The wait is over, and iPads are being opened across Australia. But what to load first? Here are our 12 must-tries; what are you loading onto your iPad?
Well, the wait is over and iPads are being unwrapped all over Australia in a higher-tech, adult-focused version of Christmas in, er, May. We got our hands on an iPad this morning – the last 3G-model box available, as it turns out – and can’t wait to get stuck into it over the weekend.
But what to load first? Here, based on long-growing anticipation and browsing through the App Store, are a dozen apps that are likely to be the first onto our new toy – once we get to the shops and load up enough iTunes credit to cover them all.
DropBox. This indispensable file-syncing tool was already hugely useful on the iPhone, and the expanded iPad display seems almost set to turn it into a proper file manager. A must-have for people who need to access information on the go.
Star Walk for iPad. This planetarium-in-your-pocket app crams loads of information -- along with the ability to display the current night sky based on your location. $5.99
Air
Display. This could be a killer app for the iPad: load up Air
Display, and your iPad becomes a second monitor for your iMac. Drag and
drop windows onto it or keep your email or Twitter feeds from cluttering
your main working area. $12.99
Real Racing HD. OK, OK, so it’s been shown just about everywhere. But Real Racing seems like one of those games that will really benefit from having a larger screen, compared with a not-entirely-convincing experience on the iPhone. $12.99
Pinball HD. Reviews have suggested this is one hot pinball game, and the iPad’s detailed screen should help it rock. Just watch the tilting. $3.99
Plants vs Zombies HD. We’ve never played it, but we appear to be in the minority. Games like this can only be better on a big screen, so we expect to be blown away. $12.99
Scrabble. This is one game that will definitely benefit from being on the big screen. We’ve spent far too much time playing Scrabble on the iPhone and squinting, so having it on a proper-sized screen can only be a massive improvement. $12.99.
Autodesk SketchBook Pro. The iPad’s potential as a drawing platform is obvious and significant. This full-featured art package will finally do away with the cumbersome process of drawing with a mouse. We’ve never been that good at fingerpainting, but we’ll give it a try to see just how well the interface complements the creative process. $9.99. Cheaper alternative:
ArtStudio for iPad ($1.19)
iQuarium HD. Not sure whether it rates or not, but this one looks like a great choice to have running on the iPad while it’s in its dock. $2.49
iSequence for iPad. The iPad’s potential role as a music creation and editing tool is significant. There are many options, but this one definitely looks worth trying. $8.99
tvGuide. Since the iPad may end up living in the lounge room a lot of the time, a one-touch TV guide seems like a natural use for it. And the price is right. $1.19
BoardBox. Board games are a natural use for the iPad, since it’s easily accessible by more than one user. BoardBox looks like a promising many-games-in-one app that should provide hours of good fun – with no lost pieces! $4.99
What awesome iPad apps have you discovered? Any that people should avoid?