Maybe you were lucky enough to awaken up Christmas morning to detect an iPad under the tree . Maybe one of the first six night of Hanukkah has bring a brand Modern iPod tactile sensation into your spirit . Maybe you decided to handle yourself to an iPhone this holiday season . Whatever the reasonableness , you find yourself the happy owner of a brand new iOS gimmick . But still there ’s that nagging inquiry :
What now ?
Your iPhone , iPod tactile sensation , or iPad is reasonably potent right out of the box . Apple has seen fit to charge up a number of yourself apps , from the Safari mobile internet browser all the room down to widget that tell you what the hourly forecast look like . But your iOS gimmick can do so much more . The App Store is bursting at the seams with great third - company apps that can birth even greater capableness to your mobile twist . The challenge : Where to bug out in a store that arrogate more than 500,000 apps ?
Star Walk
We can help . We latterly named ourtop iOS apps of 2011 . If those 32 offerings do n’t entice you , we bring up dozens of others ashonorable quotation for our App Gems awards . Still , the first - time iOS machine owner may have different want . With that in creative thinker , we ask our editor and app reviewers to name a handful of downloads they ’d suggest to someone just getting started with an iPhone , iPod trace , or iPad . We ’ve organized those picks by App Store class for easy browsing . We ’re certain there ’s more than a few apps that can get your iOS experience started on the right foot . ( And if you ’d rather not pay anything for your new apps , we also recommend 10 great free apps for the iPhone and iPad . )
Books
The Monster at the End of This Book : I hate to fall apart this to you now , but if you have kids , chances are your iOS gimmick is proceed to expend some substantial time in their hand . Why not make certain there ’s an app on your iPhone or iPad that they can delight ? This ebook adaptation of the beloved nestling ’s al-Qur’an makes great economic consumption of the iOS interface to draw immature proofreader — and you — into the story.—Philip Michaels
The Monster at the final stage of This Book : $ 4 ; Optimized for iPhone , iPod touch , and iPad
Education
Star Walk
Star Walk : If you ’re the kind of someone who , at dark , looks to the heavens and questions “ What ’s that ? ” Star Walk is for you . Also usable in an iPad edition ( $ 5 ) , Star Walk is a great app for identifying and pick up more about objects in the Nox sky.—Christopher Breen
Star Walk : $ 2 ; Optimized for iPhone and iPod touch
Carcassonne
Entertainment
Drawing Pad : Drawing Pad offers a variety of art utensil ( markers , blusher brushes , crayon ) and paper styles — as well as the ability to import your own photos — for endless doodle fun . Harried parent know : It ’s a great beguilement for young kids.—Joel Mathis
Drawing Pad : $ 2 ; Optimized for iPad
Games
Angry bird : malefic gullible slovenly person have stolen a flock of flightless hiss ’ eggs , and the birds require revenge . In this clever purgative - based puzzle app — or its masses of App Store follow - ups — you need to slingshot several unambiguously gifted birds towards the pigs ’ fortifications , utilize each bird ’s power in an attempt to remove the stage of pig before you go out of avian ammo.—Chris Holt
furious Birds : $ 1 ; optimise for iPhone and iPod jot
Carcassonne
Fruit Ninja
Carcassonne : Featuring gorgeous graphics and fantabulous gameplay , Carcassonne convey all the fun of the kinfolk - favorable board secret plan and puts it on the iPad and iPhone . The app ’s best characteristic are its extensive multiplayer livelihood ( on a single equipment , on your local internet , or over the Internet ) and its ruthlessly good computer opponents.—Jason Snell
Carcassonne : $ 10 ; Optimized for iPhone , iPod tactual sensation , and iPad
Crosswords : Need a ten - varsity letter intelligence for the best iOS crossword puzzle app around ? Crosswords draw off puzzles from multiple sources , include The Onion A.V. Club , Chronicle of Higher Education , People Magazine and , if you ’ve got a subscription to theNew York Times , the Gray Lady herself . The power to quickly grab all the latest puzzle , livelihood for “ ink ” or “ pencil ” entries , and syncing between Io gimmick make this app an easy solution.—Dan Moren
Scrabble for iPad
crossword : $ 10 ; Optimized for iPhone , iPod touch , and iPad
Cut the Rope : In this lovely kid - friendly puzzle game , your end is to draw a composition of confect to a thirsty dinosaur name Om Nom . But cut the rope is only part of the challenge , as you ’ll want to outsmart obstacles , plan your moves , and time your actions with little margin for error . You would n’t want Om Nom to go thirsty , would you?—Chris Holt
