populated by refugees from Minigore. Aim your deposits at their heads, avoid the trees, and grab any power-ups that come your way.

23. To-Fu 2 (universal)

 

There's a touch of Angry Birds about To-Fu 2 [23] , at least if the birds were covered in something yucky that glued them to any walls they collided with. Said stickiness is the name of the game here, getting the squidgy hero to level's end rather than impaling him on the literally strewn spikes.

24. Choice of the Dragon (universal)

 

It's not the most interesting-looking game in the world, but luckily the magic of Choice of the Dragon [24] is in its witty prose. Playing as a multiple-choice text adventure, akin to an extremely stripped-back RPG, this game is an amusing romp that perhaps lacks replay value, but you'll enjoy it while it lasts.

25. Lux Touch (universal)

 

There are several Lux games on the App Store, but the original is now free and works very nicely on the iPad. Essentially, this is Risk, and while the computer AI isn't terribly bright, Lux Touch [25] should nonetheless keep fans of the original board game quiet for a short while.

26. New York 3D Rollercoaster Rush HD Free

 

In all, 25 of the full game's tracks are on offer in New York 3D Rollercoaster Rush HD Free [26] . The game's a simple arcade title: tilt your iPad to control the coaster's speed, aiming to keep it on the track, and take risks to ensure the crazy riders have a great time (and, presumably, give the health-and-safety guy a heart attack).

27. iLifeGame (universal)

 

John Horton Conway's famous Game of Life cellular automaton exists for practically every platform, and this simple iOS version, iLifeGame [27] , gets things right with clear graphics, the ability to draw your own starting points, and a small collection of predefined patterns.

28. Pukk HD

 

Given that it's another Pong clone, Pukk HD [28] isn't the best game to play if you've no friends, because the single-player mode is extremely dull. However, with another player, it becomes an exciting battle of digital tennis - and it looks a lot nicer than Tap Blaster HD, too.

29. Grim Joggers Freestyle (universal) 

 

When we think of extreme sports, jogging isn't the first that comes to mind, although it might be now we've experienced Grim Joggers Freestyle [29] . The game's essentially Canabalt, but instead of one guy leaping across grey rooftops, you get a string of joggers trying desperately to survive in a surreal alien world.

30. Pilot Winds (universal) 

 

With Tiny Wings having spent a large amount of time troubling the App Store charts, we're surprised it took so long to make it to the iPad. All along, Pilot Winds [30] was the next best thing, and it's still free. Instead of a fat bird sliding down hills, you're a daredevil penguin skier, and while the game's inspiration is clear, it has plenty of tricks of its own.

31. Drop7 Free (universal)

 

Drop7 [31] is one of the finest puzzle games on iOS. You drop numbered discs into a grid, and if the number matches the number of discs in its column or row, it vanishes. Grey discs are destroyed by twice removing discs next to them. Three modes are on offer, each demanding a different strategy. And now the game's owned by Zynga, it's free, with only the occasional unobtrusive advert.

32. TinkerBox

 

Myriad physics puzzlers exist for iOS, but most are twitch-oriented games where you fling objects around, and repeat with slight variation until you succeed. TinkerBox [32] is different, because it demands you carefully consider the task at hand and then construct machines and tools using engineering concepts. It's great for educating kids and also perfect for anyone who used to love the likes of Meccano.

33. Trainyard Express (universal)

 

Trainyard Express [33] is a puzzle game which tasks you with getting trains to stations by laying track. It starts simple, but the logic puzzles soon test you, with colour theory and other complications. In all, you get 60 puzzles, and there's no overlap with the app's commercial sibling Trainyard.

34. X-Baseball (universal)

 

As the saying goes, there are few American sports that can't be improved by the impending threat of a banana, and that's X-Baseball [34] . Hit balls! Hit bananas thrown by fans! Also, hit annoying birds flying overhead! Just don't 'not hit', otherwise your game will soon be over. It's just like the real thing!

35. Paper Toss: World Tour HD

 

The original Paper Toss was pretty dry and throwaway, but in dumping the wastebasket in absurd surroundings (within a volcanic pool, in the desert, by the Taj Mahal), it gets a second wind as Paper Toss: World Tour HD [35] and is a far more satisfying flick-based arcade game.

36. NinJump - HD

 

NinJump [36] is a quickfire one-thumb game which has your ninja rapidly climbing, leaping between two endless towers. As he leaps, he knocks obstacles from the air, dispatching killer squirrels, deadly birds and throwing stars lobbed by enemy ninjas. Simple, addictive fun.

37. Chuck's Challenge (universal)

 

Chuck's Challenge [37] has a long pedigree, being heavily based on ancient Atari Lynx game Chips Challenge. The idea is to use your brain and swiping skills to solve tile-oriented puzzles, keeping your strange purple-haired avatar alive. For no money, you get 25 puzzles, but more are available to buy.

38. Parsec (universal)

 

On playing Parsec [38] , we had to check a couple of times that it was free, because it's one of the best shooters on the App Store. The game boasts retro-style neon visuals, slick touch controls, and an exciting 20-level time-attack structure that begs you to regularly attempt to beat your high score.

39. Yolk 'Em (universal)

 

Yolk 'Em [39] gives you a shooter game unlike any other on the iPad. It's part augmented reality, part alien shooter, part eggs. Confused? We were at first. But no matter, it is interesting enough to at least give it a go, all you got to do is print out some targets, aim your iPad at it using the camera and yolk some aliens! It'll be great to keep your kids entertained on those rainy days.

40. BIT.TRIP Beat Blitz (universal)

 

The love-child of Pong and a drug-fuelled hallucination, BIT.TRIP Beat Blitz [40] has you deflecting hundreds of balls, in time to crunchy industrial-style dance beats. This is dazzling and pure but demanding arcade gaming, with long, tough levels. Miss too many beats and you're plunged into Nether, a soulless black-and-white realm where you must chain multiple beats to escape from.

