Top 10 Underrated Apps for New iPad Owners

May 20, 2010 |  Posted By : Sumit  In : iPad, Top App Lists

If you’ve recently picked up an iPad, or were one of the lucky few who happened to win one in our recent giveaways, chances are you’re looking to fill up that gorgeous screen with apps that are going to help you get the most out of this wonderous device.

Before we received ours, most Mobclixians were expectedly skeptical about the utility and execution of what appeared to be an elongated iPhone with fewer features, no camera, and lack of mobile connectivity (before we got our 3Gs that is).

Since receiving them, however, most have fulfilled a void they never knew existed and can be often seen clamering for their devices even well after lunch has arrived.

Aside from the major players in the app store, we wanted to know what underrated apps help the iPad come into its own as an ultraportable, mobile/netbook hybrid, so we asked iPad owners at Mobclix HQ which apps they thought were must downloads:

Vishal Gurbuxani - Cofounder

Game: Sneezies HD

Aside from the name, it’s a great game.  The graphics are crisp and it’s a fast-paced game that makes you think; plus it’s fun for the whole family.  I have a younger sister, so anytime she wants to play, we can fire up a quick game that reverts to our last save.  Cuteness and substantial gameplay make this a must-download for the kid in any iPad owner.

Utility: ZipRealty

This app is just awesome for anyone looking to cash-in on the current real estate market.  It gets your location and syncs it up with the MLS database, transforming your iPad into a mobile realtor hotspot.  You can easily view recently sold properties and quickly get an idea of what’s going on in your neighborhood.  Highly recommended if you’re currently looking or helping someone find a new place.

Must Have: Kayak & Amazon

When you travel as much as we do, you always need to have flight and hotel info ready at a moment’s notice.  With a few clicks on Kayak, we can find everything we need to be able to attend that last minute conference or coordinate that much needed company weekend in Vegas.

And Amazon is just Amazon; an uncluttered app that makes it ridiculously easy to order anything I need from office supplies to accessories for my iPad – if you’re looking to recoup some precious time in your day that’s wasted searching for stuff, both apps are must haves.

Saverio Mondelli – Engineer

Flight Control HD

Great game play and they really did a great job of utilizing the larger space on the iPad.  They didn’t just “blow up the iPhone version”.  It really looks like they took some time to figure out the ideal object sizing and made the game work nicely with the larger canvas.  The game even has a 3D version!

Early Edition

Basically an RSS reader but with a bit of a flair.  You can browse multiple news sources in one super nice newspaper layout.  Just like the icon depicts, Early Edition + cappuccino = a great way to start the day.  Overall – very cool.

Things for iPad

Things on the iPad is a must if you have Things for Mac and Things for iPhone.  It’s got the same gorgeous user interface that you’d expect from Cultured Code, and while it’s a little pricey, it’s definitely worth the download because you’re going to get a lot of use out of it.  It’s even locked down a spot on my dock, right next to Safari, because I use it just about everyday.

Nitin Chitkara - BizDev

Virtuoso Piano HD:

The perfect app for all musicians.  Playing a piano on the iPhone just didn’t make sense because it was too small.  But bigger keys, larger scales, and enough room to let your fingers roam make the iPad version the perfect app for laying down a quick tune or getting your Liberace on while on the move.

MLB At-Bat 2010:

MLB pioneered streaming digital media about the same time that the first iPod came out, so it’s no surprise that you can now watch almost every game from the comfort of your iPad.  Stay up to date with scores, highlights, videos, and much much more from all your favorite teams.  The next best thing to being at the game, it’s a must have for any baseball fan even at $14.99.

E-Trade:

This brokerage was the first online brokerage (others followed suit).  Not surprisingly, it was the first with an iPhone app and now an iPad app.  It features a really slick interface for trading, account management and real-time stock quotes.  Trade in style with this thing, but try not break the bank!

Everyone:

We Rule

If there’s ever talk about magical asparagus or ways to earn mojo faster around the office, chances are, it’s because of We Rule.  Ngmoco’s raucous success was among the first few downloads everyone made after getting their iPads and it’s without a doubt one of the apps everyone plays a few times a day.  The instant social connectivity and near limitless gameplay potential make We Rule easy to pick up and hard to put down.  Working the fields has never been this much fun!