rationalise the Rope : $ 1 : Optimized for iPhone and iPod touch
InMyBar
Flight Control : In Flight Control , you play as an melodic line traffic controller who needs to draw a route for every aircraft on the screen to land safely , ensuring that each craft nullify the others in an progressively - crowded sky . Quick reflexes and the power to multi - task will help you stand out in this iPhone game ( or its iPad opposite number ) that escalate quickly but never stop over being fun.—Chris Holt
Flight Control : $ 1 ; Optimized for iPhone and iPod touch
Fruit Ninja
GarageBand
Fruit Ninja : Whether on the iPad or in this iPhone offering , Fruit Ninja take out the katana - wield lunatic in all of us . merely flick your finger across the screen and watch as you expertly carve up a piece of produce . But as each leg deteriorate into a chaotic display of flying fruit , exploding juices , and lethal bombs — only then will you know if you are truly a Fruit Ninja master.—Chris Holt
Fruit Ninja : $ 1 ; Optimized for iPhone and iPod touch
Quordy : My favorite iPhone biz is basically Boggle , in which you shape give-and-take from a random solicitation of letter by draw them out with your finger . It ’s beautifully implemented , peculiarly in how it handles head - to - head play with your friends . ( My Quordy record against my wife is currently 35 - 78 , but that has n’t stopped me from playing . It ’s fun even when I ’m being beaten into a pulp.)—Jason Snell
Instacast
Quordy : $ 3 ; optimise for iPhone and iPod touch
Scrabble for iPad
Scrabble for iPad : Pricey ? Yes . Worth it ? Absolutely . ( And if you time your purchase right , you might be able to get this game or its iPhone vis-a-vis for just $ 1 as part of a vacation - themed sales event for Electronic Arts apps . ) take exception the data processor , or roleplay against friends via Facebook or over Wi - Fi networks . And you’re able to use your iPhone as the tile rack for your letter and “ flick ” them to the gameboard on the tablet.—Joel Mathis
Instagallery
Scrabble for iPad : $ 10 ; Optimized for iPad
Super Stickman Golf : Every iOS gadget needs a biz , and few can match the combination of hilarity and foiling that Super Stickman Golf offers — particularly when you strain out the powerful multiplayer capacity . It ’s all about your intention and physic as you sail the biz ’s plentiful , colorful courses.—Lex Milton Friedman
Super Stickman Golf : $ 1 ; optimize for iPhone , iPod touch , and iPad
Fast Calendar & Tasks
Tiny wing : Tiny Wings evidence that the simple of game can often be the most challenging . Utilizing a simplistic “ one button ” control scheme that is well-situated to pick up and tough to get the hang , you must guide a petite flightless bird as it hops , skips , and slides through multiple islands before the end of each day.—Chris Holt
Tiny Wings : $ 1 ; Optimized for iPhone and iPod touch
Words With friend : fan of Holy Scripture biz will be intimate this Scrabble - like game , which lets you act multiple game — with friend or complete strangers — at the same time over the cyberspace . When it ’s your turn in any secret plan , the app uses an iOS notification to alarm you ; an in - plot chat feature lets you junk talk ( using big words , of course ) . I ’m highlighting the iPhone version here , but iPad owners take eminence that there ’s also a Words With Friends specifically for your machine.—Dan Frakes
Pages
Words With Friends : $ 3 ; optimize for iPhone and iPod tinge
Lifestyle
mean solar day One : I ’ve kept a daybook intermittently for a tenacious time , but have always struggled with making it a even use . sidereal day One has alter that . The simple journaling app helps me keep on maintain on by popping up occasional reminders to write . No matter where I write , the entry syncs across my iOS devices and theseparate Mac version of the softwareautomatically through Dropbox.—Jeff Merron
InMyBar
Day One : $ 2 ; Optimized for iPhone , iPod touch modality , and iPad
FlightTrack Pro
InMyBar : I love a well cocktail every now and again , but I ’m not always certain if I have the makings foranycocktail , let alone a good one . Fortunately , by log the contents of my booze console in the clever InMyBar , the app can inform me what I ’m capable of worst up based on the ingredients at script . It ’s a great increase to any amateur bartender ’s iPhone.—Philip Michaels
InMyBar : $ 1 ; optimise for iPhone and iPod touch
Music
FluxTunes : FluxTunes let you play your tunes in the machine safely : It fills your iPhone ’s blind with the current track ’s record album fine art and information , letting you control playback and adjust volume with no - look swipes and gestures.—Dan Frakes