41. Triple Town (universal)

 

In Triple Town [41] , you have to think many moves ahead to succeed. It's a match game where trios of things combine to make other things, thereby giving you more space on the board to evolve your town. At times surreal, Triple Town is also brain-bending and thoroughly addictive. Free moves slowly replenish, but you can also unlock unlimited moves via IAP.

42. Pinball HD Collection

 

If you're a fan of spanging a metal ball about, Gameprom's iPad pinball tables are as good as they come. Pinball HD Collection [42] is the freemium incarnation of the company's output, and you get the simple but playable Wild West entirely for free. Yee-haw!

43. Temple Run (universal)

 

There are many endless running games for the iPad, but this is the only one where you're being chased by deadly evil demon monkeys. But then you did nick a priceless trinket from a temple. Tsk! The tilty swipey gameplay's perhaps a tad tiring after a while of holding up an iPad, but Temple Run [43] is great in short bursts on the larger screen.

44. Candy Train (universal)

 

Leaves on the line? Pfft! Here, you're more likely to find candy and giant cherries. Not that such hazards stop the little trainâ€"but broken tracks will. Your job is therefore to plan out a route for the cartoon chuffer, until your brain seizes up and your Candy Train [44] journey comes to a sticky end.

45. Bejeweled Blitz (universal)

 

Bejeweled Blitz [45] is the online incarnation of PopCap's hugely popular gem-swap game, and it looks fab on the iPad's screen. As a freemium title, there's a whiff of IAP (either grind or buy coins to unlock power-ups, or you've no chance of topping the high-score tables), but you'll still be addicted all the same.

46. Magnetic Shaving Derby (universal)

 

"Use the magnet to attract the razor to shave the face!" explains Magnetic Shaving Derby [46] , presumably having first hidden any safety instructions from view. The result is an experience best described as completely bonkers, with a side order of "don't try this at home, kids, unless you enjoy the site of blood".

47. Fairway Solitaire HD

 

Fairway Solitaire HD [47] is a perfect example of what happens when you marry simple gameplay with a bit of character. On its own, the basic card system would be fine: unlock face-down cards by selecting those one higher or lower than the current one in the draw pile. But the addition of golf scoring and a crazed gopher out for blood turns this into a surprisingly enjoyable and original title. You get nine courses for free.

48. X-Motorcycle (universal)

 

X-Motorcycle [48] happily offers two video game cliches for the price of none: the speeding hero (this time on a motorbike), who cannot slow down, and inexplicably giant fruit that appears to be an immensely important currency. The result is a fast, playable game reminiscent of old-school thrills filtered down to their essence and squirted into your iPad.

49. Orbit1

 

One thumb per person and one glowing neon ship is the premise behind Orbit1 [49] . You grab points, aim to destroy your opponents, and just hope someone doesn't flip out, grab the iPad and fling it out of the window in a huff.

50. Zen Pinball (universal)

 

More pinball! This one's a bit less realistic than Gameprom's efforts, but Zen Pinball [50] is very pretty, with a bright and exciting free table, Sorcerer's Lair. Further tables are available via IAP, including some Marvel-themed and surprisingly great Star Wars efforts, but the sole freebie should have pinball addicts happily sated for a while.

51. Word Solitaire HD

 

With a game called Word Solitaire [51] , you might expect a kind of solitaire game that has you form words rather than use standard cards. And that's exactly what you get here - sorry, anyone waiting for a huge surprise. However, this is not a bad thing, because Word Solitaire HD is a relaxing, entertaining title.

52. Royal Revolt (universal)

 

In Royal Revolt [52] the king is dead and his siblings have stolen his kingdom while the prince was at school. Unfortunately for them, he was studying magic and is now out for revenge. The game itself is a real-time-strategy effort with some seriously cute and well-animated graphics.

53. Letterpress (universal)

 

Who knew you could have such fun with a five-by-five grid of letters? In Letterpress [53] , you play friends via Game Center, making words to colour lettered squares. Surround any and they're out of reach from your friend's tally. Cue: word-tug-o'-war, last-minute reversals of fortune, and arguments about whether 'qat' is a real word or not. (It is.)

54. Snuggle Truck HD

 

This one had a dubious start, initially named Smuggle Truck [54] and featuring immigrants being smuggled across the US border. One swift rejection by Apple later and the game swapped immigrants for cuddly toys, which is significantly funnier anyway. The trials-oriented gameplay isn't bad either.

55. Frisbee Forever 2 (universal)

 

As noted elsewhere in this list, we love Frisbee Forever. This sequel is essentially more of the same: fling your plastic disc away, guide it through hoops, collect stars, and make it to the finish line. What makes Frisbee Forever 2 [55] really stand out is the lush locations you get to fly through, including ancient ruins and beautiful snowy hillsides.

56. Gridrunner Free (universal)

 

Gridrunner Free [56] has the look of a lost 1980s arcade game, with hints of Caterpillar and Space Invaders. But this is really a thoroughly modern affair, with perfect touch controls and bullet-hell-style gameplay, albeit bullet-hell in the video game equivalent of a shoebox. Oh, and you only get one life in survival mode, making every game a frantic bid to stay alive. (More modes can be unlocked via the 69p In-App Purchase.)

57. Hero Academy (universal)

 

There's a point in chess where you sometimes wish your knight would just give your opponent's bishop a thoroughly good trampling. Sadly, few chess games do such things (the ancient Battlechess being an exception), but Hero Academy [57] takes the idea and runs with it. On specially designed boards, wizards attack knights, and demons defend their turf against samurais. It's an engaging turn-based effort with plenty of depth.

58. Rinth Island (universal)

 

Rinth Island [58] is what would happen if you propped block-shifter Soko-Ban up against a wall and wrapped it around a tube. The puzzles soon become notoriously devious, as you figure out how to reach each tube's summit, but its novelty factor combined with great design will ensure you stick around.

59. Outwitters (universal)

 

Another chessish two-player effort, Outwitters [59] has teams of angry sea creatures battling to the death, first helpfully arming them with surprisingly dangerous weapons. (It turns out crabs eschew claws when they've a mortar cannon to hand.) Unlike Hero Academy, Outwitters has a 'fog of war', meaning units cannot see any further than they can move. This makes the game tougher to master but perhaps more rewarding on doing so.

