Our picks from the iPad App Store's gems...
he word 'app' was once just a nerdy abbreviation used by IT bods and sweaty gamers. Since the iPhone took the term as its own, though, it's become as ubiquitous as Tesco. The iPad launches a new phase of the app's bid Forworld domination. While iPhone apps are all about getting information quickly into the palm of your hand, the iPad allows the user an easier, more visual and less pressured experience. Already, the result of this shift is genuinely innovative games and apps. Here's our pick of the bunch so far.
Scrabble for iPad
Price: £5.99
The one-player mode is still infuriating and the artificial intelligence rubbish, but the multi-player mode suits the iPad's large screen perfectly. It even comes with a free iPhone app that players can use as virtual tile-holders, from which you can flick your letters to the board. An expensive way to replicate a board, but novel nonetheless.
The one-player mode is still infuriating and the artificial intelligence rubbish, but the multi-player mode suits the iPad's large screen perfectly. It even comes with a free iPhone app that players can use as virtual tile-holders, from which you can flick your letters to the board. An expensive way to replicate a board, but novel nonetheless.
Infinity Blade
Price: £5.99
In Infinity Blade you must fight your way through the God King's lair and avenge your father's death. The game is a linear adventure where you fight numerous one-on-one battles with the God King's henchmen by swiping across the screen to attack and dodge your enemies. Visually stunning and perfect for the iPad's large touch display.
Superbrothers: Sword and Sworcery
Price: £2.99
A wonderful action adventure game with a truly superb retro visual style. In Sword and Sworcery adventure through levels solving musical puzzles to a score composed by Jim Guthrie, and the graphics were designed by Superbrothers. An enchanting experience and one of the best iPad games yet.
A wonderful action adventure game with a truly superb retro visual style. In Sword and Sworcery adventure through levels solving musical puzzles to a score composed by Jim Guthrie, and the graphics were designed by Superbrothers. An enchanting experience and one of the best iPad games yet.
Cut The Rope HD
Price: £1,19
Few games are as simple and as compelling as Cut The Rope. Each level has a piece of candy and Om Nom the monster. Using the objects in the level, you have to get the candy in Om Nom's mouth. Early levels begin with simple ropes and bubbles requiring a quick slice with your finger to cut the rope, later levels add fiendish complexity.
Few games are as simple and as compelling as Cut The Rope. Each level has a piece of candy and Om Nom the monster. Using the objects in the level, you have to get the candy in Om Nom's mouth. Early levels begin with simple ropes and bubbles requiring a quick slice with your finger to cut the rope, later levels add fiendish complexity.
Angry Birds HD
Price: £2.99
The concept is simple; flick birds from a catapult and smash the green pigs. Angry Birds is a first-rate puzzler that makes excellent use of the iPad's touchscreen display. It's also one of the most fun games on the platform, with funny graphic touches and accessible gameplay. Every bit as addictive as the iPhone version, but better looking.
The concept is simple; flick birds from a catapult and smash the green pigs. Angry Birds is a first-rate puzzler that makes excellent use of the iPad's touchscreen display. It's also one of the most fun games on the platform, with funny graphic touches and accessible gameplay. Every bit as addictive as the iPhone version, but better looking.
Real Racing HD 2
Price:£5.99
One of the few games designed specifically to take advantage of the faster graphics chip in the iPad 2, the visuals in Real Racing 2 are the best way to show off what your new iPad 2 is capable of. Real Racing remains the benchmark for iOS gaming, bringing console quality graphics and gameplay to the small screen. Recommended.
One of the few games designed specifically to take advantage of the faster graphics chip in the iPad 2, the visuals in Real Racing 2 are the best way to show off what your new iPad 2 is capable of. Real Racing remains the benchmark for iOS gaming, bringing console quality graphics and gameplay to the small screen. Recommended.
Specifically designed to take advantage of the iPad 2, Real Racing remains the one to beat
BBC iPlayer
Price: Free
The BBC's flagship website needs no introduction. But whereas the iPhone accessed iPlayer through a mobile website, the iPad has a gorgeous app designed especially for it. The only downside is that you can't download programs to watch later and it only works via a WiFi connection. It's still an app every iPad owners should get.
The BBC's flagship website needs no introduction. But whereas the iPhone accessed iPlayer through a mobile website, the iPad has a gorgeous app designed especially for it. The only downside is that you can't download programs to watch later and it only works via a WiFi connection. It's still an app every iPad owners should get.
