You woke up on Christmas morning to find an iPad under the tree. Now what? There are over 50,000 apps to choose from, so what’s a girl (or guy) to do. In the last two weeks I’ve had several lucky new iPad owners ask me if I had a list of favorite apps and I promised I’d send them an email with my list. I know my promise sounded reminiscent of “the check is in the mail” but I was determined not to let them down. Rather than send an email to a few individuals, I decided to put together my Top 12 and share it here, in no particular order.
I’m hoping some of you will comment with your favorite apps because I’ve only named a dozen.
1. If you like to read, then the Kindle app is a no brainer. Keep it along side the Amazon app and you’ll never get stuck again on a trip or in the dentist’s office without something to read. You might even find you enjoy waiting in airports.
2. Even though I didn’t put this list in order, DropBox is certainly in my top three. “Dropbox is the easiest way to sync and share your files online and across computers.” Since I’ve gone paperless, I carry my iPad to closings and with Dropbox, I can open any of my files right at the closing table. Need a copy of something? I just email it from my IPAD to the closing attorney or paralegal.
3. The Google App is an obvious choice. No, not as a search engine but for the whole suite of products including GMAIL, Calendar and Documents. I use them all and share the Calendar and Documents with my assistant. With Google Docs, we can easily collaborate on a “to-do” list or project.
4. I only have one game on my IPad and that’s Scrabble. What I enjoy most is playing against friends through Facebook. I have successfully avoided the temptation of Angry Birds. I hear it is addicting.
5. I’ve tried out all sorts of task managers but I’ve found Things for iPad to be just right for me, whether for keeping a simple to-do list or to organize long term projects. I really really like this app. I’m thinking top 3 again here.
6. Flipboard is hard to describe so I’ll let iTunes do it for me: “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 and updates your friends are sharing on Facebook, Twitter, Google Reader and Flickr. See your social media in a magazine layout that is easy to scan and fun to read.”
7. Despite using Flipboard, HootSuite is my app of choice as a social media tool for Twitter, Facebook, and Foursquare. The best part: you can schedule your updates! Hoot! Hoot!
8. There are lots of real estate related apps but my favorite is Zillow. I love the ability to do a neighborhood search from my car. It does so many cool things that I’ve included their Zillow on iPad video below.
9. The most expensive app on my iPad is LogMeIn Ignition but at $29,95, it is worth every penny. It gives me the ability to access my desk top computer from my iPad. How awesome is that?
10. I’m a weather nut. I have eight weather apps on my iPhone but my favorite hands down is The Weather Channel. Besides the typical weather stuff, you can watch local and national weather forecast videos and get real-time Twitter feeds from the Weather Channel hosts.
11. Reeder is my RSS reader of choice. I like the way it organizes. Gizmodo describes it as “RSS with attention to detail.” Can’t say it any better.
12. I admit I have several photo apps on my IPAD. My favorite is Adobe Photoshop Express. You don’t need to be a Photoshop expert to use this simple to use app.
Personally I like Apps better than shoes and almost as much as jewelry. My favorite place to find new apps is an app itself called AppAdvice. That would be number 13 but I can’t help myself.