60. Shadow Era (universal)

 

Proving that great ideas never die, Shadow Era [60] brings trading cards to life on the iPad. What you lose in not being able to smell the ink and manually shuffle the deck, you gain in not being able to lose the cards or have them eaten by the dog. It's all very swords-and-fantasy oriented, and just like in real life you can also buy extra cards if you feel the need.

61. Blendoku (universal)

 

A game about blending colours, which doesn't feature an Old English Sheepdog barely avoiding tipping paint everywhere? Missed opportunity! Still, what you're left with in Blendoku [61] is a beautifully minimal game that tasks you with putting coloured squares in order. It starts off simple, but the level design will soon have you sobbing into your crayons.

62. Into the Dead (universal)

 

You know, if infinite zombies were running towards us, we'd leg it in the opposite direction. Not so in Into the Dead [62] , where you battle on until your inevitable and bloody demise. The game's oddly dream-like (well, nightmare-like), and perseverance rewards you with new weapons, such as a noisy chainsaw. VVRRRMMM! (Splutch!)

63: Score! World Goals (universal)

 

Score! [63] takes the basic premise of a million path-drawing games and wraps it around classic footie goals. The combination works really well, with you attempting to recreate the ball's path in the best goals the world's ever seen. Failure results in a baying crowd and, frequently, improbable goalkeeping heroics.

64. Lost Treasures of Infocom (universal)

 

"You are standing in an open field west of a white house." If you're of a certain age, you're already downloading Lost Treasures of Infocom [64] , which gives you classic text adventure Zork entirely for free. IAP enables you to buy further titles by Infocom, the masters of interactive fiction, and they all work wonderfully on the iPad.

65. Groove Coaster Zero (universal)

 

Rhythm action games are rarely complex, but Groove Coaster Zero [65] out-simples its rivals by only demanding you use a thumb to tap, press, swipe or rub, responding to on-screen symbols. In the meantime, beats are drummed into your ears as your eyes are hurled around a breakneck disco-neon roller-coaster. Groovy!

66. Frankenword (universal)

 

Take two words that haven't previously met, introduce them via a cunning overlap, and you've another iPad word game that stands out from the crowd. 'Warning device' plus 'mammal with armour'? Alarmadillo, of course. It's probably not in your dictionary, but it should be on your iPad, because Frankenword [66] is ace.

67. Super Monsters Ate My Condo (universal)

 

The original Monsters Ate My Condo was like Jenga and a match-three game shoved into a blender with a massive dollop of crazy. Super Monsters Ate My Condo [67] is a semi-sequel which takes a time-attack approach, shoe-horning the bizarre tower-building/floor-matching/monster-feeding into a tiny amount of time, breaking your brain in the process.

68. RAD Soldiers (universal)

 

Tactical war-games tend to work well on a touchscreen device, and RAD Soldiers [68] is no exception. The turn-based action has you take on chums or the single-player mode, and the cartoon styling gives a palatable face to leaving an enemy soldier as a pair of smoking boots. Just watch out for the IAP.

69. Cubed Rally Redline (universal)

 

Argh! That's pretty much what you'll be yelling on a regular basis on playing this endless racer. Cubed Rally Redline [69] shouldn't be difficult. You can go left or right on five clearly defined lanes, and there's a 'time brake' for going all slow-motion, Matrix-style, to weave through tricky gaps; but you'll still be smashing into cows, dinosaurs and bridges before you know it.

70. Vectrex (universal)

 

In the distant past (well, the 1980s), there was an excellent console called the Vectrex, which had a vector-based iPad-sized screen. In the Vectrex app [70] , it's been beautifully recreated on the iPad. The Asteroids-Like Minestorm is entirely free, but further games are available to buy via IAP.

Links

1. ^{^} Dumb Ways to Die (itunes.apple.com)
2. ^{^} PewPew (itunes.apple.com)
3. ^{^} Flockwork (itunes.apple.com)
4. ^{^} Cliffed (itunes.apple.com)
5. ^{^} Air Hockey Gold (itunes.apple.com)
6. ^{^} Jetpack Joyride (itunes.apple.com)
7. ^{^} Real Racing 3 (itunes.apple.com)
8. ^{^} Escape (itunes.apple.com)
9. ^{^} Frotz (itunes.apple.com)
10. ^{^} QatQi (itunes.apple.com)
11. ^{^} Harbor Master (itunes.apple.com)
12. ^{^} Tiny Tower (itunes.apple.com)
13. ^{^} Crimson: Steam Pirates (itunes.apple.com)
14. ^{^} Labyrinth 2 HD Lite (itunes.apple.com)
15. ^{^} Frisbee Forever (itunes.apple.com)
16. ^{^} Pocket Legends (itunes.apple.com)
17. ^{^} Solitaire Ace (itunes.apple.com)
18. ^{^} Tilt to Live (itunes.apple.com)
19. ^{^} Flow (itunes.apple.com)
20. ^{^} 10 Pin Shuffle Lite (itunes.apple.com)
21. ^{^} Pilgrim's Punch-Out (itunes.apple.com)
22. ^{^} Fowlplay HD (itunes.apple.com)
23. ^{^} To-Fu 2 (itunes.apple.com)
24. ^{^} Choice of the Dragon (itunes.apple.com)
25. ^{^} Lux Touch (itunes.apple.com)
26. ^{^} New York 3D Rollercoaster Rush HD Free (itunes.apple.com)
27. ^{^} iLifeGame (itunes.apple.com)
28. ^{^} Pukk HD (itunes.apple.com)
29. ^{^} Grim Joggers Freestyle (itunes.apple.com)
30. ^{^} Pilot Winds (itunes.apple.com)
31. ^{^} Drop7 (itunes.apple.com)
32. ^{^} TinkerBox (itunes.apple.com)
33. ^{^} Trainyard Express (itunes.apple.com)
34. ^{^} X-Baseball (itunes.apple.com)
35. ^{^} Paper Toss: World Tour HD (itunes.apple.com)
36. ^{^} NinJump (itunes.apple.com)
37. ^{^} Chuck's Challenge (itunes.apple.com)
38. ^{^} Parsec (itunes.apple.com)
39. ^{^} Yolk 'Em (itunes.apple.com)
40. ^{^} BIT.TRIP Beat Blitz (itunes.apple.com)
41. ^{^} Triple Town (itunes.apple.com)
42. ^{^} Pinball HD Collection (itunes.apple.com)
43. ^{^} Temple Run (itunes.apple.com)
44. ^{^} Candy Train (itunes.apple.com)
45. ^{^} Bejeweled Blitz (itunes.apple.com)
46. ^{^} Magnetic Shaving Derby (itunes.apple.com)
47. ^{^} Fairway Solitaire HD (itunes.apple.com)
48. ^{^} X-Motorcycle (itunes.apple.com)
49. ^{^} Orbit1 (itunes.apple.com)
50. ^{^} Zen Pinball (itunes.apple.com)
51. ^{^} Word Solitaire (itunes.apple.com)
52. ^{^} Royal Revolt (itunes.apple.com)
53. ^{^} Letterpress (itunes.apple.com)
54. ^{^} Smuggle Truck (itunes.apple.com)
55. ^{^} Frisbee Forever 2 (itunes.apple.com)
56. ^{^} Gridrunner Free (itunes.apple.com)
57. ^{^} Hero Academy (itunes.apple.com)
58. ^{^} Rinth Island (itunes.apple.com)
59. ^{^} Outwitters (itunes.apple.com)
60. ^{^} Shadow Era (itunes.apple.com)
61. ^{^} Blendoku (itunes.apple.com)
62. ^{^} Into the Dead (itunes.apple.com)
63. ^{^} Score! (itunes.apple.com)
64. ^{^} Lost Treasures of Infocom (itunes.apple.com)
65. ^{^} Groove Coaster Zero (itunes.apple.com)
66. ^{^} Frankenword (itunes.apple.com)
67. ^{^} Super Monsters Ate My Condo (itunes.apple.com)
68. ^{^} RAD Soldiers (itunes.apple.com)
69. ^{^} Cubed Rally Redline (itunes.apple.com)
70. ^{^}