Pages
Price: £5.99
Apple's premier word-processing application enables you to create wonderfully designed documents, complete with images, tables, charts and all the formatting options you could dream of. And the templates are a joy to behold. The virtual keyboard can be frustrating, but combine this with a Keyboard Dock and you'll be typing faster.
Apple's premier word-processing application enables you to create wonderfully designed documents, complete with images, tables, charts and all the formatting options you could dream of. And the templates are a joy to behold. The virtual keyboard can be frustrating, but combine this with a Keyboard Dock and you'll be typing faster.
Good Reader
Price: 59p
The iPad is an amazing book reader, there's just one problem. The iBooks app only displays ePub documents. Good Reader is a superb addition to iBooks that enables you to view other formats, including TXT, PDF, HTML, and Microsoft Office files. And at just 59p, it's an essential purchase for fans of reading eBooks on the go.
The iPad is an amazing book reader, there's just one problem. The iBooks app only displays ePub documents. Good Reader is a superb addition to iBooks that enables you to view other formats, including TXT, PDF, HTML, and Microsoft Office files. And at just 59p, it's an essential purchase for fans of reading eBooks on the go.
Things for iPad
Price: £11.99
We love Things. As the name suggests it takes all the things you have to do in your life, and crunches them into easily manageable projects. You can tag tasks into things you do at home, at work, at the shops, when you're bored. You can make tasks high priority, low priority, even have someday/ maybe lists for things you really want to do one day. See page 154 for the full story.
We love Things. As the name suggests it takes all the things you have to do in your life, and crunches them into easily manageable projects. You can tag tasks into things you do at home, at work, at the shops, when you're bored. You can make tasks high priority, low priority, even have someday/ maybe lists for things you really want to do one day. See page 154 for the full story.
Numbers
Price: £5.99
The undisputed star of Apple's iWork range is Numbers - something of a surprise, because it was hard to envisage how it would transfer to the iPad. While doing spreadsheets on the iPad might not sound the most fun, Numbers makes short work of number crunching. The virtual keyboard changes according to what is inside a cell (be it data, text, or a formula). It's certainly dry, but still very useful.
The undisputed star of Apple's iWork range is Numbers - something of a surprise, because it was hard to envisage how it would transfer to the iPad. While doing spreadsheets on the iPad might not sound the most fun, Numbers makes short work of number crunching. The virtual keyboard changes according to what is inside a cell (be it data, text, or a formula). It's certainly dry, but still very useful.
Keynote
Price: £5.99
Keynote is the most powerful presentation software on the planet for Mac OS X. It's Apple at its very best.The iPad version is somewhat more of a challenge, but it's still useful for playing with and editing presentations on the move. You can create amazing presentations with your fingers - with cool transitions and animations - then use the iPad to show off your slides.
Keynote is the most powerful presentation software on the planet for Mac OS X. It's Apple at its very best.The iPad version is somewhat more of a challenge, but it's still useful for playing with and editing presentations on the move. You can create amazing presentations with your fingers - with cool transitions and animations - then use the iPad to show off your slides.
Korg iElectribe
Price: £5,99
If you're into dance music, then you've probably spent some time listening to a Korg Electribe. This box provides a combination of synthesised music and drum machine,andcreatesmanyclassic dance sounds.The Korg iElectribe recreates the famous box (dials and all) on the iPad and the multi-touch display enables you to twiddle and twirl your way to dance perfection.
If you're into dance music, then you've probably spent some time listening to a Korg Electribe. This box provides a combination of synthesised music and drum machine,andcreatesmanyclassic dance sounds.The Korg iElectribe recreates the famous box (dials and all) on the iPad and the multi-touch display enables you to twiddle and twirl your way to dance perfection.
Magic Piano
Price: 59p
Some applications are hard to define, and magic piano is one of them. This app enables you to create piano music by tapping the screen. But rather than just display a traditional keyboard, the app uses several unique modes: such as one where glowing dots fall from the screen and have to be tapped; and another where a circular keyboard enables you to play.
Some applications are hard to define, and magic piano is one of them. This app enables you to create piano music by tapping the screen. But rather than just display a traditional keyboard, the app uses several unique modes: such as one where glowing dots fall from the screen and have to be tapped; and another where a circular keyboard enables you to play.
