Right from the time the iPad was launched, there have been debates about whether the iPad would replace the, then popular, netbook phenomenon. At that time, the proponents and opponents was fairly equal. That was then, but today we are clearly in a position to state that the iPad is indeed an entertainment gadget worthy of doubling as a productivity device and can do almost everything that you can do using a netbook. To prove our point, we have enlisted a few apps that will show off ways in which the iPad’s productivity potential can be realized.
1.Keynote
Price: ₨ 447.77 (US$9.99)
URL: Open in iTunes
Version: 1.3.2
Size: 66.9 MB
iOS version required: 4.2 or later
After looking at a word processor and a PDF reader, we shall take a look at a presentation application for the iPad. Known as Keynote, this is again an adaptation of the Mac version of the software for the iPad. You can make professional-looking presentations with animated charts and transitions using the multi-touch interface.
The beautiful Apple-designed themes and stunning animations and effects allow creation of amazing presentations in just a few taps using one of the eight slide masters. You can choose from 12 Apple-designed themes, and drag objects over the slides. There are over 20 professional-quality slide transitions to choose from to spice up the presentation. Importing a Keynote ’09 or Microsoft PowerPoint file is also possible. Photos and videos can be added to the presentation slides using the Photo app with the Media Browser. You can use beautiful tables and charts to organise and show off your data, brought to life with high-quality animations. Just like its Mac counterpart, Keynote for iPad will not cease to amaze you.
2.Numbers
Price: ₨ 447.77 (US$9.99)
URL: Open in iTunes
Version: 1.3.1
Size: 69.9 MB
iOS version required: 4.2 or later
Numbers is a powerful spreadsheet application for the Mac, and this version is the redesigned one for the iPad. Creating spreadsheets using the multi-touch controls is easy. Being on the iPad does not mean that you miss out on any functionality of the full Mac application. There are over 250 easy-to-use functions available to be used in this spreadsheet app. You can organize your data and perform calculations with just a few taps. Flexible tables with eye-catching charts and an intelligent keyboard, designed specifically to work with numbers, text, dates and formulae, let you create amazing spreadsheets, which you can customize using predefined styles for tables, charts, images and text. You can create a new spreadsheet document or open one created in Numbers ’09, Microsoft Excel or CSV file.
Once you have created the spreadsheet, you can view it fullscreen on the iPad or send it to MobileMe iDisk, Mac or PC using WebDAV. You can also print the spreadsheet wirelessly using AirPrint. If you happen to be one to use spreadsheet applications often, then Numbers is an indispensable app for you.
3.Penultimate
Price: ₨ 89.2 (US$1.99)
URL: Open in iTunes
Version: 3.0.1
Size: 17 MB
iOS version required: 3.2 or later
Penultimate has been crowned as the best-selling handwriting app for iPad for over a year, and it is no surprise when you actually use it. Using the app is as close to writing on actual paper as it can, while you write on the iPad’s touchscreen. This app can be used to take notes, make sketches or simply scribble your ideas while you are on the move, so you can share them later.
A notebook-like interface will welcome you when you first open this app and walk you through all the major features of the app. To customize the app, you can visit The Paper Shop in the app to search and download any of the multiple photo-realistic paper styles available along with eraser tool. Similarly, you can also download attractive templates from here as well.
The app is intelligent enough to incorporate, what is known as Wrist protection technology, which essentially means that no unnecessary smudge marks appear in documents due to accidental rubbing of the wrist on the touchscreen. Files can be saved as images or PDF formats so that they can be easily opened by anyone. With a simple uncluttered and easy to use interface, Penultimate is the ultimate in handwriting recognition apps for the iPad and at ₨ 89.2 (US$1.99,) it is well worth the price.
4.Pages
Price: ₨ 447.77 (US$9.99)
URL: Open in iTunes
Version: 1.3.1
Size: 51.3 MB
iOS version required: 4.2 or later
Pages is a powerful word processor for Mac, redesigned in this version for the iPad. Using Pages, along with normal documents, you can create letters, flyers, brochures, reports, etc. Ready-made templates let you create documents of your choice of colours, fonts and textures, or you can even import from Pages ’09, Microsoft Word or a text file.
Documents can also be imported from existing Pages or Microsoft Word document from Mail, your MobileMe iDisk, or aWebDAV service. After creating the document, you can share them or even publish them to iWork.com public beta. You can also print them wirelessly using AirPrint. You can use the large, onscreen keyboard to edit your documents, but you can also use the optional iPad Keyboard Dock to do the same.
Editing is as easy as you would do on your computer. Images and videos can be imported from the Photo app with theMedia Browser. There is even a nifty option to wrap text dynamically around the imported images. Documents are autosaved periodically as you type, so you do not have to worry about having to save them manually. Documents can also be saved as PDF for the sake of cross-platform portability. At ₨ 447.77 (US$9.99,) this is an application you should not give a miss.
5.GoodReader
Price: ₨ 223.66 (US$4.99)
URL: Open in iTunes
Version: 3.7.0
Size: 13.6 MB
iOS version required: 3.2 or later
GoodReader may appear as a good PDF reader at first glance, but the fact is that it is good is an excellent file manager too. GoodReader can easily and quickly open huge PDF and TXT files with sizes over 100 MB, which is something not done by any of its competitors. You can also mark-up PDFs for annotations, which opens new possibilities using the typewriter text boxes, sticky notes, lines, arrows, and freehand drawings present near the top of the window.
Other popular file formats such as MS Office documents, iWork ’08 and ’09 documents, HTML webarchives, high resolution images, audio and even video files are supported. File management capabilities such as creating folders, move, copy and rename your files, ZIP, UNZIP and e-mail or even sending your files to other apps is possible. Lastly, this application also has the ability to sync your files and folders with remote servers such as iDisk, Dropbox,SugarSync and any WebDAV, FTP or SFTP server. At ₨ 89.2 (US$1.99,) this is the perfect way to handle your PDF files.