80 best free iPad apps 2013

On comparing iPad apps with iPhone equivalents, one thing rapidly becomes clear: apps for Apple's tablet are pricier.

Many of the best free iPhone apps cost 59p or more in their iPad incarnations, and the quality level of what's still free is often ropey. But among the dross lie rare gems â€" iPad apps that are so good you can't believe they're still free.

Of those we unearthed, here is our pick of the best free iPad apps. Note that apps marked 'universal' will run on your iPad and iPhone, optimising themselves accordingly.

1. AccuWeather for iPad

Annoyingly, some free iPad weather apps refuse to believe that the UK has any weather (or that the country exists), so AccuWeather [1] gets props for merely working. Happily, AccuWeather also proves to be a decent â€" if quirky â€" weather app. The interface is odd (but fun) and there's a 'lifestyle' page that determines how your current local conditions might affect over 20 activities, including dog-walking and stargazing.

2. Facebook (universal) 

The social networking giant has gone back-and-forth with its mobile apps, finally settling on this smart, native implementation. Much like the slightly simpler iPhone equivalent, Facebook [2] on iPad is such that you won't want to use the comparatively clunky website again for seeing which of your friends really shouldn't have internet access after midnight.

3. Air Video Free (universal)

Despite naysayers whining about the iPad screen's 4:3 aspect ratio, it's a decent device for watching video, although it lacks storage for housing large video collections. Air Video [3] enables you to stream video (converting it on-the-fly, if necessary) from your Mac or PC. The main limitation of the free version is that it only shows a few items (randomly selected) from each folder or playlist.

4. Beatwave (universal)

 

Beatwave [4] is a simplified Tenori-On-style synth which enables you to rapidly build pleasing melodies by prodding a grid. Multiple layers and various instruments provide scope for complex compositions, and you can save sessions or, handily, store and share compositions via email. You can also buy more instruments via in-app purchases.

5. Bloomberg for iPad

 

It used to boast an eye-searing white-and-orange-on-black colour scheme that was a little like being repeatedly punched in the eyes, but now Bloomberg [5] has grown up, discovered a palette (a subtler, serious 'things on black', for the most part), and has subsequently become a much more usable business news and stocks app.

6. Comics (universal)

 

On the iPhone, Comics [6] is innovative, but zooming each panel and constantly rotating your device gets old fast. By contrast, the iPad's screen is big enough to display an entire page without the need to zoom or scroll. And with dozens of free comics available via the bundled store, comic book fans should lap this app up.

7. Dictionary.com - Dictionary & Thesaurus - For iPad

 

We approached Dictionary [7] with scepticism, since most free dictionary apps are sluggish interfaces to websites. That's certainly what this looks like, but it works offline, providing speedy access to over two million words and definitions. The app's search is also reassuringly fast.

8. Dropbox (universal)

 

Dropbox [8] is a great service for syncing documents across multiple devices. The iPad client works like the iPhone one (hardly surprising, since this is a universal app), enabling you to preview many file types and store those marked as favourites locally.

9. Evernote (universal)

 

Like Dropbox, Evernote [9] (a free online service for saving ideas â€" text documents, images and web clips â€" that you can then access from multiple devices) works the same way on the iPad as it does on the iPhone. It benefits from the iPad's larger screen, which enables you to see and navigate your stored snippets more easily.

10. YouTube (universal)

 

When the YouTube app presumably became a victim of the ongoing and increasingly tedious Apple/Google spat, there were concerns Google wouldn't respond. Those turned out to be unfounded, because here's yet another bespoke, nicely designed Google-created app for iOS [10] . The interface is specifically tuned for the iPad, and AirPlay enables you to fire videos at an Apple TV.

11. The Guardian Eyewitness

 

A showcase for engaging photography, The Guardian Eyewitness [11] provides a daily, visual reflection of global events. You get access to the most recent 100 photos, which can be viewed full-screen or with a caption and 'pro tip'. You can also save photos to your iPad or share them via email.