FluxTunes : $ 1 ; optimise for iPhone and iPod touch
GarageBand
Air Video
GarageBand : Apple proved that iPads ( and iPhones ) are for creation just as much as consumption . For $ 5 , you get a powerful regalia of synthesizers , samplers , tympan machines , guitar , and basses . The app give it simple for beginner to produce music , and for experts to create masterpieces . No iOS machine should be without it.—Lex Milton Friedman
GarageBand : $ 5 ; optimize for iPhone , iPod touch , and iPad
Moodagent : The shuffle mood in your Music app swear out up a variety of music , but going from Coldplay to Cole Porter can be a jarring passage for even the most eclectic euphony lover . For more seamless mixes , check out Moodagent , which uses sliders to create play list that fit your mood.—Philip Michael
WeatherBug Elite
Moodagent : $ 5 ; Optimized for iPhone and iPod touch
Shazam Encore : Whenever I ’m out and about and get word an interesting song that I just ca n’t recognize , I no longer have to wallow in ignorance . I just lash out my iPhone , launch Shazam Encore , and tap the app to capture a snip of the birdcall . Within a few seconds , Shazam return the name of the Sung dynasty and artist along with a liaison to traverse in iTunes and — in some pillowcase — lyrics . While there ’s a innocent version of Shazam available , this paid version lets you tag and ID an unlimited number of songs.—Philip Michaels
Shazam Encore : $ 6 ; Optimized for iPhone and iPod tactile sensation
Navigation
AutoPark : If you routinely forget where you ’ve park your car or need reminding when the meter ’s about the run out , you need AutoPark . Using fix services AutoPark can help guide you back to your vehicle.—Christopher Breen
AutoPark : $ 5 ; Optimized for iPhone and iPod spot
Navigon USA : I would literally be lost without my iPhone . arm with it , and Navigon , I ’ll never need another GPS building block . Navigon offers splendidly rendered 3 - 500 maps , text - to - speech for judge street names , and all the other subtlety you ’d expect from a full - featured navigation system.—Lex Friedman
Navigon USA : $ 30 ; Optimized for iPhone , iPod tactile sensation , and iPad
News
Instacast
Instacast : If you listen to podcasts , get Instacast . It lets you download and listen to podcasts without doing what Apple require you to do — namely hooking your iOS gadget up to a computing machine and syncing new episodes from there . thin the corduroy and enjoy the latest podcasts wherever you are.—Jason Snell
Instacast : $ 2 ; Optimized for iPhone and iPod touch
Instapaper : There ’s no shortage of interesting info to read on the entanglement , but never enough time in which to read it . Let Instapaper facilitate you relieve and catalogue those lengthy articles for after online or offline reading.—Serenity Caldwell
Instapaper : $ 5 ; optimize for iPhone , iPod touch , and iPad
The New Yorker Magazine : Many magazine apps for iPad are plainly glorified PDFs of the print issue . They should or else emulateThe New Yorker , which propose all the great content of its real - human race predecessor , plus iPad - appropriate pilotage and multimedia.—Joel Mathis
The New Yorker Magazine : $ 6 monthly subscription ; Optimized for iPad
Reeder for iPad : If you pledge to news feeds , there ’s no more pleasant way to navigate those feeds than with Reeder . Available for the iPhone as well in this iPad incarnation , Reeder provides an elegant manner to show and share stories from around the Web.—Lex Friedman
Reeder for iPad : $ 5 ; optimise for iPad
Photo & Video
iMovie : With iMovie , you could wow your congenator and trim together laughable present moment from your holiday party right on your iOS twist . Record video immediately and cut it , supply transitions , and mark it with a song from your iTunes library , theme music , or sound effects.—Serenity Caldwell
iMovie : $ 5 ; Optimized for iPhone and iPod speck
Instagallery
Instagallery : Instagram is one of the most pop iPhone exposure apps , but viewing its photos can be difficult away from the French telephone . Instagallery lets you deal and view photos from your iOS machine , do them see especially attractive when you ’re exhibit them on an iPad.—Joel Mathis
Instagallery : $ 2 ; Optimized for iPhone , iPod touch sensation , and iPad
Snapseed : If you ’re looking for an well-off fashion to cut and raise the photos you take with your iOS equipment ’s camera , Snapseed ’s got you cover . Not only are the many personal effects impressive , but the app could n’t be much easier to use.—Christopher Breen
Snapseed : $ 5 ; optimise for iPhone , iPod touch , and iPad
Productivity
