Getting my first iPad - recommended apps?

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KiwiTT

122 posts

Master Geek

#267934 18-Feb-2020 16:46

I have just ordered my first iPad via my credit reward program, so it was virtually free to buy.

Reading the online reviews, it seems if you want to just consume content, e.g. browsing, view streaming, reading, you really dont need to go past a the newish iPad 7-gen.

iPadOS seems to be a big change from the standard iOS, so that might make it a better.

I'll probably put on the standard news and search apps and some streaming apps, like netflix and youtube and if they got it TVNZ and 3Now ondemand. I may even try listening to music via spotify (I like the fact it still has a 3.5 stereo port)

While it is not a huge step up from the previous gen iPad, it really is a step up from not actually having one ... LOL!

If it does catch on for me, I may stretch to getting a keyboard (is it essential) and/or a pencil.

wellygary

7378 posts

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#2423354 18-Feb-2020 17:15

While it is not a huge step up from the previous gen iPad

Sort of ,

The new ipads grew from 9.7 inches to 10.2 inches and while that's not a huge jump it did take them over Microsoft's 10.1 inch limit, and you will now require a subscription to run office on it :(

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eracode

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#2423408 18-Feb-2020 17:47

iPadOS 13 brought a huge leap leap forward in bridging the "laptop/PC is for creation, iPad is for consumption" divide - but it still exists. However you can now do a lot more on an iPad than you could pre-iPadOS 13 - but it's still not easy creating a spreadsheet on an iPad using fat fingers (Pencil does help).

You don't mention which model of iPad you are getting - but that probably doesn't matter. Your question about useful apps is a bit like the length of a piece of string question - the answer depends on what your interests are and what you intend to do with the iPad.

I am a massive, non-occupational iPad user (so I don't use a lot of so-called 'productivity' apps). Some the most important to me and frequently-used apps that I have include (in no order of importance):

Speedtest - by Oocla

Fillr - auto form completion

Tripadvisor

booking.com

Expedia

Tripit - amazing free travel/itinerary recording and planning app

Tunein Radio

Weather Now

AccuWeather

Flightradar24

MarineTraffic

Google Maps

[Your bank's] mobile banking app - BNZ's is brilliant

Gaspy - NZ petrol prices

YouTube

Lightbox

Netflix

TVNZ on Demand

IMDB - International Movie Data Base

Libby - international app that links to NZ cities' free libraries and gets you Kindle-style books and audio books (but TBH not sure about cities other than Auck).

Overcast - great podcast manager

Spotify

Soundhound

FreeCell - the MobilityWare version

AirNZ and Emirates apps

Yahoo Finance - for tracking share prices and portfolio value

Pixelmator - simple app for editing photos - with Pencil.

I don't have Microsoft Office but I do use Apple Pages and Numbers (similar to Word and Excel) - but mainly use them on my MacBook then can edit on iPad, accessing via Apple's iCloud and through their great 'Files' app which is relatively new to iPad.

There's a huge volume of stuff that comes bundled on an iPad in which I have no interest - eg say Garage Band - but that's very much "one person's meat is another's poison" stuff. I have deleted or sidelined a lot of it. The built-in apps I use that come with iPadOS and iOS include:

Files

Reminders

Calendar

Photos

Clock

Facetime

Notes

Messages

Despite the naysayers here on GZ, I am a huge Sonos fan and the Sonos app on iPad and iPhone is great.

Sometimes I just sit and think. Other times I just sit.

KiwiTT

122 posts

Master Geek

#2423422 18-Feb-2020 18:38

Thanks for that list. I look into that when it arrives.

Here is the one I am getting. https://www.apple.com/nz/ipad-10.2/

I already have Office 365 so may probably install office, but I have not bought this to do actual content creation. Maybe if I get a keyboard. But I thought if I was going to do that, I might of well got a laptop, which I dont really want.

KiwiTT

122 posts

Master Geek

#2423640 19-Feb-2020 08:17

I think as a first iPad the 7th gen will be great.

Funnily enough my first PC was a Pentium75, despite years working with Mini computers, then XT, AT, 386 and 486 work computers. And then later my first smartphone was an iPhone 5, after years of helping staff get the grips with the earlier smartphones.

So yeah, I seem to wait until the technology has moved from 'bleeding edge' before buying it for myself.

jonathan18

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#2423789 19-Feb-2020 10:12

Depending on where you live/what you consume, have a look into the apps supported by your local library.

Many libraries provide free access to a hufe range of magazines and newspapers via PressReader - eg, I get periodicals like the NZH and The Listener automatically delivered to my iPad. (Stuff newspapers disappeared off the app a few months back.)

There's another magazine app called RB Digital that libraries may support (I find the iOS app dodgy, however).

Audiobooks from the library via Borrowbox is another one...