With 3,500+ iPad apps in the Apple App Store, we are only at the tip of the iceberg. While a great start for a launch of a new device, big name players have yet to provide iPad formatted versions of their apps. Most notably Facebook and Tweetie, which has been bought by Twitter and will be positioned as the official Twitter client for the iPhone.
Now, you know us. We are addicts.
More specifically, Apple addicts. We have grown accustomed to using specific apps for specific functions. Whatever our reasons are, we continue to rely on these favorite iPhone apps. And now, a new internet-centric mobile device comes along and sweeps us off our collective feet with it’s blazing speed and raw power. Yet, in some cases, we are left to run some if not most of our most favored apps in native iPhone resolution, on a screen far superior to all other mobile devices. Sure, we can pixel double, but we aren’t about to make a time machine out of the iPad and step back to the low-res days of Windows 3.11.
So the team have each come up with a selection of top iPhone applications we depend on every single day, that we would like to see on the iPad! These aren’t your one trick ponies. These are applications deserving of the iPad’s horsepower and screen real estate. Have a look and leave yours in the comments below!
Arron
1. Tweetie 2 – It had to be said. Ever since the software was debuted by Loren Brichter of atebits, it’s been widely seen as the best of the bunch. For anyone who follows me on Twitter, they will know I love Tweetie. In fact, until I got my hands on the iPad and realised there wasn’t an iPad specific version of the software, it was the only client I used on both on my iPhone and Mac.
Tweetie is said to have single-handedly changed the way people look at Twitter on the move, especially on the iPhone and iPod touch, and considering the software was recently acquired by Twitter themselves, it’s clear Twitter thinks so too. My only hope is that the guys and girls at Twitter are sensitive to Tweetie’s current (gigantic) user base, rather than implementing intrusive ways to make a quick dime. I’m to believe Loren Brichter, the original developer of the software, is still part of the Tweetie development team, so hopefully guided direction will be given.
2. Spotify – For UK and European users, Spotify has quickly become a central system to stream any track on earth, to your Mac or PC, for free. When the company launched the iPhone app which requires a subscription, many people thought it was genius, the only problem was – no multitasking – meaning you had to stay in the app to listen to music.
Now, with the recent announcement of OS 4.0, the ability to throw apps into the background and this functionality set to hit the iPad this winter, Spotify fits the bill for a specific iPad app, perfectly. However, don’t count on its approval process being a speedy one .. Remember the iPhone version? Eek!
3. Photoshop – Not a watered down ‘Photoshop.com Mobile’, but a fully touch-aware version of Adobe’s desktop photo editing suite. Heck, if Apple can bring their entire desktop productivity suite iWork to the device, in a clean and user intuitive fashion, whats to stop Adobe substituting elements we’d usually use a mouse to navigate, for multi-touch?
In my eyes, as a designer, its a no-brainer. Sure, there are some great drawing tools already available for the iPad, Layers and Brushes to name just two, but none yet compare to what a multi-touch version of Photoshop could offer .. and with the iPad’s 9.7 inch high-res screen, the fit for this software to make it to this device eventually, couldn’t be more perfect.
4. PayPal – Although not an obvious choice, I tend to use this app on a daily basis. But currently the iPhone version doesn’t quite cut it. I think with the iPad’s larger screen size Paypal could really bring a more enhanced experience to customer accounts. But hey, PayPal, you listening? .. leave out the “Bump to Transfer” functionality aye? .. That could get messy.
5. Eliss – Now, I don’t “use” this app on a daily basis, but it is what I personally regard as being one of the best iPhone games of all time .. hence why it made the cut. Eliss is a simple game. Using retro simplistic visuals, your job is to keep up harmony in an odd universe made of morphemic planets. Controlling multiple planets at once, you join them together into giant orbs or split them up into countless dwarf planets, and match their size. Its highly addictive and definitely one I’d like to see bigger and brighter. Steph .. Make it happen!
Trevor
1. Pocket God – Lets be honest, almost everyone who has an iPhone or an iPod Touch owns this game. I bought it when I first got my iPhone and it’s one of only two apps that have been on my iPhone since then. Constantly updated and good for when you have five minutes (or even an hour) to kill, I’ve never got bored of tormenting those poor Pygmies. Perfect on the iPhone, but on the iPad, it would be opened up to a whole new level. I can’t really begin to imagine what could be achieved with this game given the size of the iPad screen, but I’m dying to see it.
2. Xewton Music Studio – I reviewed this app some time ago, and loved it. A fully fledged recording studio in your pocket, 128 tracks, 24 instruments free and 48 more available in-app, this really is everything any musician needs. On the iPhone everything may feel a little cramped at time, especially when editing recordings,but again, given the size of the iPad’s screen, this app would work a treat and enable anyone to compose, edit and export their own musical creations.
