Our favorite productivity apps for 2011 each have different ways of help you get more out of your iPhone , iPod cutaneous senses , or iPad . A pair of the winner below better upon the thing your iOS equipment already can do , return in ways that Apple ’s build up - in apps do n’t . And the other two sum up new and exciting feature to your iPad and iPhone , wee-wee you more rich in the process .
Due
iOS 5 acquaint a built - in Reminders app to go along with the many task - managers and to - do reminder offer already useable in the App Store . Still , we think Due fromPhocusis just about perfect when it come to quickly keep caterpillar track of the many midget tasks you need to accomplish during a given week . monitor creation in Due is simple and quick : You do n’t even have to name them , while custom presets allow you to heap up tasks for when you get up , get out of piece of work , or go to slumber . you may also add usage timekeeper for timed undertaking . The best part of Due , however , is its one - pat customization : Push reminders frontward , contribute repetition , recycle quondam tasks , and email or message others , all with no complication or supererogatory hassle . Combine that with a beautiful interface , the power to sync across gimmick , and unyielding push apprisal , and it ’s promiscuous to see why we ’ll never call for to be cue to boast our heart for Due.—Serenity Caldwell
Agenda Calendar
iOS devices also includea built - in Calendar app , but , frankly , it leaves a spate to be desire . For a nice upgrade , deform toApp Savvy’sAgenda Calendar , which use the same cloud - synced calendar data but makes it easier to see and manage . While Agenda works on both the iPad and iPhone , it ’s the latter version that smoothen : The app provides five views — multi - month , month , week ( an ongoing list ) , day , and event — and you simply swipe right or leave behind to see more or less point , respectively . In any eyeshot , swipe down or up to search back or frontward in your agenda , or knock the engagement ikon to promptly enter a appointment to see or to search for an event . you may share event detail via email , and if you ’ve installed Due , you may add custom alerts and reminders.—Dan Frakes
Screens
Your iOS twist does n’t come with a means to view your Mac or microcomputer sieve over a web , but plenty of App Store downloads offer to do so . Few take on the task with as much polish as Screens fromEdovia . The app ’s interface is attractive and elementary , but beneath that veneer is surprising power : There ’s support for multiple authentication methods , SSH tunneling , and multitouch motion . And Screens is no slouch when it comes to performance and stability . While it might be pricey compared to most of its contender , anybody who uses screen - share-out on a steady basis will find Screens deserving the money.—Dan Moren
Scanner Pro
Scanner Pro has been available on the App Store for for a while . YetReaddle’sapp — which turn your iPhone or television camera - fit out iPod touch into a portable document scanner — catch our eye this twelvemonth with update that supply batch document scanning and meliorate accompaniment for the Evernote and Dropbox online Service . As before , the documents you scan using Scanner Pro will equal the image calibre of what you ’d get from a consecrated electronic scanner . Those scans become PDF files , which you could watchword - protect , upload to an online file storage service , or mark from your iPhone ( provided you have EuroSmartz ’s Print n Share app ) . Scanner Pro is an refined means to expand the functionality of your smartphone.—Leah Yamshon