GarageBand
Price: £5,99
Apple's legendary music-making program should be high on the shopping list for any iPad owner with an interest in music. You can connect your iPad to a musical instrument and record tracks In real time, or just bash virtual intruments on the screen. It's clever enough to even tell how hard you're tapping the drums. Great fun!
Apple's legendary music-making program should be high on the shopping list for any iPad owner with an interest in music. You can connect your iPad to a musical instrument and record tracks In real time, or just bash virtual intruments on the screen. It's clever enough to even tell how hard you're tapping the drums. Great fun!
Shazam for iPad
Price: Free
Shazam is an interesting app that listens to any audio and recognises the track. What started out as a party trick app has transformed into a music network with millions of users tagging and sharing audio info with music recommendations and charts. With data on over 8 million tracks Shazam is a great way to discover new music.
Shazam is an interesting app that listens to any audio and recognises the track. What started out as a party trick app has transformed into a music network with millions of users tagging and sharing audio info with music recommendations and charts. With data on over 8 million tracks Shazam is a great way to discover new music.
Glee
Price: 59p
For those that don't know. Glee is a sugar-coated American musical-comedy drama that is loved and loathed in equal measure.Theapp is wonderful though, because it combines karaoke with the same kind of technical wizardry used to make all bad singers sound good. As you sing it adjusts your voice and adds harmonising effects too. And you can even share your warblingson social networks -great party fun.
For those that don't know. Glee is a sugar-coated American musical-comedy drama that is loved and loathed in equal measure.Theapp is wonderful though, because it combines karaoke with the same kind of technical wizardry used to make all bad singers sound good. As you sing it adjusts your voice and adds harmonising effects too. And you can even share your warblingson social networks -great party fun.
Baby Decks DJ
Price: £14.99
This is a bold attempt to bring mixing deck performance to the iPad. Baby Decks DJ turns the iPad touch screen into a visual representation of two decks, cross fader, pitch control, and transformer bars. It's a great app for practicing mixing. The only downside is that it can't access music from the ffunes library - you have to upload tracks to it.
This is a bold attempt to bring mixing deck performance to the iPad. Baby Decks DJ turns the iPad touch screen into a visual representation of two decks, cross fader, pitch control, and transformer bars. It's a great app for practicing mixing. The only downside is that it can't access music from the ffunes library - you have to upload tracks to it.
Apple's legendary music-making program GarageBand should be high on the shopping list
Adobe Ideas
Price: Free
Adobe Ideas is a free sketchbook app that turns your hand scribblings into curvaceous lines. It automatically straightens out curves, making everything look subtly nice. It's not as good as Brushes or SketchBook Pro for pure drawing, but great for jotting down ideas neatly.
Adobe Ideas is a free sketchbook app that turns your hand scribblings into curvaceous lines. It automatically straightens out curves, making everything look subtly nice. It's not as good as Brushes or SketchBook Pro for pure drawing, but great for jotting down ideas neatly.
SketchBook Pro
Price: £4.99
Autodesk's SketchBook Pro is the best high-end painting and drawing app for the iPad. The iPad is very well suited to freeform sketching, but SketchBook Pro's strength is that it uses the same engine as the desktop version, and supports layers and multiple undo.
Autodesk's SketchBook Pro is the best high-end painting and drawing app for the iPad. The iPad is very well suited to freeform sketching, but SketchBook Pro's strength is that it uses the same engine as the desktop version, and supports layers and multiple undo.
Brushes
Price: 59p
This is another app that budding artists should consider. While it doesn't have as many options as ArtStudio or SketchBook Pro, it is perhaps the easiest and most fun way to doodle on the iPad, and is great for sketching over photographs. A great way to start digital drawing.
This is another app that budding artists should consider. While it doesn't have as many options as ArtStudio or SketchBook Pro, it is perhaps the easiest and most fun way to doodle on the iPad, and is great for sketching over photographs. A great way to start digital drawing.
Photogene for iPad
Price: £2.39
There are a few different apps that enable you to make the most out of your images, and while none are like Photoshop on the desktop, plenty like Photogene offer a lot of professional editing tools including cropping, sharpening, colour adjustment and special effects.
There are a few different apps that enable you to make the most out of your images, and while none are like Photoshop on the desktop, plenty like Photogene offer a lot of professional editing tools including cropping, sharpening, colour adjustment and special effects.
iMovie
Price: £5.99
Few apps makes as much sense as iMovie on the iPad. Adding, cutting, and editing clips with your fingers is an instinctive and enjoyable experience. Adding effects and text is a bit clumsy though, but for all that this is a great showcase for what can be done on the iPad, and a must-have for any video buffs.