Convert ~ the whole calculator : This well-disposed , well - designed app lets you convert units of measure , temperatures , up-to-dateness , and more . When I require to figure how how many Danish Kroner are in a U.S. Dollar , or how many ounce are in a cubic decimeter , or what a warm 80 - stage day is when I ’m talking to Canadians , Convert is the app that does the job.—Jason Snell
Convert : $ 1 ; Optimized for iPhone and iPod touch
Due : Apple ’s Reminders app exploit well with Siri , but it ’s a bit limited on its own . Due is a marvellous add-on to your reminder roster , provide speedy ways to fix up and modify events , a set of multiple timers , and a logbook for all your past activities.—Serenity Caldwell
Due : $ 5 ; optimize for iPhone , iPod touching , and iPad
element : If your on - the - go piece of writing demand more than what the built - in Notes app has to tender , Elements is an elegant but adequate to text editor program that sync with Dropbox , so you may get at the same documents on all your devices and computers . It offer a gracious choice of fonts , illumination and dark modes , and a commodious scratchpad . you could also publish text to Tumblr and Facebook , and if you useMarkdown , Elements includes hypertext markup language preview and export features.—Dan Frakes
Elements : $ 5 ; Optimized for iPhone , iPod touch , and iPad
Fast Calendar & Tasks
Fast Calendar & Tasks : If the built - in Calendar app does n’t quite strickle your fancy , Fast Calendar & Tasks ( formerly known as Calvetica ) is an excellent choice . Sporting a Spartan design influenced by the Helvetica font , this app let you view and organize all your calendars , edit detail , and supply alarms.—Serenity Caldwell
Fast Calendar & Tasks : $ 3 ; optimise for iPhone , iPod trace , and iPad
GoodReader for iPad : This all - aim document reader for the iPad keeps catch good ( as does the iPhone interpretation of GoodReader ) . While it ’s always excelled at providing user with great cock for downloading , viewing , and mark up PDFs and many other types of files . GoodReader also allow you consider and process with text , iWork , and Microsoft Office text file , and download and observe or listen to audio and TV single file from a potpourri of pop cloud services.—Jeff Merron
GoodReader for iPad : $ 5 ; Optimized for iPad
Keynote : The deceptive easiness of Apple ’s presentation app belies remarkable power . Not only can you represent right from your iOS twist ( with the correct adapters ) , but it ’s well-situated to create and edit your slideshows , all over with animations , multimedia , and transitions . Plus , iCloud sustain those files synced across all your iOS devices.—Dan Moren
Keynote : $ 10 ; Optimized for iPhone , iPod touch , and iPad
Notability : While there are lots of banker’s bill - remove apps , Notability may be the most complete one I ’ve used . It includes the ability to write and draw with your finger , book part memos , annotate PDF files , and sync your notes with Dropbox.—Christopher Breen
guiding light : $ 1 ; optimize for iPad
Pages
page : Whether or not you use Pages on the Mac , the iOS version of Apple ’s flagship word processor is full - featured in its mobile form . Just about anything you’re able to do on a data processor , you’re able to do on your iPhone or iPad , including even comparatively complex project such as creating footer , headers , and footers , and inserting and manipulating graphics and tables.—Jeff Merron
Page : $ 10 ; Optimized for iPhone , iPod touch , and iPad
Pear Note : Perfect for scholarly person , Pear Note record audio while you typecast , then sync your papers to the recording . tap a Son later and you could hear what was being aver at that exact moment , letting you flesh out and ensure the accuracy of your notes.—Joel Mathis
Pear Note : $ 5 ; optimise for iPad
TextExpander : The iOS version of the venerable Mac utility , TextExpander Touch works withwell over 100third - party school text - focused apps ( including element , listed above ) to make it easier to type often used snippets of textual matter . You just typewrite a simple abbreviation , and TextExpander mechanically expands that abbreviation to its corresponding farsighted text blurb . ( For instance , addycould expand to your full postal speech . ) It even sync with the Mac version , so you may use the same snippets under OS X and iOS.—Dan Frakes
TextExpander : $ 5 ; optimize for iPhone , iPod touch , and iPad
write Kit : There are a lot of Dropbox - power textbook editors for iOS , but feature such as a Quick Research control board that lets you speedily look up word definition and inquire topics , touchscreen ascendence for easily moving the insertion point , and a ramp up - in Web web browser app give Writing Kit a serious bound . Integration with a smattering of popular services and apps and documentation for the Markdown markup voice communication do n’t hurt either.—Dan Moren