12. iBooks (universal)

 

Going head-to-head with Kindle, iBooks [12] is a decent ebook reader, backed by the iBookstore. As you'd expect from Apple, the interface is polished and usable, with handy cross-device bookmark syncing, highlighting, and various display options. It's also a capable PDF reader, for your digital magazine collection.

13. IM+ (universal)

 

Although the iPad enables a certain amount of basic multi-tasking, anyone who constantly juggles a number of instant messaging services will soon be tired of leaping between apps. IM+ [13] is a good solution, enabling you to run a number of IM services in a single app, and there's also a built-in web browser for checking out links.

14. Kindle (universal)

 

Amazon's Kindle iPad app [14] for reading myriad books available at the Kindle Store is a little workmanlike, and doesn't match the coherence of iBooks (you buy titles in Safari and 'sync' purchases via Kindle). However, Kindle's fine for reading, and you get options to optimise your experience (including the ability to kill the naff page-turn animation and amend the page background to a pleasant sepia tone).

15. Movies by Flixter (universal)

 

One for film buffs, Movies [15] figures out where you are and tells you what's showing in your local cinemas â€" or you can pick a film and it'll tell you where and when it's on. The app is functionally identical on iPad and iPhone, but again the extra screen space improves the experience.

16. PaperDesk Lite for iPad

 

Effectively a souped-up digital notepad, PaperDesk Lite for iPad [16] enables you to combine typed words, scribbles and audio recordings in user-defined notebooks. Be mindful, though, that this free version restricts you to three notebooks, each of which can only have three pages, and there are no export options.

17. PCalc Lite (universal)

 

PCalc Lite [17] 's existence means the lack of a built-in iPad calculator doesn't bother us (in fact, we'd love to replace the iPhone Calculator app with PCalc Lite as well). This app is usable and feature-rich â€" and if you end up wanting more, in-app purchases enable you to bolt on extras from the full PCalc.

18. Reuters News Pro for iPad

 

Spurious anti-competition complaints meant the BBC News app took a while to come to the UK; in the meantime, Reuters offered the next best free news app for iPad with its Reuters News Pro for iPad [18] . It's a little US-centric, but can be skewed towards UK coverage via the Settings app, and it's worth downloading for a more international take on news coverage than BBC News provides.

19. Cooliris (universal)

 

Long ago, Cooliris [19] lived within browsers, converting online galleries into 3D walls of thumbnails you could zoom along. On the iPad, the concept seems more at home. It's of course a gimmick, but it's a great-looking and tactile one, and more fun than using the Photos app to rummage through your snaps.

20. Wikipanion for iPad

 

The Wikipedia website works fine in Safari for iPad, but dedicated apps make navigating the site simpler and faster. We went back and forth between Simplepedia [20] and Wikipanion [21] , eventually plumping for the latter, largely due to its efficient two-pane landscape view with excellent bookmarking and history access.

21. eBay for iPad

 

Use eBay for iPad [22] and you'll never touch eBay in a web browser again. It's fast and efficient, beautifully showcasing important details and images in its main results view. Gallery images can often be displayed almost at a full-screen size, which is particularly useful on an iPad with a Retina display. Speedy sorting options are also available.

22. Soundrop (universal)

 

Soundrop [23] is a minimal generative sound toy that offers an endless stream of balls, which make noises when they collide with and bounce off user-drawn lines. The overall result is surprisingly fun and hypnotic. For more advanced features â€" save, multiple instruments and gravity adjustment â€" there's an in-app 'pro' purchase option.

23. Granimator

 

Wallpaper apps litter the App Store, but are mostly dull, offering photos of brick walls or bored animals. Granimator [24] is a bonkers art tool, enabling you to choose a background and spray all manner of shapes around. Compositions can be fine-tuned by dragging objects, and then shared to Flickr, Twitter or your device's Photos app.

24. Google Earth (universal)

 

It's not the smoothest app in the world, and it lacks some elements from the desktop, but Google Earth [25] is nonetheless a joy on the iPad. Touch gestures are an intuitive means of swooping around the planet, and the optional layers enable you to display as much or as little ancillary information as you wish.

25. Explore Flickr (universal)

 

Explore Flickr [26] provides an engaging way to discover new photography. On launch, your iPad screen fills with a grid of thumbnails, drawn from Flickr.com's top daily images. Tap one to view (and, if rights permit, download to your device), or just leave the app lazily updating (every now and again, a thumbnail spins to reveal a new image) while your iPad charges in its dock.

26. Rj Voyager

 

One for budding iPad DJs, Rj Voyager [27] enables you to choose from a selection of bundled tracks, turn parts on and off and edit parameters in real-time via an intuitive, futuristic interface. Play through headphones or a decent sound system and the result is infectious.

27. BBC News (universal)

 

Although the BBC News website works nicely on the iPad, BBC News [28] is still worth downloading. Rather than trying to provide all of the news, it instead concentrates on the latest stories, with inline video. Categories can be rearranged, stories can be shared and the app's layout adjusts to portrait and landscape orientations.

28. Epicurious (universal)

 

Tens of thousands of recipes at your fingertips (as long as you have a web connection) ensure Epicurious [29] is worth a download for the culinary-inclined. The app even composes a shopping list for recipes; it's just a pity it doesn't include measurements for those of us who use that new-fangled metric system.

29. WordPress (universal)

 

This official WordPress [30] app has a reputation for being a bit clunky, but it's fine for authoring the odd blog post on the go, along with making quick edits to existing content and managing comments. It also offers both text-based and visual approaches to crafting posts, so you're not stuck with HTML.

30. Speedtest X HD (universal)

 

Truth be told, we're always a touch suspicious of apps that claim to test your connection speed, but Speedtest X HD [31] seems to do a decent job. It's also handy to have installed for when your broadband goes all flaky and you need to record the figures for a subsequent moan at your ISP.

31. Adobe Photoshop Express (universal)

 

With people regularly moaning about bloat in Adobe's desktop applications, it's great to see the giant create something as focused and usable as Adobe Photoshop Express [32] . Its toolset is strictly for basic edits (crop, straighten, rotate, flip, levels and lighting adjustments), and applying a few effects, but the app is fast, stable and extremely useable. Top marks.

