The iPad has simplified our lives in many ways.
And it has changed the way we work and get things done.
I use my iPad daily at work and in my personal endeavors.
Often, I am asked for iPad app recommendations.
So, today I thought I would highlight 10 of my favorite iPad apps.
However, while I have focused on productivity, this list concentrates on apps other than traditional todo lists, etc.
10 Apps to Make Your iPad More Productive
Here are 10 Apps that should be on your iPad… and how they will save you time.
1 – Pocket
Pocket, (formerly called Read It Later), is where I store all the articles and web posts that I want to read.
It saves me time because it keeps me from endlessly surfing the web. When I find an article that I want to read, I simply use the bookmarklet to save it to Pocket. Then I can read all my saved articles on my iPad at a later time. Best of all, you can read anywhere, anytime, as it even has an offline mode which downloads your articles.
(PS – Pocket also integrates with Buffer App, so it also saves time in sharing articles to my friends and readers.)
Link: Pocket (Free)
2 – Mindmeister
When I want to brainstorm an idea, I usually use a mindmap. My mindmapping tool of choice is cloud-based MindMeister.
They have a great iPad app that can be used alone or with their online service. I use their subscription service and all of my maps are stored in the cloud.
Link: MindMeister for iPad (Free App – Online Subscription option)
3 – Day One
I believe that keeping a journal can make you more productive.
Day One is my favorite journal app for iPad. It syncs across all my platforms via Dropbox sync. So, my entries show up on my desktop app, as well.
Link: Day One Journal ($1.99)
4 – Simplenote
I have recently switched to Simplenote for capturing all my random notes. Evernote is another great solution, however I find for simple thoughts and idea capture, that Simplenote is quicker and simpler.
It syncs via the cloud to all my devices and my desktop. This is where I capture all my blog post ideas.
Link: Simplenote (Free)
5 – Reeder
Reeder is the best RSS reader for iPad. It syncs to your Google Reader account so that your unread articles are always up-to-date.
It has a great interface that includes pinching to open folders and close articles. Reeder is where I keep all the blog RSS feeds that I read.
Link: Reeder for iPad ($4.99)
6 – Dropbox
Dropbox is the simplest, quickest way to get to your files and important documents when mobile.
I save time using Dropbox because I can access and share my files from my iPad no matter where I am. I cannot count the number of times that I have solved an issue by accessing a document in my Dropbox while away from my computer.
7 – iPhoto
Who needs a computer to edit photos? You can do it right on your iPad.
Apple’s iPhoto for iPad is truly amazing. Don’t be fooled by the simple interface, there is plenty of editing power here.
I edit photos on my iPad and then they are available via PhotoStream on all my devices.
8 – Spotify
Spotify is my favorite music online service. In fact, I haven’t bought a traditional album since I joined their service last year.
It is like having an unlimited music library in the cloud. (Which is pretty much what it is…)
Spotify saves me time because I never have to worry about syncing my music. No matter where I am or what device I am on… my music is there.
They have recently added Spotify radio which is free. Or they have subscription services for unlimited music.
Link: Spotify (Free – Subscription Options)
9 – Skitch
Screen capture and markup on the iPad? Yes, indeed. And Skitch for iPad has the same interface as the desktop version.
Skitch saves me time when I need to quickly explain a screenshot. The pic above was a communication between myself and my web designer about the layout of the TMN site. Instead of writing a long text, I was able to quickly and visually show what I was trying to say.
Skitch is now owned by Evernote, so you can send your markups directly to your Evernote account.
Link: Skitch for iPad (Free)
10 – Scanner Pro
I saved one of the best for last.
With the improved camera on the new iPad, the device now makes a great document scanning device.
Scanner Pro is my mobile solution for when I need to quickly scan a document. It handles black-and-white and color scans, and does multiple page documents with ease.
Link: Scanner Pro ($6.99)
Question: What are your favorite iPad apps that help your productivity? Please share your recommendations below!
(Note: App Links above are affiliate links to the App Store. I personally use all the apps recommended.)
Please note: I reserve the right to delete comments that are offensive or off-topic.