I put together atop ten iPhone app list, so I thought I would also put together a list of my most used iPad apps in 2015. While some of the apps I use are on both devices, I won’t just repeat my iPhone list, so here are several that I prefer on the iPad.
Evernote
Evernote is where I do all of my writing. The main reason is that it syncs to my computers and makes it easy to post articles to my website. I also use it with Pocket. Pocket is an app that allows you to save articles from the web and most reading apps. When an article shows up in Pocket, I can either read it later or if I know I want to have it for reference later I can share it to Evernote.
Texture
Texture is the Netflix for magazines. I have been a huge fan of magazines for years. Yes, blogs and the web have curtailed that a bit, but Texture gives you access to tons of magazines for $9.99_ a month. I can access just about every magazine I like to read using this app. Some examples are Shutterbug, Consumer Reports, MacWorld, PC Magazine, Popular Photography, Dwell, etc…). It is also convenient to be able to pull up older issues and creating a favorite list of the stuff I want to read. If they would just add Outdoor Photography, I could drop Zinio (the app that lets you buy subscriptions for individual magazines).
Plex
_This is a great app for accessing music, movies, and photos from a computer or NAS running the Plex Media Server.
USA Today
Free and has the added benefit of having video weaved in with their articles.
YouTube and YouPlayer
I watch so much YouTube these days that I am thinking about subscribing to YouTube Red. The YouPlayer app will allow you to use the picture in picture feature of the iPad, so I use it when I want to surf the web with Youtube running in the corner of the screen.
Kindle
I read a lot of cooking and photography books, so I love the Amazon Kindle app on the iPad. While I do have a regular Kindle for reading by the pool or at the beach (it is much better in bright sun and I don’t mind getting sand on it), I prefer reading on the iPad when I am inside. Books with photographs included look amazing on the retina screen.
Snapseed
This is still my “go to” photography editing app. Google made some nice improvements this year that made it even better.
Wunderlist
This is what we use to put together our shopping lists. I like seeing the lists on a larger screen when I put them together and then they can be accessed from the Mac, iPhone, or Apple Watch. As you can tell, I like cross platform apps, so that I can access what I need/want no matter what device I am in front of.
Lynda
I am always looking to learn new things and Lynda’s fantastic service makes that easy. I posted a couple videos this year on Youtube and it would have been much harder to learn how to setup a channel, how to use iMove, etc.. without Lynda.
Duet Display
This makes the iPad a second display for the Mac. I have AirDisplay that will do this wirelessly, but I typically just connect the iPad to the MBP using USB and this app and I am up and running. Very convenient, no noticeable lag, and great for using apps like Lightroom when I am away from my desktop. Below was one of my first videos showing how to use it with a"mountie".
The Wrap Up
I am still a huge fan of the iPad and it would be the hardest Apple device in my collection to replace with something from another company. The size, speed, battery, apps, and great looking retina display all make it a dream to use. I still feel like I could get more out of it, which is why I am also putting together a list of apps I want to use (or use more) in 2016.
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