32. App Shopper (universal)

 

Prices on the App Store go up and down like a yo-yo, and Apple's own wish-list mechanics leave a lot to be desired. You're better off using App Shopper [33] , which lists bargain apps and also enables you to compile a wish-list and be notified when an item drops in price.

33. Find my iPhone (universal)

 

Find my iPhone [34] would perhaps be better named 'Find my Apple stuff', because it's not just for figuring out where a missing iPhone isâ€"it can also track iPads, iPods and Macs. The app is simple, elegant and, generally speaking, provides an accurate location for devices. It also enables you to remote-lock or wipe a device.

34. Flipboard (universal)

 

Initially, Flipboard [35] looked like a gimmick, trying desperately to make online content resemble a magazine. But now it can integrate Flickr and other networks, beautifully laying out their articles, Flipboard's muscled into the 'essential' category â€" and it's still free.

35. Find My Friends (universal)

 

While perhaps less practical than on the iPhone, Find My Friends [36] on the iPad nonetheless works well, enabling you to track any pals that are happy with you digitally stalking them. The iPad's large display improves the app's usability, simultaneously displaying your friend list and a map.

36. IMDB (universal)

 

IMDB [37] might be a wee bit US-focused at times (much like the movie industry), but the app is a great way to browse more movie-related info than you could ever hope to consume in a single lifetime. Settings enable you to define which sites IMDB and Amazon info is taken from, and the show times finder works pretty well.

37. Pocket (universal)

 

Pocket [38] and Instapaper have long battled it out for 'article scraper' king, but Pocket trumps its rival in appealing to iPad-owning cheapskates. Instapaper requires a purchase for iPad goodness, but Pocket is free. It's also very fast, offers tagging, includes a great original article/plain-text toggle, and has a vaguely Flipboard-like visual grid-based index.

38. TED (universal)

 

TED [39] describes itself as "riveting talks by remarkable people, free to the world". The app pretty much does as you'd expect â€" you get quick access to dozens of inspiring videos. However, it goes the extra mile in enabling you to save any talk for offline viewing, and also for providing hints on what to watch next if you've enjoyed a particular talk.

39. Twitter (universal)

 

This app used to showcase some breathtaking iPad UI innovation, but in its quest for cross-platform consistency, Twitter [40] has refashioned its tablet offering as a blown-up version of the iPhone app. The result is a far less exciting experience, but one that's nonetheless very usable, and which unlike third-party apps rolls in the service's Interactions and Discover tabs.

40. Virtuoso Piano Free 2 HD 

 

There's not a great deal to piano app Virtuoso Piano Free 2 HD [41] , but it's not bad for a freebie. You get a dual-keyboard set-up, with optional key labels, and you can shift octaves and notes by prodding arrows. A really nice touch is the 'duette' [sic] button, which creates a second, mirror image, keyboard, so that two people can play at once.

41. BBC iPlayer (universal)

 

BBC iPlayer [42] is a must-have download for iPad users. The slick interface makes it easy to browse/watch recent shows and current broadcasts. You can also choose from two quality settings and toggle subtitles, and there's AirPlay support for an Apple TV. Recent updates also enable you to download shows to your iPad, so that you can watch them on the move.

42. Dolphin Browser 

 

Safari for iPad is a great mobile browser, but if you hanker for more features, Dolphin [43] is a decent alternative. The browser has an Opera-like 'speed dial' that provides one-touch access to favourites, and you can create personalised action gestures. There's also a distraction-free full-screen mode for when you really want to get into a website.

43. Skyscanner (universal) 

 

Skyscanner [44] 's website is pretty good, but the iPad app's another great example of how an app's focus can really help you speed through a task. You use the app to search over a thousand airlines, and it provides straightforward competitive journey lists and comparison graphs. If you're planning a flight, it's an indispensable download.

44. Dragon Dictation (universal)

 

There's always something slightly spooky about voice recognition software, as if Skynet's listening in or something, but such tools had for years been out of most people's reach. Now, Dragon Dictation [45] is free for iOS.

It's eerily accurate, trainable and, despite the dev recommending you use an external microphone, the app works fine with the iPad's built-in one. And unlike Siri, Dragon Dictation works on any iPad running iOS 4 or later, and it also has a bigger buffer than Apple's service.

45. Remote (universal)

 

Although pretty basic on the iPhone, Remote on the iPad [46] is akin to a stripped-down iTunes when it comes to accessing network libraries and playing music. It's also indispensable if you have an Apple TV and want to control it with something other than the hateful metal chewing-gum stick that ships with the device.

46. Pulse News Reader

 

When unveiled, RSS reader Pulse [47] was divisive, with an unresponsive oddball interface. But it's evolved to become free and fast, and is now a tactile, enjoyable way to catch up on news. The image-oriented interface, with slider-based RSS feeds (akin to those in the BBC News app) and configurable tab groups, makes it particularly suitable for anyone who subscribes to image-heavy sites.

47. Fotopedia Heritage (universal)

 

Rather like The Guardian Eyewitness, Fotopedia Heritage [48] is perfect for anyone who enjoys awe-inspiring photography. The app enables you to browse tens of thousands of photos of beautiful locations worldwide. It also provides information about each location, and can be used for travel planning through favourites and links to TripAdvisor.

48. Yell Search

 

If you're in an unfamiliar place or travelling somewhere new, Yell Search [49] is a great app for figuring out what amenities are available locally. The interface is responsive and efficient, and you can handily add any business you find as a favourite for easy access later on.

49. XE Currency for iPad (universal)

 

It's as ugly as they come, but XE Currency [50] is the best free currency app you'll find. You define which currencies you want to see, along with the number of decimals to show. Double-tap a currency and you can set it as the base currency by tapping 1.0 in the calculator, or do bespoke conversions by typing any other value.

