Top iPad Apps

Excited about the Apple iPad? So am I! The wi-fi version be available to all who pre-ordered tomorrow! To some, it’s just a giant iPod Touch, but I believe the iPad’s true magical powers lies in the hands of the developers.

There’s already so many iPad-Only apps available in the app store before the launch! Here are my personal top picks for iPad Apps. These are apps I think will revolutionize how the iPad will be used, or make you question how did you ever live without one. Some will be available on day one launch of the Apple iPad, others at a later time.

An App for Artists

Artist’s Touch | Download for iPhone/iPod Touch ($4.99)
Just imagine being able to draw or paint a portrait quickly and digitally, anywhere you are. This app is the perfect tool for artists. The moment inspiration hits, you can quickly sketch out your ideas and vision right on your iPad.

For more information about the Artist’s Touch iPad app, see their official website at Artamata, Inc.

An App for Book Lovers

Amazon Kindle. Love buying your books from Amazon? Now you have the best of both worlds. Amazon announce that they’re releasing a tablet version of their Kindle app. And yes, it will work with the iPad! This means that all of your previously-purchased Kindle books will be available on your iPad as well. Kindle’s universal bookmarking feature will also allow you to read your book from any device, picking up where you left off on the previous device. The best part is that the iPad Kindle books will be available in full color. Just imagine having the iPad in the kitchen and being able to flip through pages of recipe books. This will do very well since it’s hitting the Apple iPad’s supposed niche market. Also note, creating notes and highlighting text is also available — perfect for students and textbooks.

Note: I made these images using Amazon’s iPad screenshots and Kevin Andersson’s iPad Template.

And let’s not forget iBooks, Apple’s official book store app! You’ll be able to purchase books for your iPad. Just keep in mind that these books will only be readable on the iPad whereas your purchased Kindle books are readable on Mac / PC /iPhone and iPad.

Apps for Comic Book Lovers

I really enjoy reading comic books on my iPhone, but I do miss the big colorful pages of a real comic book. And now that the iPad is here, seeing comic books in their true glory! Here are three comic book apps you can look forward to on your iPad!

Panel Fly

Read more about Panel Fly at PanelFly.com

Comic Zeal

Read more about Comic Zeal at their official website.

iVerse Media

Read more about iVerse Media Comics at iVerse Comics.com.

An App to Magazine Lovers

Adobe has teamed up with Wired Magazine to bring to you this amazing app for the iPad. The app allows you to view the magazine in full motion, where products in ads can be rotated by simple hand gestures, stories come to life by simple tapping, and much, much more. The content and advertisements are consumed by the user in a much more enriching experiment. See a video demo here.

Apps for Musicians

We’ve seen how Smule changed the iPhone experience with their Ocarina iPhone app, now imagine the kinds of music-related apps that are more adaptable to a bigger screen. Music sheets will be readable, DJ-ing apps would make more sense, and so much more!

MidiPad
Now it’s possible to scratch and dj your next party right on the iPad! Create new music and do live performances with confidence! See their website for more information.

For Score
If you are a classical musician or enjoy reading music sheets, this app is simply gorgeous! Can you picture the iPad sitting on top of the piano as you play a piece from “Phantom of the Opera?” Lovely!

Read more about For Score at ForScoreApp.com

Apps for the Gamers

Plants vs Zombies – If you haven’t played or even heard of this game yet, you must be living under a rock. It’s one of the most addictive games ever. Available on most platforms, it’s no surprise that it’ll be available for the iPad as well. What is surprising though is that it’ll be in the first batch of apps available in the iPad store!

Plants vs. Zombies is currently available for the iPhone/iPod touch for $2.99 and $7.99 for the PC/Mac versions. For the iPad, it’s $9.99, but that’s for all the extra finger-tapping fun!

GameTable brings back the good old days of gaming in the park or indoors during rainy day schedule! But what’s great is, there will be no small game pieces to pick up after the game is over. This is one app that makes total sense on the iPad and not on the iPhone. Read more about GameTable at GameTableApp.com

Igloo Games Arcade – One of the first apps I bought from the iTunes App store was Dizzy Bee by Igloo. It was also one of the first games that took advantage of the accelerometer. Guide the little bee and its fruit friends safely through the various puzzle. Definitely a fun game that you can get lost in. Dizzy Bee 2 came out after, and then FlipSide and Bed Bugs. What I really love about Igloo’s games are the beautiful high quality graphics and hours of entertainment they provide. It’s fabulous to hear that all 4 of their games will be available in just one iPad app. The iPad version is only 99 cents today (pre-launch sale) and will be back up to $6.99 tomorrow. Get it before the price goes up!

Diner Dash: Grilling Green Get ready for more finger tapping, time management fun! If you’re familiar with the Diner Dash series from Playfirst, you’ll be happy to know that a new Diner Dash game has come to the iPad! Get ready to help Flo grill up some food! The game is available for purchase for $4.99 in the iTunes App Store. Read more here.

Apps for Productivity

The iPad will be an excellent platform for gamers. But it will also be a great tool for the worker bee in you as well. Here are a few apps that will boost productivity. The Apple keyboard will be recommended for these types of apps, but not necessary.

Apple’s own iWork app: Pages, Keynote, and Numbers

So you view and edit your spreadsheets, documents, and presentations on the go!

Note: These are not hands-on reviews as I do not have an iPad yet. They are based on my experiences on the iPhone version or from what I’ve read about from the developers, or demos I’ve seen in videos. However, do expect the hands-on reviews once my iPad arrives!

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