Writing Kit : $ 5 ; Optimized for iPhone , iPod touch , and iPad
Social Networking
Beejive IM with Push : If you ’re looking for an instant - message app without equal , BeejiveIM ’s at the top of the leaning , with support for passably much every major IM internet , include AIM , Yahoo Messenger , Jabber , MSN , Facebook , Google Talk , and more . you’re able to even transfer images , videos , and other files while you ’re in a chat . iPad proprietor can get the same features in an app optimized for their gadget with Beejive IM for iPad.—Dan Moren
Beejive IM with Push : $ 5 ; optimise for iPhone and iPod touch
Tweetbot : The App Store is plethoric with Twitter apps , but none make the microblogging servicing more fun to sail than Tweetbot . Beyond its clever visual pattern and cute sound effects , the app offers easy - to - master gestures for apace exploring tweets , replies , and conversations.—Lex Milton Friedman
Tweetbot : $ 3 ; optimise for iPhone and iPod touch
Travel
FlightTrack Pro
FlightTrack Pro : It may be firebrand - newfangled , but your iOS machine can avail you out decently off the bat . Have a escape to get back home ? Picking up someone at the airdrome ? FlightTrack Pro offers unclouded , detailed information about flight , airport , and planes , giving you everything you require to know for that next airport excursion . you could even share flight details via electronic mail , text message , Twitter , or Facebook.—Serenity Caldwell
FlightTrack Pro : $ 10 ; Optimized for iPhone , iPod touch , and iPad
LocalEats : Life is too short to pass one mo in a chain restaurant . LocalEats is a athirst traveller ’s good friend , serve up recommendations on great local eateries , help you find the ones closest to wherever you happend to be . late updates have bestow fare information and daily deals to further whet your appetite.—Philip Michaels
LocalEats : $ 1 ; Optimized for iPhone and iPod touch
Utilities
1Password Pro : This utility enables you to firmly save usernames , passwords , credit card and other account information — anything you want to keep from prise eyes . All you need to remember is your 1Password Pro password to save and get at sensitive information . It ’s easy to securely sync with the 1Password Programs for the Mac and Windows , as well . In a word : Indispensable.—Jeff Merron
1Password Pro : $ 15 ; optimize for iPhone , iPod touch , and iPad
Air Video
Air Video : Install Air Video on your iOS machine , lay out up the simple Air Video Server on your Mac or Windows machine , and then teem any video you want over your Wi - Fi web . If the video is n’t Io - compatible , Air Video will convert it for you , either on the fly ball or in the background.—Jeff Merron
Air Video : $ 3 ; optimise for iPhone , iPod soupcon , and iPad
FileBrowser : There are many schemes for accessing filing cabinet on your computer from your iOS twist but FileBrowser is one of the easiest . Just enter the IP savoir-faire for a computer on your local web and you could expend FileBrowser to simulate files from that calculator to your twist . If you have an app subject of opening that file , you could do that too.—Christopher Breen
FileBrowser : $ 5 ; optimise for iPhone , iPod touch , and iPad
iTeleport : VNC : This is the app you need if you require to control your Mac ( or PC ) from your iPhone or iPad . I use iTeleport to check on my Mac at home when I ’m on the road or in the other room . If you need remote memory access to your Mac ’s blind from somewhere else , iTeleport will do the job.—Jason Snell
iTeleport : VNC : $ 25 ; optimise for iPhone , iPod touch , and iPad
PCalc : A considerable upgrade over the iPhone ’s Calculator app — or the only iPad calculator you ’ll ever require — PCalc ’s refined interface offers a full scientific reckoner , a practical tape , and even RPN ( Reverse Polish Notation ) input . It ’s also a nifty unit - rebirth utility , and lots of interface customizations round out out the package.—Dan Frakes
PCalc : $ 10 ; Optimized for iPhone , iPod speck , and iPad
WeatherBug Elite
Weather
WeatherBug Elite : Apple ’s Weather app for iPhone is pretty bare bones , so for more information turn to WeatherBug Elite . With support for severe atmospheric condition warning and alert , elaborate prognosis , local conditions cams , and — best of all — multi - layer maps , this app should satisfy even the most consecrated meteorological enthusiasts.—Dan Moren
WeatherBug Elite : $ 1 ; Optimized for iPhone and iPod sense of touch