3. Tweetie 2 – It’s already been said, but it can’t be said enough, all you need is Tweetie 2. Okay, that was a very poor para-phrase of some song lyrics, but, as Arron has already said this really has set the bar when it comes to iPhone twitter clients. Even if it has been bought by Twitter themselves (to some rather vocal disagreement) this is still my favourite client. I really can’t believe that Twitter will ruin Tweetie 2 and would love to see what Loren and the team can do with the iPad version and whilst many readers here may gasp, I’m finally hoping for a desktop Tweetie client for PC too.
4. 2do – I’m notoriously bad for not making lists of things I need to do. That’s why I looked long and hard before buying a GTD app for my iPhone. Something that worked but looked boring wouldn’t have held my attention or made me want to keep to-do lists. Thankfully, 2d0 is oozing with design charms and is so beautiful and easy to use that I now have everything in here. With the option of adding one off tasks or even projects this really is the only GTD app you’d ever need. Given the developers ingenious use of the space available on the iPhone screen an iPad version is definitely required.
5. Ultimate Guitar Tabs – Any guitarist worth their salt will be aware of this website and what it offers those who want to play their favourite songs on guitar. Recently, an iPhone app was released which made searching the site easier and quicker. It even includes the ability to auto scroll through tabs once you’ve found them. To be honest, the iPhone app is good, but would never be able to replace your songbook. However, give me an iPad specific version with a bigger screen and improved scrolling mechanics and you’d never need to print or write out another song again. This one simple app on iPad would allow me to recycle hundreds and hundreds of pages of  guitar tab.
Jerry
1. Osfoora – Personally, I felt that Osfoora literally knocked the crown right off from Tweetie 2 and not a moment too soon. The popularity of Tweetie still remains, but the lack of consistent updates has pushed me and others to look else where. Osfoora for iPhone really has a great balance of UI-candy and supreme functionality. I would really like to see what kind of monster could be born for the iPad.
2. Done – I absolutely love this app. It is so simple, so elegant, it just screams Apple! There has yet to be a quicker way for me to capture my todo’s while on the go. While I do have several task managers on my iPhone which I depend on for various reasons like Outlook sync, Done is the only app that has had a place on my iPhone home screen since the day I activated it (my first iPhone that is)!
The wallpaper feature would fit right in with the iPads huge display and with the calendar access provided in OS 4.0, tasks could be integrated and reminders would be easier than ever to implement.
3. Awesome Note – Awesome note was just that for iPhone. Awesome. Now with the iPad, Awesome Note could branch out into handwritten notes, native calendar integration, and an even wilder UI.
4. Facebook – Most surprising to me was that Facebook was not prepared to offer an iPad version at launch. Actually, when you think about the events of early 2009 when lead developer for Facebook for iPhone left the company, this shouldn’t surprise anyone. The app has been on a downward spiral with it’s flakey connectivity and diminished functionality compared to the website.
With a fresh start with the iPad, we could possibly see video playback, better IM integration, and a much improved notification system which the iPhone desperately needs too. However, it begs to question: with the iPads browser capabilities and speed, do we really need a separate application? I say yes, specifically since multitasking is right around the corner.
5. BeeJive IM – This has got to be on the iPad. There isn’t any question about it. Yes, there are other IM clients out right now for the iPad, but they are merely “bigger” and uglier versions of their iPhone counterparts. I believe that BeeJive can introduce a totally new and stunning UI for IM that will make the others cower in fear. So far, I’m limited to AIM when I’m on my iPad, and while that is a pretty nice version, it limits me to only my AIM account. We need a multi-account IM hero, BeeJive where are you?!
Jane
1. BirdBrain – Already a gorgeous looking twitter statistics application, just imagine it on the iPad. Ok it is just statistics we need this app for but what a great app to do it and to do it in style. I think this app with the great UI it already has on the iPhone would work and look even better on an iPad. It would be a great compliment to Tweetie 2 or Twitterrific.
2. Byline – I use Byline to keep up with all my favorite Apple sites. It works well and is very easy to use. Having all my RSS feeds at my fingertips and on the iPad would be a great finishing touch to the app. This sort of application is designed to be on a screen that size.
3. Depict – Now the iPad needs good games played on it. Can you imagine Depict on it? If you have never played it before or not read the recent review its basically a pictionary game you can play with players all around the world. Now I love it on the iPhone but struggle somtimes to draw a great picture because of the screen size. The iPads size would be perfect and I am sure my drawing skills would definitely improve!
4. Facebook – I’m definitely with Jerry on this one. Most people use Facebook and for them not to offer Facebook for iPad would be so wrong. It’s got great potential to be at it’s best and prove once again that it is the app to use for your Facebook access.
So there you have it! — Our list of iPhone apps the team here at RazorianFly would like to see iPad specific versions of in the future. If you have any suggestions for iPad specific apps feel free to leave them below, you just never know who is reading them …
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