Few apps makes as much sense as iMovie on the iPad. Adding, cutting, and editing clips with your fingers is an instinctive and enjoyable experience. Adding effects and text is a bit clumsy though, but for all that this is a great showcase for what can be done on the iPad, and a must-have for any video buffs.
ArtStudio for iPad
Price: 59p
If you're into hand drawn art, then Art Studio is one of two apps you should consider (the other being Brushes). This app enables you to draw with a variety of different tools and there are some great options for layering images.
If you're into hand drawn art, then Art Studio is one of two apps you should consider (the other being Brushes). This app enables you to draw with a variety of different tools and there are some great options for layering images.
Sketchbook Pro's great strength is that it uses the same engine as the desktop version
BBC News
Price: Free
There's a calm serenity about BBC News that's lacking on other news organisations, and the BBC News app is a great way to view the day's stories. While we think it's a bit cluttered in horizontal mode, it's great in vertical mode and caches stories so you can read them offline. There's some doubt as to whether this app will be available on the UK store, due to concerns voiced by rival news organisations, but we'll soon find out.
There's a calm serenity about BBC News that's lacking on other news organisations, and the BBC News app is a great way to view the day's stories. While we think it's a bit cluttered in horizontal mode, it's great in vertical mode and caches stories so you can read them offline. There's some doubt as to whether this app will be available on the UK store, due to concerns voiced by rival news organisations, but we'll soon find out.
iBooks
Price: Free
Apple's own electronic book reader is a must-download.This app enables you to purchase ebooks from the online [Bookstore (including 30,000 free books - mostly classics so far). You can also add your own books that are in the ePub format (like MP3 for books). Flick from one page to the next and adjust text size and display font. If you turn it landscape you can see the whole spread. Reading has never been more fun.
Apple's own electronic book reader is a must-download.This app enables you to purchase ebooks from the online [Bookstore (including 30,000 free books - mostly classics so far). You can also add your own books that are in the ePub format (like MP3 for books). Flick from one page to the next and adjust text size and display font. If you turn it landscape you can see the whole spread. Reading has never been more fun.
The Elements: A Visual Exploration
Price: £7,99
With the arrival of the iPad, many publishers have started to rethinkjust how information should be presented. The Elements is the first eBook truly developed for the touchscreen iPad, and displays the elements that make up the periodic table. Where it gets clever is the animation that enables you to spin around objects, and the touch-screen navigation of the table.
With the arrival of the iPad, many publishers have started to rethinkjust how information should be presented. The Elements is the first eBook truly developed for the touchscreen iPad, and displays the elements that make up the periodic table. Where it gets clever is the animation that enables you to spin around objects, and the touch-screen navigation of the table.
Wall Street Journal
Price: Free
It's a shame that most of the big newspapers on the iPad are American, but there's no doubting the quality of both this and the NYTapp.You need to take out a subscription to read all the stories though, which at $3.99 a week is hardly cheap.
It's a shame that most of the big newspapers on the iPad are American, but there's no doubting the quality of both this and the NYTapp.You need to take out a subscription to read all the stories though, which at $3.99 a week is hardly cheap.
NYT Editors'Choice
Price: Free
The New York Times is a superb newspaper, even though like the Wail Street Journal it is largely focussed on the USA rather than worldwide. This great app features a daily selection of high-profile stories and makes for a great quick read.
The New York Times is a superb newspaper, even though like the Wail Street Journal it is largely focussed on the USA rather than worldwide. This great app features a daily selection of high-profile stories and makes for a great quick read.
Guardian Eyewitness
Price: Free
While most news apps are busy rethinking a newspaper or website-based experience. The Guardian has taken a different tack. Its Guardian Eyewitness app makes use of the iPad's gorgeous display to present photographic pictures of the day. Each picture comes with a brief description, and professional photography tips. You get a real variety of modern news photography, and it's regularly stunning.
While most news apps are busy rethinking a newspaper or website-based experience. The Guardian has taken a different tack. Its Guardian Eyewitness app makes use of the iPad's gorgeous display to present photographic pictures of the day. Each picture comes with a brief description, and professional photography tips. You get a real variety of modern news photography, and it's regularly stunning.
With the arrival of the iPad, many publishers have started to rethink just how information should be presented
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