50. Airport Utility (universal)

 

With apps like Airport Utility [51] , it's increasingly clear Apple now sees the iPad as an independent unit, not merely an accessory to a PC or Mac. The app provides an overview of your Wi-Fi network, and enables you to view and change settings, restore or restart a base station, and get terribly angry at a flashing orange light that denotes your ISP's gone belly up.

51. Skype for iPad

 

In theory, we should be cheerleading for FaceTime, what with it being built into iOS devices, but it's still an Apple-only system. Skype [52] , however, is enjoyed by myriad users who haven't been bitten by the Apple bug, and it works very nicely on the iPad, including over 3G.

52. Skitch for iPad (universal)

 

Skitch [53] is a screen-grab and annotation tool that was snapped up by Evernote. In its iPad incarnation, it enables you to scribble on grabs, photos, maps and web pages and then fling the result to Twitter, email or Evernote, or fire your work at an Apple TV.

53. Readability (universal)

 

The latest of the major read-it-later systems, Readability [54] brings with it a clean interface and a lovely set of fonts. As with the likes of Instapaper, Readability strips junk from web pages, leaving only the content. As you'd expect, you can also send on anything particularly interesting to Twitter and Facebook.

54. iTunes U (universal)

 

If you're still convinced the iPad is only a device for staring brain-dead at TV shows and not a practical tool for education, check out iTunes U [55] . The app enables you to access many thousands of free lectures and courses taught by universities and colleges, thereby learning far more than what bizarre schemes current soap characters are hatching.

55. 4oD Catch Up (universal)

 

Despite what we said in the previous entry, the iPad is, of course, a great tool for TV. (After all, once you're done studying, you need some downtime, right?) Channel 4's 4oD app [56] enables you to view a selection of recent shows, along with a handful of classic programmes.

56. Google Search (universal)

 

Google Search [57] might seem redundant - after all, the iPad's Safari app has a built-in Google search field. However, Google's own offering provides a superior search experience that's been specifically designed for iPad. Highlights include a tactile image carousel, visual search history and Google Goggles integration.

57. TuneIn Radio (universal)

 

Output your iPad's audio to an amp or a set of portable speakers, fire up TuneIn Radio [58] , select a station and you've a set-up to beat any DAB radio. Along with inevitable social sharing, the app also provides an alarm, AirPlay support, pause and rewind, and a 'shake to switch station' feature - handy if the current DJ's annoying and you feel the need to vent.

58. TVCatchup Live TV (universal)

 

More TV! This time, it's the only partially inaccurately named TVCatchup Live TV [59] ; with it, you can watch TV for free, but it's not so much 'catch-up' as 'watch what's on now'. You get access to over 50 channels, although we're unsure about taking the developer's advice that you can "even watch TV in the bath" - iPads don't float.

59. Netflix (universal)

 

Netflix [60] has been described by some in the UK as the perfect way to experience everything a DVD bargain bin has to offer. We do agree there's a lack of content compared to the US library, but Netflix is cheap and fine for catching up on older shows. And the iPad app includes AirPlay support and a resume function, so you can pick up where you left off on another device.

60. SoundCloud (universal)

 

SoundCloud [61] is a popular service for sharing sounds, and the iPad app enables you to search and play myriad snippets and music tracks hosted on SoundCloud's servers. If you're a budding musician or oddball loudmouth, you can also record and upload sounds from your iPad, or record to upload later.

61. 30/30 (universal)

 

It's easy enough to ignore a to-do when it's lurking somewhere in the background on your Mac or PC, but on an iPad, 30/30 [62] 's crystal-clear events (including optional repeating loops for work/break cycles) can't be so easily dismissed. Fortunately, it looks great and the tactile interface makes creating and removing items a joy.

62. Paper By FiftyThree

 

There's a certain train of thought that apps shouldn't ape real-world items, but we dismiss such talk. They just shouldn't ape real-world items badly! Paper by FiftyThree [63] gets this right, with beautiful sketchbooks in which you can scribble, then share across the web. Books and the pen tool are free, and other tools are available via In-App Purchase.

63. Telegraph pictures for iPad

 

Rather like the Guardian Eyewitness app, Telegraph Pictures for iPad [64] provides you with new imagery on a daily basis. In fact, The Telegraph's rather more generous than The Guardian, offering a dozen new photographs every 24 hours, and leaving a 14-day archive for you to explore at any time.

64. Sticky Notes for iPad

 

If you're a fan of sticky notes, but not the sticky nor the waste, Sticky Notes for iPad [65] provides you with the means to bung colourful rectangular notes on your iPad's screen, even dictating the text should you wish. Just don't have someone think they can't get the note off and then attack your device with a scourer.

65. Architizer

 

There are two levels to this beautifully designed app [66] directed at architects and anyone else with an interest in buildings. On entry, you can select projects from a grid that's updated in real-time. Photography can then be explored full-screen. However, you can also dig deeper, finding out more about each project and who designed it.

66. Pinterest (universal)

 

Social network Pinterest [67] is one of the very few to challenge the big guns in the industry. It provides a means to find and share inspiration, working as a place to collect and organise the things you love. The iPad app has an elegant interface that pushes inspirational imagery to the fore, just as it should.

67. Cards (universal)

 

Yes, the cards that you can send from Cards [68] cost four quid each, but the app itself is free, providing the means to experiment in making cards for your loved ones, based on your own images. Without spending anything, it's a fun toy; even when you send cards, it might work out cheaper than shop prices - and the images will be far more personal.

68. Quark DesignPad

 

One for the graphic designers out there, desktop publishing giant Quark's DesignPad [69] is an astonishingly useful app for figuring out layouts on the move, or knocking about ideas in meetings. Plenty of ready-made documents can give you a head-start, and your finished work can be exported as a PNG or emailed for use in a QuarkXPress document.

69. Gmail (universal)

 

Because of its single-app nature and big screen, the iPad's become a tool many people prefer to a PC or Mac for email. However, if you're reliant on Gmail [70] , Apple's own Mail is insufficient, not providing access to your entire archive nor Gmail's features. Google's own app deals with such shortcomings and looks as good as Apple's client.

