Best apps?

Yesterday someone sent me an ipad in the mail. It doesn't have much on it, other than what it's been set up to do for the particular task for which it was sent to me. But I'm allowed to use it for other things and would like to experiment a little.

What are the most useful things you have found? Someone showed me a stars app a few years ago, which would show you which stars you were looking at when you pointed it at the sky; looked pretty cool. I'm looking for interesting and useful stuff, rather than games and time-wasters, since I don't have a lot of that to spare... unless there's something incredibly cool!!!

Also, what sort of data usage do they suck up? I'm on a farmside satellite connection with a small cap and am considering changing my plan for a couple of reasons, including this new device in my possession.

All help gratefully received.

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-o_KxWnZwQfi3GKbno64P8vb3eerEzDm6-85KIiq4_foX1OGHaANx3tI2iV7q8ZLns2RYzT9RrnpnA1LLcKf4q-9BalTGKWuGC0TiTK-Ff2omd-U_XjLt29GcF0OmBbg

Hope this works better. I had trouble resizing the original and had to delete it.

Attached files

Thanks, that's really helpful.

Was this a stupid question, one beneath anyone's notice, or just so ho-hum because you've already all done this stuff ages ago?

Not a stupid question Ruth, just its very much a personal preference.

I, and so many I know all ask the same thing when they first get an ipad. The reality is, you'll download lots of apps, but after a while work out which ones you use regularly and which just clutter up your machine.

For me, the apps I use every day are.
The herald news app. I have the main NZ news apps, (1 news, 3 news, stuff) but my personal preference is the herald.
I have the met service weather app.
FB if that's your thing.
TM again if you're into that.
I use booking.com for my accommodation needs when travelling for work.
I have the photobucket app for uploading and sharing photos.
I use Pages quite a bit for writing up study notes and numbers for keeping track of some farming stuff etc I bought my iPad 2.5 years ago so had to pay for these, but they come free for the current iPads.
My kids have prezzi and matheletics apps on it.
I have no games but heaps more that I use once a month. Google maps etc
Also, I'm a Christian, so I also have quite a few different bible apps/versions and study companions.

Finally, I use the bookmark feature a lot in Safari so have all my regularly visited forums/sites bookmarked for quick reference. Outside of work reports, I do more of my internet time on my ipad than a desktop computer.

John

Thanks John, it's finding where to start, which flummoxed me. Personal recommendations are often very helpful and I appreciate yours.

Hi Ruth

My android tablet is in being fixed at the moment so I'm not sure what apps I have.

My favourite is ChefTap which saves recipes from webpages but I'm not sure if it's available for iPad. I also like FlipBook (?)

I have a number of meditation and yoga apps, which I download in an attempt to motivate me to do something....most have never been used. I do use an app for the 7-minute high impact workout but don't know what it's called.

There are probably more but I really can't remember []

Cheers
Kate

The best app for stars I have is Star Walk. Hold your ipad up to the stars and it show you what you are looking at.

Google Sky Map - looks just like Google Earth but looking up instead of down

I would suggest having a look at the webpages you use most frequently - many of them have apps that make things quick and easy - as mentioned above TM and FB are useful if you regularly use them. If you use gmail then that is one to grab.

Often, it's quite hard to answer the question "What apps should I get?" as that can be very personal and specific to the person - "What app should I get to do X?" is certianly easier to answer. For example, I have a personal android tablet that I use extensively at work. I have a pdf reader for viewing technical manuals, an engineers black book app for calcs etc, a conversion app (most of the tech manuals are in american) and a CAD app for viewing technical plans.

A browse of the app store can find hidden treasures too - have a look under different catergories that you know interest you (eg reference/utilities for me) and see what catches your eye.

Remember there are lots of free apps you can try too, just to see if you like something before shelling out for it. There are often other free apps, perhaps not as well known, that may do exactly what you are after so it's worth having a second look once you have found a particular app to see if there is another free one that will do the same thing.

Ruth, am only a few weeks ahead of you on this, I have an Asus memory pad 7 inch and loving it...big enough to read easily, small enough to treat as a paperback/kindle

The apps I have downloaded are mainly history/heritage ones - Waikato Wars, Nelson walks etc etc.

Also a few good te reo ones, to learn/practice with.

I originally got the tablet with hopes of using the new apps for Christchurch where you can see what it used to look like by holding the tablet up at a (now empty) city street. unfortunately (a) glossy screens a pain in the bum for seeing outside in the sunlight and (b) the versions of Android now on new tablets are too advanced to run the good bits of this app.

Technology is a wonderful thing when it is working...

Have also downloaded a QR reader app which allows you to scan those weird box-shaped bar code thingees on buildings/posters and get info about them.

And...downloaded a free app so can do basic Office files - Excel, Word etc - so I can use it as a notebook and then transfer to my laptop...

Learning new stuff about it every day. For me its more about being able to read sites like HistoryNZ and Te Ara Encyclopedia online when I want to rather than having to do it on my laptop which I always associate with work.

dare I say Candy Crush?

reggit;488692 wrote:

Also a few good te reo ones, to learn/practice with.

which are those? I downloaded a maori dictionary, but the interface for it is very cumbersome to use.

These are for android, but I assume there will be similar for an ipad

SatNav application, better than the google one as you do not need to use your data connection or have a phone signal in order for it to work

compass

spirit level
metal detector
where's my droid (obviously this particular one only for an android). gives you the location of your android device if you lose it and takes a picture of whoever is looking at it, if you think someone has stolen it.
an air printer, to let you print direct from your device without having to send it to the PC
an app that measures the height of things
camscanner, scans in documents and convert them to pdf, you can have multiple pages in the pdf and allows you to edit pdfs later.
bar code scanner
AVG - antivirus - essential in my book
Babylon - instant multi language translator
google drive
tarot apps
geonet (having live in chch, a bit of an essential)
gStrings - instrument tuner
piano
noise meter
photo editor
mp3 downloader (way quicker than using a laptop)
freeview tv guide
banking app
unit converter - inches - cms and every other conversion you could think possible.

Great ideas, thank you. It's not knowing what I don't know which hinders me - and not having the time to endlessly browse to see what might take my fancy.