My Top iPad (iPhone/Android) Apps

Many of my friends and family have been getting iPads in the last year, and most of them want to know which apps I use and why. The iPad comes with several apps built in, so I don’t want to cover those. I wanted to cover the apps that I use most from the iTunes store.

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Yesterday I was with my good friend Geoff. He recently got an iPad and wanted to use it for business. I was making a list of apps that Geoff should get, then I thought I should compile a full list of the most useful apps for business. Many of these apps are useful because they the connect to a desktop version of the software, and I find them useful for my main computer as well as my iPad.
You can find all these applications on the iTunes app store.
Evernote
I use Evernote to keep notes, copy web pages, and organise research. The great thing about this app is the way you can set up several devices. Everytime you create a note, it is stored online when you sync. If you go to another device ( phone, computer, laptop) and sync, your notes will be on that device. You can edit the notes, add pictures and audio files, and sync again. The changes will be available on all devices.

Another useful trick with Evernote is to use it for research. Evernote has a utility that you can plug into your web browser, that will clip a whole website, or part of a website. The plug-in will then store the note in the notebook you choose. When you synchronize your other devices they will then have this webpage. This makes a great utility for research. You can visit lots of sites clip all information you want and then organize the information into your research.
I found an iTunes U couse on evernote: http://itunes.apple.com/nz/course/evernote/id519409739
You should also get the desktop version of this app from: http://evernote.com/
Skype
I use Skype to stay in touch with clients, friends and family. It is invaluable for answering questions, keeping In touch. You can instant message, call, or video call contacts.

You should also get the desktop version of this app. Several years ago I met somone that ued Skype to run his large international business. He used Skype to stay in touch with parts of his business overseas.
http://www.skype.com/intl/en/home
Google
This app can be used to access all the google tools from one place.
I have had this app installed on my iPad for a long time. When I started to write this article I thought I better have another look at it. What I found out was that this app gives you instant access to all of your Google applications.
The screenshot below shows all the applications that you can access through this Google app. Notice that it gives you access to your Gmail, Google calendar, Google Docs, Google+, and so on. This makes it control central for all your Google apps.
It also has a built-in Google search at the top. The icon next to the search button is a microphone. If you tap the microphone, you can use it to audio search Google. Let me explain that. When you tap the microphone icon, you then speak into your iPad, Google will then translate this into text and then search for that text.

Dropbox
I use this regularly, and I’ve just had an invite from a subscriber to join his shared folder, so he can send me files, I use it to share files with clients, and I use it to share files from my desktop machine to my iPad.
Dropbox creates a folder on your computer that is syncronised with and online folder. When you add something to the dropbox folder on your computer, it is automatically uploaded to the online storage.

In my office, I use this for files that I need to access on different computers (some macintosh, some windows).
On my iPad, I use dropbox to access files from my desktop machine. For example, when I am teaching, I need to access my PDF manuals. If went to business meetings, I could access reports and letters, but you can also use google docs for this. You could use this to access PDF plans and drawings, but if you were going to site, you might find PlanGrid better.
iTunes U link to learning Dropbox: http://itunes.apple.com/nz/course/dropbox/id526156827
https://www.dropbox.com/
Kindle
There are so many books to read, this app allows you to read them on your ipad. It also synchronizes with your other devices so you are always on the current page.
Penultimate
This might seem a strange app, as it is designed for you to handwrite and sketch on your iPad. I used to use a moleskine notebook to keep meeting notes, phone call records and sketches. When I first got my iPad, I kept using the iPad and moleskine, until I found this app.
 
Google Drive
 
Blogsy
 
Facebook
PlanGrid
 
 
These are my everyday apps. I might add more to the list as I research the features of the apps on this list.
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