70. Solar Walk: Saturn (universal)

 

Really, this is a promotional app for Solar Walk [71] , but what a piece of promotion it is! There's a ton of information and interactive components that concentrate on perhaps the most fascinating of planets in our solar system, and it looks particularly impressive on a Retina iPad.

71. Netbot for App.net

 

App.net is a bit like Twitter, only it eschews adverts, has a subscription fee, and is hugely keen to attract (rather than repel) developers. Netbot [72] is one of the finest clients for the service (having been created by the team responsible for the excellent Tweetbot, which it mirrors), and it's free.

72. Cloze (universal)

 

If you ever have one of those conversations where a friend swears blind they did reply, you say you didn't get the email, and they sheepishly mutter "on Facebook", Cloze [73] is for you. It bungs all your social communications (email, Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn) into a single inbox and also prioritises people who you most often deal with. It's a great time-saver.

73. Haiku Deck

 

If we're honest, we rather liked the original version of Haiku Deck, which stripped back presentations, only enabling you to add to each slide a single image, a heading and a sub-heading. The minimalism's gone (Haiku Deck [74] now includes charts, graphs, bulleted lists and other 'improvements'), but it's still fun and easy to use, which is the main thing.

74. Tumblr (universal)

 

Tumblr has a perfectly serviceable mobile presence, but the Tumblr iPad app [75] gives you a more tablet-oriented interface for using the site. It's therefore a cinch to manage your blogs, post new entries and reply to messages on your iPad. Additionally, there's also offline support, enabling you to queue posts, likes, replies and reblogs without a web connection.

75. Homestyler

 

In the professional world, Autodesk is best known for high-end 3D products: Maya, 3ds Max, AutoCAD. On the iPad, the company's been using its 3D smarts to churn out interesting consumer-focussed 3D tools. Homestyler [76] enables you to photograph a room, then paint colours on the walls and add furniture, light fittings and accessories.

76. Podcasts (universal)

 

Podcasts [77] was once one of those Apple apps that people looked at in disbelief, wondering whether anyone at the company had ever really used it. Now, it's a different beast: the interface is slick, and you can create custom stations that auto-update across iCloud, and on-the-go playlists with custom episode lists.

77. Calorie Counter HD

 

The iPhone version of Calorie Counter is a great way of ensuring you're not eating for several, but the HD iPad release [78] takes things to a whole new level. The extra space enables the interface to breathe, providing plenty of room for charts, calorie breakdowns and interaction with fellow dieters.

78. Google Drive (universal)

 

It's curious to think how rapidly Microsoft made Office irrelevant to so many. Most people just want a simple app for documents and spreadsheets, and that (along with a storage repository) is precisely what Google Drive [79] provides. Like Dropbox, it's also possible to store documents locally, for when you've no web connection.

79. Fotopedia Wild Friends (universal)

 

iPad displays have always been a fantastic way to explore photography (especially the newer Retina models). Fotopedia Wild Friends [80] is one for nature lovers, packed with thousands of stunning images taken during hundreds of missions in dozens of countries. Being a conservation initiative, the photography's also backed with interactive maps, stories and information.

80. PlainText (universal)

 

The iPhone incarnation of PlainText is good for the odd bit of note-taking, but on the iPad PlainText [81] is transformed into a minimal but highly usable writing tool with Dropbox sync. The lack of clutter provides a real sense of focus - even the single iAd is hidden from view once the on-screen keyboard appears.

Links

1. ^{^} AccuWeather (itunes.apple.com)
2. ^{^} Facebook (itunes.apple.com)
3. ^{^} Air Video (itunes.apple.com)
4. ^{^} Beatwave (itunes.apple.com)
5. ^{^} Bloomberg (itunes.apple.com)
6. ^{^} Comics (itunes.apple.com)
7. ^{^} Dictionary (itunes.apple.com)
8. ^{^} Dropbox (itunes.apple.com)
9. ^{^} Evernote (itunes.apple.com)
10. ^{^} bespoke, nicely designed Google-created app for iOS (itunes.apple.com)
11. ^{^} The Guardian Eyewitness (itunes.apple.com)
12. ^{^} iBooks (itunes.apple.com)
13. ^{^} IM+ (itunes.apple.com)
14. ^{^} Kindle iPad app (itunes.apple.com)
15. ^{^} Movies (itunes.apple.com)
16. ^{^} PaperDesk Lite for iPad (itunes.apple.com)
17. ^{^} PCalc Lite (itunes.apple.com)
18. ^{^} Reuters News Pro for iPad (itunes.apple.com)
19. ^{^} Cooliris (itunes.apple.com)
20. ^{^} Simplepedia (itunes.apple.com)
21. ^{^} Wikipanion (itunes.apple.com)
22. ^{^} eBay for iPad (itunes.apple.com)
23. ^{^} Soundrop (itunes.apple.com)
24. ^{^} Granimator (itunes.apple.com)
25. ^{^} Google Earth (itunes.apple.com)
26. ^{^} Explore Flickr (itunes.apple.com)
27. ^{^} Rj Voyager (itunes.apple.com)
28. ^{^} BBC News (itunes.apple.com)
29. ^{^} Epicurious (itunes.apple.com)
30. ^{^} WordPress (itunes.apple.com)
31. ^{^} Speedtest X HD (itunes.apple.com)
32. ^{^} Adobe Photoshop Express (itunes.apple.com)
33. ^{^} App Shopper (itunes.apple.com)
34. ^{^} Find my iPhone (itunes.apple.com)
35. ^{^} Flipboard (itunes.apple.com)
36. ^{^} Find My Friends (itunes.apple.com)
37. ^{^} IMDB (itunes.apple.com)
38. ^{^} Pocket (itunes.apple.com)
39. ^{^} TED (itunes.apple.com)
40. ^{^} Twitter (itunes.apple.com)
41. ^{^} Virtuoso Piano Free 2 HD (itunes.apple.com)
42. ^{^} BBC iPlayer (itunes.apple.com)
43. ^{^} Dolphin (itunes.apple.com)
44. ^{^} Skyscanner (itunes.apple.com)
45. ^{^} BlogThis!